I consider myself very lucky to have never had to deal with chronic pain. If I did, I’m sure I’d be willing to go to some pretty drastic lengths to get rid of it. Such is the case in the newly released proof of concept trailer for R. Shanea Williams’ first feature, A Precise Understanding of Darkness. Per the film’s synopsis:
A Precise Understanding of Darkness tells the story of Marlowe, an Afro-punk artist suffering from debilitating chronic pain that not only threatens to sideline her career but also derail her marriage. Desperate for help, she turns to her neighbor, a self-proclaimed spiritual healer whose unusual methods relieve the pain but also unleash something sinister – leaving Marlowe in a fractured mental state.
“This film is an ode to the psychological horror films over the years that have inspired me,” says Williams. “I believe there’s nothing scarier than the human mind, and this film will bring that belief to vivid life. And, because we are centering the story around black people and people of color, it will bring a distinctive approach to the horror genre.”
Williams is no stranger to the horror genre, having recently co-wrote and collaborated with Nikyatu Jusu on the short Suicide by Sunlight, which won the Grand Prize production grant at the 2017 Tribeca Through Her Lens program. She’s also got two short films she wrote and directed, Contamination and Paralysis, which have received official selections from film festivals across the country and acclaim throughout the industry.
For her feature film debut, Williams is collaborating with producers Ashlee Blackwell, who recently produced the hit documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror for Shudder, and Anthony Davis, who has worked on a variety of film and television projects including Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, and the upcoming HBO series Lovecraft Country. The production is currently in development and looking for investors, so get a taste by taking a look at the trailer below.
