by Dianita”The Bench” Scottish Horror Film: A 17-Year Journey to Release
”The Bench” Scottish Horror Film: A 17-Year Journey to Release – From Concept to Cult Classic
”The Bench” A Scottish horror film that has been in the works for nearly two decades has finally made its debut. The Bench is a chilling slasher flick in which a group of friends venture to a secluded cabin in Renfrewshire, only to face a nightmarish ordeal as they vanish one by one. Despite its promising premise, the film’s production was fraught with obstacles, from underestimating Scotland’s unpredictable weather to financial constraints that halted progress midway through.
Sean Wilkie, the film’s writer and director, shared his mixed emotions with BBC Scotland News, expressing a blend of satisfaction, anxiety, and relief at seeing The Bench finally reach the audience. A native of Coatbridge, Wilkie transitioned from making short films to tackling a full-length horror project inspired by some of his favorite genre classics like Halloween, The Hills Have Eyes, and Tobe Hooper’s terrifying tale The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Filming commenced in Lochwinnoch back in 2007, utilizing a cabin provided by friends of the film’s director of photography. For indoor scenes, the production team used The Caves venue in Edinburgh, and for some outdoor sequences, they turned to Drumpellier Country Park. The cast features Joy McAvoy, known for her role in Two Doors Down, and Matt McClure from the American horror series Penny Dreadful.
Reflecting on the production process, Sean admitted, “The first two weeks on location went smoothly, but we struggled to maintain that momentum.” He reminisced about the challenges, saying, “I wish we had documented the entire process. It would have made for a compelling behind-the-scenes film. Due to the unpredictable weather and other issues, we couldn’t adhere to our original shooting schedule, so we had to return on sporadic weekends to finish.”
By the time the principal photography wrapped up around 2011, the budget had been exhausted. Sean had to rely on favors for the post-production work and film scoring, which extended the completion timeline. It wasn’t until around 2016 that The Bench was nearly finished. “By the time we wrapped up, I was completely drained, and the film was left sitting in a drawer,” Sean recounted. Now a teacher of animation and filmmaking and a freelance scriptwriter, Sean admitted that the lengthy and taxing journey took a toll on his friendships and finances.
Yet, like a classic horror revival, The Bench was resurrected. Ryan Hendrick, director of the Scottish festive romance Lost At Christmas, saw potential in the film and approached Sean with an offer to help. Hendrick, who had recently established a small distribution company, believed the film could perform well with a bit of support. Despite some continuity issues—such as changes in actors’ hairstyles between the initial and reshot scenes—Hendrick skillfully navigated these challenges, leaving Sean impressed with the final result.
The Bench is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime, and Sean is excited about the renewed interest. “I’m starting to get creative ideas again,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve mostly been focused on writing, but we recently showcased the film at Cineworld, and the audience’s positive reaction was encouraging. Filming back in 2007 has unexpectedly given us a unique production value that we couldn’t afford today. It feels almost like a period piece!”
In a way, the long journey of The Bench has become a testament to persistence and passion in filmmaking. What began as a daunting project has now evolved into a celebrated piece of Scottish horror cinema, proving that even the most challenging of productions can ultimately find their place in the spotlight.