Ben Wheatley couldn't care less about High-Rise walkouts

Ben Wheatley couldn't care less if people walkout of his new movie 'High-Rise'. The 44-year-old English director's dystopian drama is based on J.G. Ballard's novel of the same name and the story is set in the UK in an alternate 1970s in a tower block which is for the rich and privileged whom become disinterested in the outside world and society due to the conveniences on offer. Wheatley's film follows Tom Hiddleston's character, neurologist Dr. Robert Laing, as the apartment block descends into chaos The movie has proven to be divisive as there have been reports of viewers walking out of screenings while reviews have veered from glowing to critical, with some writers describing it as "pointless and pretentious". Speaking at the Three Empire Awards on Sunday, when asked what he thought about the walk-outs, Wheatley replied: "Well, I couldn't care!" He was then asked if that was all he had to say on the matter, and he replied: "Absolutely!" As well as Hiddleston, the film also stars Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, Keeley Hawes and Augustus Prew. Although Wheatley is being bullish about the walkouts now, he has previously admitted that a reaction like that can be "bruising" to his ego. He said: "There's walkouts, but what kind of an idiot walks out of a film? I don't think I've ever walked out of a movie. I've always made the movies for me and that sounds arrogant, but I understand there's an audience that's like me and I play to that audience. My gamble is that it's big enough to support the film." On the world premiere walkouts he added: "It can be bruising on the day, but it's fine. I get worried that one day you'll make a film nobody will go and see. But at least people are passionate about it." Wheatley attended the Empire Awards as 'High-Rise' was nominated for Best British Film but lost out to 'I, Daniel Blake'. However, Wheatley did not leave the ceremony at The Roundhouse in London emptyhanded as 'The Greasy Strangler' - on which he acted as executive producer - was named Best Comedy.