Darkness in Tenement 45 is a 2020 American horror film about the residents of a NYC building trapped by the threat of a biological attack.
Written and directed by Nicole Groton (The Melting Family), the A Flying Woman Productions film stars Nicole Tompkins, Casey Kramer, Keyon Bowman, David Labiosa and Melissa Macedo.
Plot:
In the 1950s, sixteen-year-old Joanna has been living with her overbearing Aunt Martha in a low-income New York City tenement building ever since a violent outburst left her fighting a feeling she can only describe as the “darkness.” Little did she know that weeks after moving in, a biological threat from the Soviet Union would leave the building boarded up and the tenants locked inside.
It’s been one month since they were first sequestered. With food dwindling and Martha’s controversial role as leader expanding, Joanna realizes that she must face both her darkness and her aunt in order to save the tenants. But can she take on the leadership without letting the darkness take over her entirely?
Reviews:
“This film is an absolute triumph… a piece of celluloid whose relevance and sheer quality put it squarely as a candidate for my favorite movie of the year.” Dread Central
“This film is something very different, yes it’s a low budget offering but the film is very well acted with great overall production and with stand out cinematography and a high intense thriller that makes for a very interesting watch.” Horror Screams Video Vault
“Darkness in Tenement 45 felt like an episode of The Twilight Zone developed into a film. The time period this was based in made this feel a lot different to the usual post-apocalyptic/dystopian horrors out there. It would have been nice to get more perspective from the adults characters but I still thought this was great.” The Rotting Zombie
“Writer/director Nicole Groton has crafted a story that is a successful blend of smart horror and a cautionary tale about the abuse of power. It’s clear Groton is a confident filmmaker, with a well-executed, if straightforward and structured, vision. It’s a simple story that’s well-told, competently acted (considering it’s a cast of unknowns) and a wonderfully moody original score that sets the tone. Darkness in Tenement 45 is interesting and creative…” Screen Zealots
” …quite unlike anything you’ve ever seen, a piece of dystopian science fiction on an alternative timeline on the outside, it’s actually a rather compelling psycho-thriller and character study about the human condition as such – and thanks to clever and intelligent writing it just remains tense and suspenseful throughout, with an atmosphere-heavy directorial effort giving the film an extra layer of uniqueness, only topped off by a strong cast.” Search My Trash
Release:
Available on Digital and VOD platforms on Election Day, November 3rd 2020 via Wood Entertainment, in partnership with The Horror Collective.
Cast and characters:
Nicole Tompkins … Joanna
David Labiosa … Felix
Melissa Macedo … Isolina
Casey Kramer … Martha
Keyon Bowman … Walter
Anthony Marciona … Horen
Elexus Ray
Nicolas Aleksandr Bolton … Tomás
Joseph Culliton … Abrahem
Ronny Stein … Cop
Marla Martinez … Isabel
Emmy Greene … Rhonda
Von Roberts … Crime Scene Investigator #2
Sean LoGrasso … Crime Scene Investigator #1
Trailer:
