Cult Hero (film)

Cult Hero is a Canadian thriller comedy film, directed by Jesse Thomas Cook and released in 2022.^[1] The film stars Liv Collins as Kallie Jones, a real estate agent and stereotypical "Karen" in Owen Sound, Ontario, whose husband Brad (Justin Bott) gets drawn into a death cult led by Master Jagori (Tony Burgess), forcing her to team up with "cult buster" Dale Domazar (Ry Barrett) to rescue him.^[2]

Cult Hero
Directed by	Jesse Thomas Cook
Written by	Kevin Revie Liv Collins Jesse Thomas Cook Tony Burgess
Produced by	Craig Shouldice
Starring	Liv Collins Ry Barrett Tony Burgess Justin Bott
Cinematography	Kenny MacLaughlin
Edited by	Mike Gallant
Music by	Adrian Ellis
Production company	Collingwood Film Co.
Distributed by	Raven Banner Entertainment
Release date	September 30, 2022 (2022-09-30) (Fantasia)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	Canada
Language	English

The cast also includes Jessica Vano, Charlie Baker, Jonathan Craig, Justin Darmanin, Steve Kasan, Michael Masurkevitch, Marcia Alderson, Zoë Woodrow, Matt Griffin, Ross Docherty, James Mercier, Alex Bonwick, Donna Henry and Greg Collins.

Production and distribution

The film was shot in and around Owen Sound in fall 2021.^[3]

The film was screened for distributors in the Frontières program at the Marché du Film in May 2022,^[4] prior to its public premiere on July 30, 2022, at the Fantasia International Film Festival.^[5]

Awards

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref(s)
Fantasia International Film Festival	2022	Audience Award, Canadian Feature	Cult Hero	Runner-up	[6]
Canadian Screen Awards	2023	Best Art Direction/Production Design	Dan Herrick, Zoë Woodrow	Nominated	[7]
		Best Costume Design	Carrie Cathrae-Keeling	Nominated
		Best Original Score	Adrian Ellis	Nominated
		Best Original Song	Tony Burgess, Chuck Baker — "The Ascension Song"	Nominated
		Best Makeup	Katie Ballantyne, Jonathan Craig	Nominated
		Best Visual Effects	James Anthony Young	Nominated