Red Ink: 1940s Newsroom Thriller Uses One-Shot Format for Supernatural Horror

Toby Leonard Moore, widely recognized for his roles in Billions and Mank, is set to lead the upcoming supernatural thriller Red Ink. The production is scheduled for its international premiere at the 34th Camerimage Film Festival, which runs from November 7–14, 2026.

Directed by Benjamin J. Murray and Michael Christensen, Red Ink takes place over a single night in November 1949 within the offices of Verity Press, a fictional New York City newsroom. Moore portrays Bob Hoover, the publication’s editor-in-chief, who finds himself at the center of a high-stakes supernatural crisis that mirrors the political paranoia of the early Cold War era.

The film's plot hinges on a supernatural virus that cannot be captured by traditional film photography.

Real-Time Urgency and One-Shot Cinematography

The film distinguishes itself through its technical execution, utilizing uninterrupted one-shot takes to simulate the real-time urgency of a breaking news cycle. This stylistic choice is intended to heighten the claustrophobic atmosphere of the newsroom as the staff grapples with an unfolding threat. By maintaining a continuous narrative flow, the directors aim to bridge the gap between a standard 1940s political allegory and modern horror tropes.

The plot centers on the discovery of a mysterious “virus” that begins to spread through the city. The supernatural nature of the infection is revealed through a specific technical detail: a photojournalist realizes that those infected do not appear on film. This “vampire” twist forces the journalists to navigate a world where their primary tool for truth—the camera—is rendered useless against the growing threat.

Cast and Historical Context

The ensemble cast features several veteran actors, including D.B. Sweeney as the publisher Walter Nash and Mike Doyle as Senator Conrad. According to production details from Blex Media, the cast also includes Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Eugene Cordero, and Tommie Earl Jenkins. The presence of a Senator as a primary character suggests a narrative intersection between McCarthy-era propaganda and the literal monsters hiding within the political landscape.

While set in post-war Manhattan, Red Ink was filmed on location in Syracuse, New York. Much of the production took place within the Atrium Building on Salina Street, utilizing the architecture to recreate the mid-century aesthetic of a metropolitan press office. Following its festival debut in Poland, the film is expected to seek wider distribution, though a theatrical or streaming release date has not yet been confirmed.

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