Images
A Welsh Horror Film With Bite: ‘Valley of the Demon’
Valley of the Demon, the debut feature from Welsh director Rhodri Jones is an independent horror film set in the Rhondda.
In it, “A group of friends hiking through a forest to an illegal rave are set upon by demonic forces, raised by a satanic clan who are intent on bringing hell to the Valleys; plummeting the heavenly Welsh countryside into a nightmare of darkness and demons.”
“I wanted to make a full on 80’s-style Blood Splattering gore film that holds that nostalgic feel that you can only get from those types of movies they used to make in the ’80s,” said the director. “My friends who read the script told me it read like Evil Dead on Steroids!”
The Art Director, Jodie Gibson, added: “There is as little CGI in this film as possible. Rhodri just wanted blood, guts and all the effects actually on set for the actors to react to.”
The Associate producer, John R. Walker, whose credits include Deadtime and Cryingwolf, commented: “I had one rule that Rhodri refused to let me break. He said every single cast and crew member had to be either Welsh or Welsh educated, or they’re simply not part of the project.”
The cast is led by Sam Bees, Ciara Flynn, Claudio Laurini, Laura Jeffs, Maria Todd, Harper Stephens, Darren Swain, Tony Gallagher, Katy Powles, Ben Bennet, Ashleigh Bull and John R. Walker.
We have an exclusive first look at A Man in the Woods With an Axe, a blood-soaked, genre-twisting homage to 1980s slasher films.
Spanning four decades, A Man in the Woods With an Axe begins in the summer of 1987 before pushing into the modern era, weaving together timelines and perspectives in a way that builds both dread and intrigue.
Drawing inspiration from genre standouts like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Hatchet, and The Cabin in the Woods, the film blends visceral horror with moments of dark humor, creating a uniquely balanced experience that honors tradition while carving its own identity.
Writer-director Dillon Brown (Primal Darkness) aims to deliver everything fans crave from a slasher while boldly subverting expectations with a mid-film twist that redefines the story.
“This is an unapologetic love letter to the films that made me fall in love with horror,” Brown tells Bloody Disgusting. “But I didn’t just want to recreate that feeling; I wanted to challenge it. About halfway through, the film takes a turn that completely changes how you view not only this story, but the genre itself.”
Brown describes the vintage-inspired production as “far and away the bloodiest film I’ve ever made,” with practical effects helmed by Cody Ruch (The Mill, Pig Hill), an instructor at Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program.
From Horror Dadz Productions, A Man in the Woods With an Axe is currently in production and targeting an early 2027 release.
You must be logged in to post a comment.