IT rou-w-w-w-w-sed the interest of audiences attending last year’s Durban International Film Festival and now it promises to tantalise the spoof taste buds of local cinema goers.
Home-brewed spoof movie The Attack of the Indian Werewolf is making its cinema debut at Suncoast Cinemas tomorrow.
Produced, written and directed by journalist-cum-comedian-cum-filmmaker Masood Boomgard, the film features local talent with the likes of East Coast Radio jock Neville Pillay, Sanjeev Singh, Kajal Maharaj and Mahmood Docrat, to name a few.
The film marked Boomgard’s directorial debut when it launched at the Durban International Film Festival last year.
Festival manager Nashen Moodley said he found the film “refreshing” for last year’s festival selection.
“I always admire young filmmakers who make films out of nothing. I also found the film extremely funny. All the screenings of the film were sold out, so it did very well,” he said.
A spoof on the werewolf and horror genres, The Attack of the Indian Werewolf is set in Durban and centres on a clerk at an electronic store (Pillay) who plummets into bloody catastrophe after he eats a magical bean that transforms him into a werewolf.
As the police chase their tails trying to unravel this mystery, a fearless journalist has her own investigation to pursue as she tries to cure the werewolf.
Popular local stage and TV personality and producer Kajal Maharaj (Dharma Moments, Isidingo, Spice ’n’ Stuff) said her character, Samantha, is the inquisitive journalist determined to find the source of the recent spate of murders and attacks.
“She’s intrigued by the werewolf and also quite smitten by her old schoolmate Brandon (Pillay).
“She really pushes the story forward as she strives to get to the bottom of the werewolf mystery, confronting the inept police who are intent on keeping what little they know to themselves.
“She’s smart and fun, but very capable and intelligent, strong willed and determined to expose the story and discover the mystery of the Indian werewolf,” she explained.
She added that her favourite part of shooting the film was working with the cast and crew which was a “laugh a minute” experience.
“There was never a dull moment. The storyline in itself was very unique and a very different take on the genre, and I enjoyed the playfulness and curiosity of my character,” she said.
Docrat (a bumbling fool of a police officer) said his role is an exaggerated look at what a police officer does.
“He is the best and worst of the 1980s and 1970s. His moustache is from the 1970s, his hair from the 1980s. This was my first comedy role and I had fun doing it,” he said.
Docrat is of the opinion that the film should be a hit among locals especially because of Durban’s big Indian community.
“We are lacking in local Indian cinema. In this movie you see local sites, you hear the sound of Durban and of your neighbour. We shot in areas like Chatsworth and at Suncoast Casino, so I think it will be unique for people to see this on the big screen,” he said. - Latoya Newman
l Attack of The Indian Werewolf opens at Suncoast Cinemas tomorrow and will be released on DVD by Videovision Entertainment in May 2011.