MAGPIE is essentially a classic Ghost story. It centres around a grieving Jack who has moved into a new home only to find that the last tenant hasn’t quite left. She doesn’t quite realize she is dead and after having died in violent circumstances in the back garden, all she wants is to do is to come home- anyway she can.

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MAGPIE is my second collaboration with writer Darren Markey after having made THE UNLIT together in 2019. I was drawn to the idea of MAGPIE instantly. The idea of a love story with strong horror elements excites me and gives me lots of opportunity to elevate the genre visually. Even though we see most of the film through Jacks eyes it is Magpie who we are drawn to. We want to understand her pain and will have a strong understanding of her back story and motives. She isn’t merely there so that the lead males’ story is told. I draw inspiration from such films as THE BABADOOK and RELIC which have a strong female core audience.

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MAGPIE will be a progression for me as Director and I will be working with Paul Hughes once again as DOP which enable us to consolidate our working relationship. We already have a shorthand, and this helps enormously.

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Almost all the action takes place inside the house, but it will be balanced by wide exterior shots of the house and POV shots from the outside looking in. Jack and his world will feel even more isolated. Inside the house we will frame in a more conventional manor, and this will be offset by the shots of Magpie and exteriors of the house which will be mostly handheld to create an unnerving experience.

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We are striving for a visually stunning film with warm and appealing colour palate. The film will have the beauty of THE ORPHANGE and ​tones will be warm and inviting and will change to a much colder tone in the telling of Magpie’s story.