A NEW horror movie from an independent Kidderminster film company is attracting interest from a major mainstream streaming platform.
The short film – Forty-Five – was created by White Raven Films.
The company is led by producers Bazz Hancher, Michael Walcott and James Underwood who have spent recent months building momentum on the independent festival circuit, with strong audience reactions and positive reviews for the film. This has helped Forty-Five stand out in a crowded field of new horror releases.
The psychological horror short has already enjoyed successful screenings at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival and the Romford Horrific Film Festival, alongside a growing list of local showcase events and further festival appearances scheduled later in the year.
Industry interest reportedly intensified after streaming executives became aware of the film’s reception within the horror community, particularly the quality of film-making achieved on was ‘a very modest budget’.
The story
Forty-Five centres on Boyd Fallon, a grieving father desperately searching for his daughter’s killer three years after her death.
Frustrated by a lack of progress from police, Fallon hires a private investigator and is soon drawn into a dark and dangerous journey involving religious conspiracies, a mysterious priest named Father Vaughan. Suggestions are made that his daughter’s death may somehow be linked to the Antichrist.
As Boyd follows increasingly sinister leads, he encounters a false prophet promising answers – but at a terrifying cost.
The film’s mixture of psychological horror, religious themes and noir-style mystery has earned praise from reviewers. Many have highlighted the atmosphere, ambition and storytelling on display from the independent production team.
While discussions with the streaming platform remain at an early stage, White Raven Films has confirmed conversations are taking place regarding what future possibilities may exist for the project. Forty-Five could, potentially, evolve beyond its current short film format.
The producers said they remained ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the growing industry attention, the producers remain cautiously optimistic.
The team said: “We’re fully aware this is still very early stages.
“But simply being invited to the table with the big players is exciting for us.
“We’re proud of what the cast and crew achieved with limited resources, and it’s encouraging to see people in the industry recognizing that.”
The interest marks a significant moment for White Raven Films, which continues to establish itself within the independent horror scene through grassroots film-making and festival exposure.
With more festival screenings still to come this year, Forty-Five could yet become one of the region’s most talked-about independent horror projects.
