Genre producer Samuel Freeman has announced that the New Jersey Film Festival will host his directorial debut, the found footage film “Don’t Look in the Dark.”
The film arrives with significant momentum following its world premiere at the Birmingham Horror Film Festival & Convention, where it secured the prestigious Best Feature award.
The story follows Golan and Maya, a couple seeking solace in the Pinelands National Reserve. What begins as a quiet camping trip to honor Maya’s late father and prepare for the arrival of their first child quickly devolves into a technological and psychological nightmare.
Without their knowledge, the couple’s phones begin recording on their own, capturing fractured audio and unsettling glimpses of the surrounding woods. When Maya is lured into the woods by the sight of a mysterious child, the couple’s perception of reality begins to shatter. As darkness consumes both the environment and the footage itself, the film forces the audience to question what is being seen, what is being hidden, and whether watching is part of the danger.
Freeman, known for his work producing high-concept genre pieces, aims to push the boundaries of the “found footage” subgenre.
“‘Don’t Look In The Dark’ was made with one goal: to create a theatrical experience like no other,” said Freeman. “Every audience sees something different. Every theater reveals something new. No two viewings feel exactly the same. It is meant to unsettle you, confuse you, draw you in, and then leave you wondering if you missed something, because maybe you did. This is our attempt to redefine what a found footage film can be, and what watching a horror movie in the dark can truly feel like.
“Don’t Look in the Dark” will screen at Rutgers University on January 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. as part of the New Jersey Film Festival.
