Actor Chris Colfer, widely known for his role in the musical series Glee, is set to star in a new gothic horror film titled The Restoration at Grayson Manor. The film, which was shot in Ireland, will have its premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) on February 28.
The narrative follows Boyd Grayson (Colfer), the flamboyant and hedonistic heir to a family estate. His lifestyle is a constant source of conflict with his mother, Jacqueline (played by Alice Krige), who is fixated on securing the family legacy through a grandchild. The relationship between mother and son, already strained, forms the tense core of the story.
The plot takes a turn into body horror after an accident leaves Boyd without his hands. Seizing the opportunity, Jacqueline subjects him to an experimental procedure involving prosthetic hands that are controlled directly by his subconscious. This procedure becomes a tool for her to exert control, escalating the psychological battle between them.
In a statement about the role, Colfer explained the character's motivations, noting that Boyd's behaviour is a direct reaction to past trauma. "His mother tortured him in his youth with conversion therapies, so now Boyd lives to make her angry and uncomfortable in any way possible," Colfer said. He described the character as a "very privileged and deeply damaged person" who uses chaotic music to express his internal frustration.
The Restoration at Grayson Manor is an Irish production, directed by Glenn McQuaid and produced by the Dublin-based company Fantastic Films, which has previously worked on films such as Vivarium and You Are Not My Mother. Colfer remarked positively on his time filming in the country, stating he "adored filming in Ireland" and "fell in love with the Irish people."
The film's premiere is scheduled for the final day of the Dublin International Film Festival. Information regarding wider distribution or a release in the Netherlands has not yet been announced.
