Screenwest has this week announced that film The Surfer has wrapped production in Western Australia, with the first look of Academy Award^® winner Nicolas Cage (Dream Scenario, Leaving Las Vegas) in the psychological thriller just released.

Directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium) and written by Thomas Martin, The Surfer is an intensely unnerving feature film shot in a single location in Yallingup in Western Australia, known for its iconic beaches.

When a man returns to Australia to buy back his family home after many years in the U.S. he is humiliated in front of his teenage son by a group of local surfers who claim ownership over the secluded beach of his childhood. Wounded, he defies them and remains at the beach, demanding acceptance. As the conflict escalates he is brought right to the edge of his sanity and his entire identity is thrown into question.

Joining Cage is an impressive Australian ensemble cast including Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck), Nicholas Cassim (Mr Inbetween), Miranda Tapsell (The Dry), Alexander Bertrand (Australian Gangster), Justin Rosniak (Last King of the Cross), Rahel Romahn (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Finn Little (Yellowstone) and Charlotte Maggi (Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child on Fire).

“Our stunning beaches in Yallingup combined with our competitive Production Attraction Incentive and talented crew made WA the perfect filming destination. Congrats on wrapping, team!”

Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO

The Surfer is an Australian/Irish Co-Production and produced by Tea Shop Productions, Arenamedia, Lovely Productions and Gramercy Park Media with support from Screenwest through the Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive, designed to attract high profile, market driven screen productions to the State. Mossbank is handling international sales.

“Having Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage in WA is a coup in itself, resulting in national and international media coverage of our great state,” explains WA Culture and Arts Minister, David Templeman. “On top of that, audiences all over the world – and movie makers – will get to see Western Australia on the big screen again. Locally there has been employment and economic benefits with 150 Western Australians employed as cast, crew and extras, and qualifying WA expenditure of $4,851,825.”

The Surfer is a Stan Original Film, in partnership with CinemaPlus who will be releasing the film theatrically in Australia.