Julian Glover and Patsy Kensit Star in ‘Borley Rectory: The Awakening’

The legend of Borley Rectory, long dubbed England’s most haunted house, is being reimagined in Borley Rectory: The Awakening, which will debut on digital platforms in the United States on 7 October before arriving in the UK on DVD and digital on 13 October.

Set at the turn of the 20th century, the film follows Reverend Henry Bull and his sister Kitty as they take charge of the family rectory. Their new responsibilities are quickly overshadowed by unexplained phenomena that escalate into violent hauntings. Fearing for their family’s safety, the siblings enlist a trusted ally to uncover the truth behind the apparitions that plague the house.

The film is directed by Steven M. Smith, whose previous credits include The Ghosts of Borley Rectory and Sweeney Todd: Slice & Dice. Smith co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher Jolley, continuing his exploration of British folklore and supernatural traditions.

Veteran actor Julian Glover, celebrated for roles in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Empire Strikes Back and For Your Eyes Only, leads the cast alongside Patsy Kensit, best known for Lethal Weapon 2 and Absolute Beginners. They are joined by Mark Wingett, Vicki Michelle, Helen Lederer and Simon Phillips, with supporting performances from emerging actors Jess Inchbald, Corneille Dion Williams, Charlotte Luxford, Jenna Wilson and Lora Hristova.

The Borley Rectory legend has inspired fascination for decades, with tales of ghostly nuns, mysterious footsteps and phantom carriages capturing the imagination of writers and paranormal investigators. The new film draws directly on those reported events, positioning them within a period setting to recreate the atmosphere surrounding the house in 1900.

Greenway Entertainment, which is handling the release, has emphasised the film’s mix of traditional Gothic horror with an ensemble of veteran performers and rising talent. By revisiting a location often referred to as a cornerstone of British paranormal lore, Borley Rectory: The Awakening adds to the legacy of screen interpretations that have kept the legend alive.

Borley Rectory: The Awakening will be available digitally in the US on 7 October and released in the UK on DVD and digital on 13 October.

Borley Rectory: The Awakening trailer