‘Mr Whispers’ claws past target as fans fund VHS-era shocker

Independent label The B-Team has closed the crowdfunding campaign for debut feature Mr Whispers on a high, raising £67,492 from 489 backers. The total represents 269% of its £25,000 goal across a 24-day run that launched on 5 August. The project is produced by and stars Megan Tremethick, whose recent and upcoming credits include The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, The Slave and the Sorcerer and In the Grip of Terror.

Positioned as a late-1990s, VHS-era occult thriller, Mr Whispers follows a group of film students, led by goth investigator Kathryn Hale, as they probe an abandoned cinema linked to historic child disappearances. The team cites found-footage touchpoints such as Noroi: The Curse, The Blair Witch Project and Lake Mungo for tone and structure. Director Dorian Todd says the film was designed so the camera exists within the story, aiming for performances and scares that feel unvarnished.

The B-Team sits under the British Horror Studio banner and is co-led by Tremethick and cinematographer Paul William Kelly. The imprint takes cues from British genre houses of the 1960s and 1970s, with branding that nods to Tigon Productions. According to the producers, the black cat logo is intended as a symbol of superstition and an underdog spirit. The company’s stated goal is to deliver three to four modestly budgeted features per year that lean into retro influences.

On Mr Whispers, directing duties are shared by Seumas MacNeil, Oliver Revie and Todd after prior collaborations with Hex Studios’ Lawrie Brewster and Sarah Daly. The cast features Tremethick as Hale alongside Novarro Ramon, Stephen Corrall and Sam Barclay. British Horror Studio regulars are involved across departments, with Kelly overseeing photography and Callum “Caz” Paul handling art direction.

The campaign’s performance provides a few useful datapoints for the team’s next steps. A condensed 24-day window still generated nearly £67.5k, and the average pledge of close to £140 indicates strong uptake at collector tiers. The Blu-ray special edition at £29 proved a volume driver, while higher-tier packages offered signed editions, on-screen thanks, producer credits and screen-used props. Premium bundles such as the £449 Epic Thank You package and producer-level contributions at £850 and above attracted a small but meaningful group of supporters.

Production and delivery are next. The team describes Mr Whispers as a period-set occult mystery with a visible central antagonist and a late-90s analogue aesthetic. The campaign page lists an estimated November 2025 delivery window for physical and digital rewards, with further announcements expected around editing timelines and distribution once the film moves through post.

Beyond the single title, the B-Team framework reflects a wider pattern in UK indie horror where creators build audience directly through pre-sales and community activity. The Mr Whispers drive drew on activity in Fife and the Central Belt scenes and on British Horror Studio channels to spur late-stage pledges. For a new label, the result gives an initial proof of support that can be referenced in future packaging conversations.

Tremethick and producer Rachael Brewster are set to steer delivery, with Hex Studios’ Brewster and Daly advising on fulfilment after a decade of genre crowdfunding. The B-Team says it will share updates on filming milestones and any festival plans once schedules are locked.

You can get involved in the campaign by visiting www.kickstarter.com