Still best known as Battlestar Galactica's Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, Katee Sackhoff is beginning to carve herself a bit of a niche in the horror genre. Following Oculus and Ghosts Of Georgia (plus Riddick, which had monsters in it), she's now signed up for Don't Knock Twice, a British chiller from The Machine's director Caradog James.
Currently wheeling and dealing at Cannes, the film is being pitched as in the vein of Candyman and Ring, revolving around a "psychologically terrifying urban legend". The plot sees a guilt-ridden mother trying to save her estranged daughter from the curse of a vengeful witch. We'll assume Sackhoff is the mother. Unless she's the witch.
Caradog's The Machine, starring Toby Stephens and Caity Lotz, got a tiny theatrical release but essentially went straight to DVD and digital. Which was a shame because it's good. Despite that, however, it's built an appreciative worldwide following, and Don't Knock Twice has the same production set-up: Content Media and James' UK-based production company Red & Black Films.
"Caradog has proven himself to be a very dynamic and innovative director," says Content's Jamie Carmichael, "and clearly Katee brings a ton of experience and credibility to this genre too. They’re going to make a fantastic team.”
"After the worldwide success of The Machine we’re excited to be traveling this journey with Content again," says James, "and we're thrilled to have landed Katee for our leading lady.”
Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler (the team behind Paul Hyett's **Howl) wrote the screenplay, and shooting starts in the UK in July.