''Sweetness'' is a 2025 Canadian

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

written and directed by Emma Higgins.Jamie Casemore
"Emma Higgins’ Sweetness to debut at SXSW"
'' Playback'', February 7, 2025. The film stars Kate Hallett as Rylee Hill, a teenager who meets rock star Payton Adler (

Herman Tømmeraas Herman Tømmeraas (born 2 April 1997) is a Norwegian actor and dancer. He is best known for his role as Christoffer Schistad in the television teen drama series ''Skam (TV series), Skam'' (2015–2017). Early life Tømmeraas was born in Solber ...

), and becomes obsessed with saving him from his demons when she realizes that he's a dysfunctional drug addict rather than a role model.Etan Vlessing
"‘Women Talking’ Star Kate Hallett, Herman Tommeraas Join ‘Sweetness’ Teen Thriller"
''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'', March 21, 2024. The cast also includes

Justin Chatwin Justin Chatwin (born October 31, 1982) is a Canadian actor. He began his career in 2001 with a brief appearance in the musical comedy '' Josie and the Pussycats''. Following his breakthrough role as Robbie Ferrier in the blockbuster '' War of the ...

, Steven Ogg, Amanda Brugel, Erika Swayze, Aya Furukawa, Julius Cho, Kelly Reich, Kelsey Ruhl, Maureen Cassidy, Jude Zappala, Andrea Senior, Carter Belanger, Matt Lishman, Joan Bartley and Josh Reich in sipporting roles. It premiered at the

2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival The 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival took place from March 7–15 at several venues in Austin, Texas, as part of the larger South by Southwest annual event. The festival opened with the film '' Another Simple Favor'' and the debut of t ...

on March 7.

Production

In March 2024, it was announced that Canadian–American production company Fela stepped in to finance the project written and directed by Emma Higgins in her feature directorial debut. The film also received an additional $500,000 funding from the Ontario government through the

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is a Crown corporation and development agency of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in the Canadian province of Ontario, whose purpose is to provide funding and program support to ...

. The film was shot on location in

North Bay, Ontario North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing. It developed as a railroad centre and its airport was an important military locatio ...

, from April 15 to May 8, 2024.

References

External links

* 2025 films 2025 directorial debut films 2025 thriller films 2020s Canadian films 2020s English-language films Canadian thriller films English-language Canadian films English-language thriller films Films scored by Blitz//Berlin Films shot in North Bay, Ontario {{2020s-Canada-film-stub