Glasshouse is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller from writer-director Kelsey Egan, which had its world premiere at the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada in August 2021.
The film has received five-star reviews and an 89% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Film Threat’s Lorry Kitka singled out Glasshouse as her “favourite film of the year so far”; Exclaim proclaimed, “Kelsey Egan is a filmmaker to keep an eye on”; The Guardian called it “a sinister, seductive meditation on memory, desire and loss” and Pop Culture Planet included Jessica Alexander (set to star in The Little Mermaid) in their list of the Best Performances of 2021, in good company alongside the likes of Jennifer Coolidge in The White Lotus.
Glasshouse stars Alexander and critically acclaimed newcomer Anja Taljaard as the sisters, Bee and Evie, opposite Hilton Pelser (the BAFTA-nominated Moffie, the upcoming remake of Dangerous Liaisons) as The Stranger. Film and theatre veteran Adrienne Pearce (the BAFTA-winning Troy and the Emmy-winning The Triangle); child star, Naledi Award winner and Fleur du Cap nominee Kitty Harris (Matilda the Musical); and rising star Brent Vermeulen (Die Stropers, Griekwastad) co-star.
Glasshouse is the first film in a three-part post-apocalyptic slate being developed by Showmax with Local Motion Pictures, in association with Crave Pictures, with Kelsey Egan directing and sharing story credits with associate producer Emma Lungiswa de Wet. Greig Buckle, co-producer of the Oscar-shortlisted Life, Above All and line producer of the #1 US box office hit Chronicle, is the producer.
More Local Films Now Available to Stream
Stream the multi-award-winning Mr Johnson from 10 February 2022, with the legendary Paul Slabolepszy starring as a 76-year-old waking from a 50-year coma.
Alternatively, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa stars in the Sesotho romcom A Safe Bet; Kwanele Mthethwa stars a female stick-fighter in the isiZulu drama Induku; Bohlokwa Mpiti stars as a blind outcast with a rare gift in the isiZulu drama Umnisamvula; Mpho Sebeng stars in the Sesotho crime drama Tshepo; and Sthandile Nkosi stars as a con artist in Love Heist.
Other upcoming films to watch out for include the Valentine’s Day romcoms No Love Lost, with Umkhokha star Hope Mbhele, and Welcome To The Family, with Nolo Seabi, Siphesihle Vazi (Selimathunzi), triple SAFTA winner Linda Sebezo (Lockdown), and Delisile Malinga (Umkhokha, The Queen), as well as Late Bloomer, the English feature film debut from Barakat director Amy Jephta, from 28 February 2022.
Some African Hits
Don’t sleep on the Lesotho-set This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection, starring the late, great Mary Twala Mhlongo (Black Is King). It was named the sixth-best reviewed film globally of 2021 by Metacritic.
Also look out for Malawi’s 2022 Oscar entry, Fatsani: A Tale of Survival, and the Uganda-set thriller 7 Days in Entebbe, starring Oscar nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), BAFTA nominee Daniel Brühl (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Inglourious Basterds), Teen Choice nominee Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan), and Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth, Game of Thrones) as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.