One of the standout films from this year’s FrightFest was the debut feature film from writer/director Matthew Holness, who you’ll know as the co-creator/writer/star of Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. It’s exactly the sort of film we love to champion, a labour of love with an assured hand and a truly unique take on the horror genre.

We called it ‘A quietly nasty gem that’ll make you re-think British horror altogether’ in our 4 star review of the film from FrightFest. We also spoke to Odd Studios’ Adam Johansen on the incredible creature design for the film, it’s an intriguing deep dive into a side of the business which sadly often goes overlooked. You can check that out here.

The film will be released in UK cinemas on the 26th of October. Here’s the nightmare-inducing new poster.

 

Synopsis

Starring Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible, Southcliffe) and Alun Armstrong (Frontier, Get Carter), POSSUM is a distinctive psychological thriller which pays homage to the British horror films of the 70s. The film’s unique and stylish exploration of a man’s isolation and abandonment is accompanied by a compelling soundtrack from the legendary electronic BBC music studio The Radiophonic Workshop.

The story follows disgraced children’s puppeteer PHILIP (Sean Harris), returning to his childhood home of Fallmarsh, Norfolk, intent on destroying Possum, a hideous puppet he keeps hidden inside a brown leather bag. When his attempts fail, Philip is forced to confront his sinister stepfather MAURICE (Alun Armstrong) in an effort to escape the dark horrors of his past.