Black Daruma is a 2024 horror film shot in POV that injects dark humour into the doll subgenre with an inventive twist.
Black Daruma follows Ryan, a down-on-his-luck man in his thirties. He seeks a life change and purchases a Japanese lucky “Daruma” doll. However, the doll brings anything but good fortune, twisting Ryan’s life into a hilarious and horrifying mess.
Co-director Fionn Watts describes the film as a playful yet sinister blend of “Gremlins” and “Paranormal Activity.” “We shot the entire film from the doll’s perspective,” he explains. “The audience becomes the doll, witnessing the unfolding chaos firsthand.”
Filmed in just eight days, Black Daruma draws inspiration from the found footage genre and character-driven horror like Creep and Be My Cat. Co-director Toby Watts elaborates, “The disorienting POV keeps the audience guessing. We aimed for a bizarre and voyeuristic experience, highlighting the implosion of masculinity.”
Fionn adds a surprising detail: “The script predated our knowledge of real-life Japanese lucky dolls. We later discovered black Daruma dolls exist and are known to ward off evil spirits. This perfectly complemented our story, adding an absurd layer to the narrative.”
The Far North Film production stars Richard Galloway (Wasteland), Louise O’Leary (Dead Ringer), Julie Higginson (Red Dwarf), David Castleford (Hatched), Ross Marshall and Rowe David McClelland (The Zombie King).
Reviews:
“The performances here are simply stellar, especially from Richard Galloway as Ryan and Louise O’Leary delivering an equally impressive portrayal as his partner. Black Daruma hooks its audience right from the beginning, maintaining a chillingly ambiguous stance as to whether the doll is supernatural or Ryan is spectacularly losing the plot.” Exposed Magazine
“The gradual build-up, a genuine disinterest in piling up victims and general lack of all-out moppet mayhem may put some off, but Black Daruma is a fine example of using limited resources to their full potential, relying on the strength of the writing and performances rather than showering the screen with blood, which is to the credit of all involved. The darkly comic, twisted final fifteen minutes may telegraph its ultimate act of nastiness but that’s hardly a blot on the copybook of what is a fun, fearsome experience for the bulk of its hour and a quarter.” Warped Perspective
Trailer:
Release:
Black Daruma is now available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video in the US and UK.
