Guest of Honour

Wheatley is known for his genre-blending style, mixing horror, dark comedy, crime and surrealism. In interviews, he has repeatedly rejected rigid labels, arguing such categories are critics’ constructs; instead, he follows the story wherever it leads, whether that’s horror or comedy or something in between. Wheatley wants to make films that he himself would be excited to see — things that are ‘a bit more challenging.’ 

His work often explores themes of violence, social decay, class tension and psychological collapse. But Wheatley frequently subverts audience expectations, shifting tones abruptly — from domestic realism to graphic violence or absurd humour. 

Visually, Wheatley favours handheld camerawork, naturalistic lighting, and experimental editing, often collaborating with editor (and wife) Amy Jump. About his work on set, he once said: ‘I think a big part of my job is to make an atmosphere […] and have an attitude that it’s about experimentation, and you can’t do anything wrong.’ 

Across his diverse filmography, Wheatley’s signature is always confrontational and idiosyncratic, using genre conventions to reflect on British society, individual morality and the fragility of civilisation. He remains a unique voice in contemporary British cinema.