Welsh actor and film producer Craig Russell’s horror movie, Protein, has endured an epic struggle to get to the big screen – with Russell himself living with a brain tumour throughout this decade-long stretch. He spoke to Keiron Self about how it’s all panned out.
It’s not every day that you speak to someone who has survived brain surgery. However, Craig Russell has done just that. The Welshman, whose film and TV credits encompass acting, writing and producing, has spent 10 years getting mid-Wales horror film Protein to the screen: a gestation period almost as long as the brain tumour that nearly claimed his life.
Protein started life in 2014 as a short horror film, written and directed by former music video specialist Tony Burke. Plaudits for its gritty, darkly funny take on cannibalism and gym culture followed, and the movie was duly expanded to a feature film – set around Llanelli, and boasting a fabulous Welsh cast.
Russell takes the buff lead as Sion, a traumatized ex-soldier. Drifting around trying to find his place in the world in between hitting the gym, wracked by PTSD and with a cannibalistic appetite to feed – he needs his protein, see? – Sion finds himself caught up in a drug war between some hilariously inept local criminals (played by Steven Meo, Kai Owen, Richard Elis and Gareth John Bale) and their Albanian counterparts.
Coppers Stanton and Patch, respectively played by Charlie Dale and Andrea Hall, are on their trail; dodgy nightclub owner Joe Llewelyn (Richard Mylan) is at the epicentre of the whole farrago. Kezia Burrows plays gym owner Katrina: struggling to make ends meet herself, she takes a shine to Russell’s taciturn loner.
Protein in its finished form is grim, gory but often very funny stuff, with Russell excellent as the haunted flesh-muncher. Russell had shepherded the film from short to feature, with previous experience as star and producer of enjoyable 2017 horror film Canaries – set in Cwmtwrch, a Powys village where Russell grew up, and which was also made on a small budget.
However, efforts to raise funds for Protein’s production faced multiple setbacks thanks to COVID, with filming dates also having to shift several times. Eventually filming in 2021, with Russell organising casting and locations alongside the Carmarthen-based Broadside Films (as well as getting a ripped gym bod for the purpose of the role), this month it’ll finally receive its premiere at the London edition of Arrow Video’s annual FrightFest.
For Russell, his battles against a brain tumour for a decade and a half make this an especially personal triumph. “The film has been a part of my life for as long as I’ve had my tumour,” he says, describing it as “the size of a lime”.
“It had been growing for 15 years,” he continues, “altering the shape of my skull and my vision.” Now Russell has a new concrete skull, an itchy scalp and an incredibly positive worldview. “I am one of the lucky ones,” he admits, and since his operation has made tracks to run with that luck: “I’ve become an ambassador for [British medical research charity] Brain Tumour Research. I had the opportunity to speak in Parliament about the chronic underfunding and statistical toll of this disease.”
Having overcome his own personal horrors whilst making a horror film, what are Russell’s hopes for this long-incubated project? “For the film to find an audience globally. The premiere at London FrightFest will hopefully bring us a welcome publicity boost and attract attention for distributors.” Here’s hoping – Craig Russell’s not just a resilient force of nature, he has a classy horror film under his belt with a distinctly Welsh flavour. Confidently directed by feature film debutant Tony Burke, Protein is well worth your time. No empty carbs.
Protein will be screened at FrightFest, Leicester Square ODEON, London on Sat 24 Aug at 6pm.
Info and tickets: here
If you’d like to make a donation to Brain Tumour Research, visit braintumourresearch.org
words KEIRON SELF
