CARMILLA: Romantic Horror Thriller Takes To AFM For Arclight This Month
Romantic horror film, Carmilla, is heading to the virtual AFM under Arclight who will handle international sales rights, excluding the UK, Australia, and Germany.
Emily Harris makes her solo directorial feature debut with a cast that lists newcomers Hannah Rae and Devrim Lingnau, alongside Jessica Raine (PBS’ Call the Midwife) and Netflix’s The Crown actors Tobias Menzies (“Outlander”) and Greg Wise (Sense and Sensibility).
An atmospheric, coming-of-age love story steeped in eerie mystery, Carmilla is a reimagining of Sheridan La Fanu’s 19th century novella of the same name. 15-year-old Lara (Hannah Rae) lives with her father (Greg Wise) and her strict governess, Miss Fontaine (Jessica Raine), in total isolation and is struggling to find an outlet for her curiosity and burgeoning sexuality. When a carriage crash nearby brings a young girl into the family home to recuperate, Lara is enchanted by the eponymous Carmilla (Devrim Lingnau).
Award-winning Harris’ co-directing credits include the British drama Love is Thicker Than Water starring Johnny Flynn, and Borges And I which won the Festival Prize at the London Independent Film Festival.
Lizzie Brown and Emily Precious of Bird Flight Films are producing alongside executive producer Tilly Films.
“This brilliant film has both substance and a visually striking execution. Emily Harris and the outstanding cast and crew did a fantastic job bringing this searing and passionate coming-of-age story to the screen in a rich, dangerous and sensual manner. Critics love the film, and we are certain that distributors worldwide will embrace its gothic roots too,” said Arclight Films Chairman Gary Hamilton.
With a predominantly female crew, the production team includes production design by Alexandra Walker (Harry Potter), hair and make-up by Julie Kendrick (The White Queen), editing by Rebecca Lloyd (American Honey) with a score composed by Philip Selway from the critically acclaimed and award-winning band Radiohead, costume design by the Academy Award-winning John Bright (A Room With A View), and cinematography by Michael Wood (Eight Days A Week).
The film has already garnered favor from leading international film festivals such as Edinburgh Film Festival, SITGES, Chicago International Film Festival, and Mill Valley, as well as from its October 15 premiere at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Film Movement released the film in the US in July this year.
Arclight Films’ current slate of films also includes the following completed Twist starring Michael Caine, Lena Heady, and Rita Ora, sports drama Streamline with Jason Isaacs and Levi Miller, Venice Film Festival Official Selection The Furnace, magical coming-of-age story Chasing Wonders starring Paz Vega and Edward James Olmos, martial arts film The Foggy Mountain, horror-thriller Bloody Hell, cult thriller The Sinners created by Courtney Paige and the warmhearted comedy Butter.
Additional completed titles available include Here Are the Young Men starring Travis Fimmel, Dean-Charles Chapman, Finn Cole, and Anya Taylor-Joy, haunting survival thriller Let It Snow, and Sundance’s critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller Possessor starring Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Sean Bean, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, directed by Brandon Cronenberg for its October 2 U.S. release by NEON in association with Well Go USA.
