Three new Australian feature films based on the true story of the infamous Alexander Pearce, Australia’s most notorious convict who was hung for murder and cannibalism in 1824, have been created.Dying Breed is a horror flick set in present day but based on the Pearce apologue, which premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and is due for international release this year, while the DVD will release in the US, March 31, 2009.
The other two films are set in the 1820s in Tasmania. The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce, starring UK actor Ciarán McMenamin (pictured) debuted on TV in Australia in Frebruary and a theatrical release in the U.K. and Ireland are also expected.
The third film, Van Dieman’s Land, directed by Jonathan Auf Der Heide, stars Australian actor Oscar Redding as Alexander Pearce. The film premiered at the Adelaide International Film Festival last month.