Under the Mountain

Maurice Gee's classic novel about aliens running amok under Auckland has rarely gone out of print, since its debut in 1979. First adapted as a memorable 80s TV series, this movie retooling sees teenage twins Theo and Rachel stumbling across shape-shifting creatures that are hiding beneath Auckland's extinct volcanoes. American showbiz magazine Variety praised Black Sheep director Jonathan King's "solid helming", and the excellent acting of Sam Neill as the mysterious Mr Jones. Oliver Driver plays lead villain Mr Wilberforce, under four hours of make-up.

I wanted him to be animalistic. I was thinking of things like sharks and wolves, things that he could smell, and that he had a single-minded purpose. He is uncomfortable and hates being in human form.

– Oliver Driver on playing Mr Wilberforce, Dominion Post, 10 December 2009

Key Cast & Crew

Oliver Driver

As: Mister Wilberforce

Sam Neill

As: Mister Jones

Jonathan King

Director, Writer, Producer

Richard Fletcher

Producer

Matthew Grainger

Producer, Writer

Nathan Meister

As: Johan/Lenart