Cornerstone boards Bleecker Street horror ‘When Darkness Loves Us’ starring Emilia Clarke

UK sales agent Cornerstone will sell international rights to New Zealand filmmaker James Ashcroft’s horror feature When Darkness Loves Us, excluding New Zealand and Australia, on behalf of North American distributor Bleecker Street. 

Bleecker Street acquired worldwide rights (excluding Australia-New Zealand) on the film earlier this month and will release in the US in 2027.

Emilia Clarke, Marlon Williams, Victoria Pedretti and Natascha McElhone star. Principal photography recently wrapped in New Zealand.

A newborn woman, after surviving 15 years trapped in an underground cave system, returns to the surface to reclaim the family she believes is hers. The horror is based on Elizabeth Engstrom’s cult 1980s novella of the same name.

Ashcroft co-wrote the screenplay with Hayley Sproull and Eli Kent. New Zealand’s Desray Armstrong produces.

The project is financed by the New Zealand Film Commission, Images & Sound, and the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, with financing cash flow by Hinterland and Natixis Coficiné. Umbrella Entertainment will distribute the film in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.