We’re huge fans of Matthew Holness, so the news that he’s setting up his feature directing debut is extremely welcome on this Monday morning. Screen Daily reports that the creator of Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace will direct a horror film titled Possum.
The movie will star awesome character actor Sean Harris (Prometheus, 71, Macbeth) in the lead role, which will begin filming in Norfolk at the end of November.
“The story is about a disgraced children’s puppeteer who returns to his childhood home and is forced to confront his wicked stepfather and the secrets that have tortured him his entire life.”
In a statement, Holness said, “Possum is a supernatural horror combining the stark psycho-drama of George Romero’s Martin with the uncanny terror of Dead Of Night. The film draws on the dark nightmares of silent expressionist horror, British classics such as The Innocents and Don’t Look Now, as well as the claustrophobic suburban gothic of Pete Walker’s Frightmare. Possum will terrify in the best tradition of classic horror cinema, evoking an atmosphere of supernatural dread and creeping horror.” Which sounds absolutely amazing, we have to say.
Holness is probably best known for his collaborations with Richard Ayoade on Darkplace and Man To Man With Dean Learner, and he’s popped up in shows like Toast Of London, Friday Night Dinner, Life’s Too Short and Time Trumpet. Although he’s mostly worked in comedy, his short film A Gun For George was a fair bit darker but we’d definitely recommend it, and we’re really excited to see what he’ll do with a straight horror movie. Looking at the films he namechecks in that statement, this could be something special.
More casting announcements will be made soon, and we’ll update as we hear more!
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