British thriller-horror filmed at a unique location wins Best Narrative Feature at Made in Sussex, plus SFX award and cinematography nods.
Some stories are born in the dark, the kind that creeps up quietly, settles into the back of your mind, and refuses to leave. Charlie Shaw’s Revenge, the latest feature from award-winning British production company Drop Dead Films, is exactly that kind of story. Following a nomination for best cinematography and an award for best VFX at the Romford Horror Film Festival with an award for
A Production Company Built for the Dark
Drop Dead Films has never shied away from difficult stories. Founded by award-winning writer and director John Langridge, the company has built its reputation on darker genre content: horror, thriller, and action, all crafted with depth, precision, and a commitment to high-quality production. With five multi-award-winning works to its name, including the dramatic shorts Feminine Incite and Burned and the short documentary The Woman Who Whirls, the company has consistently demonstrated that independent British filmmaking can compete at the highest level.
John Langridge’s debut feature Four, which was produced by Raiomond Mirza for Oh My! Productions, can be seen on Netflix in the UK and his last film 13 Graves, was released in the UK and the United States on Prime Video in 2019, cementing Drop Dead Films as a serious force in genre cinema. Now, with Charlie Shaw’s Revenge, the company has raised the stakes once again.
The Story Behind Charlie Shaw’s Revenge
The film follows a group of workers preparing for the reopening of a remote adventure park on the brink of bankruptcy. Isolated and vulnerable, they soon find themselves stalked by a silent killer. Cut off from any form of rescue, the survivors must band together and fight for their lives. It is a premise rooted in classic thriller-horror tension: ordinary people, extraordinary danger, and the raw instinct to survive.
Actor/producers Justin Hayward and Renato Pires step both in front of and behind the camera to help bring the story to life, director and writer John Langridge brings his signature visual style to the project, while the tight-knit production team, including multi award-winning make up artist Kate Griffiths, in-demand production designer Laz Warwick and cinematographer Nathan Gardner Hubert reflect a shared creative vision to deliver genre cinema that is lean, powerful, and genuinely unsettling.
A Location Unlike Any Other
What sets Charlie Shaw’s Revenge apart from other British horror productions is not only its story but also where that story was filmed. The production was shot entirely on location at the East Sussex School of Circus Arts and at Knockhatch Adventure Park, a sprawling 65-acre site that had never before served as a film location.
The combination of a working adventure park and a circus school creates an environment that is simultaneously familiar and deeply strange. Wide open spaces give way to shadowed interiors. Rides and structures built for joy become instruments of dread. It is the kind of setting that does half the work for you, and the production team knew it. Choosing this location was not simply a logistical decision. It was a creative one, and it pays off in every frame
From Screen to Page
The ambition behind Charlie Shaw’s Revenge extends beyond the film itself. A companion novelisation was released in February 2026, expanding the world of the story and offering audiences a deeper connection to the characters and events at the heart of the film. This multi-platform launch reflects a broader storytelling strategy, treating the Charlie Shaw’s Revenge universe as a property with real cultural staying power.
This kind of thinking is increasingly rare in independent film and demonstrates the confidence Drop Dead Films has in the material and in the audience it has built.
Looking Ahead
Drop Dead Films is not resting on the success of Charlie Shaw’s Revenge. The company is actively developing exciting new feature film and television projects, with a clear goal of becoming a market leader in thriller and horror over the next five years. The team remains open to investment opportunities and international co-production partnerships, and the momentum generated by this release positions them well for the next chapter.
© Sarah Olivier Photography
LtoR: Jess Mann (actor), James Payton (actor), John Langridge (Writer/Director), Cerys Knighton (Actor), Nathan Hubert Gardner (Cinematographer) and Renato Pires (Actor/Producer) collecting the award for Best Narrative Feature Film for Charlie Shaw’s Revenge at the Made in Sussex Film Festival. The Festival celebrates the work of filmmakers with a connection to Sussex and organised by Film Sussex, a social enterprise supporting filmmakers across Sussex at every stage of their careers, from first-time creators to experienced practitioners. Held at Depot Cinema in Lewes, the festival showcases the breadth and quality of local filmmaking talent, bringing together audiences, industry professionals, and the filmmaking community.
A New Chapter for British Genre Cinema
British horror has always had a distinct voice. From the gothic atmosphere of the Hammer era to the gritty realism of modern independent productions, UK filmmakers have consistently found new ways to frighten, unsettle, and move their audiences. Charlie Shaw’s Revenge belongs to that tradition, and it carries it forward with confidence.
With its industry screening now behind it and the companion book already in readers’ hands, Charlie Shaw’s Revenge is more than a movie. It is the launch of a larger creative universe, one that promises to resonate with audiences for years to come
Explore More About Charlie Shaw’s Revenge
Discover the full story behind the production company Drop Dead Films, and the planned rollout during the festival run locations and dates: https://charlieshawsrevenge.com/
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