Nikki Harrup

''Sparrow'' or ''Wróbel'' is a 2010 Polish-British slasher horror film, directed by Shaun Troke, written by Matthew Mosley and Justin Di Febo, and produced by independent filmmaker Wojciech Stuchlik. The film stars Jack W. Carter, Alexis Jayne Defoe, Eric Kolelas, Sarah Linda, Thomas James Longley and Faye Sewell.

''Sparrow'' was shot in Poland on a budget of just £10,000, with a primarily British cast. The film premiered in October 2010, and was shown at the American Film Market in November 2011. ''Sparrow'' was released on DVD in the U.S in 2013.

Plot

Six teenage friends—Cindy, Matt, Dawn, Duncan, Kirsty, and Alex—decide to escape the pressures of their daily lives by embarking on a camping trip deep in the woods. Their destination is "Camp Happy Dreams," a remote and picturesque location that promises adventure and relaxation. However, as they journey to the camp, they hear unsettling rumors about its dark past. Locals warn them that the site is better known as "Camp Nightmare," the location of a gruesome and mysterious murder that occurred years ago. Despite these warnings, the group dismisses the tale as nothing more than an urban legend meant to scare outsiders.

Upon arriving at the camp, the friends set up their tents and try to enjoy their time together. They laugh off the creepy stories, joking about the supposed "killer" who once stalked the area. As night falls, however, the atmosphere begins to shift. Strange noises echo through the forest, and shadows seem to move just beyond the firelight. The group brushes it off as their imaginations playing tricks on them—until they wake up to find their belongings disturbed and strange symbols carved into nearby trees.

As the days progress, the unsettling occurrences escalate. Cindy begins to feel as though she is being watched, while Matt discovers a bloodstained object buried near their campsite. Dawn and Duncan, exploring a nearby abandoned cabin, stumble upon disturbing relics that suggest the legend might have some truth to it. Meanwhile, Alex and Kirsty argue over whether they should leave, with Alex insisting that they stay and prove the legend false.

Tensions within the group rise as paranoia sets in. Old conflicts resurface, and the friends begin to turn on one another. Their disbelief in the legend is shattered when one of them goes missing, and the group discovers signs of a struggle. Panic sets in as they realize they are being hunted by an unseen force. They attempt to leave the camp, but their efforts are thwarted when they find their paths blocked and their vehicles sabotaged.

As the night descends into chaos, the friends are forced to confront the horrifying truth: the legend of "Camp Nightmare" is real, and they are not alone. A mysterious figure, known only as "Sparrow," begins to stalk them, picking them off one by one. The group must rely on their wits and courage to survive, but trust among them has eroded, making their fight for survival even more difficult.

In a desperate bid to escape, Cindy and Matt uncover the dark history of the camp and the identity of Sparrow. They learn that the killer’s actions are tied to a tragic love story and a cycle of vengeance that has haunted the area for decades. Armed with this knowledge, they attempt to break the cycle and put an end to the terror once and for all.

The story builds to a harrowing and emotional climax as the survivors face off against Sparrow in a final, deadly confrontation.

Cast

* Faye Sewell as Cindy
* Thomas James Longley as Matt
* Alexis Jayne Defoe as Dawn
* Eric Kolelas as Duncan
* Sarah Linda as Kirsty
* Jack W. Carter as Sitcom
* Jordan Greenhough as Alex
* Nikki Harrup as Tina
* Joseph Stacey as Tim
* Leonora Moore as Pam
* Jennifer Karen as Heather
* Ali Keane as Jeff
* Marian Folga as Sparrow
* Monica Folga as Fiancée
* Peter Saklak as Lover

Production

Originally titled ''Camp Nightmare'', the story was written by underground screenwriters Matthew Mosley and Justin Di Febo. The story is based around six teenage friends who set off on a camping trip in a forest presumed to be the site of a historic murder.

Casting occurred in the United Kingdom in March 2010. The role of the serial killer 'Sparrow', was originally to be played by an English actor, but when he was forced to return to England, director Shaun Troke cast Marian Folga, a local artist from Jaworzno, in the role.

Principal filming began in the Hamerla area near Lędziny, Poland in June, supported by a mainly Polish crew, and was completed 23 July, with post-production being completed in late September.

On 22 July 2010, an initial teaser trailer was made public. Early versions of ''Sparrow'' received official screenings on and around Halloween 2010 in Vermont, Poland and South Africa. A British premiere in London is now set for early 2012.

Release

Reception

Critical response to ''Sparrow'' was generally positive. Screen Jabber awarded the film 3 out of a possible 5 stars.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sparrow
2010 films
2010s slasher films
British slasher films
Films shot in Poland
2010 horror films
British independent films
British teen horror films
Polish teen films
Polish horror films
2010s English-language films
2010s British films
English-language horror films