Aussie Horror 'Nightfall' Haunts Tokyo Film Market, Eyed for Franchise

In October 2025, a new Australian horror film, 'Nightfall: A Paranormal Investigation,' has caught the attention of the global film industry. The movie, set in 1988, follows investigators Mick Sutherland and Archie Charlesworth as they respond to a desperate call from Elizabeth Blair's isolated home, where they encounter a malevolent presence that unravels their sanity over seven days.

The film, written, directed, and starring the Adelaide-based filmmaking duo of Myles McEwen and Ripley Stevens, pays homage to classic horror films like 'The Exorcist' while offering a fresh take on the paranormal-investigation subgenre. McEwen revealed that the project was inspired by his and his co-star's unsettling personal experiences, including witnessing Ripley sleepwalk and speak for a week in a deceased man's apartment in Budapest, and McEwen's own bedroom light switching on by itself in Adelaide.

The acquisition of 'Nightfall' by New Zealand-based sales outfit Black Mandala has positioned the film for potential franchise development. Black Mandala, a leading player in independent horror and genre distribution, has confirmed ongoing collaborations with McEwen and Stevens, including their involvement in the upcoming thriller 'Hollywood Hells,' which takes aim at the entertainment industry's dark side.