Ridder Films, produced in association with Lucas A. Ferrara is delighted to confirm that the time-loop horror Manor Of Darkness will be coming to digital platforms in the US from December 9.
Directed by Blake Ridder (Help), Manor of Darkness stars Sarah Alexandra Marks (Escape), Kim Lysette Spearman, (As I Am), Louis James (River of Blood), Blake Ridder & Stuart Wolfe Murray (Makeup).
Struggling to care for her terminally ill mother, Laura reluctantly reconnects with her estranged brother, Chris, for one last score. Their target: a remote English manor rumoured to house a priceless artifact. Disguised as a documentary film crew, Laura, Chris, his girlfriend Lisa, and their cameraman Andy gain access under the pretence of filming a historical feature.
Inside, they encounter Lucas, the manor’s reclusive owner, whose cryptic stories hint at a tragic past and a lingering supernatural force. When the crew stumbles upon a sealed chest in the basement and forces it open, something ancient and malevolent is unleashed—and time itself begins to unravel.
Trapped in a terrifying time loop, the group relives the same day with escalating horrors. As shadowy entities close in and Lucas’s behavior grows more violent, only Laura retains memory of each cycle. With every reset, she inches closer to the truth behind the curse—and the impossible choice it demands.
Director Blake Ridder is thrilled to announce Manor of Darkness‘ digital release. “From the start, I wanted Manor of Darkness to feel like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. The time-loop structure allowed me to explore how fear compounds when the same moment repeats with slight, unnerving differences. Every reset forces the characters, and the audience, to question what’s real, what’s inevitable, and how much control we truly have.
For me, the manor itself is a reflection of that — a place that traps its visitors not just physically but psychologically. Each loop isn’t just about survival. It’s about how people reveal themselves when confronted with patterns they can’t escape.
Rather than leaning on simple scares, the film builds dread through escalation, where repetition becomes suffocating and small choices carry devastating consequences. Manor of Darkness is less about defeating the dark and more about what the dark reveals in us.”
Also commenting on the film, producer Lucas A. Ferrara said “Manor of Darkness is a masterclass in atmospheric tension. Blake Ridder doesn’t just direct—he orchestrates unease with surgical precision. As a producer, I’m drawn to projects that challenge convention, and this film does exactly that. It’s a meta-horror that dissects the very act of filmmaking, turning the lens inward on ambition, ego, and fear. What Blake achieved here isn’t just genre storytelling—it’s psychological excavation. I saw in Manor of Darkness a rare opportunity to support a director who’s not afraid to blur the line between reality and nightmare. The result is a film that’s as intellectually provocative as it is viscerally haunting.”
Manor Of Darkness will be coming to Digital platforms
in the US from December 9
Chilling time-loop horror coming to US Digital Platforms from December 9
Biography
Blake Ridder is a filmmaker recognized for his bold, character-driven thrillers that push genre boundaries. With dozens of shorts and multiple features behind him, he has developed a reputation for stories that blend psychological tension with deeply human themes. Ridder is currently completing his third feature, Spill, while continuing to create films that fuse suspense, emotion, and striking visuals.
Actor – Louis James
(Help, River of Blood)
Biography
Louis James is a British actor, director, and producer whose dynamic career bridges performance and filmmaking across a wide spectrum of genres. He has trained for stage and screen at Drama Centre London and The Vakhtangov Institute and has carved out a distinctive space in the independent film world with emotionally grounded performances and a bold creative vision.
Louis plays AJ in the action-adventure movie River of Blood, set in the rivers of the Thai jungle, which was released in August 2025 and marks his third outing with director Howard J Ford. With the support of producer Lucas A Ferrara, he directed his debut feature Archie, taking on triple duty as writer, director, and lead actor. He has just wrapped the psychological thriller The Last Guest (working title), which he produced and directed. As a producer, Louis has over 35 credits to his name, with a focus on genre films and independent storytelling.
Actor – Sarah Alexandra Marks
(Help, River of Blood, Witch)
Biography
Sarah Alexandra Marks is a British actress born in Essex. She first trained as a dancer, performing at prestigious venues, most notably the Royal Opera House. She later transitioned to screen acting and quickly began building an impressive list of film credits with notable artists and directors.
Her most recent work includes the award-winning feature film Help (2021) by Blake Ridder, Glamour (2020) by Richard Perry, and The Last Time You Saw Me (2022) by Richard Mundy, and Escape (2024) by Howard J. Ford.
