The Nightman of Nevermoor was directed by Devon’s own, Chris Thomas and it was made on a shoestring budget of just £3,000, which was raised via crowdsourcing. The 50-minute short is a staggering achievement for the production crew, showcasing their filmmaking talents, while also illustrating their ability to work to a limited budget and time schedule.
The film centres on the titular Nightman, a mysterious entity that has been spotted around Nevermoor. As villagers disappear, the upcoming village fate hangs in the balance. However, a man referred to as ‘the Hunter’ (Johnny Vivash) arrives just in time, offering to hunt and kill the mysterious being. The rural community has little option and in a scene that is reminiscent of Quin’s shark speech, in JAWS (Spielberg, 1975), the hunt begins.
The film’s protagonist is Nick (James Turner), a young boy who has returned to live with his father. When the two are out walking they discover an abandoned tent and this sparks Nick’s interest in the mysterious being, known as ‘the Nightman’. As Nick begins his investigation, friends and family begin to disappear and when Nick’s father goes missing, he has little option but to team up with the hunter and uncover the weird goings-on in Nevermoor.
Thomas’ debuted is quite the achievement, it boasts some witty dialogue, a fine selection of Devon’s finest actors -all giving it their best -and some frankly, excellent camera work. The production values are nothing short of spectacular and the craftsmanship that has gone into creating this quirky Spielbergian-romp is apparent from the first scene. The film also features some of the finest utilisation of CGI that I have ever seen in a film with such a small budget.
Chris Thomas’ debut is a pleasure to behold and it demonstrates the extremely talented and passionate filmmakers that are at work in Devon. Seek out this charming short, it will not disappoint.
The film premiered in Torquay and was also screened in London on February 17, both to sell-out audiences. The Nightman of Nevermoor is being submitted to festivals around the UK and will eventually be available online. Chris Thomas hopes to make the short film into a feature.
- Language Lessons | platonic Rom-Com excels in chemistry - October 10, 2021
- Sediments | a glimpse of the experiences faced by trans women - October 9, 2021
- Mark Cousins | The Storms of Jeremy Thomas - October 8, 2021
