Azrael Director E.L. Katz on Directing Samara Weaving in a Strange Dark World

Filmmaker E.L. Katz follows up his excellent movies Cheap Thrills and Small Crimes with something bigger and bolder, Azrael, written by the man behind You're Next and The Guest. The director spoke with MovieWeb about creating the film and building its world, and working with Samara Weaving to create a great performance. Azrael hits theaters Jun 11, 2025, from IFC Films. In a world in which no one speaks, a mysterious, devout community hunts down a young woman named Azrael (Samara Weaving) who has escaped their imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, she is to be sacrificed to pacify an evil which resides deep within the surrounding wilderness – but Azrael will stop at nothing to ensure her own freedom and survival. From the seeds of this gritty, relentless parable of sacrifice and salvation, comes an immersive, real-time, action horror tale from the visionary minds of Simon Barrett and E.L. Katz.

June 23, 2025 · 1 min · 150 words · Gabriella Bass

Filmmaker E.L. Katz follows up his excellent movies Cheap Thrills and Small Crimes with something bigger and bolder, Azrael, written by the man behind You’re Next and The Guest. The director spoke with MovieWeb about creating the film and building its world, and working with Samara Weaving to create a great performance. Azrael hits theaters Jul 06, 2025, from IFC Films.In a world in which no one speaks, a mysterious, devout community hunts down a young woman named Azrael (Samara Weaving) who has escaped their imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, she is to be sacrificed to pacify an evil which resides deep within the surrounding wilderness – but Azrael will stop at nothing to ensure her own freedom and survival. From the seeds of this gritty, relentless parable of sacrifice and salvation, comes an immersive, real-time, action horror tale from the visionary minds of Simon Barrett and E.L. Katz.

Azrael