Festivals - Fantasia 2020: The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw

By Mulder, 08 august 2020

Set during the 1973 harvest season, The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw is a strangely nightmarish horror drama, steeped in folklore, brimming with atmosphere and vibrant with imagery that will haunt your subconscious. Writer and director Thomas Robert Lee (Empyream) brings to life a disturbing and surprising occult horror film.

The film gives the impression of stepping out of a veritable canton of mystical knowledge, while at the same time ranking among the darkest coming-of-age stories imaginable. The newcomer Jessica Reynolds in the lead role is a true revelation, as is the ever-fantastic Catherine Walker. They are joined by a cast that includes Jared Abrahamson (Hello Destroyer), Hannah Emily Anderson (What Keeps you alive), Don McKellar (Last Night) and Sean McGinley (Braveheart). Co-produced by director George Mihalka (My Bloody Valentine), this film promises to be one of the highlights of Fantasia 2020.

Synopsis:
Young Audrey Earnshaw (Jessica Reynolds) and her mother, Agatha (Catherine Walker, A DARK SONG) live clandestinely as followers of the occult, on the outskirts of an isolated Protestant village. Having over the years gone to great lengths to hide Audrey's existence from the community, partly because she was born out of a secret, in a context that could never have been accepted by the superstitious inhabitants of the town, Agatha keeps her close to her at home. As a result, a controlling relationship developed. One day, a bereaved person in the town sees Audrey, and the whispering begins. The community has recently been traumatized by a series of unexplainable tragedies and pitfalls. Today, livestock and crops are plagued by an unknown disease. Somehow the Earnshaw farm has not been affected. Suspicions are growing. Hysteria is mounting. Meanwhile, Audrey's education in ritual magic has paid off. Her abilities are blossoming, becoming stronger and more powerful every day. Along with her anger.

The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw
Written and directed by Thomas Robert Lee
Produced by Gianna Isabella, George Mihalka, Patrick Ewald
Starring Catherine Walker, Hannah Emily Anderson, Jared Abrahamson, Don McKellar
Music by Bryan Buss, Thilo Schaller
Cinematography: Nick Thomas
Edited by: Ben Lee Allan
Release date: July 11 2020 (Ireland)
Running time: 93mns

(Source : Fantasia 2020 official website)