Hooves Haunts Globally

Sri Lankan Folk Horror Short  ‘Hooves ‘  Gallops Into the International Spotlight

Sri Lankan filmmaker Akash Sunethkumara is sending shivers down festival aisles worldwide with his latest folk-horror short, Hooves. The chilling tale, rooted in ancient Sri Lankan myth and drenched in unsettling atmosphere, has already amassed 19 official selections, including prestigious spots at Comic-Con International, Raindance and Screamfest, proving that the power of local folklore knows no language barrier.

A Raindance Academy alumnus, Sunethkumara has spent the last eight years crafting a distinctive visual style that blends atmospheric tension with emotionally resonant storytelling. His previous shorts Knight Out (2020), Temporal (2022), and Teddy (2023) earned international recognition for their moody cinematography and genre-bending narratives. 

The narrative premise of Hooves centres on a remote village haunted by the spectre of an otherworldly beast that stalks the night. Early reactions from audiences and critics alike laud the short’s ability to unnerve without relying on jump scares, an approach that is quietly reshaping expectations for folk horror on the festival circuit.

The buzz surrounding Hooves has already sparked industry interest in a feature-length adaptation. With a growing international profile and a steady stream of festival accolades, Sunethkumara is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting new voices in horror cinema.

As development on the feature adaptation of Hooves gathers momentum, audiences and programmers alike are urged to keep a close watch on this singular talent. If his past work is any indication, the full-length Hooves promises to be a spine-tingling addition to contemporary horror that lingers long after the credits roll.