When you’re entering a movie into the saturated horror market you have to be original to get the screams. The crew behind feature film Crypt, starring Chingford actor Charley McDougall, believe they’ve struck upon a new way to give you the creeps.

“It’s about finding a new way to tell a story,“ explains director Mark Murphy, “it’s turning everything on its head and going against everything. It’s the wrong way round and it kind of works!

“I wanted two stories set in the same location. Told from two very different perspectives. One takes place before the other, and they complement each other. You get two films for one.“

The first story told in Crypt follows five twenty-somethings, who, on the hunt for some excitement, break into an abandoned church only to become victims of the horrors that lurk within.

The second story follows the church’s investigation into the tragic “accident“ that resulted in their deaths.

“It’s seen with the past and present,“ says Charley. “All the way through you’ve got our night intertwining with the exorcism. As the paranormal starts happening you see what people are made of. The calm, cool and collected character changes – he becomes the yellow-bellied character. My character turns out as the strong one who helps everyone. I wouldn’t call him a hero, he tries to do the right thing.“

It mixes found footage, much of it shot by Charley’s character, with more traditional camera work.

“My character is the main instigator, so I have the camera for about 40 per cent of the shooting,“ says Charley. “When you’re shooting you have to be really careful.

“You’ll be doing a scene where two people are arguing but you’re trying to think about the camera position, am I getting him in shot right? Am I getting my lines right? Am I remembering my lines?!

“It’s a new concept, blending the two, they start to collide – this way you get the best of both.“

There was another battle to be original –the title. Originally called The Convent, it was only after announcing the movie online that film buffs pointed out there had already been The Convent in 2000, and 1995 too.

“But you know what,“ adds Mark, “there’s no film out there called Crypt, so I think I’m on safe ground!“

Featuring an up and coming British cast, Crypt was filmed on location in a church in Maida Vale. Atmospheric and dark, it’s sure to give audiences the creeps.

“Marrying the found footage genre with a more traditional theatrical style into two inter-lapping stories is one that I am sure audiences will get excited about,“ says Mark. “When your high concept is Paranormal Activity meets Blair Witch meets The Exorcist, you know the opportunity to tell a great horror yarn is there for the taking.“

Currently in post-production, Crypt is expected to be released next summer.

“Horror’s one of the genres that allows you to tell a bigger story for less,“ says Mark. “You can get away with smaller, tighter spaces and shadows and that kind of thing. You don’t need big car chases and a huge cast. And if you get it right it’s one that people will talk about and one that really affects people.

“You can go to a comedy and you can laugh and you can go to a drama and weep or go to an action and be on the edge of your seat but only horror will make you not sleep at night.“

Details: www.facebook.com/TheConventMovie2013