the screenwriter and producer of "darkest night", russ williams (originally from tennessee had lived in los angeles, california, for more than 20 years before moving to southeast asia in 2010. his first film, set and shot in the united states in 2002, was titled "the last year". williams wrote and also produced this film (his co-producer title was uncredited, according to him). a long-time fan of horror film williams wanted his next production to be in that genre. also a lover of asian horror films, he came up with the idea of combining traditional american horror film tropes and concepts with the classic asian ghost story as represented in japanese horror films like "the ring" ("ringu" 1998, see ring (film)), "pulse" ("kairo," see pulse (2001 film)) and "ju-on: the grudge" ("ju-on" 2002).