This Halloween, TV One will treat viewers to an anthology of three short films of deadly romance with the premiere of The Fright Night Files airing October 18, 2014 at 8:00 PM/ET. The horror trilogy marks the first scripted production for Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson of Radio One Inc., and production partner Susan Banks, who together have helmed nearly 50 high profile interviews for the network. Joining forces with award-winning director Russ Parr of Up To Parr Productions they usher in another first – the network’s first-ever horror themed scripted film.
“Since the inception of TV One, it has been one of my greatest desires to provide our audience with a wide spectrum of programming, and paramount to this effort has been to develop a horror film to thrill, shock and amaze our viewers,” remarked Ms. Hughes. “Though we have been successful in the past with genre-based programming with our Easter and Christmas offerings, it was important to expand into this specific space, where there are so few representations in African American programming.”
“Expanding our original movie slate with a trilogy of terror required a relatable entry point and what better than tales of fatal attraction, as many of us have experienced relationships that end up feeling more like nightmares,” said D’Angela Proctor, SVP Programming and Production, TV One. “The Fright Night Files delivers a perfect cinematic blend of romance, fear and excitement, just in time for Halloween.”
The star-studded cast includes Elise Neal (Hollywood Divas, The Hughleys), Lynn Whitfield (Eve’s Bayou), Victoria Rowell (The Young and the Restless), Harry Lennix (The Blacklist), Eva Marcille (The Young and the Restless), Bokeem Woodbine (Ray), Sean Blakemore (Star Trek Into Darkness), Davetta Sherwood (The Young and the Restless) and making her theatrical debut – Karrueche Tran. Whitfield, in her role as Madame Mabry, a Jamaican, voodoo expert of the supernatural, will walk viewers through the evening of chilling relationship catastrophes.
The trilogy event will feature the following stories:
Pillow Talk Channel 187
Late night radio DJ Coffee Black (Neal) has the sultry voice that can seduce any man over the airwaves and in person, she brings them to their knees, in more ways than one. When Coffee begins to receive mysterious calls from past lovers like Isaiah (Woodbine) her world is filled with dead air.
For The Love Of Lockwood
Jealousy engulfs Marla Peters (Marcille) just as she is set to marry her fiancé Lockwood Masters (Blakemore) driving him to call off the wedding. Lockwood ultimately forgives Marla and with a little assistance from Madame Mabry (Whitfield) promises to love her… to death.
Mirror, Mirror
Ronald (Lennix) is caught in a love triangle between his new love Alexa (Rowell) and his live-in girlfriend Jessica (Sherwood). After coming home to find Jessica and friends including Monique (Tran) performing a strange ritual, he breaks the relationship off. As a peace offering, Jessica brings an ornately-decorated mirror that changes his life forever.
The Fright Night Files is Executive Produced by TV One and Up To Parr Productions. Susan Banks serves as Executive Producer. Russ Parr Directs For The Love Of Lockwood and Pillow Talk Channel 187. Eric Tomosunas, David Eubanks and Keith Neil serve as Producers on the films. Mirror, Mirror is directed by R.L. Scott. The film is Executive Produced by Harry Lennix and Paul Skorich.