First look at Simeon Halligan’s ‘Habit’

Director Simeon Halligan’s latest horror opus, Habit, will receive its premiere at Grimmfest on Thursday 5th October, as the opening night gala for the festival. The film is an adaptation of Steven McGeagh’s cult novel, which is set in a neon-drenched dystopian Manchester. Alongside Elliot James Langridge (Northern Soul), the production features an incredible Northern cast of actors, including Roxanne Pallet (Emmerdale), Jessica Barden (Penny Dreadful, The Lobster) and Sally Carmen (Shameless). The film’s cast also includes William Ash (Waterloo Road), Andrew Ellis (This Is England), Robert Beck (Home Fires), Joanne Mitchell (White Settlers), and Louis Emerick (Layer Cake).

Habit follows the story of Michael, played by Elliot James Langridge (Northern Soul), jobless and down on his luck, he is irresistibly drawn into the city’s seedy underworld and is groomed by a subculture who have a dark secret, a bloody addiction that they intend Michael to share.

Filming locations used in and around Manchester include Mangle Street and Paton Street in the Northern Quarter, internationally renowned clubbing institution Sankeys, and the iconic railway viaduct in Stockport. Stone Roses legendary tour manager Steve ‘Adj’ Atherton secured musical talent for Habit with contributions from the Wirral based band The Coral. Rising star, Manchester based Chanteuse singer Lucy Hope wrote and recorded some original songs for the soundtrack.

Not A Number Productions, the company behind Habit, have previously created some critically acclaimed films, including Splintered, described by Total Film as “terrifically twitchy”, and “freakin’ awesome”’ by leading horror site Bloody Disgusting. Their most recent outing White Settlers, which we raved about back in 2014.

Check out the Grimmfest website for more info on the festival, which runs 5th-8th October at Vue Printworks, Manchester UK. Full Festival Passes and Day Tickets are now on sale from www.grimmfest.com