Hater Optioned by Del Toro

This is a dramatisation based on page 102 of British author David Moody’s novel, Hater.

Sometimes self-publication works — and produces spectacular results.

Moody’s self-published horror novel appeared online in 2006. Without an agent, Moody managed to sell the film rights to none other than Guillermo del Toro (director of Kronos, Blade 2, The Devil’s Backbone, Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy 1 & 2, and the upcoming Hobbit series) and Mark Johnson (producer of The Chronicles of Narnia). The film will be produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage). Production begins “soon”.

The novel, which appears to be another incarnation of the currently popular theme of viral violence/anger — as seen most notably in the semi-zombie flick 28 Days Later… and its sequel — is due to be officially published by St. Martin’s Press via the Thomas Dunne Books imprint on 17 February. To quote from publicity, “[With this publication] David is poised to make a significant mark as a writer of ‘farther out’ fiction of all varieties.”

Compared to the work of H.G. Wells and Richard Matheson (a big call), Hater is “one man’s story of his place in a world gone mad — a world infected with fear, violence, and hate.”

The Story:

Society is rocked by a sudden increase in the number of violent assaults on individuals. Christened ‘Haters’ by the media, the attackers strike without warning, killing all who cross their path. The assaults are brutal, remorseless and extreme: within seconds, normally rational, self-controlled people become frenzied, vicious killers. There are no apparent links as a hundred random attacks become a thousand, then hundreds of thousands. Everyone, irrespective of gender, age, race or any other difference, has the potential to become a victim – or a Hater. People are afraid to go to work, afraid to leave their homes and, increasingly, afraid that at any moment their friends, even their closest family, could turn on them with ultra violent intent. Waking up each morning, no matter how well defended, everyone must now consider the fact that by the end of the day, they might be dead.  Or perhaps worse, become a killer themselves. As the status quo shifts, ATTACK FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER becomes the order of the day…  only, the answers might be much different than what you expect…. (Macmillan website)

Del Toro describes the book as “A head-spinning thrill ride, a cautionary tale about the most salient emotion of the 21st century… HATER will haunt you long after you read the last page…”

If you’re curious, you can read the first two chapters for free. They can be accessed via the Macmillan website (Chapter 1 and Chapter 2).

• Source: Zeitghost Media exclusive press release