Redemption Island

Michael Clarke and Caleb Dillon met while taking courses at the UCLA professional program. They discovered a shared love of reality TV, idolatry of celebrity culture, and schlocky horror. After the program concluded, they continued working together on what would become Redemption Island. Over the course of several years, the material was developed through writers' groups, peer feedback, and workshops. Inspired by shows like Squid Game and Celebrity Survivor, we imagined a world where celebrities faced challenges that mirrored their ego and hubris, and to rise above their fellow contestants, they would have to be willing to betray and murder each other to rise to the top. We wrapped all this in loving satire, the survivors ignorant of their doom. Unlike other cult movies that use Wiccan or Pagan belief systems, our film takes place on the isle of Dionysus, named for the Greek God of Wine, Fornication, and Madness. The cult's desire to consume the celebrities is a literal translation of how we consume social media but also skewer celebrities through the modern-day crucifixion that is cancel culture. Catharsis is a Greek term for 'emotional release through drama,'' and that is, at its most basic, what our film is all about. Tonally, our script is similar to things like The Menu, The Hunt, or Ready or Not. But the island location will remind viewers of films like Midsommar, Wicker Man, or Cabin in the Woods. Redemption Island is soapy, it's tropey, and tragic; it paints a loving portrait of the stars we hold up only to cast down. A love song to actors who never became leading men or women in an industry that doesn't appreciate them. We see you, we love you, and now, we murder you. We hope you enjoy, Redemption Island. Sincerely, Caleb Dillon & Michael Clark