Dark Sky Film Presents BARK
A Film By Marc Schölermann
STARRING MICHAEL WESTON & A.J. BUCKLEY
AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL / VOD JUNE 13th
SYNOPSIS:
Charismatic Nolan Bentley wakes up in the middle of a remote forest, tied to a tree with no recollection of how he got there. With his time relentlessly running out, a mysterious stranger appears and he must finally reckon with the demons of his past and fight to survive to find a way out of his nightmare.
BARK
Directed by: Marc Schölermann
Written by: Steve Fauquier
Produced by: Alexander Steinhoff, Marc Scholermann
Genre: Thriller
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Run Time: 90 minutes
Cast: Michael Weston, A.J. Buckley
BARK premiered at Fantastic Fest. Below is Annick Mahnert’s description of the film:
Nolan Bentley seems like a nice enough guy caught in a terrible situation after he wakes up one morning tied to a tree, hands behind his back, with neither water nor food at his disposal. After suffering starvation and hunger for a few days, a passing outdoorsman pitches a tent right next to him and strikes up a conversation. As their discussion progresses, it becomes clear to Nolan that the man has no intention of saving him. What’s unclear, though, are his reasons for choosing not to intervene.
For those of you who have been troubled by a certain Fantastic Fest death toll over the years (and without giving too much away), this film will settle the score. BARK is a slow burn, and you’ll sometimes wonder where the story is going, but I guarantee that the ride is worthwhile and that you’ll be more than satisfied by the finale, at which point you’ll probably shed a tear.
Revealing itself to be more than just a “man in the woods” film, BARK is a subtle and tender (yes, tender) story about relationships and companionship. It’s also a film about first impressions and just how despicable humans can turn out to be (not that this really comes as a surprise). If I stay vague, there’s a very good reason for it.
German director Marc Schölermann has made a name for himself directing numerous commercials and video clips. BARK is his second feature, and even though there are essentially only two characters in the movie, Schölermann does a great job manipulating our feelings for this poor, tied-up guy while managing to keep us hooked and wondering to the bitter end. (ANNICK MAHNERT)
