Scary Script Tops US Box Office

Horror film Mama, co-written by Wellington-based novelist and scriptwriter Neil Cross, recently took the top spot at the North American box office. Mama earned $28.1 million from Friday through to Sunday at US and Canadian theatres, according to Universal Pictures estimates. It is Cross’ first film script. The 100-minute film tells the story of two young girls who, having been presumed dead, emerge from the woods five years later. The film was executive produced by Academy Award-nominated director Guillermo del Toro. Cross is creator and sole writer of the international multi-award-winning BBC crime thriller Luther. Del Toro has confirmed that he is producing the crime drama Midnight Delivery with Cross.