Black Country horror film to give sneak preview
It has been hailed as the biggest independent film to come out of the Black Country in years.
And now the producers of House of the Screaming Death are ready to give horror fans their first glimpse of the project.
Fittingly, Walsall's first ever Comic Con at the town hall will be the stage to screen the film's trailer on Halloween – this Saturday – where actors will be taking part in a question and answer session.
It has been more than two years in the making and created on a shoestring budget of less than £4,000.
Nevertheless the film has involved around 100 people including cast and crew, all of whom have given their services freely to make the project a reality.
Co-director David Hastings, aged 33, and from Bentley, said: "We have all done this to show that actually in the Midlands we can make films as good as anywhere else.
"Unfortunately the Midlands doesn't get much investment. It is very difficult to get funding here.
"We have crowd-funded and raised about £3,000 and anything else we have put in ourselves.
"But the talent here is amazing. The cast and crew have worked really hard on it."
Despite its limited resources House of the Screaming Death has been able to film at some iconic locations in the Black Country including Walsall's Aston Manor Road Transport Museum thanks to support from Walsall Council.
Its prominent setting is the Manor House Museum in West Bromwich.
The plot sees a character called 'The Architect' telling the audience four short stories, each set in different time periods and each exploring a different part of the supernatural world from ghosts to vampires.
Mr Hastings said: "There are four stories each spun by The Architect. They are all different but they all link together. The Architect has a secret of his own to tell."
The film is very much inspired by the works of Hammer Films which is synonymous with the classic British horror genre particularly for works such as Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein.
Mr Hastings added: "We grew up on 'Hammer horror'. A lot of people who are aware of the project have already said 'that's Hammer horror' which is what we are trying to bring back. People have said it is 'gloriously gothic' which is a great compliment." After its trailer debut on Saturday it is hoped the project will be wrapped up by next June and producers have earmarked the annual FrightFest in London next summer for a potential first public screening.
"Comic Con is going to be a massive event for Walsall and great credit must go to the people doing it to bring this culture to the area.
"We are very grateful to them for allowing us to be a part of it," Mr Hastings added. The project is the joint brainchild of Walsall-based Lightbeam Productions and Pat the Bull Films. Their previous venture 'Checking In' scooped Best British Film at the London Film Awards last year.
Much of the same cast and crew have jumped on board the latest project and many have taken up multiple roles.
Troy Dennison, aged 47 and from Cannock, plays The Necromancer in one of The Architect's tales but has also written and directed another part of the anthology.
He told the Express & Star: "It is the way it has to be really. It is a case of all hands on deck. Over 100 people have been working on this, it is the largest independent film to come out of the Midlands in the last decade.
"The people doing it are doing it for the love of it." Craig Edwards, 22 and from Aldridge, who plays character, Sam Campbell, added: "This sort of project highlights the potential of what can be done outside of London. It is going to be a huge honour to showcase this at Walsall Comic Con."
