The Dark Architect

A young student moves into a decaying apartment building and is given a gruesome task by its residents.

Joni Widenius, a young man from Helsinki, moves on his father's demand to study in the remote northern city of Vaasa. Joni suffers from maladaptive daydreaming, where fantasies mix in with reality. He has lived all his life in the shadow of his tyrannical father. Joni’s father has bought him a cheap apartment in a grim and decaying 1960s building. Upon moving in, Joni gets to know some neighbours, including a depressed single mother Marja, with whom he falls in love. Later he discovers a sheet of leather adorned with hieroglyphs and a rotten human tongue hidden in his apartment. Joni begins to unravel the secrets of the house and discovers that the building was actually built as a tomb according to ancient Meroitic principles, and its architect was buried alive in the wall of Joni's bathroom. In service of the dead architect, the residents attempt to force Joni to sacrifice Marja's little son in a ritual meant to stop the decay of the building.

Keywords: soul-searching

Director's note:
I spent several years searching for a sufficiently strong and original story for my debut film. Upon reading Marko Hautala's novel "The Dark Architect," I knew my search had come to an end. I began the process of adapting the novel last year. With the first draft of the screenplay now complete, our project stands ready to enter its next phase. My vision is to meticulously craft a psychological horror film that draws inspiration from masterpieces like "The Shining" and "Hereditary." In the horror genre, I am compelled by the possibility of bringing fantastical elements into a realistic environment. I aim to create a world of gloom and naturalism, seamlessly blending into the realm of fantasy through the protagonist's imagination and encounters with the supernatural. Visually, the film will be characterized by darkness, shadows, and the muted colours of a Nordic city in October.

Producer's note:
Having produced 25 films without delving into horror, I'm now captivated by storytelling through fear, aiming to match the depth of classics like "The Shining." My process starts with exhaustive research and selecting the ideal team. I discovered "The Dark Architect" by Marko Hautala, which stirred eerie childhood memories in a 1960s building, making it the perfect story foundation. After securing the novel, I collaborated with Risto Tuominen. Risto has been one of my closest working partners for 12 years, during which time we have made four feature films and three seasons of a crime series together. I'm confident in his directorial abilities and I have been particularly impressed by his ability to adapt the original novel into a page-turning, easy-to-produce screenplay. As a producer with a long track record of ambitious films, I am confident in presenting this package, including the screenplay and Risto Tuominen as the director, to domestic and international partners at any time.