Film director Ben Wheatley tweeted his storyboard drawings for High Rise over the weekend. Based on the dystopian novel by J. G. Ballard, High Rise is a brilliant and astounding movie. Its cinematic quality again confirms Wheatley’s status as one of the most talented and original film directors at work in film today. As a director Wheatley stands in direct lineage to the likes of Nicolas Roeg, Ken Russell, John Boorman and Stanley Kubrick. He is an auteur of exceptional brilliance.

Wheatley plans his films meticulously. He works in partnership with the multitalented screenwriter/editor Amy Jump—who is also his wife. Before filming, Wheatley storyboards the entire film scene by painstaking scene. As evidenced by the selection of drawings below, Wheatley considers everything from shot size and angle to action and camera moves within a sequence. These storyboards will may make better sense if you have seen High Rise—which I recommend you do. It stars as Tom Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, Jeremy Irons as Anthony Royal, Luke Evans as Richard Wilder, Elisabeth Moss as Helen Wilder, Sienna Miller as Charlotte Melville, and Keeley Hawes as Ann Royal. The film takes place in a luxury tower block (designed by Royal) during the 1970s. The block is split into three class structures—with the poorest at the bottom. As the tenants become removed from the outside world—chaos and violence unfold. High Rise is now available on Blu-ray.

The ever industrious Wheatley has just finished his latest film Freefire which will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month. Freefire is “a real time shootout” action thriller starring Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Sharlto Copley and Armie Hammer. Martin Scorsese is the executive producer and I, for one, am certainly looking forward to that…
 

Ben Wheatley director selfie on the set of ‘High Rise.’
 

Laing finds Digby the Dog.
 

Morning.
 

Morning—High Rise.
 

Charlotte and Wilder.
 

Laing having a massage.
 

Laing and the head.
 

Helen and the kids.
 

Wilder at the Party.
 

 

Laing and Charlotte.
 

Laing self medicates.
 

Air Hostess dream.
 

Laing bunks off work.
 

Digby watches.
 

Charlotte dives in the child piss filled pool.
 

Lift with Simmons.
 

Are you here to fix the aircon?
 

Do you want my autograph?
 

Abba by way of Clint Mansell.
 

Laing stranded in Lift.
 

We want our fair share!
 

Pangbourne ... with a copy of the FT.
 

Laing and Jean.
 

 

 

Laing and Monroe.
 

 

 

 

Kids Party.
 

 

 

 

Wilder rallies the Children.
 

 

 

End of the Party.
 

 

Pool Party Crashers!
 

 

 

Cosgrove talks to Wilder at the Pool Party.
 

 

 

What an oaf!
 

 

 

 

Swimming Pool Chaos.
 

 

 

Dog in the Pool.
 

 

Dead dog.
 

 

 

 

Wilder and Simmons at the Party.
 

 

 

 

Monrow’s party trick.
 

Monrow’s point of view.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte, Laing and Toby.
 

 

 

 

Wilder at the door.
 

Cosgrove in his hidey-hole.
 

 

Wilder and Helen.
 

 

That’s the first time he’s touched me in six months.
 

 

Supermarket Rumble.
 

Laing paints.
 

Wilder ejected.
 

 

Helen leaves her children.
 

 

Helen and Laing.
 

 

 

Wilder meets Royal.
 

 

 

Mrs. Royal on the conveyor belt.
 

 

 

The kidnapping of Helen Wilder.
 

Pangbourne delivers.
 

 

 

Wilder arrives.
 

 

The End.
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds
‘A Field in England’: Director Ben Wheatley talks about his head-trip Civil War movie
Ben Wheatley’s ‘Kill List’ will creep you out
 
With thanks to Mr. Wheatley.