Went Up the Hill is a 2024 Australian–New Zealand psychological thriller drama directed by Samuel Van Grinsven, known for Sequin in a Blue Room. The film stars Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) as Jack and Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) as Jill, two strangers brought together by the funeral of Jack’s estranged mother in remote New Zealand. As they mourn, the mother’s ghost inhabits both of their bodies, forcing a confrontation with past trauma and unresolved grief. The film also features performances by Sarah Peirse, Arlo Green, and Finlay Grey.
A haunting yet intimate story, Went Up the Hill blends elements of possession, grief, identity, and generational trauma. The film had its premiere at TIFF 2024 and will receive a limited theatrical release on August 15, 2025. Though not categorized strictly as horror, Van Grinsven draws inspiration from psychological thrillers like Persona and Personal Shopper, focusing more on emotional disorientation than fright.
WHERE WAS WENT UP THE HILL FILMED?
Filming for Went Up the Hill took place entirely on location in New Zealand in 2023, during the SAG-AFTRA strike. The production made use of the haunting beauty of the Canterbury Highlands on the South Island, offering a desolate yet majestic backdrop for the film’s eerie narrative.
Canterbury Highlands, South Island, New Zealand
The core of the film’s shooting took place in the Canterbury Highlands, about two hours away from Van Grinsven’s own birthplace. The region’s stark, wind-swept hills and remote homesteads proved ideal for the tone of the film. These highlands added a raw, elemental quality to the story, emphasizing the characters’ isolation and emotional turmoil.
This location choice was highly personal for Van Grinsven, grounding the fictional story in a place filled with personal and cultural memory. The natural terrain helped visualize the emotional landscapes the characters traverse—loneliness, fear, and spiritual disruption.
Lake Pearson, New Zealand
One of the most visually striking sequences in the film takes place on a frozen lake. These scenes were shot at Lake Pearson, a real lake located near Arthur’s Pass National Park. Its still, glassy surface provided an almost otherworldly backdrop for the supernatural elements of the film.
Some shots were filmed from a distance showing the lake behind the character’s house, giving a true sense of isolation and natural beauty. However, scenes requiring interaction with the ice surface were captured using a specially constructed ice-like set built just in front of the real lake.
Artificial Ice Set
To film the intense emotional and physical scenes on the ice safely, the production team created a synthetic ice surface in a nearby paddock. This set was developed by experienced crew members who had previously worked on large-scale productions like The Hobbit and Avatar. Despite being man-made, the surface blended seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
BEHIND THE SCENES: CREATING THE ATMOSPHERE
The casting process began in late 2022, with Vicky Krieps initially unavailable. However, due to scheduling changes during the pandemic, the door reopened, and she joined the project not only as a lead actress but also as an executive producer. Her connection to the material was deeply personal. She shared during TIFF 2024 that she was grieving a loss while reading the script—making the ghost story an emotional mirror of her own experience.
Both Krieps and Montgomery took on the shared role of Elizabeth, Jack’s deceased mother, who speaks through both their characters. To keep track of who was “possessed,” the actors used a special perfume that helped them identify who was in character as Elizabeth. Montgomery described the experience of wearing the scent as “the darkest I’ve ever felt as a human.”
In an unusual creative addition, Krieps also composed and performed the film’s closing theme, titled “Jill.” She has written songs for her past characters, but Went Up the Hill marks the first time one was included in the film itself. The song served as a way to process her emotional journey through the role.
A LOCALLY SUPPORTED PRODUCTION
The movie was made possible through support from both Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission, along with Screen CanterburyNZ and other production partners. It also benefited from the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Grant, further anchoring the film in its national setting.
WENT UP THE HILL (2024) TRAILER
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