Episode 08 Haydn Butler - Director of "Home Kills"
Here’s the next exciting episode talking with Haydn Butler first time feature director but long time story teller.
Haydn Butler is a New Zealand filmmaker whose career reflects a blend of grassroots storytelling and inventive dark comedy. Hailing from Kawerau, Butler studied film at Waikato University, where he met long-time collaborator Lanny Joe. His early short film Fresh, which delved into the culture of "dossing" among young Antipodeans in London, earned both Best Film and Audience awards at the UpOverDownUnder Antipodean Festival . After years working in television across Auckland, London, and Sydney—including roles in reality TV and editing projects like Suddenly Royal—Butler returned to New Zealand to pursue his passion for filmmaking.
His feature debut, Home Kills, is a darkly comedic thriller set in rural Waikato, inspired by a roadside sign he saw in his teens. The film follows two brothers who, struggling to keep their family butchery afloat, resort to offering a new service: killing people. Shot on a modest budget with support from the New Zealand Film Commission and local communities, the film showcases Butler's talent for blending deadpan Kiwi humor with macabre storytelling . Home Kills premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2023 and received acclaim for its unique tone and regional authenticity . Butler's work continues to highlight the richness of small-town New Zealand life, and he remains committed to telling stories that resonate both locally and internationally.
In this exciting episode we talk about his film making journey that lead Haydn to tell this dark and humours story.
Synopsis
Home Kills is a darkly satirical thriller that explores the fine line between family loyalty and moral decay in suburban New Zealand. When a failing middle-class family stumbles upon a lucrative scheme involving assisted euthanasia, they justify their actions as a public service—offering a "humane" solution to those seeking a dignified end. Led by a charming yet increasingly unhinged patriarch, the family transforms their quiet home into a macabre business operation, hiding their deeds behind a veneer of community care.
As demand grows and pressure mounts, the façade begins to crack. Paranoia, greed, and guilt spiral out of control, threatening to tear the family apart. With local authorities circling and clients becoming harder to manage, Home Kills builds toward a chilling climax that asks: how far would you go to protect your family, and at what cost to your soul? The film combines biting social commentary with unsettling humor, making it a provocative addition to New Zealand’s tradition of bold, genre-defying cinema.
IMDB Film link.
Staring Cameron Jones, Josh McKenzie, Mavournee Hazel
The film is showing over the next few weeks in theaters, I’m sure you’ll have a fun time.