British horror developments: Maddie Evans cast in ‘Pendle 1612’ and Celluloid Screams lineup announced

Maddie Evans, known for her role in ‘House of the Dragon’, has been cast to lead the upcoming British horror film ‘Pendle 1612’. Written and directed by Liam and Kyle Bashford, the docu-horror film is inspired by the historical 1612 Pendle witch trials in Lancashire. The story follows three young women conducting a documentary investigation into a disappearance that leads them into the area associated with the notorious trials.

In related genre news, the Celluloid Screams horror film festival in Sheffield has announced its 2026 lineup. Highlights include the opening film ‘Onslaught’ by Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett, and the closing film ‘The Fox’. The festival will also feature a monster quadrilogy presentation by Larry Fessenden, a 40th-anniversary screening of ‘In the Mouth of Madness’, and a J-Horror segment.