XYZ Films to board US sales of horror flick ‘The Dark’

Los Angeles-based XYZ Films has announced it will board domestic sales of Justin P. Lange’s horror film The Dark.

The deal came after the film took part in the Goes to Cannes buyers’ showcase. XYZ moved quickly on the directorial debut from Lange, committing after seeing only fifteen minutes of footage.

The Dark is the story of a flesh-eating undead girl haunting the remote stretch of woods where she was murdered. Decades after her death, she discovers a kidnapped and abused boy hiding in the trunk of one of her victim’s cars. Her decision to let him live throws her solitary existence into upheaval, ultimately forcing her to reexamine how much of her humanity was taken away by her murderer.

The horror flick is based on Lange’s Columbia University thesis short film of the same name, shot in Northern Ontario, Canada. Those looking for a sneak peek of what to expect from The Dark can see a teaser for Lange’s short film here.

Production and Financing

Laura Perlmutter and Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith produced for First Love Films alongside Dor Film’s Danny Krausz and Kurt Stocker. Florian Krügel served as executive producer, with Klemens Hufnagl on board as cinematographer and co-director. The Dark was filmed with support from the Austrian Film Institute, the ORF/Television-Agreement, and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. All listed producers, executive producer, and cinematographer credits have been confirmed accurate.

Cast

Nadia Alexander (10,000 Saints, Elementary, Blame) and Toby Nichols (Trumbo, Underground, Iron Fist) star alongside Karl Markovics (The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Counterfeiters, Unknown) and Margarete Tiesel (Paradise: Love, Life Eternal, The Wonders). Nadia Alexander and Toby Nichols are credited in the lead roles, while the supporting cast of Karl Markovics and Margarete Tiesel has been verified.

Festival Premiere and Release History

The film completed its run through post-production and moved into its public timeline. The Dark world premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Its US theatrical and digital release arrived on October 26, 2018. Dark Sky Films handled the US distribution and issued the DVD on January 15, 2019, closing the initial window that began with the XYZ Films announcement.

Reception and Critical Response

Reviewers responded to the film’s willingness to treat horror as emotional drama rather than pure genre exercise. Critics praised the way it blended heartbreak and horror without leaning on familiar jump-scare rhythms. Several noted how the story subverted standard zombie sub-genre expectations by focusing on isolation and reluctant connection instead of relentless violence.

Director's Subsequent Work

Lange moved from this debut into additional features that expanded his range. He directed The Seventh Day in 2021. In 2022 he directed The Visitor for Blumhouse Television and MGM+, keeping his focus on contained, character-driven horror stories.

Legacy and Availability

The Dark remains accessible through its home video release by Dark Sky Films. The title continues to surface in retrospective roundups that examine independent horror from the late 2010s. Its modest footprint and focused premise keep it visible for viewers interested in genre work that mixes dread with quiet character study.