Black Sunday Confessions – Oliver Mitchell from ‘A Ghost at Gilmore House’

Every haunted house has a story to tell, but what if the truth behind the haunting is even more terrifying than the ghost itself? That’s the mystery at the heart of A Ghost at Gilmore House, the supernatural thriller from British filmmaker Oliver Mitchell, which screens today, Saturday 24th October, as part of the Black Sunday Film Festival‘s Halloween special.

Blending the intrigue of a classic whodunnit with the creeping unease of traditional ghost stories, A Ghost at Gilmore House follows Rachel, a curious teenager investigating a notorious paranormal case from the 1970s. Fifty years earlier, renowned paranormal investigator Lucy Carter died under mysterious circumstances at Gilmore House, leaving behind an unsolved murder and a local legend that has endured for decades. As Rachel begins questioning those connected to the original investigation, she discovers that the deeper she digs, the more difficult it becomes to separate supernatural folklore from a potentially much darker truth.

Directed and produced by Mitchell from a screenplay by Rob Worsey, the feature stars Lucy Wareing, Lyndsey Craine, Emily Rose Holt and Flloyd Kennedy. Mitchell co-founded the independent production company Relic Films with Worsey in 2016, and previously worked as a producer and second unit director on the post-apocalyptic horror Among the Living (2022). With A Ghost at Gilmore House, he steps into the director’s chair for his first feature, combining his passion for atmospheric horror with a mystery that promises to keep audiences guessing.

For our latest Five Black Sunday Confessions, we caught up with Oliver Mitchell to discuss his love of filmmaking, the childhood horror experience that left him hiding behind the sofa, his admiration for Danny Boyle, and why a haunting in his own home would be his ultimate nightmare.

Oliver Mitchell, director of the A Ghost at Gilmore House

1. Tell us about your film and what brings you to the Black Sunday Film Festival.

In our film, A Ghost at Gilmore House, a young girl decided to investigate an old ghost haunting case from the 1970s that was declared inconclusive but confirmed the death of renowned paranormal investigator: Lucy Carter. Rachel meets old faces from the original case and the further she dives in, the more mysterious things begin to look.

The film creates a real unsettling feeling and combines an Agatha Christie-like tale with an old-fashioned paranormal horror movie. It becomes a treasure map for her: the more she finds out, the more questions she has.

Bringing the film to Black Sunday Film Festival is a fantastic opportunity to tell this story to an audience, I feel, will appreciate a good mix of genre!

2. What moment made you realise you wanted to create films, not just watch them?

From watching movies at the cinema at the age of 11 & 12, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t just want to be in these worlds as a viewer, I wanted to be a part of the world that told these stories.

Working with cast and crew members to create a shared vision when telling a story that once existed on paper is one of the most thrilling things I’ve been involved in and what draws me to this world.

3. What was the first film that truly unsettled you?

I remember watching The Descent (2005) by Neil Marshall with my family at 11 years old and being utterly, utterly terrified. This film felt so realistic and truly got under my skin. Hiding behind the couch pillows became the only safe haven!

4. Who would be your dream collaborator, living or dead?

I would love to collaborate with Danny Boyle. His energy and passion for storytelling is, I believe, unmatched. Not just in the stories he tells but in the way he moves around his film sets like a kid a Christmas. I once had the privilege to meet him after a Q&A and even in a brief conversation, his passion was electrifying even then.

5. If your worst fear became a film, what would it look like?

A Paranormal Activity-style horror in my own home would do it for me. That feeling of your safe space, your home, your mind being invaded by an unwanted presence is unsettling in the movies, let alone having to live that!

A Ghost at Gilmore House screens today, Saturday 24th October 2026, as part of the Black Sunday Film Festival’s Halloween special. With its combination of murder mystery, paranormal intrigue and old-fashioned ghostly chills, Oliver Mitchell’s feature looks set to offer audiences plenty of reasons to question what might be lurking in the shadows.

For more interviews, filmmaker insights and festival coverage, keep checking back with Love Horror as we continue to shine a light on the creative talent bringing new nightmares to the screen.