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A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA

"A team of elite D.C.A. special forces operatives becomes the prey of a rogue anomaly, trapped inside a nightmarish dimension where reality bends to the creature’s will."

Starring: Anja Akstin (Walking Dead), Michael DeCamp (Halo: Infinite), Ben Burton (For All Mankind)

  • Rowan Kelley
    Director
    A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA, The Hand of Darkness, Rowan Kelley's Pinocchio Reimagined, Autumn's First Leaf, A Darker Place: A Horror Short Film, Grindle, DIEver
  • Rowan Kelley
    Writer
    A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA, The Hand of Darkness, Rowan Kelley's Pinocchio Reimagined, Autumn's First Leaf, A Darker Place: A Horror Short Film, Grindle, DIEver
  • Alexis Souza
    Producer
    A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA, The Hand of Darkness, Autumn's First Leaf
  • Rowan Kelley
    Producer
    A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA, The Hand of Darkness, Rowan Kelley's Pinocchio Reimagined, Autumn's First Leaf, A Darker Place: A Horror Short Film, Grindle, DIEver
  • Anja Akstin
    Key Cast
    The Walking Dead
  • Michael DeCamp
    Key Cast
    Halo: Infinite
  • Ben Burton
    Key Cast
    For All Mankind
  • Project Type:
    Short, Television
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Horror, episodic, Episode, TV, Short, Pilot, Action, Adventure
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 4, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    45,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digtial, ARRI
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • MPSE Golden Reel Verna Fields Sound Editing Award
    Los Angels
    United States
    Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing
Director Biography - Rowan Kelley

"Creative energy is my caffeine!"

Rowan Radojevich Kelley is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of epic-scale, genre-based cinematic entertainment whose work has screened at renowned genre film festivals such as FilmQuest and beyond. Known for his work in fantasy, horror, adventure, science fiction, and genre storytelling, Rowan was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, and has since lived in Virginia, California, and Atlanta.

He made his directorial debut at 17 with A Darker Place: A Horror Short Film (2020), which he wrote, produced, and directed during the 2020 quarantine. Rowan’s filmmaking is deeply rooted in Gothic culture, blending dark, atmospheric tones with expansive world-building, symbolic creatures, and intricate mythologies. His work often exists at the crossroads of fairy tales, Gothic literature, and stories where the ordinary collides with the extraordinary. A self-proclaimed “time capsule” filmmaker, he frequently genre-bashes, merging styles and eras to create unique cinematic worlds that favor practical effects, vintage storytelling, and stories of heart, adventure, and tragedy.

Rowan graduated from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in 2025 with a BFA in Film Production. He is the founder of Mirk Entertainment, a film, television, and immersive entertainment company focused on creating bold, fantasy-driven, and genre-based stories.

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Director Statement

As a storyteller, I have always been drawn to stories about protectors. “A Darker Place: Cases of the DCA” was born out of my love for science fiction, a genre that often explores the theme of protectors fighting for vast, expansive worlds. The story is an amalgamation of the many games and films I love, such as “Halo,” “Pacific Rim,” “Aliens,” “Hellboy (2004),” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Ghostbusters,” “Rogue One,” and the SCP Foundation. Most of these stories follow protectors risking their lives for the greater good. “A Darker Place” is no different, and I hope it encourages audiences to reflect on what it means to be a protector, and those who sacrifice for others, often unseen.

After completing the original “Darker Place” short in 2020, I wanted to return to this world with something bigger, bolder, and very different. To do this, we approached the project in a Gareth Edwards fashion, shooting as much practically as possible, then using visual effects to build upon what was real.

This was an incredibly difficult, high-concept project to pull off, especially under college thesis restrictions, deadlines, and budget constraints. I could not be more proud of the incredibly talented team who worked so hard to bring it to life.

It is with great pleasure and pride that I can now officially say: welcome to the world of the DCA (The United States Department of Creature Affairs).

Note: All characters, story, and world are original creations. This is not based on any existing IP, other than that owned by the filmmakers.