Starring Kevin Durand (The Strain, Barry Burton in Resident Evil: Retribution) and Lukas Haas (Transcendence, Lady in White), Dark Was the Night was directed by Jack Heller off a 2009 Black List script by Tyler Hisel and has now been picked up by Image Entertainment, with a theatrical release expected sometime this year:
Press Release – "LOS ANGELES, January 27, 2015 – Image Entertainment, an RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand, has acquired the North American distribution rights for Caliber Media’s DARK WAS THE NIGHT, directed by Jack Heller (ENTER NOWHERE), after the film’s premiere at ScreamFest in Los Angeles and subsequent screening at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Scary Movies, New York’s top genre film festival. Image is planning a multi-city theatrical release later this year. Mark Ward, RLJ Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for the Image brands, made the announcement today.
“DARK WAS THE NIGHT received an overwhelming response at ScreamFest and the Film Society in New York,” said Ward. “We are excited to bring this film to the genre community on the big screen and digital platforms."
Kevin Durand (The Strain) and Lukas Haas (INCEPTION) star as local policemen who go to battle against an ancient evil in the film that CRAVE ONLINE called “an exquisite creature feature.” The script, from Tyler Hisel, appeared on the 2009 Black List of best un-produced scripts, a rarity for the monster genre, under the title THE TREES. Rounding out the cast are Bianca Kajlich (Undateable), Sabina Gadecki (the ENTOURAGE movie), Heath Freeman (SKATELAND), Steve Agee (@midnight) and Nick Damici (LATE PHASES).
The deal was negotiated by Mark Ward on behalf of Image Entertainment and by Dallas Sonnier on behalf of Caliber Media.
The film begins when a long slumbering evil is awoken in the trees outside the remote town of Maiden Woods. Isolated and threatened, it sets its sights on the townspeople, as Sheriff Paul Shields (Kevin Durand) attempts to overcome the demons of his past, so that he may protect the lives of the people he loves.
Heller produced the feature with his Caliber partner Sonnier, Sundial's Stefan Nowicki and Joey Carey, and P Street’s Dylan Narang. Preferred Content's Kevin Iwashina and Ross Dinerstein executive produced the film alongside screenwriter Hisel and his manager Alexander Robb.
“Since we premiered at ScreamFest, Mark and his team at Image have been passionate supporters of the film and of our company,” said Heller and Sonnier. “The film is in very good hands and we are excited to bring this story to a wider audience.”
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RLJ ENTERTAINMENT:
RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) is a premier independent owner, developer, licensee, and distributor of entertainment content and programming in primarily North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. RLJE is a leader in numerous genres via its owned and distributed brands such as Acorn (British TV), Image (feature films, stand-up comedy), UMC (urban), Acacia (fitness), Athena (documentaries), and Madacy (gift sets). These titles are distributed in multiple formats including broadcast television (including satellite and cable), theatrical and non-theatrical, DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download, and digital streaming.
Via its relationship with Agatha Christie Limited, a company that RLJE owns 64% of, RLJE manages the intellectual property and publishing rights to some of the greatest works of mystery fiction, including stories of the iconic sleuths Miss Marple and Poirot. RLJE also owns all rights to the hit UK mystery series Foyle’s War.
RLJE leverages its management experience to acquire, distribute and monetize existing and original content for its many distribution channels, including its branded digital subscription channels, Acorn TV, Acacia TV, and UMC, and engages distinct audiences with programming that appeals directly to their unique viewing interests. Through its proprietary e-commerce web sites and print catalogs for the Acorn and Acacia brands, RLJE has direct contacts and billing relationships with millions of consumers.
CALIBER MEDIA:
CALIBER MEDIA is a production and financing company currently in post-production on the S. Craig Zahler western feature BONE TOMAHAWK starring Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins.
SUNDIAL PICTURES:
SUNDIAL PICTURES is a New York City based independent film production and distribution company. That works in all stages of the filmmaking process, from development through distribution, for both documentary and narrative films. Their goal is to unite with other independent film production companies, film financiers, and philanthropists to help create powerful motion pictures and bring them to as wide an audience as possible."
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