‘Antebellum’ forces look at real-life horror of racism, says filmmaker

Gerard Bush, one of the two writers-directors of psychological horror thriller movie “Antebellum,” has said that the film forces the audience to look at the real-life horror of racism, according to the production notes the movie’s distribution firm and one of the production companies, Lionsgate, released Wednesday.

“Antebellum” will be released on September 18 2020 through premium video on demand, say the Lionsgate production notes US and Global News also obtained.

In addition to Bush, the film is written and directed by Christopher Renz. Both the visionary filmmakers are best known for creating advertising for brands like Porsche, Vogue and Harry Winston before redirecting their careers toward disruptive, change-agent social justice work, including shorts “The Glass House” (starring multi-Grammy Award-winning R&B icon Maxwell and actress/activist Yomi Abiola), “Kill Jay-Z” (for his album “4:44”) and “17” for Tidal.

“Antebellum” is Bush and Renz’s first feature film.

“When we conceived ‘Antebellum,’ we did not – could not – envision the way that systemic racism would break through to force the meaningful conversation we desperately need,” said Bush. “But it has.”

He added, “What we did intend was for the film to force the audience to look at the real-life horror of racism through the lens of film horror.”

Besides Lionsgate, the production companies are Bush+Zen Production and QC Entertainment, while the credited producers, in addition to Bush and Renz, include Raymond Mansfield, Sean McKittrick, Zev Foreman and Lezlie Wills.

“We’re landing in the middle of the very conversations that we hoped ‘Antebellum’ would spur,” said Bush in the notes we obtained. “So to release the film in this environment is all we could ask for – as artists, we’re grateful to have the opportunity to add our voices in this cultural moment.”

“‘Antebellum’ was always meant to be a stunning and mind-bending mystery that unfolds as a metaphor for the current climate of racism,” says About the Film section in the production notes. “And for Bush and Renz, the chance for their artistic statement to help shape, reflect, and define this moment – to spur a dialogue and to change and broaden our understanding of the world around us – was irresistible.”

The movie stars eight-time Grammy-nominated singer and actor Janelle Monáe in the lead role. Other cast members include Eric Lange, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons and Gabourey Sidibe.

The film will be playing in theaters in select overseas countries.