‘Nightmares don’t wait for sleep’
Saturnalia is a 2025 horror film about a newcomer to a prestigious boarding school who comes to realise that the institution and its cruel headmistress are a front for something much more evil.
The movie was directed by Daniel Lerch, making his feature directorial debut from a screenplay he co-wrote with Julia Nilsen and Darrell Szarka Workman. Max Fischer and Vivian Owen produced.
The Gearhead Camera production stars Sophia Anthony, Velvet, Dante Blake, Amariah Dionne, Maddie Siepe and Morgan Messina.
Blurb:
“Saturnalia is a high concept homage to the cerebral and stylish world of Italian Giallo films and Italian supernatural horror of the ’70s. The final score was composed by Claudio Simonetti of Goblin, who created all of the music for Dario Argento’s classic Giallo films.”
Plot:
Set in 1979, the story centers on Miriam Basconi, a young woman shipped off to the prestigious Alstroemerias Academy after the mysterious death of both her parents. From her first day, Miriam senses the academy is not what it seems – students disappear in the night, strange men lurk in the shadows.
Amongst its marbled halls lurks the iron grip of Headmistress Hemlock, whose cruelty is whispered about in every corridor. Determined to uncover the truth of what’s happening behind closed doors, Miriam stumbles upon something far stranger.
A hidden world pulsing within the school itself, a surreal realm where the line between nightmare and reality blurs. To survive Alstroemerias, Miriam must confront not only its sinister authority, but the living, breathing mystery at its core…
Trailer:
Clip:
Free to watch online on YouTube [1080p]:
Filming locations:
Dover Hall, USA
Tech specs:
1 hour 25 minutes (85 min)
Aspect ratio: 2:1
