Renovation Turns Rotten in ‘The House on Lidderman Street’

A quiet street, an ordinary renovation job and a promise of a fresh start form the unsettling foundations of The House on Lidderman Street, the new British supernatural thriller set to premiere at the Romford Horror Film Festival later this month. Produced by Leeds-based mini-studio Sladdinc Media and written and directed by Andrew David Barker, the film will receive its first public screening on 22 February 2026 as part of the festival’s four-day celebration of independent genre cinema.

The story follows Pete Arrow, a builder whose life has stalled until he takes on the renovation of a neglected property on Lidderman Street. What begins as a practical opportunity soon reveals a far darker proposition. The house carries a reputation whispered about by locals, and as Pete delves deeper into its history, he uncovers a presence that feeds on resentment, regret and suppressed anger. Rather than relying on spectacle, the film draws its unease from character psychology and moral compromise, asking how far someone might go when offered power over those who have wronged them.

Barker adapted the screenplay from his own short story and has described the feature as a deliberate nod to the restrained chillers of the 1970s, where suggestion and implication carried more weight than overt shocks. That influence is evident in the film’s measured pacing and emphasis on atmosphere, with the house itself emerging as a reflection of Pete’s inner deterioration rather than a simple haunted location.

Jason Adam makes his feature-length leading debut as Pete, supported by familiar faces from the British genre circuit. Lyndsey Craine plays Pete’s girlfriend Lucy, grounding the story emotionally, while Johnny Vivash appears as Ant Valendar, Pete’s employer and a catalyst for several key decisions. The cast is completed by Phil Molloy, Laura Rollins, Ross Berkeley Simpson and Sarah Jane Rose, each contributing to the sense of a community quietly orbiting something malign.

For producer Jeremy Sladdin, The House on Lidderman Street represents a significant step for Sladdinc Media, marking its first feature following a slate of shorts and anthology work. After its Romford debut, the film is set to continue on the festival circuit, with a limited roadshow planned at selected UK independent cinemas later in the year. Distribution details beyond that have yet to be confirmed.

Romford Horror Film Festival runs from 19th to 22nd February at the Lumiere Cinema, Romford. Day passes and full festival passes are available from:
romfordhorrorfestival.com

The House on Lidderman Street trailer