Filming has kicked off in Western Australia on The Engagement Party, the directorial debut of actor Dacre Montgomery. Best known for his breakout role as Billy in Stranger Things and appearances in Elvis and Power Rangers, the Perth-born and WAAPA-trained actor is now behind the camera for the first time, calling action on a project shot entirely in his home state.
Co-starring Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise), Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Arlo Green (M3GAN), the psychological thriller follows four friends who reunite on a secluded island to celebrate an engagement, only for a long-buried memory to unravel the night. The film, written by Jory Anast and produced by Virginia Whitwell, Nick Batzias, Ian Booth and Nash Edgerton, explores themes of love, friendship, trauma, and consent.
Montgomery said he was “thrilled to be back in WA to direct [his] debut feature,” adding that with a strong local crew and cast, “[he] feels ready to make something special.”
A cinematic homecoming
The film’s South West locations will serve as both backdrop and character, capturing the region’s raw, cinematic beauty. Supported through the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund, production is expected to inject around $3 million into the state’s economy, with an estimated $1.05 million spent in regional areas and around 95 local jobs created.
Producers from GoodThing Productions said Montgomery’s vision and Anast’s script had them “captivated from the first read,” describing The Engagement Party as a “powerful character-driven psychological thriller” that would encourage conversation and interrogation of difficult subject matter.
WA’s screen industry steps into the spotlight
Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said Montgomery’s return underscored the strength of Western Australia’s creative talent. “Dacre brings skills and experience gained on international productions, which will inspire emerging WA creatives to pursue and expand their career in the creative industries,” she said.
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall called the production a win for local filmmakers. “Attracting homegrown talent back to our state to work on productions like this is a massive boon for the local screen industry and our local economy,” she said. “It showcases our incredible landscapes and hardworking creatives to the world.”
