Acclaimed “House of Ninjas” filmmaker Dave Boyle returns with a gripping supernatural thriller, Never After Dark. Fresh off a celebrated festival run, taking home both the SXSW Midnighter Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize for Feature Film at the Overlook Film Festival, the cinematic feature brings a harrowing, grounded approach to the traditional ghost story.
The Ghostly Premise and a Deadly Shift
The narrative centers on Airi, played by Moeka Hoshi, a SAG and Critics’ Choice Award winner (Shogun). As 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.
Uncovering a Malicious Truth
As Airi unearths the hidden history of the estate, a long-buried secret emerges, radically altering her mission. She soon 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 reality where her deadliest adversary belongs not to the realm of the dead, but to the world of 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 gathering praise from the industry, with Stephen King calling it “Amazing and haunting.” The Black Phone director, Scott Derrickson, called it “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 for yourself. Never After Dark hits theaters on September 25, 2026. Watch the new trailer below.
