Darklands (film)
 | This article is missing information about the film's production. (June 2016) |
| Darklands | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Julian Richards |
| Written by | Julian Richards |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Zoran Djordjevic |
| Edited by | Mark Talbot-Butler |
| Music by | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £500,000[1] |
| Box office | £11,000[1] |
Darklands is a British horror film written and directed by Julian Richards, starring Craig Fairbrass, Jon Finch, Rowena King, which was released in 1997.[2][3]
Richards wrote the screenplay after attending the Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh. It was produced by Paul Brooks at Metrodome Films.
Dubbed "the Welsh Wicker Man" by the UK press, Darklands is possibly the first home grown Welsh horror film.[4] The film forms part of the growth of the Cool Cymru era of arts and culture.
Plot
[edit] | This article needs an improved plot summary. (June 2016) |
Darklands follows journalist Frazer Truick as he investigates the mysterious death of the brother of trainee journalist Rachel Morris. Delving deeper, Truick becomes convinced that the tragedy was murder, committed by a bizarre religious cult. But as the evidence unfolds, things take on a more sinister and potentially lethal significance for the reporter, as he becomes embroiled in devil worship, witchcraft and ultimately human sacrifice.
Release
[edit]In 1998 Darklands was theatrically released in the UK by Metrodome Films, released on VHS by Pathé and broadcast by ITV.
Darklands is available on DVD in Germany (Splended Films), France, Fox Film Corporation and Spain (Filmax).
Darklands was released on DVD in the USA and Canada by MVD Distribution on 20 November 2012.
Awards
[edit]- Critics' Award - Fantasporto
- Méliès d'Argent - Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver - Fantasporto
- Best Screenplay - Fantasporto
- Special Jury Award - Fantasporto
- Best Independent Feature Award - Festival of Fantastic Films (UK)
- Silver Remi Award - WorldFest Houston
Festivals
[edit]- Welsh International Film Festival - Aberystwyth, UK
- Fantasporto Film Festival - Portugal
- Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Films - Belgium
- Valenciennes Action & Adventure Film Festival - France
- Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival - Netherlands
- Newport Beach Film Festival - USA
- WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival - USA
- Fantafestival - Rome, Italy
- Shots In The Dark Film Festival - Nottingham, UK
- Puchon Fantastic Film Festival - South Korea
- Espoo Ciné - Finland
- Festival of Fantastic Films (UK) - Manchester
- Lund Fantastisk Film Festival - Sweden
- Sitges Film Festival - Spain
- Leeds Film Festival - UK
- San Sebastián Film Festival - Spain
- Cinenygma Fantasy Festival - Luxemburg
- Scienceplusfiction Film Festival -Trieste, Italy
- Another Hole in the Head Genre Film Festival -San Francisco, USA
Critical response
[edit]'Action horror with elements of The Wicker Man ' - Variety.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Alexander Walker, Icons in the Fire: The Rise and Fall of Practically Everyone in the British Film Industry 1984-2000, Orion Books, 2005 p274-275
- ^ New York Times
- ^ Total Film
- ^ "Britishhorrorfilms.co.uk". Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ Variety
External links
[edit]
- 1997 films
- 1997 horror films
- 1997 independent films
- British supernatural horror films
- British independent films
- Films about cults
- Cool Cymru
- Films scored by John Murphy (composer)
- Films about journalists
- Films set in Wales
- Films about human sacrifice
- Films about Satanism
- Films about witchcraft
- 1990s English-language films
- 1990s British films
- English-language horror films
- Religious horror films
- English-language independent films