AMC NETWORKS genre VOD platform SHUDDER has acquired the restored HD directors cut of Julian Richards cult folk horror DARKLANDS which will be released in the USA and Canada on May 15th. Starring Craig Fairbrass (Cliffhanger) and Jon Finch (Frenzy), DARKLANDS tells the story of a newspaper reporter investigating the death of a steelworker who has become the victim of a fanatical pagan cult.
The first indigenous Welsh horror film, DARKLANDS was produced in 1996 and became a film festival favorite with screenings at Sitges, Brussels, Bifan and Fantasporto where it won the Melies D’Argent for Best European Fantasy Film. It’s spectacular cinematography by Zoran Djordevic was the subject of a five page spread in American Cinematographer.
In his book URBAN TERRORS, author MJ Simpson said “Darklands paved the way for the revival of UK horror in the 21st century. Dark, gritty, contemporary and urban, Julian Richards’ debut reinvented British horror movies.”
Richards went on to direct found footage sensation THE LAST HORROR MOVIE which was released in the US by Fangoria Magazine, SHIVER starring Danielle Harris and Jon Jarratt, DADDY’S GIRL starring Jemma Dallender and Costas Mandylor and REBORN starring Barbara Crampton and Michael Pare. He is also CEO of world sales company Jinga Films (A Serbian Film) and distribution label Danse Macabre (Midnight Son).
“I spent lock down restoring DARKLANDS to 4K Ultra HD from an Arri scan of the original negative” said Richards “I gave the film a new colour grade and a directors cut which shaved six minutes off the first act, taking the slow out of the burn.”
A UHD and Bluray release of DARKLANDS including an abundence of bonus materials will be announced later this year.
