DARK WAS THE NIGHT Scores Domestic Distribution

Monster films seem to be having a nice little comeback. We seem to be venturing away from the “Grindhouse” homage films, the torture porn films and the other tropes the genre got stuck in. A film that is on my radar is Dark Was The Night, which was adapted from a screenplay that was on The Blacklist a few years back. We just got word that we shouldn’t have to wait too long to see this flick starring Kevin Durand (The Strain) and Lukas Haas (Lady in White, Inception, Brick). Read below for the official word. We’ve also included a trailer that was posted last year for the film.

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43_294azeYA”]

From the Press Release

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 thoe 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.”

No word yet on a date but I would assume it will probably be around Summer or Fall, if not sooner.