18/02/2024 - The picture, directed by Pål Øie, revolves around the titular monster, who has risen from the deep again with a plan to wreak havoc

At the European Film Market (15-21 February), Danish firm TrustNordisk has acquired international sales rights for the upcoming Norwegian monster movie and action-thriller Kraken. Set to be directed by Pål Øie, the picture revolves around the legendary monster, who has risen from the deep once again with a plan to wreak havoc. Screen International first reported the news.

For this project, Øie will reunite with the producers of his 2019 action-thriller The Tunnel [+see also:
trailer
film profile], John Einar Hagen and Einar Loftesnes. The helmer, who has also been directing shorts and documentaries, is known for his horror-thriller Hidden [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2009) and his horror adventure tale Dark Woods (2003).

The story, penned by Vilde Eide, zooms in on Johanne, a marine biologist who is doing research on a fish farm in Vangsnes, a rural community located by the fjord, when she encounters several strange occurrences. Along with the brutal deaths of two local teenagers, all signs point to the deep fjord; could there be more to the depths than the eye can see? At the bottom of Norway’s deepest fjord rests a mythical monster as large as a mountain, with a myriad of arms ready to crush and devour anything it can grab.

Commenting on the acquisition, managing director of TrustNordisk Susan Wendt said: “We cannot wait to awaken the Kraken in the fjords where it originated from, and to do this together with Pål Øie and the team behind The Tunnel.”

The feature is now in pre-production and is budgeted at €5.3 million, with a local theatrical release slated to happen by 2025. Key crew members include DoP-editor Sjur Aarthun.

Kraken is being produced by John Einar Hagen and Einar Loftesnes for Nordisk Film Production AS, in collaboration with Handmade Films in Norwegian Woods, and with support from the Norwegian Film Institute, Mediefondet Zefyr, Vestnorsk Filmsenter, Business Finland, and the municipalities of Turkuu and Tampere. Sveinung Golimo is serving as the executive producer.

Meanwhile, TrustNordisk has just announced the acquisition of another ambitious project: Petra Volpe’s drama Heldin (see the news), starring Shooting Star Leonie Benesch from The Teachers’ Lounge [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: İlker Çatak
interview: Leonie Benesch
film profile], which is a LUX Audience Award nominee.