To some, it might sound like an ideal life – getting away from all the hustle and bustle to take up a remote job as a shepherd. Not so in Russell Owen’s upcoming British horror Shepherd, which swirls together grief, curses, and splashes of the red stuff in the tale of a widower who hopes for a new start in a sparse rural cabin, and soon realises he can’t outrun his life. Take a look at the atmospheric first trailer.
Owen’s film – starring Tom Hughes, Kate Dickie, Gaia Weiss and Greta Scacchi – has just been announced among the selection for this year’s BFI London Film Festival. “I’ve followed the BFI London Film Festival for decades, so to actually be a part of it is surreal and a massive honour,” the writer-director says. “I can't think of a better platform to bring Shepherd to an audience and I'm over the moon.” Take a look at the ominous poster here.
And here’s the official synopsis: “Running from grief after the mysterious death of his wife, Eric Black takes a job as a shepherd. Trapped alone on a majestic weather-beaten island with an ominous secret. One mans spiralling madness meets a vengeful supernatural force. What starts as the perfect wind-swept escape becomes a race to save his sanity and his life.”
If you can’t see Shepherd at this year’s LFF, fear not – the film comes to UK cinemas from 5 November. Bring on the nightmares.