INK looks like an epic fantasy with a smidgen of horror. Just the way DARK SIDE likes it…

Another independent “came out of left field” release at this past weekend’s Santa Barbara Film Festival has caught the attention of genre fans across the interwebs.

“Ink” looks like something inspired by “Dark City,” “Brazil,” “Donnie Darko” and “Labyrinth.” Not sure what to make of it yet, but apparently it’s about a little girl who gets kidnapped by some sort of dreamland wraith who has the intention of bargaining her to the beings who create nightmares in return for power. Hot on the heels of this wraith is a fellowship of good dream-makers intent on saving the girl and restoring order to the dreamland. Looks absolutely original and visually arresting. Can’t wait to get a look at this one.

Some dude named Copernicus over at Ain’t it Cool News got a chance to see it and did nothing but rave about it like it was the second coming of Jesus.

Auteur Jamin Winans said the idea for this film came to him via the “Old Hag Effect.” If you’ve never experienced this for yourself, you’re in for a shock when it does. It happens to me often, even as early as yesterday morning. It’s a phenomenon when your sleep cycle becomes irregular and your start an REM dream sequence before you actually lose consciousness. You become paralysed and start hallucinating noises and visions as if someone’s in the room with you. The most common hallucination appears as an “Old Hag” creature menacing down upon you or sitting on your chest, sucking the breath out of you while you struggle to move. Many psychologists believe this phenomenon has created many superstitions in our culture (incubi, alien abductions, ghosts) and I can confirm, it’s a terrifying experience if you don’t know what’s happening to you. Stephen King even explored it a bit in his “Cat’s Eye” movie.

Check out the trailer below. If you’ve suffered from bouts with the “Old Hag” before, some of the images will seem quite familiar to you. I’m fascinated with his idea and I’m excited to see someone tackling the phenomenon while adding a great deal of imagination and wonder to it…


I’ve done things I’m not proud of, and the things I am proud of… are disgusting.

-The Dark Side Critic