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Spookt Photo: courtesy of Frightfest

Two popular vloggers; one supposedly haunted house. That’s the set-up for Spookt, which screened recently at Frightfest, with the complication that one of those women is devoted to proving the existence of the paranormal and the other is an avowed sceptic with a history of debunking dodgy claims. They’re not exactly fans of one another’s work, yet as they investigate the building where a child once disappeared, they will both find themselves facing the unexpected, and will ultimately have to work together in order to solve the mystery and escape.

Starring Haley Leary as Claire, the believer, and Christen Sharice as Rachel, her rival, the film was directed by Tony Reames and produced by Vanessa Ionta Wright (amongst others). When I met up with Tony and Vanessa to discuss it, we began by talking about the phenomenon of supernatural-themed vlogging. it wasn...

Stars: Christen Sharice, Haley Leary, Eric Roberts, Erin Brown, Keith Brooks, Victor Rivera, Crystal Cleveland, Jennifer Pearl, Davi Crimmins | Written by Torey Haas | Directed by Tony Reames

Director Tony Reames opens his feature debut, Spookt, with a simple scene, as a boy walks home alone while listening to music through his headphones. The walk is interrupted by a supernatural occurrence, startling the boy as he passes a spooky house. Known as the Gibson house, it is part of local folklore whose bloodied history still frightens locals.

Voice-over gets out the necessary information with accompanying footage, highlighting how ten-year-old Flora Blu Giddens disappeared 6 years earlier after walking into the Gibson house on a dare. It was previously owned by once-respected surgeon and Greenville Butcher, Dr. Bram Byler (Eric Roberts). Delivering this info dump is skeptical YouTuber, Rachel (Christen Sharice), who spends her time debunking supernatural events and has her sights set on the Gibson house next.

One of the problems with extremely polarised debates, no matter what the subject, is that they can blind us to broader possibilities. Rachel (Christen Sharice) has spent many years investigating supposed supernatural phenomena and is adamant that they do not exist. Claire (Haley Leary), a rival vlogger who has spent years getting excited about them, is equally convinced that they do. When the two find themselves thrown together in the investigation of a house where a child disappeared, viewers are left to wonder whether their determination to prove one another wrong will fade in time for them to recognise that they might be facing another kind of danger – one which they will need to work together to survive.

It’s not quite that simple, of course. Nothing ever is. The house has had a reputation for sinister going-on for some time. It used to be the home of a mysterious doctor.

"There's always something in this life you didn't do." Gravitas Ventures has unveiled an official trailer for an indie drama titled Good, the second feature film made by up-and-coming filmmaker Justin Etheredge. This initially premiered last year at the Austin Film Festival and is arriving on VOD starting in September this year. Payton becomes the caretaker of Gregory Devereaux, a wealthy man facing his final months. As they become close, Gregory's past sins force Payton to decide between his dreams and a surprise pregnancy that could squander them all. Justin Etheredge stars as Payton, with the one-and-only Keith David as Gregory, and a small supporting cast including Nefetari Spencer, Kali Raquel, Christen Sharice, and Sarah-Scott Davis. I haven't heard about this film before this trailer today, but I'm very much interested after getting a look at the footage. I'm also really digging Keith David's epic beard in this. It is worth a look.