‘Diabolic’ Heads To UK and Ireland With Supernatural Horror

Australian supernatural horror Diabolic is set for a UK and Ireland release on 25 May, with Lightbulb Film Distribution bringing the film to Blu-ray, DVD and digital.

Directed by Daniel J. Phillips, the film stars Elizabeth Cullen, John Kim, Mia Challis and Terence Crawford. Cullen plays Elise, a young woman plagued by terrifying blackouts who is forced to return to the religious compound where she was raised. Once back there, she begins uncovering secrets connected to her past, before an ancient ritual unleashes the spirit of a cursed witch.

The film marks the latest feature from Phillips, who previously wrote, produced and directed Awoken, his 2019 horror debut. Before moving into features, Phillips built his reputation through advertising work and short films, including The Martyr, which picked up awards internationally.

Cullen leads the cast after previous screen work including The Bureau of Magical Things, where she played Imogen. John Kim, who also appears in the film, was born and raised in Melbourne and has steadily built his acting career from Australia into international productions. Mia Challis, meanwhile, is known to many viewers for her role as Ruthie on Netflix hit Outer Banks, and was also nominated for Best Actress at the Mammoth Film Festival for The Last Bell. Terence Crawford adds another familiar horror credit to the line-up, having previously appeared in The Babadook.

Diabolic was produced in Australia and continues a strong run of genre titles emerging from the region in recent years. The setup, built around an isolated religious community and a buried supernatural threat, gives the film a clear hook ahead of its home entertainment launch.

Lightbulb announced the release this week, with Sales and Acquisitions Director Peter Thompson highlighting Cullen’s central performance and the film’s religious horror setting. The distributor has continued to build its catalogue with a mix of independent genre films, cult titles and international releases, and Diabolic is the latest addition to that slate.

The film will be available across the UK and Ireland from Monday 25 May on Blu-ray, DVD and digital. The trailer is out now for anyone wanting a first look before release.

Diabolic trailer