Sparrow or Wróbel is a 2010 Polish-British slasher horror film, directed by Shaun Troke, written by Matthew Mosley and Justin Di Febo, and produced by independent filmmaker Wojciech Stuchlik.[1] The film stars Jack W. Carter, Alexis Jayne Defoe, Eric Kolelas, Sarah Linda, Thomas James Longley and Faye Sewell.[2][3]

Sparrow
Theatrical Release Poster
Directed byShaun Troke
Written byMatthew Mosley
Justin Di Febo
Produced byWojciech Stuchlik
StarringFaye Sewell
Thomas James Longley
Alexis Jayne Defoe
Eric Kolelas
CinematographyJakub Jakielaszek
Edited byPawel Slawek
Music byJakub Gawlina
Production
company
Release date
  • 23 October 2010 (2010-10-23) (London premiere)
Running time
72 minutes
CountriesPoland
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£50,000

Sparrow was shot in Poland on a budget of just £20,000, with a primarily British cast.[4] The film premiered in October 2010, and was shown at the American Film Market in November 2011. Sparrow was released on DVD in the U.S in 2013.

Plot edit

Six teenage friends, set off on a camping trip in the forest. However ‘Camp Happy Dreams’ turns out to be ‘Camp Nightmare’, as legend states it’s the site of a presumed historic murder. The teenagers' disbelief in this urban legend is soon changed when strange happenings begin to occur to each of them.[5][6][7]

Cast edit

  • Faye Sewell as Cindy
  • Thomas James Longley as Matt
  • Alexis Jayne Defoe as Dawn
  • Eric Kolelas as Duncan
  • Sarah Linda as Kirsty
  • Jack W. Carter as Sitcom
  • Jordan Greenhough as Alex
  • Nikki Harrup as Tina
  • Joseph Stacey as Tim
  • Leonora Moore as Pam
  • Jennifer Karen as Heather
  • Ali Keane as Jeff
  • Marian Folga as Sparrow
  • Monica Folga as Fiancée
  • Peter Saklak as Lover

Production edit

Originally titled Camp Nightmare, the story was written by underground screenwriters Matthew Mosley and Justin Di Febo.[8] The story is based around six teenage friends who set off on a camping trip in a forest presumed to be the site of a historic murder.[9][10]

Casting occurred in the United Kingdom in March 2010.[9][11] The role of the serial killer 'Sparrow', was originally to be played by an English actor, but when he was forced to return to England, director Shaun Troke cast Marian Folga, a local artist from Jaworzno, in the role.[1]

Principal filming began in the Hamerla area near Lędziny, Poland in June,[12][13][14][15] supported by a mainly Polish crew,[16] and was completed 23 July,[17] with post-production being completed in late September.[18]

On 22 July 2010, an initial teaser trailer was made public.[19][20][21] Early versions of Sparrow received official screenings on and around Halloween 2010 in Vermont, Poland and South Africa. A British premiere in London is now set for early 2012.[22]

Release edit

Reception edit

Critical response to Sparrow was generally positive. Screen Jabber awarded the film 3 out of a possible 5 stars.[23]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Zielonka, Anna (30 October 2010). "Marian Folga z Jaworzna zagrał główną rolę w horrorze "Sparrow"". Nasze Miasto (in Polish). Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Sparrow ". Cinema Assassin. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Sparrow cast". Mandy Actors. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Urban Legends Come to Life in Sparow". Bloody-Disgusting. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  5. ^ "What song will the Sparrow sing?". Horror News. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Urban Legends prove that they can still kill: UK Thriller Sparrow". Dread Central. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  7. ^ "The UK brings urban legends into reality with Sparrow". 28 Days Later Analysis. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Sparrow in filming". Simply Scripts. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Sparrow Set to Probe Urban Legend". Shock Till You Drop. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  10. ^ Douglas, Joanne (19 March 2010). "Waterloo and Brighouse actors Jordan Greenhough and Jack Carter to star in Polish feature film Sparrow". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  11. ^ "South Heighton man to direct horror movie, after surviving assault". Daily Express. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  12. ^ Buchla, Marta (13 June 2010). "Horror w lesie - powstaje śląsko-brytyjski film o szaleńcu spragnionym krwi". TVS. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  13. ^ Aktualizacja, Ostatnia (9 June 2010). "Morderca szaleje po lesie, studenci wszystko filmują". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  14. ^ Gates, James (25 March 2010). "Ealing actress lands role in new Slasher Horror". Ealing Gazette. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  15. ^ "Brytyjscy i śląscy studenci nakręcą thriller "Sparrow". W Lesie Murckowskim!". Moje Miasto (in Polish). 25 March 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  16. ^ Strzoda, Ewa (22 June 2010). "Na planie thrillera". Tychy (in Polish). Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  17. ^ "It's a wrap on set". Evening Courier. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  18. ^ Malina, Łukasz (16 September 2010). "Nakręcony w Murckach horror "Sparrow" przestraszy nas w październiku". Nasze Miasto (in Polish). Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Keep your eye on the Sparrow". Dread Central. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  20. ^ "Camp Happy Dreams Becomes a Nightmare in 'Sparrow'". Bloody-Disgusting. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  21. ^ "Indie Watch: The Teaser Trailer for Sparrow". Shock Till You Drop. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  22. ^ Dee, Jake (30 June 2010). "A bunch of set photos from Shaun Troke's urban legend flick Sparrow!". JoBlo. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  23. ^ Kelly, Adam Stephen. "Sparrow review". Screen Jabber. Retrieved 30 November 2011.

External links edit