The latest film from The British Horror Studio, helmed by Lawrie Brewster, is set to premiere at Romford Horror Film Festival. We caught up with the star of The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, Megan Tremethick, to find out more about it…
What’s the story for The Reign of Queen Ginnarra?
Megan Tremethick: The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is a Gothic horror-fantasy that mixes eldritch prophecy with the eerie, atmospheric dread of classic horror. Elderon [Andrew Gourlay], an exiled prince with no desire for the throne, is thrust into a battle for power when his kingdom falls into darkness. His sister, Queen Ginnarra [Tremethick], is a self-proclaimed prophet who believes she has been chosen by a dark god to lead her people into a new age. She communes with this ancient entity, wielding its power to maintain control – but as her connection to it deepens, so does her descent into madness.
What are the main difficulties of making a period piece?
From a production perspective, one of the biggest challenges in making a period piece is getting the details just right – even though The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is technically a fantasy, our director Lawrie Brewster took a lot of inspiration from history when designing both the script and the costumes. Wardrobe plays a huge role in bringing the world to life, and it can be a real process getting actors into full armour when required – it’s something that definitely has to be accounted for in the schedule!
Hair and makeup are just as important. Period-accurate styling can be tricky, especially on a lower budget, but we were so lucky to have talented makeup artists including Nike Johnston, Hazel Smith, and Caitlin Cunningham, who did an amazing job. Of course, Queen Ginnarra’s look is quite stylised, which made her even more fun to bring to life.
Finding the right locations can also be a challenge for a period-style film, but we were incredibly lucky to shoot the throne room scenes in the stunning Dunfermline Abbey. I’d never been there before, and stepping into the grand stone hall in full costume was a surreal experience.
From an acting perspective, one of the biggest challenges in a period-style role is making the character feel authentic while also capturing their depth and intrigue, especially in a fantasy setting. I love researching the historical inspirations behind a role to shape my performance. For Queen Ginnarra, I focused mostly on the Tudor period, and the legend of Countess Elizabeth Báthory! Understanding how rulers throughout history exercised power, dealt with court intrigue, and navigated their public versus private selves helped me to grasp Ginnarra’s character. Plus… it’s such a fascinating era!
Why did you choose to premiere at Romford Horror Film Festival?
The British Horror Studio is run by director and producer Lawrie Brewster and writer and producer Sarah Daly. The entire team absolutely love the Romford Horror Film Festival! They’ve been incredibly supportive of our work, having previously screened The Slave and the Sorcerer and Ghost Crew, and we’re so grateful for that.
Last year, a small part of our team had the chance to attend the festival, and it was an absolutely incredible experience. The event isn’t just about showcasing horror films – it has a genuine sense of community, bringing together filmmakers and horror lovers in a way that feels both exciting and welcoming. The calibre of films screened is fantastic, featuring a mix of established talent and fresh voices in the genre, and the audience is always so engaged and passionate.
It’s a place that truly celebrates indie horror, and that’s something we value deeply. So when it came time to choose where to premiere The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, Romford was our first choice – not just because of their excellent programming, but because it feels like a festival that genuinely champions the kind of bold, creative horror we love to make.
The British Horror Studio has a lot of films in production, is it hard spinning so many plates?
I think if you asked any of the team that, and they said it wasn’t at all hard… they’d be lying! But we’re definitely all lucky to be a part of a tight-knit group that has each other’s backs. The team is made up of the talented Lawrie Brewster and Sarah Daly, production manager and sound recordist Tom Staunton, director of photography Michael Brewster, art director and 1st AD Caz Paul – and these are just a few of the incredible people working behind the scenes.
Because we’re a small but dedicated studio, everyone wears multiple hats across different productions. One day, someone might be working in pre-production on one film, and the next, they’re on set in a completely different role. It’s a huge challenge to juggle, but that adaptability is also what makes working at British Horror Studio so exciting. There’s never a dull moment, and the energy of creating something fresh each time keeps us all going.
Right now, we have several films in production, all at different stages. In The Grip of Terror, directed by Lawrie Brewster and working in collaboration with the Amicus estate, is the first Amicus production in 20 years and stars Golden Globe nominee Jane Merrow alongside Laurence R. Harvey. Then there’s Black Chariot, which features Laurence R. Harvey, Dorian Ashbourne, Novarro Ramon, and Sam Barclay in a black-and-white neo-noir bank heist gone wrong, leading a group of criminals into a supernatural nightmare. My directorial feature debut, Spoiling You, is also in production – it’s an ASMR horror film starring Laurence R. Harvey, Stephen Kerr, and Nick Ford. And of course, The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is finally about to be released into the world, which is incredibly exciting!
Naturally, with so many projects in production, things take longer than if we were working on just one film at a time. But that’s part of what makes British Horror Studio unique – we’re constantly creating, constantly pushing forward. Being part of a studio that’s actively making so many indie horror films is a rare opportunity, and knowing that each of these stories will find its audience makes it all worth it.
And, of course, the team works incredibly hard to make it all happen… and Lawrie? Well, dealing with all this means he’s usually sipping from a glass of bourbon and spinning his revolver. 😉
You’ve become a big part of the British Horror Studio/Hex/Amicus story – what has that been like?
Becoming part of the British Horror Studio/Hex Studios/Amicus story has been an incredible journey. I first met the team from British Horror Studio at the Cannes Film Festival. Not too long after, I was cast as Jigme, the black-clad archer and assassin, in Dragon Knight. Now, working so closely with them feels like everything has come full circle.
One of the things that makes working with British Horror Studio so special is the creative freedom it allows. Unlike larger studio productions, there’s an intimacy to indie horror – you’re not just playing a role; you’re part of the entire storytelling process. I’ve had the chance to play a range of characters, from young, vulnerable but determined figures like Sandy in Ghost Crew to commanding and ruthless rulers like Queen Ginnarra, and each role has been a completely unique experience.
And, of course, being part of the revival of Amicus Productions is so surreal! Amicus has such an incredible legacy in British horror, and being part of its return is truly an honour. Films like Asylum and The House That Dripped Blood helped shape the horror anthology genre, and with In The Grip of Terror, we’re thrilled to carry on that tradition in our own way.
What’s the status of your feature film Spoiling You?
Spoiling You is well underway, with a large portion of it already filmed. We’re aiming to have the remaining scenes in the can by the end of March. It’s been a huge challenge, as it’s quite ambitious for my first feature, but it’s also been so much fun to shoot. The film blends psychological horror with ASMR elements, creating an experience designed to unsettle audiences on both a visual and auditory level that’s a little different from other horror films. There are plenty of wild scenes in it that will hopefully keep people guessing right until the end. It takes inspiration from J-Horror classics like Audition and Kairo – particularly in their use of slow-burning tension and an eerie sense of the uncanny.
Did you enjoy directing?
Yes, I loved getting to direct! I’ve directed three short films before this, each bringing a unique challenge. My first, Slot, was a giallo-inspired short where I experimented with bold visuals, surreal tension, and stylsed horror – a love letter to the genre. Then came The Haunter of the Dark, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror short story. To bring the Haunter to life, I collaborated with the genius Michael Brewster on cinematography and the super-talented Caz Paul, who built the creature costume. Their amazing creativity helped capture Lovecraft’s signature unseen terror on screen. My third short, Revenge of Innsmouth, was something entirely different – a full-on fishman war film! Lawrie Brewster was a very important collaborator particularly on this film, bringing so much depth to it. His influence elevated the storytelling and world-building, making it my most ambitious short in terms of action, scale, and creature horror.
Spoiling You is my first feature-length film, and it’s been a whole new experience. It’s a much more personal, psychological horror film. It focuses on slow-burning tension and atmospheric dread.
Having come from acting myself, I absolutely love working with performers to shape their characters and build tension through subtleties in performance. I know what it feels like to be on the other side of the camera, so I always want to create an atmosphere where actors feel supported and free to explore their roles fully.
Each time I direct, I learn something new, and stepping into feature filmmaking has been a huge but exciting challenge. Acting will always be my first love, but directing has given me a whole new way to push my creativity further.
The British Horror Studio self-distributes its output, will that continue with the Amicus films?
Yes, British Horror Studio will continue self-distributing its films, including the Amicus Production, In The Grip of Terror. One of the things that makes British Horror Studio stand out is its commitment to independent horror storytelling – self-distribution gives the team better creative control and allows them to connect directly with genre fans.
With the Amicus revival, that approach is just as important. Amicus was always about bold, distinctive horror, and keeping it independent means we can stay true to that legacy. It also allows for direct engagement with horror audiences, which is key – people who love classic British horror know exactly what they want, and self-distribution makes sure those films reach them in the way they were meant to be seen.
What can people expect from you next?
First up, The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is premiering at the Romford Horror Film Festival on Saturday March 1st at 8pm, with a second screening on Sunday March 2nd at 5pm. I’ll be attending along with several members of the team from British Horror Studio, and we’re so excited to watch the film with an audience!
Beyond Queen Ginnarra, I’ve got an exciting mix of projects ahead! I’ll be continuing my work with British Horror Studio, Hex Studios, and Amicus Productions, with some new horror films on the horizon. If you love gothic horror, psychological terror, and dark fantasy, there’s plenty to look forward to. If you want to keep up to date with everything happening at British Horror Studio, you can follow us on Patreon!
On the directing side, as I continue working on Spoiling You, an idea has already come to me for my next film… but I can’t say what just yet! What I can say is that, of course, it’s another horror film, and I’m really excited about where it could go.
THE REIGN OF QUEEN GINNARRA has its world premiere at Romford Horror Film Festival on March 1st. You can buy passes here.
