Prime Video debuts Okpue horror flick

Ogo Okpue, the British-Nigerian filmmaker and founder of London-based Adverto Studios, has announced the debut of his supernatural horror film A Song From the Dark.

Set to be released on Amazon Prime Video today (July 12) in the UK, North America, Canada, Australia and Africa, the film follows a Nigerian spirit hunter hired by her former guardian to investigate and expel a malevolent spirit that has been tormenting her family since the mysterious death of her husband.

Emphasising the importance of black talent both on-screen and behind the scenes, A Song From the Dark pays tribute to US director Jordan Peele’s hit movies Get Out, Nope and Us, mirroring their supernatural and horror themes.

The Afro-British cast includes Vanessa Vanderpuye (BulletProof S2), Nse Ikpe Etim (Shanty Town, King of Boys), Wale Ojo (Breath of Life, Black Earth Rising), Garcia Brown (Hollyoaks), Lola Wayne (The Worst Witch), Sharon Oji (Doctors, Roommates), Paul Coster (Luther: The Fallen Sun, The Underdog) and Peace Oseyenum (Silverback, Navy).

Okpue said: “A Song From the Dark is part of a personal journey to push original storytelling and filmmaking from the African diaspora to wide global audiences. The cast and crew are second to none and collectively we have made something very special that audiences will love. The film is a homage to my heritage, to the global black community and to my British Nigerian families.

“It is also a strong genre film, something that not many global majority filmmakers have the deserved reputation for, from horror to fantasy to the supernatural, and my filmmaking aims to change that. Sometimes African cinema doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, and this is an effort to help move the dial and show the world the calibre of our stories and talent.”

A Song From the Dark, marking Okpue’s feature film debut, has already received critical acclaim and nominations at prestigious festivals such as the American Black Film Festival and the Pan African Film Festival.