Daggers Inn

Gripping, chilling, mystical, unnerving. The film hit many points and did very well showing the escalating affect Donna was having on the village and its people. The music was great and the whole film had its own little world which I was totally immersed in!

There were some wonderful small parts who really made a stamp. Claire played by Lutricia Norris; the scene where she felt helpless outside Vass' office was quite powerful. Pugh and Robbins were great cameos and the comedy underplayed throughout was spot on. Very cleverly done which didn't take away from the overall focus of the film. Very well done!

'Daggers Inn', by Caroline Spence and James Smith was the closing film at Southend Film Festival on the 8th June.

The story begins with a young woman Donna Revan (Anna Danvers) investigating the murder of her sister in a bleak village.

The murdered woman's body was found in a lake.

The local law firm plan to silence Donna. Their various 'employees' track Donna to her lodgings, the titular 'Daggers Inn'.

However, Donna is not defenceless and has resources of her own.

Although 'Daggers Inn' has elements of comedy, it also has an undercurrent of menace and the supernatural running through it.

The film is well directed, written and edited.

It makes good use of its chilly and isolated rural settings.

'Horror on Sea' regulars Eve Oliver, Martin W Payne, Gavin Gordon, amongst others and Terry Bamberger also star.

'Daggers Inn' is well worth a second look.

Daggers Inn is a spooky, pensive mystery story with touches of humour. It's beautifully well shot and the locations are perfect settings for this engaging and enigmatic tale.

The story is very effectively supported by an excellent score which builds tension at just the right points, but doesn't swamp the narrative or get in the way.

Well done to everyone at Raya films for creating such a stand-out piece. There were some lovely performances, with the stunning Anna Danvers luxuriating in the challenge of playing the "is she a baddy, is she a goody?" female lead.

This movie is a credit to the writing and production team, and represents a big step forward in their continued dedication to making great independent film.