White Settlers
| White Settlers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Simeon Halligan |
| Written by | Ian Fenton |
| Starring | Pollyanna McIntosh Lee Williams Joanne Mitchell |
| Cinematography | James Swift |
| Edited by | Ewa J. Lind |
| Music by | Jon Wygens |
| Distributed by | Falcon Films Grimm Up North |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
White Settlers (also known as The Blood Lands) is a 2014 British horror film that was directed by Simeon Halligan.[1] The film had its world premiere on 23 September 2014 at Film4 FrightFest and stars Pollyanna McIntosh and Lee Williams as a couple that find that their new home is not as hospitable as they would have hoped.
Synopsis
Married couple Ed (Lee Williams) and Sarah (Pollyanna McIntosh) have decided that they want to get away from their busy, stressful lives in London and move somewhere more peaceful. They believe that they've found the perfect place in a bucolic farmhouse in Scotland; however, their real estate agent Flo (Joanne Mitchell) informs them that the land is the site of a gruesome battle between the English and the Scottish. Despite this knowledge and Flo's chilly demeanor, Ed and Sarah choose to purchase the farmhouse and restore the property. Initially all seems well, but on their first night they hear strange sounds in the nearby area and discover that they are not at all welcome in the area.
Cast
- Pollyanna McIntosh as Sarah
- Lee Williams as Ed
- Joanne Mitchell as Flo
- James McCreadie as Local
- Dominic Kay as Local
Reception
Critical reception for White Settlers has been mixed,[2][3][4] and the film currently holds a rating of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 7 reviews.[5] Bloody Disgusting and Starburst both praised the movie,[6] and Bloody Disgusting noted "White Settlers couldn’t have been planned more timely. Released against the political debates of independence raging in Scotland, it’s a relevant film. But it also stands on its own as a fierce, atmospheric thriller."[7] The Hollywood Reporter and The Scotsman panned the film overall,[8] and The Scotsman commented on the film's political and social message, writing "HORROR can be a great genre for engaging with current events. It’s too bad, then, that White Settlers, a film much-hyped as the first independence referendum-themed horror movie, delivers neither decent genre thrills nor provokes much subtextual unease about Scotland’s relationship with England in the run up to the vote."[9]
Awards
- Festival Trophy for Best Cinematography at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival (2014, won)[10]
References
- ^ Whittington, James. "FrightFest: Interview With White Settlers Director Simeon Halligan". Horror Channel. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ "WHITE SETTLERS (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Newman, Kim. "White Settlers (review)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Cummings, Chris. "Frightfest 2014: 'White Settlers' Review". Nerdly. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ "White Settlers". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ Harley, Joel. "WHITE SETTLERS [FRIGHTFEST 2014]". Starburst. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Cooper, Patrick. "[FrightFest '14] 'White Settlers' Is a Tense and Relevant Thriller". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Dalton, Stephen. "'White Settlers': Frightfest Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ HARKNESS, ALISTAIR. "Film reviews: White Settlers : A Dangerous Game". The Scotsman. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ "Screamfest 2014 Awards". Screamfest. Retrieved 27 December 2014.