Hell's Gate

Production Company
Zone Pictures
Producer(s)
Alannah Higuchi
Director(s)
Brendan Taylor
Casting Director(s): 
Daniel Sparrow
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Film
Student Production
No
Compensation Details

TBD

Audition Date(s)
TBD
Audition Location
Vancouver
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
November 22
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Chilliwack
Submission Deadline
Friday, October 31, 2025
Submission Instructions

Please submit a resume, head shot and demo reel/examples of past work to hellsgatecinema@gmail.com - Thanks!

Project Synopsis
Hell’s Gate is a historical horror film set in 1857 during the early days of the Fraser River Gold Rush in British Columbia. It follows Mackenzie, a dock worker from Baltimore who, desperate to provide for his wife and child, ventures deep into the wilderness with Seymour, a strange and volatile drifter. As the two men pan for gold along an isolated creek, their uneasy partnership descends into paranoia, greed, and violence. What begins as a tale of survival and ambition transforms into a psychological nightmare, blurring the line between madness and the supernatural. Drawing inspiration from The Lighthouse and There Will Be Blood, the film blends historical realism with slow-burn psychological horror, emphasizing atmosphere, performance, and tension.
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

Hell’s Gate is currently in development, with principal photography scheduled for April/May 2026.

Before the main production, we’ll be filming a teaser trailer and test footage of select scenes in November 2025. This shoot will serve as both a visual tone piece and an opportunity to explore character dynamics and performance styles with the cast.

Actors involved in the teaser will be given priority consideration for the main production.

Character 1
Mackenzie
Age
30s
Gender
Male
Description
Mackenzie is a man of quiet intensity. A laborer hardened by years of physical toil and disappointment, yet carrying an innate gentleness that surfaces in moments of stillness. Raised by a single mother after his father vanished when he was six, Mackenzie learned early to suppress vulnerability and provide, no matter the cost. He has a sister, Mary, who married into a better life, a constant reminder of what he believes he’s failed to achieve. Now a husband and father himself, Mackenzie is haunted by the weight of poverty and the fear of leaving his own family behind in the same struggle. Beneath his stoic exterior lies a deep yearning for dignity, purpose, and escape that drives him to the edge of reason. The role demands both emotional restraint and the ability to slowly unravel; a man whose decency erodes as desperation takes hold.
Character 2
Seymour
Age
40s-50s
Gender
Male
Description
Seymour is a drifter. Unwashed, unpredictable, and a magnetic volatility. He’s a man who thrives on discomfort, probing others for their weaknesses with a grin that conceals menace. He’s worked every job imaginable and been fired from most; prison, hunger, and loneliness have long stripped him of shame or guilt. Seymour has a poet’s tongue and a devil’s spirit. He delights in storytelling and manipulation, coaxing others to reveal their fears so he can twist them into entertainment. The actor must balance charm and danger, a performance that feels spontaneous, alive, and slightly unhinged.