James Avalon's 2nd Wicked Noir Feature 'Dark Is the Night' Debuts

James Avalon's 2nd Wicked Noir Feature 'Dark Is the Night' Debuts

LOS ANGELES — Wicked is releasing the first installment of director James Avalon's Wicked Noir feature "Dark Is the Night" starring Kenna James, Kiara Cole, Seth Gamble and Nathan Bronson.

Produced by Axel Braun and scripted, shot and edited by Avalon, the "moody, tightly-plotted psychodrama follows a bored housewife (James) as she uses her arcane skills and feral sexuality to explore the troubled mind of a mysterious man to whom she's rented a room (Gamble)," explained a rep.

"On the surface, this enigmatic stranger appears to be the ideal new tenant. He’s soft-spoken and charming, everything her loutish, insensitive husband (Bronson) isn’t," the rep continued. "The tension in their marriage is made palpable through the couples’ sex scene; James ravishes Bronson in a torrid encounter that is by turns sensual, unquenchable and emotionally raw."

Avalon noted that the script for "Dark Is the Night" is the culmination of a story he has developed over the course of 10 years.

"I pitched it to virtually every studio that produces features, and they all turned it down, saying it was too dark, too twisted or that they were uninterested in the film noir angle, or in releasing a four-character film," Avalon recalled.

The shoot was his first time directing James.

"It’s easy to see why she’s become the superstar she is today," he said. "She brings incredible focus and professionalism to every aspect of her performance; you can count on her coming to set impeccably prepared.

"While I’ve worked with Seth before, the same qualities apply; he brings a massive amount of focus and research to any part you give him," the director continued. "This part is one of the more unusual roles he’s played. To paraphrase 'True Detective,' 'the world is a veil and the face you wear is not your own.' Seth took that conceit and made it wholly his own."

Avalon expects that even Cole's most ardent fans "are going to be blown away by what she brings to 'Dark Is the Night.'"

"It was a given that she’d deliver a sexually explosive performance, but the nuances to her acting are nothing short of revelatory," Avalon noted. "And I can say the same thing about Nathan; many of the roles he’s performed for other studios have been purely sexual, or comedic and ‘goofy’ in tone. He’s been undervalued and underused in this industry, but frankly, I couldn’t have picked a better actor to bring Kenna's boorish asshole of a husband to life. He was clearly excited to be cast against type and given a real character he could flesh out and build from the ground up. He’s a great performer in every sense of the word."

Avalon additionally singled out the project's art direction by Kylie Ireland as "flawless."

"She understood instinctively what we were going for in terms of a timeless, neo-noir look," he said. "We play with negative space a lot in this movie, and she and Shaun Rivera, who lit her sets under my direction, were key reasons we pulled it off so successfully."

Avalon thanked Axel Braun for "recognizing that enthusiasm for a project is the most important thing you bring to the table."

"He is so talented and so passionate about filmmaking, yet as a producer, he doesn’t micromanage you or the talent," noted the director. "If you and your cast are genuinely excited about a project, he gives you full creative control without interference. He saw 'Dark Is The Night' as the perfect Wicked Noir movie, as it has all the elements of a classic film noir melodrama — betrayal, revenge, shifting alliances — everything the classics of the genre, or new updates like Guillermo del Toro’s 'Nightmare Alley,' are known for.

"Yet I was careful to set it in a time seemingly "outside of time,'" he added. "There were references to cell phones and tablets in early drafts of the screenplay that I eliminated prior to locking in the shooting script. And when modern devices do appear, like a high-end still camera, I added a 70-year-old lens to it to give it an off-kilter, retro look.”

The opening installment of "Dark Is the Night" is now available as a member exclusive on Wicked.com.

Follow James Avalon and Wicked Pictures on Twitter.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

XBIZ Amsterdam to Debut 'Behind the Lens' Screening Series

XBIZ is pleased to announce the debut of “Behind the Lens,” a new screening series presenting discussions with noted directors, taking place at the upcoming annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam.

'White Rabbit' Party Headed for XBIZ Amsterdam

XBIZ is pleased to announce the White Rabbit Party, an XBIZ Amsterdam special event set to take place Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Hailey Rose Heats Up the Fall Issue of X3 Magazine

2025 XMA Fav Female Performer Hailey Rose headlines the latest issue of X3 magazine, the industry’s premier “authenticity first” publication spotlighting the real personalities, passions and stories behind today’s top creators.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Speaker Lineup Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the release of the full speaker lineup for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, the latest edition of Europe’s biggest adult industry conference, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel in Amsterdam.

Angie Faith's 'Blueprint' for Success

Angie Faith has two reasons to celebrate. First, the veterinarian just gave her Japanese Chin puppy, Cheeky, a clean bill of health after Cheeky unwisely ate a stray piece of Lego.

Cherie DeVille Stars in Latest From Brazzers

Multi-XMAs winner Cherie DeVille stars with 2024 XMAs Male Performer of the Year Zac Wild in the latest Brazzers scene, titled “Cock Support Line.”

Sara Jay, Dan Leal to Sponsor XBIZ Amsterdam Kick-Off Event

Sara Jay’s Wyde Syde Productions and Porno Dan Leal’s Market64 will co-sponsor the Bottoms Up Day Drinking kick-off event for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025 at Excalibur Café on Sept. 2, from 2-4 p.m. (CET).

Connie Perignon Fronts Latest From Brazzers VR

Connie Perignon stars in the latest release from Brazzers VR, titled "A Sugar Daddy’s Point of View."

Octokuro Leads Latest Release From Freeze

Octokuro stars with Sam Bourne in "A Dangerous Encounter" from Freeze.

Lauren Phillips Stars in Latest Episode of 'Mommy's Boy'

2024 XMAs MILF Performer of the Year Lauren Phillips stars with Lawson Jones in the latest episode of Adult Time series “Mommy’s Boy,” titled “He Doesn't Know Me...But You Do.”

Show More