Film

House of Salem (2016)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
House of Salem Film Poster- cloudy night sky with the film title on top and a clowns face in the centre and a hand reaching out holding a manor house. House of Salem written in white.

House of Salem Film Poster ©Last British Dragon

 

Writer: James Crow

Director: James Crow

Starring: Jessica Arterton, Jack Brett Anderson, Liam Kelly, Robert Lowe, Leslie Mills

Production Company: Last British Dragon

Kent Locations Used: Evegate Manor, Dryhill Local Nature Reserve, Sole Street House

The House Of Salem is a horror film in which a child, Josh (Liam Kelly) finds unlikely protectors in the form of a group of kidnappers who discover they have been tricked and are now trapped in a house. Realising that they are to become the next sacrifice in a line of murders spanning centuries, they get ready to battle demonic forces for their freedom.

The film was written and directed by James Crow (Curse Of The Witching Tree, He Who Dares). House of Salem stars Jessica Arterton, Jack Brett Anderson (Runaway, Drop), Liam Kelly, Robert Lowe (Casualty, Primeval) and Leslie Mills (Merlin of the Crystal Cave, The Bill).

Several Kent locations were used for filming, including private houses Evegate Manor as Josh’s home and Sole Street House as The House of Salem, alongside KCC Dryhill Nature Reserve.

Evegate Manor is a grade II star listed Manor House in Ashford and until recently was used as a farmhouse. Mostly dating from 14th to 16th century the house is constructed of Kentish ragstone rubble with red brick dressing; and is part timber framed with numerous exposed beams. Previous productions to film in the Ashford district include Dead and Awake (2016).

Sole Street House in Ashford is a 10-bedroom Georgian manor house with a Victorian wing, less than 50 miles from central London and standing in 30 acres of grounds including gardens, woodland, stables accommodating some 16 horses and paddocks.

Dryhill Local Nature Reserve in Sevenoaks is on a former quarry site of Special Scientific Interest. The exceptional structure of its rocks and fossils led to it becoming the first geological Local Nature Reserve in Kent. It also has a small stretch of private road for small set-ups. Sevenoaks has previously been used by productions such as Judwaa 2 (2017) and The First Team (2020).

 

House of Salem was released on 23rd January 2018.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map: 

 

 

Una (2017)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Una (Rooney Mara) standing in warehouse looking forward

Una (C) WestEnd Films

Writer: David Harrower

Director: Benedict Andrews

Starring: Rooney Mara, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Tobias Menzies, Indira Varma, Tara Fitzgerald

Production Company: Bron Studios, Film4 Productions, Jean Doumanian Productions, WestEnd Films

Kent Locations Used: Dungeness, Greatstone, Lydd

Looking to resolve her past, Una (Rooney Mara) confronts Ray (Ben Mendelsohn ), her former neighbour, at his work place, seeking answers. As buried secrets and forbidden desires start to surface, they begin to threaten the stability they have found in their new lives.

Una (Rooney Mara) and Ray (Ben Mendelsohn) staring at each other

Una (C) WestEnd Films

The film is based on the play “Blackbird” that was written by David Harrower. Benedict Andrews (National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire) directed and Rooney Mara (A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Social Network) takes the lead role alongside  Riz Ahmed (Jason Bourne, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises, Bloodline) Tobias Menzies (Casino Royale, Atonement), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones, Hunted) and Tara Fitzgerald (Legend, Brassed Off).

The production chose to film in Kent in June 2015, using Dungeness, Greatstone and Lydd which feature as a remote hideaway location.

The Dungeness, Greatstone and Lydd coastal area boasts a unique and large expanse of sandy beach backed by dunes and the largest shingle desert in Europe. Ginger and Rosa (2012), The Poison Tree (2012) and Parade’s End (2012) have previously used the area for filming.

Una is released in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2017.

 

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Anti Matter (2017)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Film poster for Anti Matter showing a mysterious figure made of twigs on the bottom of a set of stairs in a burning city; the feet of the figure are on fire.

Anti Matter (2017) poster- © The Cast Iron Picture Co

Writer: Keir Burrows
Director: Keir Burrows
Starring: Yaiza Figueroa, Philippa Carson, Tom Barber-Duffy, Julia Savill, Noah Maxwell Clarke, Holly Joyce
Production Company: The Cast Iron Picture Co
Kent Locations Used: Bradbourne House

Anti Matter is a science fiction noir that follows scientist Liv (Philippa Carson) as she desperately tries to discover what happened to her after an experiment to generate and travel through a wormhole. She must find out who, or what, is behind the struggles in her life alongside her friends Ana (Yaiza Figueroa) and Nate(Tom Barber-Duffy).

Anti Matter stars Philippa Carson (Femme Killer, Virtual Witness) as Liv, Tom Barber-Duffy (The Befuddled Box of Betty Buttifint) as Nate and Yaiza Figueroa (The Showreel, A Beautiful Death) as Ana. Fellow cast members include Julia Savill, Noah Maxwell Clarke (Holby City, Top Boy) and Holly Joyce (Look What You Have Become, Grace). The film was written and directed by Keir Burrows (Hen party, Air).

Production used Bradbourne House in Kent as a double for Liv’s grandmother Brenda’s (Julia Savill) house. Beautiful exterior and interior shots are used as Liv, Anna and Nate visit Tinkles the cat.

Bradbourne House is a mansion set in a twenty acres of parkland located in West Malling. Features include extensive woodlands, a lake, a ballroom, conference rooms, small panelled library, glass greenhouse, walled orchard, converted stables and cellars.

Anti Matter was released in the UK on 10th July 2017.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Contraband (1940)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Contraband Film Poster- battle ships in the water firing at each other, two floating heads of the main characters are above. A plane is in the air. Conrad Veidt Contraband is written across the centre

Contraband Film Poster © British National Films

Director: Michael Powell
Writers: Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Starring: Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie
Production Company: British National Films
Kent Locations Used: Ramsgate

Set in early World War II, Contraband (1940) is about a Danish sea captain, delayed in a British port when a blackout occurs. The darkness brings chaos with smugglers and spies wanting to take advantage and the captain is forced to participate in a game of cat and mouse through the dark streets of London looking for important papers that belong to the ship. However, he discovers something a lot bigger than a few thieves trying to make a quick profit.

Directed by Michael Powell (A Canterbury Tale (1944), The Red Shoes), the film stars Conrad Veidt (Casablanca, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari), Valerie Hobson (Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), Great Expectations (1946)) and Hay Petrie (One of Our Aircraft is Missing, Crimes at the Dark House).

Ramsgate, particularly the harbour and railway station, doubled as the fictional town Eastgate-on-Sea in the film.

Situated in East Kent,Ramsgateis a beautiful coastal town, home to the Port of Ramsgate, the only Royal Harbour Marina in the country. The area also boasts a beach, amusements, arcades, shops, restaurants and a theatre. Ramsgate has been used as a film location for Eastenders (2007-2022), Big Bad World (2013) and Johnny English Reborn (2011).

Contraband (1940) was released on Saturday 11th May 1940 and is now available to purchase on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.