Preview by Jon Donnis
RISE OF THE RATS is a new horror-punk feature from Black Mandala, directed by Stephen Roach, whose previous work includes The Crucifix: Blood of the Exorcist and Cookster: The Darkest Days.
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The film follows Kayla Thornhill, a rebellious young punk who travels with her estranged father, Jack, to Ditchfield, the town where he grew up. Their uneasy return soon takes a darker turn when Kayla discovers that the town is dealing with a relentless rat infestation.
There is more to Ditchfield's problem than an abundance of vermin, however. As Kayla begins digging into the town's history, she uncovers whispers of a brutal act of collective violence committed decades earlier, along with a secret that the residents have spent years trying to bury.
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That buried history has given rise to the Rat Man, a grotesque embodiment of the town's guilt, violence and unresolved trauma. With hordes of bloodthirsty rats at his command, he begins taking revenge, sending Ditchfield into chaos as the death toll rises.
Kayla is left caught between the horrors unfolding around her and the truth about her father's connection to the town's darkest secret. As the past begins forcing its way back into the present, she must confront what really happened in Ditchfield and the consequences of leaving it buried.
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Directed by Roach, RISE OF THE RATS draws inspiration from 1980s genre favourites including The Lost Boys, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Gremlins, while combining horror with dark humour, punk energy and a distinctly British setting.
Starring Grace Gallagher, Mark Collier, Tania Staite, Jamie Nowski, Shayli Reagan, Darren Le Fevre, Adrian Annis
Coming Soon
