[Trailer] Stephen King Praises ‘Never After Dark’ Ahead of Theatrical Release

Horror enthusiasts have been eagerly following the festival buzz surrounding one of the genre’s most surprising sleeper hits, a Japanese-language ghost story that has been steadily winning over critics since its debut earlier this year. This kind of slow-burn momentum typically struggles to gain mainstream attention without a significant promotional push, but this film has just received a major endorsement.

‘Never After Dark’ first premiered at SXSW in March, where it quickly generated word-of-mouth excitement among genre fans and critics alike. Written and directed by Dave Boyle, the film has built an almost flawless critical reputation, currently boasting an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on nearly 20 reviews.

This critical acclaim has now reached a new level of visibility. Stephen King has publicly lauded the film ahead of its wide theatrical release, calling ‘Never After Dark’ “amazing and haunting” in remarks that now anchor the film’s newly released official trailer.

King wasn’t alone in his enthusiasm. Director Scott Derrickson, known for ‘The Black Phone’ and ‘Sinister’, also shared his praise, describing the film as “intelligent, unpredictable, and bone-chilling,” even going so far as to label it “one of the best of the year,” as he told Variety.

The film follows Airi, portrayed by ‘Shōgun’ actress Moeka Hoshi, a wandering medium who dedicates her life to helping restless spirits transition from the living world. She is constantly accompanied by the ghost of her deceased sister, Miku, played by Kurumi Inagaki, a spectral companion visible only to Airi.

Airi’s routine takes a perilous turn when she is summoned to an isolated country house by its new owner, Teiko, to perform an exorcism. There, she confronts a grotesque apparition unlike any she has faced before, one whose powers challenge the very limits of her abilities as a medium.

As Airi delves deeper into the property’s dark past, she uncovers secrets that complicate the haunting significantly, ultimately finding herself pursued by a threat that may not be supernatural at all. This twist, which merges traditional ghost-story elements with aspects of a psychological thriller, has been frequently highlighted by reviewers as one of the film’s standout narrative choices.

Critics have specifically highlighted Hoshi’s central performance as one of the film’s greatest strengths. Writing for RogerEbert.com, critic Brian Tallerico described her performance as “deeply present and engaged,” noting it as one of the primary reasons the film “works so well,” while also commending the overall craftsmanship of the production.

Magnolia Pictures, which is handling the film’s domestic distribution, has characterized director Dave Boyle’s approach as crafting “a uniquely terrifying and hauntingly atmospheric ghost story,” a description that aligns closely with the trailer’s mix of slow-building tension and visceral horror imagery, featuring unsettling visuals like teeth found in a box and a hand emerging from the ground.

Boyle, previously recognized for directing ‘Man from Reno’, has structured the film around a genre-blending premise that combines the haunted-house archetype popularized by films like ‘Poltergeist’ and ‘Insidious’ with the atmosphere of a gritty detective mystery. This combination appears to be a significant factor in why the film has resonated so strongly with critics across various outlets.

With King’s endorsement now prominently featured in its marketing campaign, ‘Never After Dark’ possesses a horror pedigree that’s hard to replicate through advertising alone. The film is set to hit theaters on September 25, offering genre fans a fresh, critically acclaimed option just as the Halloween season horror slate begins to ramp up.

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