Private Project

The Hand of Darkness

An Oregon house. A Girl. A soul-eating entity from another world.

"In 1978, Astoria, Oregon, newcomer Alice Mitchell becomes the target of an otherworldly entity hell-bent on consuming her soul to regain its former power."

Starring: Anna Czerniecki, Tristan-Teja McDaniel, Teagan Cali

  • 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
    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
  • 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
  • Anna Czerniecki
    Key Cast
    "Alice Mitchell"
  • Tristan McDaniel
    Key Cast
    "Hand of Darkness"
  • Teagan Cali
    Key Cast
    "The Hunter/Harlan Jensen"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Horror, Adventure, Fantasy
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 15, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Chapman University
  • FilmQuest Film Festival 2025
    Provo, Utah
    United States
    October 23, 2025
Director Biography - Rowan Kelley

"Creative energy is my caffeine!"

Rowan Radojevich Kelley is an American screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work in fantasy, horror, adventure, science fiction, and thriller genres. Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, and having also lived in Virginia and California, Rowan brings a broad and eclectic perspective to his storytelling. 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 influenced by Gothic culture, blending dark, atmospheric tones with expansive world-building and intricate mythologies. His work often explores complex, immersive worlds filled with symbolic creatures, monsters, and layered narratives, drawing from fairy tales, Gothic literature, and stories where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. Rowan's films also frequently reflect a vintage touch, with a focus on practical effects and nostalgic storytelling. A self-proclaimed "time capsule" filmmaker, he often genre-bashes, blending elements of different genres to create unique stories.

Rowan graduated from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film & Media Arts in 2025, where he studied film production. He is also the founder of Mirk Productions, a film and television production company focused on bringing more fantasy and genre-driven stories to life.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

After quietly releasing online in October, The Hand of Darkness found a surprising audience within the fantasy and horror YouTube community, gaining over 31K views. With a newly retooled and remastered edition of the short film, we’re now coming for the theaters, where it’s meant to be shown.

The Hand of Darkness was created out of a craving to see the kind of films that inspired me as a kid: The Goonies, Halloween, Jaws, The Hobbit (1977), IT, and more. Retro horror and adventure. I wanted to make something that felt pulled from an older era of cinema, using practical effects, vintage glass, and older digital cameras to help recreate that feeling.

The goal was to create something that felt less like a traditional short film and more like the opening hook or scene of a larger story. It's meant to set a story in motion, leaving you with questions and a desire to see more. At its core, it's a supernatural abduction story, similar to Georgie's encounter with Pennywise or Will Byers's encounter with the Demogorgon.

The unexpected attention convinced us to go back, remaster the film, and bring it to the big screen, giving audiences and festivals a chance to return to Astoria and the world of The Hand of Darkness.

It was no easy task to fake Astoria in the heart of LA. But now you’re back. The fog is rolling in. You think you're safe in your house during the daytime? Think again.