Red Sands

Lore & Background

Red Sands was announced on June 5, 2007, under the title The Stone House, initially reported as a sequel to Dead Birds. The next day, Turner clarified it was a 'companion piece' akin to The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth, not a direct sequel. Barrett conceived the idea from the Iraq Invasion. Filming began in August 2007 and concluded on September 5, 2007. The cast includes Shane West, Leonard Roberts, Aldis Hodge, Theo Rossi, Callum Blue, Brendan Miller, Noel Gugliemi, and J.K. Simmons, with Mercedes Mason introduced in the film.

Reader's Guide

Red Sands is a notable entry in the military horror subgenre, though critical reception was mixed. Dread Central rated it 2.5/5 stars, calling it a 'lukewarm entry' compared to R-Point. Clark Douglas of DVD Verdict suggested it would have worked better as a 45-minute Masters of Horror episode, and Justin Felix of DVD Talk rated it 2/5 stars, also recommending a shorter format. The film was released on DVD by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on February 24, 2009, after being retitled from The Stone House in December 2008. A potential sequel was discussed in January 2009, with a script written and set in the future, but uncertainty remained about production.

Did You Know?

• The film was originally titled The Stone House before being retitled Red Sands in December 2008.
• Director Alex Turner described the film as a 'companion piece' to Dead Birds, not a direct sequel.
• The film introduces Mercedes Mason in her first credited role.
• A potential sequel was discussed in January 2009, with a script already written and set in the future.