Local BAFTA-winning actor stars in thriller set in Norfolk

The Lowestoft-born actor plays disgraced children's puppeteer Philip as he returns to his childhood home of Fallmarsh, Norfolk intent on destroying Possum.

The Possum is a hideous puppet he keeps hidden inside a brown leather bag and when his attempts fail he is forced to confront his sinister stepfather, played by Alun Armstrong, to escape the dark horrors of his past.

British actor Sean Harris has previously starred in films such as Brighton Rock, 24 Hour Party People as singer Ian Curtis alongside Steve Coogan and Solomon Lane in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and Mission Impossible: Fallout.

He also won a BAFTA in 2014 for best leading actor as Stephen Morton in Channel 4's acclaimed mini-series Southcliffe.

The psychological thriller has another local link as it is written and directed by Matthew Holness who lives in Norwich who co-wrote and starred in Channel 4's Garth Marenghi's Darkplace with comedian Richard Ayoade.

READ MORE: Anglia Square u-turn after banning Paint Out Norwich artists over fears people would 'fall over their easels'He has also directed a number of short films including Smutch for Sky Arts and A Gun For George for Film4 but Possum is his first feature film.

Mr Holness said: 'For the film I chose to concentrate more fully on the story's true monster, a real-life horror more frightening than any supernatural presence.

'My desire was to make a modern silent horror, with little dialogue or connection with the outer world.

'This is, after all, a film about silence. Philip's isolation and abandonment. His loneliness. His terror of speaking out.'

The film plays homage to the British horror films of the 70s and explores isolation and abandonment set to a soundtrack from the electronic BBC music studio The Radiophonic Workshop.

The film will have its regional premier in CinemaCity Norwich on Monday, October 22 and is released in UK cinemas on October 26.