From Variety: By Abigail Lee
“Blood Shine,” a folk horror feature from Emily Bennett and Justin Brooks, will be released later this year, with Aaron B. Koontz handling sales on the film via Paper Street Pictures.
The film takes place in upstate New York and follows Clara, played by Bennett (“Shelby Oaks”), described as a “religious zealot who worships light in lonely, sacred rituals.” David Call (“Insidious: The Red Door”) plays Brighton West, a horror filmmaker who tries to work on his script upstate when “a chance encounter with Clara leads him into an hallucinatory web of faith, flesh, and the sublime,” according to the logline.
Cast members also include Brendan Sexton III (“Russian Doll”), Larry Fessenden (“MaXXXine”) and Toby Poser (“Hellbender”).
Bennett and Brooks, a husband-and-wife creative duo, both wrote and directed the film, their sophomore effort. Their debut feature was “Alone With You” (2021), which featured Bennett alongside actors Barbara Crampton, Emma Myles and Dora Madison. That film was produced by Andrew Corkin and Theo James and won a FANGORIA Chainsaw Award in 2023.
Bennett has also directed the short films “Smile for Me,” “Bed” and “Accidental Stars.” Brooks has directed shorts like “A Better Day” and “Pains” and also worked as a cinematographer on shows like “90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way.”
Brooks was the DP for “Blood Shine,” while Brian Spears (“Smile 2,” “American Horror Story”) provided gore effects. Producers include Alexander Schepsman, Garrett Fennelly, Zeus Kontoyannis via Zeus Pictures and Koontz via Paper Street Pictures. Ashleigh Snead and Cameron Burns are co-producers via Paper Street. Executive producers are Michael McFadden, G. Riley Mills and Matt Sullivan.
