Dark Sky Films has just announced the June VOD release of the psychological thriller BARK, a film that promises to be far more than just a “man in the woods” survival story.
What’s “BARK” About?
The film plunges us into the terrifying predicament of Nolan Bentley (Michael Weston), a charismatic guy who wakes up in the middle of a remote forest, inexplicably tied to a tree with no memory of how he got there. With time relentlessly running out, a mysterious stranger appears. Nolan must finally reckon with the demons of his past and fight to survive to find a way out of his nightmarish ordeal.
Directed by Marc Schölermann and written by Steve Fauquier, BARK is produced by Alexander Steinhoff and Marc Schölermann.
A Festival Favorite with a Twist
BARK premiered to critical acclaim at Fantastic Fest, with Annick Mahnert offering a tantalizing description of the film that hints at its depth:
“Nolan Bentley seems like a nice enough guy caught in a terrible situation after he wakes up one morning tied to a tree, hands behind his back, with neither water nor food at his disposal. After suffering starvation and hunger for a few days, a passing outdoorsman pitches a tent right next to him and strikes up a conversation. As their discussion progresses, it becomes clear to Nolan that the man has no intention of saving him. What’s unclear, though, are his reasons for choosing not to intervene.”
Mahnert teases that for those troubled by a certain “Fantastic Fest death toll” over the years, “this film will settle the score.” She describes BARK as a slow burn where you’ll sometimes wonder where the story is going, but guarantees “the ride is worthwhile and that you’ll be more than satisfied by the finale, at which point you’ll probably shed a tear.”
More than just a simple survival thriller, BARK is revealed to be a “subtle and tender (yes, tender) story about relationships and companionship.” It’s also a deep dive into first impressions and “just how despicable humans can turn out to be (not that this really comes as a surprise).” Mahnert intentionally remains vague to preserve the film’s powerful reveals.
German director Marc Schölermann, known for his extensive work in commercials and video clips, delivers his second feature with BARK.
Michael Weston and A.J. Buckley star in the film, which promises to be a thought-provoking thriller, when it lands on VOD on June 13.
