WestEnd Films unveils first look at Unspeakable as production begins, backed by the BFI and Ffilm Cymru Wales

Unspeakable follows Lil (Scanlen), a young mother who struggles to connect with her newborn baby. Ashamed and exhausted, she tells no one—not even her domineering mother, Judith (Davis). But something terrifying already senses the void between them. Drawn to mothers who are uncertain or overwhelmed, an ancient creature begins to circle, waiting for an opportunity to rid her of her burden. The creature closes in, and a primal battle begins between a now-desperate mother and a relentless, all-consuming force.

The film also stars Sky Yang (Last Days, Rebel Moon, Whistle), Susannah Doyle (Black Mirror) and Nicholas Kwoon-Kit Lo Wang.

Unspeakable is produced by Rob Watson (The Power, The Strays) for Air Street Films and Tristan Goligher (45 Years, Supernova) for The Bureau Films. Elwen Rowlands and Celine Coulson co-produce for Little Door Productions and Sophia Pedlow co-produces for Maven Screen Media.

Developed with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, financing comes from BFI and Ffilm Cymru Wales with funding from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales and the Arts Council of Wales using proceeds from the National Lottery. The film is produced in association with WestEnd Films and Maven Screen Media with additional financing provided by Sons of Rigor Films and MacPac Entertainment.

Louise Ortega, Senior Production and Development Executive at the BFI Filmmaking Fund, said: “We’re so excited to support Corinna on Unspeakable, having been on the development journey and worked with her on her debut feature The Power. With Unspeakable, Corinna has woven a raw, visceral and primally feminine cinematic horror, and, alongside her producers Rob and Tristan, assembled an exciting team of collaborators to realise her vision. We can’t wait for audiences to experience Essie and Eliza's twisted and mercurial mother-daughter relationship, as they battle the mental - and physical - demons and horrors of motherhood and intergenerational trauma."

Executive Producers are Louise Ortega for the BFI, Trudie Styler, Celine Rattray and Anna Smith Tenser for Maven Screen Media, Kiah Simpson and Kim Warner for Ffilm Cymru Wales, Maya Amsellem and Sharon Harel-Cohen for WestEnd Films, Douglas Choi, Martina Bassenger, Séverine Tibi for Sons of Rigor Films, Jan McAdoo for MacPac Entertainment, Des Tan for Adeline Arts & Science and Christian Hall for Two Independent Eyes.

Heads of department include cinematographer Laura Bellingham (The Power, Magpie), composers Elizabeth Bernholz (Gazelle Twin) and Max De Wardener (The Power), casting directors Nathan Toth and Julie Harkin (Dune: Prophecy, Femme), sound designer Joakim Sundstrom (The Banshees of Inisherin) and editor Maya Mafioli (Rocks, Echo Valley).

WestEnd Films is handling world sales at the Marché du Film in Cannes. The project is part of WestEnd’s WeLove label, dedicated to female-driven stories and championing female talent.

Eliza Scanlen is represented by WME, Entertainment 360, Curtis Brown and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Essie Davis is repped by United Agents, Anonymous Content and Personal PR.