ALFRED Hitchcock did it in 1948 and the arthouse hit Russian Ark had a go in 2005. Now, Derby's Dominic Burns has been added to a select list of film-makers who have tried to make a movie in one take.

Dominic persuaded Gremlins star Zach Galligan to star in Cut, a privately-funded horror film shot on location in the Peak District.

Also in the cast are former beauty queen Danielle Lloyd and upcoming local actors Michael Socha and Eden Watson, sister of London to Brighton star Georgia Groome.

But all were a bit surprised to discover that Dominic wanted to bypass the usual array of scenes and takes that make up a motion picture in favour of a more avant garde approach.

"I wanted to do a horror film that builds suspense and has live effects all in one take," he says. "I was in Derby Youth Theatre and my mum's a drama teacher and it was nice to combine the two mediums I love – theatre and films. I had the idea of a long steadicam shot and I love Hitchcock's Rope.

"We have three or four minutes at the beginning that's shot conventionally and then we go into this one take. The audience know going in that there's no escape. Often in scary movies they cut to the next morning or give you chance to catch your breath. In this film you have to go every step of the way with the actors."

Dominic admits it was "a nightmare" to film. "Things did go wrong. Although, to be fair, due to the skill of our steadicam operator and director of photography we could go almost anywhere and do anything. But it wasn't until we got there and tried it out that we knew it would be possible."

Cut is the story of five friends who return from a cocktail party to a cottage deep in the Peak District and find themselves in their own horror story.

It was filmed on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border at Toft Hall.

It will get its premiere at Quad on February 12, with Zach Galligan, Danielle Lloyd and Michael Socha all expected to attend.

The film will then get a DVD release.

"So many films don't get released at all these days," says Dominic. "I know decent films that can't find anybody to back them. The fact that we have Nottingham's Britfilms behind us is fantastic."

Having Zach and Danielle aboard has clearly helped.

"Danielle gets a lot of criticism in the press but she couldn't have been a nicer person to work with," says Dominic.

"And Zach was great. He's a very strong actor and great guy. I was a big fan of Gremlins and thought he fitted the bill for Cut. I sent him the script and told him the way we wanted to film it. He thought we were crazy but was all for giving it a go."

As well as appearing in the film, Dominic directs under the name Alexander Williams.

"I like to separate roles in my mind," he says.

The film has been made by his own Hawthorn productions, founded in Derby with associate producer Robert Jaques, from Hatton.

"It's nice to put a production together that leans so heavily on the Midlands," says Dominic, who is already working on his next movie.

"It's called Ten Year Itch, a feature comedy." he says. "I'm changing genres completely as I don't want to get labelled a horror director. Zach and Danielle will both be involved and overall it will be an even more high-profile cast. It's going to be very exciting."

Cut can be seen at Quad on Friday, February 12, at 10.30pm. Call 01332 290606.