A monster movie filmed almost three years ago in Hope will finally get a chance to be viewed by the public.
Coming to the digital screen on May 9, Kryptic is a horror thriller that follows a woman searching for a missing monster hunter only to end up realizing that she has an "inextricable bond with the creature being pursued." Filmed against the backdrops of Hope, Agassiz, Sunshine Valley, and Manning Park, this is the first feature film from Canadian director and photographer Kourtney Roy.
The crew for Kryptic spent six days, in October 2022, filming in downtown Hope and the Holiday Motel & RV Resort. At the time, the project/movie was under the working title of Krypto which, according to producer Josh Huculiak, was a play on the word "cryptozoology."
The film's protagonist, Kay, is played by Chlore Pirrie. Other cast members include Jeff Gladstone, Jason Deline, Ali Rusu-Tahir, Kamantha Naidoo, Jenna Hill, Pam Kearns, Jane Stanton, Sara J. Southey, Jennifer Copping, Moses Wamukoya, Sarah Hayward, Patti Allan, Christina Lewall, and Ardy Ramezani.
Paul Bromley wrote the screenplay.
Kryptic premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest festival and had its Canadian premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival. According to film critics, the movie explores psychological and supernatural elements through themes around identity and autonomy.
The movie is recommended for an older audience as it includes gore, violence, drug use, and nudity.
Hope has been a popular filming location for many productions, the most famous being Rambo: First Blood. Other movies include Antlers, Hope Springs, and A Dog’s Way Home. It is also the filming location of Highway Thru Hell which focuses on Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto Ltd., a towing truck company in Hope.
