Creepy First Look: Werner Herzog’s ‘My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?’

Someone’s been crazy prolific of late.

In addition to “Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans,” German auteur Werner Herzog also has his follow-up picture, a horror of sorts, called “My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done” premiering at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Like its predecessor, the first look at ‘My Son’ has also been released on the eve of its festival premiere thanks to those folks at Collider who have nabbed a ton of good TIFF-related images.

With a strong ensemble cast including Michael Shannon, Chloe Sevigny, Willem Dafoe, Michael Pena, Udo Kier and Grace Zabriskie (perhaps known best for her memorable appearances with David Lynch, who is producing the picture), ‘My Son’ is based on actual events that are actuated by a hostage situation involving protagonist Brad Macallam, played by Shannon. Here’s a full synopsis:

Inspired by true events, “My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done,” is a story of ancient myth and modern madness. Brad Macallam, an aspiring actor performing in a Greek tragedy, commits the crime he is to enact in the play by killing his mother. The mystery unfolds in a series of flashbacks displaying the psychological destruction of the killer set off by an ill-fated white-water kayaking trip in a distant land.”

Shannon has already proven in “Revolutionary Road” that he can play psychotic with distinction. On that alone, this could very well be something to look forward to. Add to that the cast around him, Herzog at the helm and Lynch on board the project as a producer, and you have all the makings of a winning picture.

No word on a distribution deal yet, though its debut at Toronto will probably be an opportunity for it to garner interest in a sale.

The film also evidently has a ‘PG’ rating which surely can’t be right. A PG rated Herzog-Lynch horror film? [Collider]