Coming Home in the Dark

A family's day out turns to terror after they're forced to take a sinister road trip by malevolent stranger Mandrake (Daniel Gillies, star of American vampire series The Originals) and his accomplice. What initially seems like a random attack proves otherwise, when secrets start to come to light. Writers Eli Kent and James Ashcroft (who also directs) adapted their script from a story by acclaimed Kiwi author Owen Marshall. Miriama McDowell (The Great Maiden's Blush) and Erik Thomson (800 Words) play the couple caught up in terror. The thriller premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews.    

It haunted me, but I didn’t initially know how to bring it to life.

– Writer/director James Ashcroft on his desire to turn short story Coming Home In the Dark into a feature, after the film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, 31 January 2021

Key Cast & Crew

Matthias Luafutu

As: Tubs

James Ashcroft

Director, Writer, Executive Producer

Daniel Gillies

As: Mandrake

Miriama McDowell

As: Jill

Erik Thomson

As: Hoaggie

Desray Armstrong

Producer