outbreak
Role: Neil Morris
Release: 6.21.2024 (world premiere) / 12.13.2024 (theaters)
Buy/rent/watch: TBA
Website: www.mourningrock.com
Working title: Mourning Rock
TRAILER
synopsis
A psychological thriller about a state park ranger husband and his wife struggling to come to terms with their missing teenage son while dealing with a local mystery that questions their relationship and in the end, their grip on reality.
Written years before its filming in summer 2023 by Jeff Wolfe, Erik Audé, and Lance Ochsner, Outbreak is directed by Jeff Wolfe and produced by him and his wife Jennifer. Billy plays the lead role and also serves as an executive producer.
Despite the writers and actors’ strike, the making of the movie was made possible because Wolfepride Productions was granted an interim agreement from SAG with their blessing, “to remind the AMPTP that making a movie can be more about creativity and less about stuffing pockets,” as Wolfe stated himself in an Instagram post.
During his interview with actress Alyshia Ochse for her That One Audition podcast (she plays his wife in the movie), Billy confessed he’s not into zombie movies but was happy to join his friend Jeff in this project as there was so much more to explore, especially the way people deal with grief. That is how he ended up working on drafts with Jeff and getting more and more involved in the story (for those who don’t remember it, Wolfe was Revolution stunt coordinator, the man choreographing those amazing fight scenes and creating the weapons used on the show).
“Honored to have one of my stories used to finally make an actual movie. Beyond honored that Billy Burke agreed to do it. It’s going to amazing,” wrote Erik Audé on his Instagram while traveling to Los Angeles for the world premiere.
The film was initially titled Mourning Rock but was retitled Outbreak after Premiere Entertainment Group (PEG) acquired it. The Los Angeles-based production, financing, and sales company picked up international rights and launched talks with international buyers at the American Film Market in the fall of 2024.
releases
Outbreak premiered under its working title Mourning Rock on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the Indie Film Festival Dances With Films in L.A. at the famous TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. The event went sold out in just a few hours. Check out photos here. It was then released in theaters in December 2024.
reviews
The first review came immediately after the world premiere in June 2024 from Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden for their The GOOD, The BAD, and The VERDICT film reviews:
The Good
Joseph: As faithful readers of The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict know well by now, I’m a hard sell on zombie movies. A very hard sell. Exceptions are films that do something original or at least different with the subgenre. So when I say that folks like me who tend to shy away from zombie movies need to see Mourning Rock, you know Wolfe’s feature has impressed me — and this is much more than merely a zombie movie. No spoilers here, but the big reveal behind the film works wonderfully. The performances are all great, with Burke and Ochse delivering superb performances as parents torn apart in different ways by the mysterious disappearance of their son. The members of the sizable supporting cast all turn in solid work, as well. Wolfe, working from a screenplay that he cowrote with Erik Aude and Lance Ochsner crafts well-written and well-acted drama, with Burke and Ochse conveying grief and loss convincingly. Wolfe also shows a great sense of horror and suspense, and the zombie makeup and gore effects look terrific, with credit going to Special Make Up Effects Designer Eddie Yang and the rest of the film’s special makeup artists. The zombie attacks are vicious, and some of the living dead move like victims in possession-horror films, which is a bit different than the usual lumbering types or super-speed zombies.
Mike: I’ll watch just about any zombie movie. Ever since seeing Night and Dawn of the Dead as a teenager back in the day, I’ve loved the sub-genre. From modern classics like 28 Days Later (I know, they’re “infected” and not zombies in the pure sense) to forgettable “B movie” fodder that makes films produced by The Asylum look like high art in comparison, I’ve seen more than enough zombie movies. I say this not as some braggart, but to preface my claim that Mourning Rock is an exceptional film.
There’s some great acting on display not just from Billy Burke and Alyshia Ochse as a couple dealing with the grief and mourning of losing a child, but from the supporting cast as well. Everyone involved has given their all in bringing their character to life and it shows through the strained and/or loving relationships the characters have.
Director Jeff Wolfe paces things out pretty well and builds tension when it’s called for and has an eye for staging a zombie throwdown. Couple all of this with some great makeup and FX and you’ve got yourselves a solid zombie film that bucks a few trends and focuses more on the drama of the people but doesn’t shy away from the creatures when needed.
The Bad
Joseph: I don’t have much to say here, my only nitpick being a CGI blood spatter here or there that didn’t seem necessary considering the fine-looking practical effects work elsewhere regarding the red stuff.
Mike: While I cannot for the life of me think of the name of the movie, there’s a film set on a farm that has the same general hook as Mourning Rock does. While that doesn’t take away from this movie, because I had seen this other film it allowed me to correctly guess what was going on with the outbreak very quickly. Folks with a keen eye may notice some of the tell tale clues along the way and rush to the same conclusion which I hope folks don’t manage to do as I think they’d be doing themselves a disservice to their enjoyment of such a well-paced and plotted film.
The Verdict
Joseph: One of the stronger zombie films I’ve seen recently — and as I stated earlier, this is far more than simply a run-of-the-mill zombie romp — Mourning Rock boasts heart-wrenching family drama and intriguing character study along with its living-dead mayhem. The third act impressed me greatly, and on a second watch, I found subtle clues that weren’t as apparent as on my first viewing. Strongly recommended for all manner of fear-fare aficionados.
Mike: Mourning Rock is a zombie movie that is more than just a zombie movie. Some “purists” may take issue with some of the plot points, but there’s a lot going on here to like. From exceptional performances to a great character study of grief and loss, Wolfe and company have delivered a satisfyingly memorable film that I think horror and thriller fans will enjoy.
——————————————–
Below quotes from the cast and crew:
Doing what you love is made even better when you get to do it with talented friends!!! A La Billy Burke, Raoul Trujillo, and Taylor Handley!! Hell Yeah!– Jeff Wolfe, director, Instagram
Truly the best of the best on every level of this film. Getting to produce and direct a film I co-wrote years ago, alongside my amazing wife, with some of the most talented friends I know… and being granted an interim agreement from SAG with their blessing to remind the AMPTP that making a movie can be more about creativity and less about stuffing pockets… it’s a win win. Here’s to the first feature of many, done the right way. As a creative family.
– Jeff Wolfe, director, Instagram
We are actors, writers and director WE WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE! Love being a part of indies. Thank you Jeff Wolfe, Kevin Matossian, all the awesome cast and incredible crew who do this for the passion and love of our crafts.
– Raoul Max Trujillo, actor, Instagram
Lead, DP, and Director. So amazing to be able to collaborate with these two!– Jeff Wolfe, director, Instagram
Big shoutout to our Big Dawg Billy Burke. One of the most talented actors l’ve ever worked with, incredibly giving and authentic, you’re the man!
– Kylr Coffman, actor, Instagram
promo pictures
Ph. Don Holtz. Posters shared by Jeff Wolfe and Bart J. Mixon on Instagram.
BTS pictures & videos
Photos shared by the cast and crew on their social media accounts. Video by Bart J. Mixon.
