‘Manor of Darkness’ Traps Viewers in a Relentless Time Loop

Independent filmmaker Blake Ridder returns to the genre that first put him on the map with Manor of Darkness, a haunting time-loop thriller set for digital release in the US from 9 December. Distributed by Indie Rights, the film will be available on major platforms including Amazon, Google Play and YouTube Movies.

Produced by Ridder Films in association with Lucas A. Ferrara, Manor of Darkness follows Laura, played by Sarah Alexandra Marks (Escape), a woman pushed to desperate measures while caring for her terminally ill mother. Persuaded by her estranged brother Chris (Louis James, Help) to join one last heist, she agrees to target a secluded English manor rumoured to hold a priceless artefact. Under the guise of a documentary film crew, the group infiltrates the estate, only to awaken something ancient and malevolent hidden within its walls.

What begins as a simple robbery soon collapses into a waking nightmare when time itself begins to fracture. As the group relives the same day with increasing terror, only Laura retains memory of each loop, forcing her to confront the truth about the manor’s dark history, and the impossible choice it demands.

Ridder, known for his character-driven thrillers Help and The Manor, describes Manor of Darkness as a psychological descent that explores fear through repetition and consequence. The film blends supernatural horror with existential tension, using the time-loop premise to examine how people unravel when faced with patterns they cannot escape.

The cast includes Kim Lysette Spearman, Blake Ridder, and Stuart Wolfe Murray, with Louis James also serving as a creative collaborator on the production. The film’s visual style leans into Ridder’s preference for practical tension and claustrophobic atmosphere, while its confined setting heightens both the emotional and physical stakes.

Producer Lucas A. Ferrara, whose growing slate of independent features has included Help and Makeup, praised Ridder’s ability to balance conceptual horror with human emotion. A veteran of over 175 film productions worldwide, Ferrara continues to champion distinctive, genre-driven storytelling that blurs the boundary between the psychological and the supernatural.

Ridder, who is currently in post-production on his third feature Spill, has earned a reputation for pushing the limits of low-budget filmmaking through precision and mood rather than spectacle.

Manor of Darkness will be available on US digital platforms from 9 December. Check out the trailer below for a taste of the action.

Manor of Darkness trailer