‘The Weed Eaters’ Rolls into FrightFest with Kiwi Stoner Horror

New Zealand indie film The Weed Eaters is roaring from rural Canterbury to the international genre spotlight with a screening at London’s FrightFest on 25 August. The spirited stoner-horror-comedy premiered at the Whanau Marama: New Zealand International Film Festival on 2 August, with limited screenings slated in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin ahead of its West End debut.

Directed by Callum Devlin of the collective Sports Team, The Weed Eaters follows four cannabis-fuelled millennials on a chaotic New Year’s Eve trip that goes spectacularly off the rails. Jules (played by Alice May Connolly), Brian (Finnius Teppett), Campbell (Samuel Austin) and Charlie (Annabel Kean) embark on a journey fuelled by cheap wine and stolen weed, and find themselves in escalating conflict with local residents portrayed by Paul Kean, David Correos and Delaney Davidson.

What began as a modest community-funded effort from Sports Team, composed of Devlin, Kean, Connolly and Teppett, quickly gained momentum. The group raised nearly NZD 20,000 on Boosted and filmed the movie over a few frenetic weeks in mid-Canterbury using DIY effects, practical rigs and a shared passion for hands-on storytelling. Their small production team included multi-tasking collaborators – Samuel Austin doubling as actor, cinematographer and gaffer; Oliver Devlin assisting on sound and direction; and Anna McIntosh behind the camera.

Joining the cast were Ella Gilbert, acting coach and performer, and roles for local talents Jordan Mooney, David Correos and Delaney Davidson. The production was bolstered by executive producers Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films, and former Letterboxd editor-in-chief Gemma Gracewood, who helped the film reach completion and prepare it for international exposure.

The Weed Eaters is Devlin’s directorial feature debut and carries the energetic swagger of low-budget indie filmmaking – with irreverent humour, practical effects, and plenty of munchie-fuelled absurdity. The film captures both the messy camaraderie and moral floundering of those on the fringes of adulthood, landing somewhere between a bleak comedy and a cautionary tale.

Its inclusion in FrightFest’s 2025 programme adds a distinctly Kiwi sensibility to the festival run. Devlin is also an artist-musician and member of New Zealand band Hans Pucket, further underscoring the project’s DIY ethos. Co-creators Alice May Connolly and Finnius Teppett have rich backgrounds in theatre, comedy and TV writing, while Annabel Kean’s roles in production, acting and design reflect a genuinely multi-hyphenate matrix.

From a backyard-funded shoot to a London genre showcase, The Weed Eaters demonstrates how grassroots filmmaking and a strong sense of community can deliver unexpected festival impact.