IFC Films has grabbed the U.S. rights to Michael Cuesta’s second feature, Twelve and Holding. His first controversial movie from 2001, L.I.E., freaked out audiences but also deeply intrigued them. It took the daring step of painting a pedophile as an actual human being, and not a one-dimensional monster.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Cuesta’s follow-up picture continues to explore dark themes within the adolescent community. After a boy (Conor Donovan) dies in a tree house fire caused by local bullies, three of his friends respond unpleasantly. His twin brother (also played by Donovan), seeks revenge; an obese survivor of the fire (Jesse Camacho) loses his sense of taste and smell; and their female buddy (Zoe Weizenbaum) tries to sexually entice one of the patients of her therapist mother (Annabella Sciorra). Needless to say, the kids aren’t alright.
Cuesta refers to Twelve and Holding as, ”sort of 'Stand By Me' for a new generation”. The script is written by Anthony Cipriano, and the film was shot in 25 days on a $700,000 budget. Cuesta is expecting an R rating due to some cursing and a May-December romance.
The film is slated for an early summer release.
