A24 Secures Rights To CUT BANK – Stars Liam Hemsworth, Billy Bob Thorton, Bruce Dern

A24, in conjunction with director Matt Shakman, the film’s producers and in partnership with DIRECTV, announced today that they have acquired all US rights to Matt Shakman’s directorial debut CUT BANK.  The film had a successful US premiere at the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival and will next make its International debut at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

Written by Robert Patino, CUT BANK is an exciting modern-day thriller with a cast that includes Liam Hemsworth, John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thorton, Bruce Dern, Teresa Palmer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Oliver Platt.

DWAYNE MCLAREN (Liam Hemsworth) a high school star athlete recently turned auto mechanic, dreams of getting out of his tiny Montana town and whisking his pageant-hopeful girlfriend, CASSANDRA (Teresa Palmer), away to the big city. But his plan sets in motion a deadly series of events and thrusts him into a police investigation headed by SHERIFF VOGEL (John Malkovich), the protector of Cut Bank and the closest thing Dwayne has to a father figure. But things are not what they seem. Cassandra’s father BIG STAN STEELEY (Billy Bob Thornton) is the only one who seems to realize this. However, the damage is already done and the events that unfold change Dwayne’s life – and the life of the town – forever.

“I’m thrilled to team up with A24.  Their smart, eclectic taste is inspiring.  And their passion and plan for the film felt like the ideal way to bring it to the world,” says Shakman, “It’s been a tremendously exciting journey with the best group of collaborators possible—from a brilliant script by Roberto Patino, to the incredible support of Mark Manuel & Ted O’Neal at Kilburn Media and the producing team led by Laura Rister, to a dream cast of actors as talented as they are fun to work with.”

CUT BANK was shot on location by cinematographer Ben Richardson (BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD) in Edmonton, Alberta. It is produced by Laura Rister, Edward Zwick, Mickey Barold, Mark Manuel, Ted O’Neal, and Dan Cohen. The film’s editor is Carol Littleton (DARLING COMPANION, THE RUM DIARY) and the score is from James Newton Howard (MALEFICENT.