featuring @iamhalsey
Halsey is preparing to take on her biggest acting role yet, with the upcoming psycho-sexual horror film Replacer now set to begin production in Montreal later this month.
The film stars Halsey as Proxy, a troubled DJ who finds herself stranded in Montreal before becoming caught up with an underground radio station and its mysterious group of hosts. The project is being directed by Avan Jogia, who co-wrote the screenplay with Halsey.
Production is scheduled to begin in Montreal on September 16, with the movie also expanding its cast ahead of the start of filming. Karl Glusman, known for films including The Neon Demon and Watcher, and Juliette Gariépy, who earned attention for her performance in Red Rooms, have joined the project.
A Horror Story Hidden Beneath Montreal
Replacer follows Proxy after she encounters an alluring artist and his friends, who operate an underground radio station. Things take a disturbing turn when the station’s broadcast becomes affected by a mysterious signal buried deep beneath Montreal’s subway system.
What begins as an intriguing encounter quickly becomes a fight for survival as Proxy attempts to escape before the strange sound transforms her and those around her into something increasingly primal and unrecognisable.
The film is being positioned as a genre-blending experience that combines horror, thriller and comedy with a strong psychological and sexual edge.
Jogia has described the project as an energetic club-horror story that also explores vulnerability, belonging and the importance of community.
A Creative Collaboration
Replacer represents an especially interesting collaboration between Halsey and Jogia, both of whom have become increasingly involved in filmmaking alongside their established careers.
For Halsey, the movie continues an acting journey that has already included appearances in MaXXXine, Americana, A Star Is Born and a voice role in Sing 2. Replacer marks a major step forward, placing the musician in a leading role while also giving her a writing credit.
Jogia, meanwhile, takes on directing duties after previously working behind the camera on projects including Door Mouse.
The film also has a notable name behind the scenes, with The Matrix co-creator Lilly Wachowski serving as an executive producer.
Wachowski previously praised the screenplay from Halsey and Jogia, describing it as an unconventional mixture of horror, thriller and comedy rooted in a side of Montreal’s culture that audiences rarely see on screen. She also pointed to influences including David Cronenberg, Alex Cox, Tony Scott and John Carpenter.
A Darker Direction for Halsey
Halsey’s involvement in Replacer could provide another opportunity for the singer to establish herself as a serious screen performer. Her previous horror appearance in Ti West’s MaXXXine demonstrated her willingness to step into darker material, while Replacer gives her considerably more creative responsibility.
With filming now approaching, the combination of Halsey’s musical background, Jogia’s filmmaking ambitions and Wachowski’s involvement makes Replacer one of the more intriguing upcoming independent horror projects to keep an eye on.
As production gets underway in Montreal, further details about the film’s release plans and distribution are expected to emerge.
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