‘In a Cold Vein’ Turns Survival into Savage Noir
- Horror News
Oliver Mitchell- 0
- 4 minutes read
In a Cold Vein, the second feature from musician-turned-filmmaker Eric Owen, is set to receive its world premiere at FrightFest on 22 August. A lean and combustible revenge thriller, the film stars Evan Gamble as a professional criminal plunged into a desperate, 24-hour manhunt after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt.
Written, directed and scored by Owen, In a Cold Vein tracks its protagonist, Dean O’Reilley, as he fights to uncover who orchestrated the hit and why. With his family in danger and no one left to trust, Dean is forced to navigate a shifting world of double-crosses and bloodied alliances. Owen has described the film as unfolding in three distinct acts, each reflecting a different thriller mode: survival, noir and vengeance.
The film’s world premiere at FrightFest marks a significant step for Owen, who first turned heads with his 2023 directorial debut Thirst. That film, a genre-blending tale of paranoia and claustrophobia, introduced Owen’s interest in morally skewed characters under extreme psychological pressure. In a Cold Vein takes that further, stripping down its structure and ramping up the intensity. The shoot itself was completed in just ten days.
Joining Gamble on screen are Brian Villalobos (Apollo 10½, Love and Death), Marc Pouhé (Friday Night Lights), and Steve Brudniak (Hypnotic). Production was handled by Samantha McDanel, Josh Taylor and Evrim Ersoy, alongside Owen, with Blue Finch Films taking on international sales.
Also known as one-half of the rock duo Black Pistol Fire, Owen continues to score his own work, lending In a Cold Vein a raw, kinetic energy through its soundtrack. His crossover into filmmaking builds on his reputation for intensity and sharp tonal control, something that has begun to define his growing screen output.
In a Cold Vein joins Blue Finch’s 2025 genre slate alongside Matt Harlock’s Blockhead, and will premiere during FrightFest’s opening weekend.
For more information on the film, and the other exciting screenings at FrightFest this year, visit frightfest.co.uk.
