Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner is gearing up for a surf-themed thriller in tropical Indonesia titled "Headhunters."
The Hollywood film industry has a very poor track record when it comes to producing and shooting surf-related movies.
For some reason, nearly all flicks featuring surfing and surfers fell into the clichés and common places that often haunt the sport.
These dull and ignorant approaches to the surf can only be compared to the media outlets' coverage of the movies themselves.
They usually start with titles such as "Kevin Costner is catching a wave" or "Surf's up for Waterworld star."
Despite Hollywood's bad rap dealing with wave-riding stories, the 69-year-old actor, producer, and director is giving it a go.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Headhunters" promises to take the Californian from the ranches and prairies of his recent films to the sun-soaked beaches of Bali, in what's described as a blend of surf culture and survival horror.
Could this work? Surf culture and survival horror? Doesn't it sound so weird that it is nearly kitsch?
Costner will not only star in the film but also co-write the script with accomplished cinematographer Steven Holleran, who is making his feature directorial debut.
"Headhunters" is a collaboration between Costner's production company, Territory Pictures, and Scott Steindorff's Stone Village Films.
Plot and Characters
In his first adventure into the surfing world, Costner takes on the role of Lazer, a washed-up American expat living in Bali with a murky and mysterious past.
Lazer assembles a group of surfers, led by local photographer Bima, to explore a remote and uncharted island in search of the elusive "perfect wave."
However, paradise quickly turns into a nightmare when the surfers discover that the island is home to an ancient tribe of headhunters fiercely protecting their land.
What starts as an idyllic adventure becomes a bloody survival story.
The logline describes the movie as "combining the kinetic energy of surf culture with the suspense of horror," with the action unfolding against an isolated tropical island's stunning yet dangerous backdrop.
In other words, we're talking about a surf trip that, at some point, derails and goes terribly wrong, with blood being spilled in the jungle.
It could've been Mexico, but screenwriters and producers chose Indonesia.
Costner will share the screen with rising star Daniel Zovatto, best known for his work in HBO's "Station Eleven" and "The Pope's Exorcist."
Behind the Camera
"Headhunters" brings together a skilled team of Hollywood veterans and rising talent.
Steven Holleran, known for his work as a director of photography on projects like Netflix's "Firechasers," conceptualized the film's story before collaborating with Costner on the screenplay.
Holleran, an experienced cinematographer with a passion for surfing, has described the project as a personal passion that reflects his early love for shooting surf videos as a teenager.
"For decades, my friend Kevin and I have been searching for the right project to collaborate on," said producer Scott Steindorff.
And then he raises the stakes.
"This is one of the best scripts I have seen in my career. Kevin brings so much depth and charisma to his roles and has written an iconic horror script with Steve."
The creative team also includes cinematographer Ericson Core, whose notable work on "Point Break" and "The Fast and the Furious" makes him the first choice for the action-driven surf elements of "Headhunters."
Production designer Derek Hill, known for "Ozark" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," and costume designer Lisa Lovaas ("Horizon: An American Saga," "Renfield") round out the behind-the-scenes crew.
"Headhunters" is currently in pre-production, with filming set to begin in November 2024 in Hawaii.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com