We're big fans of Kiwi director Jonathan King in these parts, much smitten by his horror-comedy Black Sheep of a few years ago. And King has been a busy man lately, writing and directing a healthy budget adaptation of youth-fantasy novel Under The Mountain. Written in 1979 the novel has been made into a television series in the past but has never made it to the big screen until now. Things have been quiet since the film was first announced but with news that photography is now complete and the film in post production under the watchful eye of Peter Jackson's WETA Workshop, the first still has now arrived.

When teenage twins Rachel and Theo investigate the creepy old house next door, they discover the Wilberforces - shape-shifting creatures that lurk beneath Auckland's ring of extinct volcanoes.

Guided by the mysterious Mr Jones and with the help of their older cousin Ricky, the twins must rekindle the unique powers they once shared if they are to destroy this ancient evil - before it destroys them.

We've lamented the lack of good youth fantasy in these pages lately and this is one of a coming wave of titles that looks poised to fill that void. Hit the link below for a larger version of the still.