Private Project

The Atoning

Synopsis:
Vera, Ray, and Sam, a seemingly normal family, are haunted by more than mere ghosts. The lingering horror of their past threatens their ability to function as a loving family until they become enlightened by a mystical encounter. From that moment on, they’re thrust into a horror worse than anything they’ve ever experienced. Personal demons manifest and tear the family apart from the inside out as they come to terms with their past.

  • Michael Williams
    Director
    OzLand, Kane
  • Michael Williams
    Writer
    OzLand, Kane
  • Michael LaCour
    Producer
  • Michael Williams
    Producer
    OzLand, Earthrise, Kane
  • Virginia Newcomb
    Key Cast
    Reparation, 3 Fingers
  • Cannon Bosarge
    Key Cast
    True Heroes, Kane
  • Michael LaCour
    Key Cast
    Texas Heart, 94 Feet, Forced Move
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Horror, Suspense, Drama, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 29 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Blackmagic 4K
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Oxford Film Festival
    Oxford Film Festival
    United States
    February 18, 2017
    World Premiere
  • Magnolia Film Festival
    Starkville, MS
    United States
    March 4, 2017
    Best Home Grown Film
  • Tupelo Film Festival
    Tupelo, MS
    United States
    April 22, 2017
    1st Place Feature Film, The Ron Tibbett Award for Best Mississippi Film
  • Azalea Film Festival
    Mobile, AL
    United States
    April 1, 2017
    Best Feature Film
  • International Horror Hotel Film Festival
    Ohio
    United States
    June 16, 2017
    2nd Place Suspensel Thriller
  • FestivalSouth Film Expo
    Hattiesburg, MS
    United States
    June 4, 2017
    Best Feature Film, Best Actress (Virginia Newcomb), Best Cinematography
Distribution Information
  • Gravitas Ventures
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Michael Williams

Michael Williams began creating short films in 2004 while in high school. Since then, he has been consistently creating short films and screening them at film festivals and film screenings across North America. As a 2009 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Williams was awarded the Top Film Student of 2009 Award.

Williams’ professional career in film began in 2007, and his credits range from assistant camera to director of photography on many independent short and feature length films. Currently, Michael owns Shendopen Productions in West point, MS, continues to write and direct his own independent films, produce films by other regional filmmakers, and works regionally in the film industry primarily as a director of photography.

After writing, directing, and producing over 20 short films, Williams broke into the feature length film territory with his debut, award-winning feature "OzLand". The film went on to premiere and screen theatrically in Hollywood, CA, gain nationwide distribution, and is currently releasing in the international market.

Williams' desire to tell complex stories visually draws him to pursuing a career as a visual story teller. Williams writes and directs films like "OzLand" and his sophomore feature "The Atoning" so that he can share his stories with whoever is interested in watching them.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My first feature film "OzLand" was a passion project that occupied several years of my life. It was an amazing journey and the success of the film opened up a lot opportunities for me and my team. Because of the film's success, I had the fortunate ability to carefully chose what my next film would be. I knew I wanted to tell a very different kind of story and explore very different territories in terms of genre, setting, characters, and cinematography. "The Atoning" fit that mold.

Based on a concept that has been brewing in my head for quite a while, "The Atoning" came together quite fast. I soon realized we were not making your typical horror film. Choosing horror as the genre for my next film was a pretty easy decision considering I wanted to make a film that was more marketable than my previous passion project and be a stepping stone for me and my team. However, if I am going to pour my heart and soul into a film, I have to find ways to make a film my passion even if our goal is to be marketable. I found this to be a great challenge. How do we make a marketable horror film that is also unique, meaningful, and a form of artistic expression for me and my team?

"The Atoning" pulls from a lot of influences but not all of them are horror. It is an elegant horror film that displays a wide variety of "horror" through its exploration of complex themes and characters.

With "The Atoning", I hope the film can be an exciting and intriguing horror film for audiences that look on the surface. For those who want to dig deeper, I hope the film can be meaningful exploration of the film's complexities.