If you’re looking for a vacation destination that’s gorgeous, isolated, and potentially cursed, the island of Corsica has officially entered the chat with its first horror film, Heritage.
Heritage has the unique honor of being the first-ever horror feature from Corsica, and it’s not exactly a “wish you were here” postcard.
The Grandfather of All Problems
The story follows Marie and Daniel, who return to the rugged Mediterranean island after 15 years to visit their elderly grandfather. Armed with the family’s old video camera, they expect to document a heartwarming reunion and explore their roots.
Instead, they find a system that’s gone completely rotten. Between the island’s icy reception and some deeply unsettling local folklore involving sadistic religious rituals, the siblings begin to realize that Corsica might be actively pushing its children away—permanently.
Indie Grit at its Finest
Heritage’s budget was just $5,800, and filming took five days. Don’t let the budget or short filming schedule scare you away. You may remember that Paranormal Activity had a budget of just $15,000 and became a massive hit. It brought in over $193 million at the box office alone and created a massive franchise. So, keep an open mind.
This film was shot on an early-2000s consumer camcorder. This gives it a raw, archival grit that makes you feel like you’re watching something you were never supposed to see.
It marks the debut of writer-director Baptist Agostini-Croce. The cast includes Marie Bolbenes, Daniel Di Grazia, Luca Lavallette, and Philippe Ambrosini, who were given the freedom to improvise their way through the dread.
“The choice of found footage naturally came as the best way to explore memory,” says Agostini-Croce. “It raises the question of whether Corsica is somehow destined to push its own children away.”
Catch the World Tour
Heritage is making the rounds at some of the best genre fests on the planet. If you want to be among the first to see Corsica’s horror debut, here is the schedule:
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San Francisco, USA: Unnamed Footage Festival – March 26
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Sweden: Light Till Dark – March
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Toronto, Canada: Toronto Indie Fest – April
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Italy: Fantasy Day Film Festival – June
The US release date has yet to be announced, but we’ll keep you posted.
