The Severed Sun

The Severed Sun
Film poster
Directed byDean Puckett
Screenplay byDean Puckett
Produced by
  • Rebecca Wolff
  • Jude Goldrei
Starring
CinematographyIan Forbes
Edited byPaco Sweetman
Music byBrain Rays, James Forde Stewart and Thomas Michael Williams (Unknown Horrors)
Production
companies
  • BFI
  • BBC Film
  • iFeatures
  • Heatseeker Media
  • Lunar Lander Films
  • Grasp the Nettle Films
Distributed byBlue Finch Film Releasing
Release dates
  • September 22, 2024 (2024-09-22) (Fantastic Fest)
  • October 6, 2025 (2025-10-06) (United Kingdom)
Running time
80 minutes[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Severed Sun is a 2024 British horror film that marks the feature debut of Dean Puckett. It is produced by Rebecca Wolff of Grasp the Nettle Films and Jude Goldrei of Lunar Lander Films. It stars Emma Appleton, Toby Stephens and Lewis Gribben.

The Severed Sun premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 22, 2024.

Synopsis

A witch hunt takes its toll upon a small religious community following the unexplained death of a town member.[2]

Cast

Production

Development

The film is loosely based on Puckett's 2018 short The Sermon. The film has developed slowly with Puckett keen to keep control of the project rather than cede to industry executives.[3] The film has also been called I Feel Blood, Magpie, and The Heretic during its development.[4][5] The film was developed as part of the BFI, BBC Film, and Creative UK's iFeatures program. The film has Rebecca Wolff of Grasp the Nettle Films and Jude Goldrei of Lunar Lander Films producing.[6] The film was titled The Severed Sun when it received additional financing from newly the established Heatseeker Media for independent productions. It is set to be the first project delivered via the fund.[7]

Filming

Filming took place on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. Principal photography wrapped in June 2023.[8]

Casting

The cast in 2021 was set to include Tuppence Middleton, Max Harwood, and Thomas Turgoose.[4] By the 2023 production, the film featured Emma Appleton, Jodhi May, Lewis Gribben, Barney Harris, Oliver Maltman, James Swanton, and Toby Stephens.[9]

Release

Dark Sky Films released the film in the United States in theaters and on digital on 16 May 2025.[10] The film had select Q&A screenings in the United Kingdom on 29 September, as well as a screening at the Exeter Phoenix on 3 October, before being released digitally in the country on 6 October, by Blue Finch Film Releasing.[11][12][13]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of 18 critics' reviews are positive.[14]

References

  1. ^ "The Severed Sun (15)". British Board of Film Classification. July 28, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  2. ^ Valle, Ali (June 22, 2023). "The Witcher's Emma Appleton Set to Bewitch in an Indie Witch Hunt Film". Movieweb. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Prowse, Jae (March 31, 2023). "An interview with Dean Puckett". Horrified Magazine. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Dalton, Ben (February 25, 2021). "Tuppence Middleton, Max Harwood, Thomas Turgoose to lead Dean Puckett's 'Magpie' for Bankside (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  5. ^ Tuna, Thomas (June 22, 2023). "BRITISH HORROR PIC 'HERETIC' WRAPS PRODUCTION". Horrornewsnetwork. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Amber T (June 21, 2023). "Here's Our First Look At Dean Puckett's Untitled Cornish Folk Horror". Fangoria. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Roxborough, Scott (January 12, 2024). "U.K. Producers Launch Indie Financing Fund Heatseeker Media (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation.
  8. ^ Ntim, Zac (June 21, 2023). "Cornish Folk Horror Starring 'The Witcher' Breakout Emma Appleton Wraps Production, First Look Revealed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. ^ McCall, Kevin (June 21, 2023). "The Witcher's Emma Appleton Escapes a Witch Hunt in First Image From Dean Puckett's Debut Film". Collider. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Navarro, Meagan (April 3, 2025). "'The Severed Sun' Trailer Unleashes Mysterious Beast in Folk Horror Movie Arriving in May". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  11. ^ "The Severed Sun | darkness creeps through Dean Puckett debut folk horror feature". D&CFilm. September 26, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  12. ^ "The Severed Sun (15)". Exeter Phoenix. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  13. ^ "The Severed Sun". Blue Finch Film Releasing. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  14. ^ "The Severed Sun". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
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