The acclaimed short folk horror Black Samphire is becoming a feature film, with Cathy Tyson and Stephen Fry now announced.
It’s been a year or so since a short film by the name of Black Samphire picked up acclaim and awards. Written by Cathy Wippell and directed by Alexander Vanegas Sus, it featured Wippell and Ishtar Currie-Wilson in its cast, with Stephen Fry lending his voice. Filming wrapped on it in November 2023, and by the sounds of it, it’s been quite the 12 months since.
That’s because, wonderfully, the team have now got off the ground a feature film based on the short, and filming is set to begin in early 2025.
Wippell and Currie-Wilson will be back in the cast, and Stephen Fry will be re-lending his voice to the production. Cathy Tyson has joined the ensemble as well.
A folk horror, Black Samphire will mark the feature directorial debut of Cat White. She told Variety that the film “is a clarion call to every single one of us to confront the profound impact of our choices – or our apathy. Water – as something that both gives and takes life – is an integral part of the visual language, representing the cyclical way that our actions impact future generations”.
Silicon Gothic and Candid Broads Productions are producing the movie. Silicon Gothic describes itself as a manifesto-led company, portraying “the man made problems of today as physical monsters”. Water pollution is in its sights for Black Samphire, but also, it’s worth noting that the company aims for “entertaining and commercial films that have subtle, underlying messages”.
Further casting for the film is set to be announced in due course. In the meantime, we’ll leave you with the synopsis…
After Isla eats a plant poisoned by polluted water, Mari witnesses horrifying changes in her partner, revealing a dark truth about the village and their relationship.
More as we hear it.
