Inspired by the legends of a 19th-century cannibal and an extinct tiger, this brutal horror-thriller centers on four friends who find out that something—or someone—murderous lurks in the rain-slogged Australian bush.

BD: You produced a few reality shows, did any of these lead to writing and producing DYING BREED?

MB: No, not specifically. I have always written scripts, I started my writing career as a story liner creating stories for soaps. I’ve always enjoyed writing so to extend it into a genre of films I also enjoyed seemed natural.

BD: Where did the idea for the film come about? What inspired you?

MB: I had learnt about Pearce at school some years before and was fascinated by the whole story. I have been a fan of horror and thriller movies so it just seemed natural a story like this could really work. Tasmania is a place with a violent history and it is very isolated, both good fundamentals for a horror. Add into that the Tasmanian Tiger story and it just seemed to gel.

BD: So the movie is based on a 19th century cannibal and a tiger? That’s an interesting combination. How does this all work together?

MB: The script is about survival which is what the convicts were focused on when they arrived in Tasmania. The Tiger was hunted to extinction and did not survived, or did it? Many people still report sightings. Tasmania is very wild and very remote and who knows exactly what is hidden away in the wilderness. The two stories sit easily beside each other and make a great narrative that allowed me to inter-twine the journey of Pearce and the tiger. Each needed to remain hidden to survive. Each needed to ‘keep pure’ to ensure survival. Throughout the movie the two stories parallel each other and the audience it left to make up their own minds as to the truth behind these two Tasmanian Legends.

BD: What type of horror sub genre would you say this is? Is it a straight up horror film?

MB: It is defiantly a horror thriller sub genre.

BD: How did you end up casting Leigh Whannell? Old friend?

MB: I had always wanted Leigh to be in the film. I have a very good relationship with Leigh’s agent, Stacey Testro and as the story and script developed I kept Stacey in the loop. She was a supporter of the script and sent it to Leigh. He read it and within a few days, he agreed to play Matt. He also wanted to work with Jody, as did Nathan.

BD: Leigh is a brilliant guy when it comes to random ideas, did he have any input during shooting?

MB: He had input. The whole cast spent several weeks rehearsing with the Director Jody and all aspects of the script were explored and examined. Leigh had a lot of great ideas which helped to give his character depth and dimension. He has a real understanding what an audience wants and expect in this genre and that was certainly used by us as filmmakers.

BD: Just how bloody is DYING BREED? Give me an example or two!

MB: It's not a splatter flick, but it does have it’s fair share of ‘blood’. There are a lot of ‘fear moments’ as I call them rather than ‘splatter moments’ and these works very well. The audiences are going to go on a ride with this film and you never quite know what is going to happen. Moments of blood include Leigh finding and picking up part of a man’s bloody skull, an arrow pinning a man to a tree, and a cannibal eating human flesh. There are plenty more but I don’t want to give away too many plot lines.

BD: Will we see any hangings or cannibalism?

MB: You’ll see cannibalism.

BD: How much practical FX was used compared to CG?

MB: There are over 200 CG plates in the film, but there are also many practical FX, and some of these are enhanced.

BD: Do you have any plans for a sequel?

MB: No plans as yet, although the story lends itself to a sequel. We shall have to see how to the film resonates with the audience before I make that decision.

BD: What are you writing next? Any more horror films?

MB: I am currently working on three films, one I am writing, one I’m working with Jody on and one is fully scripted. Two are horror the other is a thriller. I have also optioned several book properties and these will be announced very shortly. Neither are horror, but both are highly entertaining thrillers.

BD: How was it shooting in Australia and working with Jody Dwyer?

MB: On both counts excellent. I love working in environments not really seen before, and Tasmania certainly allowed me to do that. Our main locations were only 1500 miles from the South Pole. Jody is a focused passionate writer/director and I am focused passionate writer/producer. We had healthy discussions, argued occasionally, but always finally agreed. It was a good fit and I am looking to working with him again.

BD: Did everything you envisioned on the script make it to the big screen?

MB: Apart from one small scene, everything did. Shot in 5 weeks in remote locations I am delighted with the final result.