Acclaimed “House of Ninjas” filmmaker Dave Boyle returns with a gripping supernatural thriller, Never After Dark. Fresh off a celebrated run at film festivals that earned it the SXSW Midnighter Audience Award as well as the Grand Jury Prize for Feature Film at the Overlook Film Festival, the feature brings a harrowing, grounded take on the traditional ghost story.
The Ghostly Premise and a Deadly Shift
Never After Dark centers on Airi, played by Moeka Hoshi, a SAG and Critics’ Choice Award winner (Shogun). She is a nomadic medium. Airi devotes her existence to helping restless souls cross over into the beyond. However, her routine spiritual work takes a dark turn when she is summoned to an isolated rural estate. Upon arrival, she encounters a distorted, ghastly apparition possessing abilities that completely defy her extensive experience.
As Airi unearths the estate’s hidden history, a long-buried secret emerges. It quickly and radically alters her mission. Soon, she realizes that the true danger lurking within the shadows is far more dangerous than any spectral entity. Trapped in a high-stakes struggle for survival, Airi must navigate a terrifying new reality; her deadliest adversary belongs not to the realm of the dead, but to the living.
An Accomplished Cast and Creative Team
Writer-director Dave Boyle surrounds Hoshi with an exceptional ensemble cast. The film features standout performances from “House of Ninjas” stars Kento Kaku and Kurumi Inagaki. They are joined by Mutsuo Yoshioka (Chime), Bokuzo Masana (Tokyo Vice), and Tae Kimura (All Around Us). Together, they craft a chilling, tension-filled cinematic experience that subverts expectations at every turn.
High Praise
The film is already earning industry praise. Master of horror Stephen King calls it “Amazing and haunting.” As for The Black Phone director, Scott Derrickson, he stated that it is “Intelligent, unpredictable, and bone-chilling. A deftly directed, richly cinematic supernatural horror film. One of the best of the year.”
Coming Soon
Luckily, you won’t have to wait long to see this chilling film. Never After Dark hits theaters on September 25, 2026.
