By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Hereford Horror, the new genre arm of London-based Hereford Films, is aiming to emulate the Blumhouse model by producing six horror features a year, and we’ve got the details and key art for its first movie, AURA.
Written and directed by Steve Lawson, AURA is a supernatural frightfest, set in the U.S., that’s headed for August release in the States by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the UK by 4Digital Media. Shane Taylor, Rula Lenska, Denise Moreno and Janine Nerissa star; the synopsis: “Mitch Walker and his pregnant wife Diane look to start a new life in the home he has inherited from his late uncle—a decision resented by his mother, who is convinced that no good can come from a house that harbors such a dark history. In her childhood, Mitch’s sister Karen suffered a horrifying trauma inside the house that changed her life forever, causing her to be institutionalized in a near-catatonic state. With the blame placed on her uncle, the family was never the same again.
“In a bid to heal the wounds of the past, Mitch brings Karen home, but soon discovers that her condition is the result of an evil force that has possessed her for most of her life. Working with local clairvoyant Ada, Mitch is thrust into battle with a terrifying demonic presence. Facing insurmountable odds, he must uncover the truth buried within the house and find the key—an old camera designed for Kirlian photography (the practice of capturing a subject’s ‘aura’)—that may save his sister’s life.”
“We are incredibly proud of AURA,” says Hereford CEO Jonathan Sothcott, who produced the film with Richard Watts-Joyce. “It’s a terrific horror movie and we believe it will give us the momentum to become a major player in the genre. I don’t believe there has ever been a horror story brought to the screen that revolves around Kirlian photography, so what we have is a truly unique concept, and one that I’ve wanted to turn into a movie for years. It’s certainly a rare feat to find something that’s never been done before, especially in horror, and I’m very pleased to present AURA this summer. It delivers, and we’re already working on a sequel.” In addition, Hereford’s upcoming slate includes PENTAGRAM, which is set to shoot in May, and TORMENTED and DEMONICUS, which roll this summer.
