Australia’s first all-female horror anthology feature film Dark Whispers – Volume 1 will debut on SBS On Demand on International Women’s Day, next Monday 8 March 2021.
The project, which was conceived by Sydney-based filmmaker Megan Riakos through her production company, Hemlock & Cedar Films, was developed in partnership with Tasmania’s Stranger With My Face International Film Festival.
The film features two segments that were made in Hobart.
Grillz is directed by Lucy Gouldthorpe and written by Lucy Gouldthorpe and Claire d’Este. It stars Melanie Irons (Noirhouse) and tells the story of a glamorous vampire and her dating life around town, including a scene at the ABC roundabout fountain.
Watch Me is directed by Briony Kidd and written by Claire d’Este. It stars Astrid Wells Cooper and tells the story of a vain actress who is obsessed with being watched. It includes a scene in the now-closed Garagistes restaurant.
“It’s amazing that these short films that we made years ago, with almost no budget, are now enjoying a new life as part of feature film that’s reaching such a broad audience,” said filmmaker Briony Kidd, who is also the director of Stranger With My Face International Film Festival.
“Lucy, Claire and I have really enjoyed meeting the other Dark Whispers filmmakers too. They’re a diverse group of very talented women and it’s really special to be part of such a collective effort from around the country.”
Megan Riakos, project creator and director of the film’s wrap-around segment, said: “Dark Whispers is ideal entertainment for International Women’s Day as it brings together many unique voices and potent ideas. The film may be called Dark Whispers, but there’s nothing timid about it!”
Grillz.
Dark Whispers – Volume 1 is the story of a young woman who inherits her mother’s Book of Dark Whispers only to discover ten disturbing tales within its pages.
Amongst the cast of Dark Whispers is Asher Keddie (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) who is terrorised by a stalker in the chapter The Intruder as well as Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey) and Anthony LaPaglia (Without a Trace) who feature in the segment The Ride, a darkly comic thriller which was backed by the BBC. In the wrap-around segment, shot by Justine Kerrigan (All About E, Enter the Wild), Andrea Demetriades (Babyteeth, Reckoning, The End) plays Clara, who is obsessed with her late mother’s cherished Book of Dark Whispers.
Inspired by her experiences as a genre filmmaker who had benefited from the support of a close-knit group of female colleagues, Megan Riakos (Crushed, Deadhouse Dark) conceived of a project that would amplify female voices in this space.
Megan teamed up with fellow producer Leonie Marsh (co-producer of Kick Ass 2), associate producer Briony Kidd and executive producer Enzo Tedeschi (A Night of Horror Vol.1, The Tunnel & Event Zero).
Dark – Volume 1 is currently available to rent and buy on major platforms is available to stream on SBS On Demand from Monday 8 March 2021.
Running time: 100 Minutes; Classification: M (Australia) 15 (UK); Language: English with one segment in Bahasa Indonesia
Release details: https://www.
