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This project successfully funded on 17th May 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
The Last Signal - Folk Horror Film
Matlock, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Aim
The Last Signal is a documentary-style folk horror film exploring the unexplained disappearance of an ordinary man, Daniel Hodges.
Stuart Wheeldon - Writer and Director
I’m Stuart Wheeldon, a filmmaker with a strong interest in atmospheric, grounded storytelling, particularly within the folk horror and documentary space. My work focuses on creating realism first — stories that feel authentic, restrained, and unsettling without relying on traditional horror tropes.
My last film The Wirksworth UFO Incident was successfully crowdfunded and completed in July 2025. The feature film went onto be screened at Independent cinemas in the UK and is currently on the film festival circuit.
I am also the co creator of the successful podcast sitcom Barmy Dale, which features actors Vicki Michelle, Jeffery Holland, Mike Fenton Stevens, Judy Buxton to name a few.
- The Last Signal is a project built around that idea. It’s a collaborative film shaped not just by a script, but by performance. The cast are working within a structured framework, improvising their responses to create something that feels natural and unpredictable. That process is central to the film’s identity — it allows the mystery to emerge organically rather than being forced.
Nigel Barber - Andrew Hale
Andrew Hale is a quiet, methodical investigator of unexplained cases, brought in to offer a different perspective on Daniel Hodges’ disappearance. He doesn’t claim to have answers, only an ability to recognise when something doesn’t fit. Approaching the case with calm logic rather than belief, Andrew begins to identify patterns others have overlooked — particularly the significance of place. As his involvement deepens, his certainty gives way to something more unsettling, suggesting that Daniel’s disappearance may not follow any conventional explanation.
Nigel Barber
For more than 50 years, Nigel has gained the reputation of a respected and uncompromising actor and voiceover artist. Working internationally on stage, in film, television and radio, he has worked with some of our industry's most gifted contributors including Sam Mendes, Christopher McQuarrie, Robert Mullan, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Billy Zane, Joel Kinnaman, Matthias Schoenaerts, Jane Seymour, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sheridan Smith and David Tennant. Nigel lives in England.
Synopsis
The Last Signal is a documentary-style folk horror film exploring the unexplained disappearance of an ordinary man, Daniel Hodges. Three years after he vanished, a filmmaker revisits the case, speaking to those who knew him and uncovering fragments of his final days. His car was found near a remote quarry. His phone last pinged from within it. Neither he nor the device were ever recovered.
As interviews unfold, contradictions emerge and a new possibility takes shape — that the quarry was not the end, but the beginning. Recently discovered recordings from Daniel’s phone reveal something more unsettling: a faint, recurring sound, and a growing fixation on a place just beyond the quarry.
Blending improvised performances with a structured narrative, The Last Signal is a slow-burning, atmospheric mystery about absence, memory, and the unsettling possibility that some places are not meant to be found.
Our Team
This project is driven by a highly dedicated cast and crew with extensive experience across film, television, and digital media. Our team brings together professionals who have spent years honing their craft—working on independent productions, commercial projects, and festival-recognized films. From cinematography to sound design, every department is led by individuals who understand how to deliver high-quality, compelling storytelling under real-world production conditions.
We are passionate about what we do, and we’re committed to creating a film that looks and feels far beyond its budget.
Production Vision
We aim to create a visually striking film with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and tension. Through carefully crafted lighting, immersive soundscapes, and character-driven performances, The Last Signal will draw audiences into a world that feels both intimate and unsettling.
Where Your Support Goes
Your contributions will directly support:
- Professional-grade equipment and locations
- Cast and crew compensation
- Post-production, including editing, sound design, and color grading
- Festival submissions and distribution efforts
Every pound raised helps elevate the film’s quality and ensures that the story reaches the audience it deserves.
Why We Need You
Independent filmmaking thrives on community support. By backing The Last Signal, you’re not just funding a project—you’re becoming part of a creative journey. You’re helping experienced filmmakers bring a powerful story to life without compromise.
Join Us
We truly believe in this film and the team behind it. With your support, The Last Signal can become something unforgettable.
Be part of the signal. Help us make it heard.
#thelastsignal
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made