The location: Dartmoor. The mood: menacing (if our first look is anything to go by…)
Writer and director Robert Eggers has described his latest film Werwulf as “the darkest thing I’ve ever written”.
And then, to remove any doubt, he added a punctuating: “by far”.
It’s a strong statement from the man best-known for writing and directing dark period tales The Witch (2015), The Lighthouse (2019) and Nosferatu (2024). But be under no illusion; if the first official image shared by Focus Features tells us anything, it’s that Eggers speaks the truth…and that fans can be assured of that familiar sense of spine-tingling fear that he excels at, when Werwulf is released into the world this Christmas.
And the accompanying trailer is just as exciting, if a little terrifying.
True to Eggers’ fanatical commitment to historic detail, Werwulf (which he also co-wrote), is set in 13th Century England and is described by Focus Features as “a harrowing tale of devotion, damnation and the devil within”. It stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe, marking a reunion for the trio and director, following their time together on Nosferatu.
What is quite special for us at Devon Film Office is how Eggers drew on Dartmoor’s ancient, often eerie landscapes for some of the filming, away from the studios. Alongside locations in the Forest of Dean and over the border in Wales, the moorland and its tors provided suitably atmospheric backdrops – with replica Medieval buildings created against the elements. Having spent time on the set, it was remarkable to see nature and art combine (with some good old Devon winter weather thrown in for good measure!). More on this to come, but we’re proud to be able to say we helped support this one, from set-build to suppliers and crew placements. We can’t wait for more.
Werwulf, a Focus Features release, will be in cinemas on Christmas Day 2026 and available everywhere from Jan 1 2027.
Image Credit: Rory Mulvey / © 2026 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
