BLOOD SHINE
“Blood Shine,” a folk horror feature from Emily Bennett and Justin Brooks, will be released later this year, with Aaron B. Koontz handling sales on the film via Paper Street Pictures.
Bennett and Brooks both wrote and directed the film, their sophomore effort. Their debut feature was “Alone With You” (2021), which featured Bennett alongside actors Barbara Crampton, Emma Myles and Dora Madison. That film was produced by Andrew Corkin and Theo James and won a FANGORIA Chainsaw Award in 2023.
SUMMARY - In this deliriously twisted folk horror feature, an isolated pocket of upstate New York becomes ground zero for divine madness. Clara (Bennett, “Shelby Oaks”), a fanatical worshiper of the light, performs sacred rituals in secret—until her warped faith collides with Brighton West (David Call, “Insidious: The Red Door”), a horror screenwriter seeking solitude to finish his script. Their fateful meeting sparks a descent into a hallucinatory nightmare of devotion, flesh, and transformation. As Clara’s sadistic rites escalate, Brighton finds himself trapped in a psychedelic crucible of torment and transcendence—where salvation comes at the price of becoming something more—or less—than human.
Cast members also include Brendan Sexton III (“Russian Doll”), Larry Fessenden (“MaXXXine”) and Toby Poser (“Hellbender”).
Festivals Announced -
Popcorn Frights, FrightFest UK and many more to come.
Co-written/co-directed with DP Justin Brooks. Produced by Andrew Corkin (MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, WE ARE WHAT WE ARE) and Theo James (star of the DIVERGENT series, THE WHITE LOTUS) of UNTAPPED PRODUCTIONS.
Reviews
“A triumph in the one-room horror genre. The film is able to capture the visceral nature of isolation and cabin fever, elevating them to a fever pitch. Utilizing subtle jump scares and layered mystery to unleash its many nightmares, Alone With You drips with fearful intrigue right up until the end.”
“A psychodrama of the type dating back to Roman Polanski’s REPULSION, it feels very modern while expressing the traumas of isolation through an engrossing lead performance and imaginative use of the restricted space.”
“Alone With You carries with it all the chills and thrills you want in a ghost story, alongside a timeless poignancy that I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.”
“Bennett carries the entire movie on her shoulders and does a terrific job of it. If you haven’t been aware of her acting career up to this point, she definitely establishes herself as an actor to keep an eye on. Alone With You also establishes that Bennett and Brooks are filmmakers to keep an eye on.”
- JoBlo
Short films
ACCIDENTAL STARS
Short film - 2023
FILM QUEST - Nominated for Best Fantastic Short Film, Winner of Best Cinematography for Andrew Trost
OCEANSIDE FILM FESTIVAL - Winner of Best Direction in a Short Film and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Kyle Minshew.
Now on ALTER.
LVRS
SHORT FILM - 2019
SITGES FILM FESTIVAL - European Premiere
HORRIBLE IMAGININGS FILM FESTIVAL - WINNER for Best Director
Now on ALTER.
BED
Short film - 2021
FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL - International Premiere
HORRIBLE IMAGININGS FILM FESTIVAL - WINNER for Best Actress
Now on ALTER.
CHAT ROOM
SHORT FILM - 2017
BLOODY BITES on TUBI - Bloody Disgusting Curated Film Series