HUSBAND and wife team Helen and Robert Pratten took a calculated risk when they ditched their professional careers for a future in the film industry.

And it seems their gamble has paid off as they are currently enjoying rave reviews for their first feature length film London Voodoo.

The psychological horror movie had its world premiere in America recently and on May 6, it will get its first UK and European showing in Manchester as part of the Commonwealth Film Festival.

For Helen, who grew up in Prestwich, the prospect of "coming home" with the film is both exciting and comforting.

She said: "It is good that the premiere is in Manchester as we have had a lot of support from family and friends and it is a great excuse to see them all. We want people to believe that it is a great film and perhaps the voodoo will do a bit of good for us!"

Robert and Helen, whose father John Ardern is the membership officer for Prestwich Business Forum and well known for his market research company, met at Salford University where they studied engineering and microelectronics, and quantitative economics respectively.

Helen (37) went on to become a chartered accountant, while Robert (38) became a marketing consultant for a mobile telephone company.

Helen, a former Heaton Park Primary School pupil and student at Stand Grammar School for Girls, said: "We had both always had an interest in films. I loved going to the pictures when I was younger and remember sneaking into 18s films. We thought we could either continue what we were doing or take the risk and follow our dream."

The Prattens followed their dream, with Robert attending film school for 18 months to learn the trade and Helen continuing to work as an accountant so the couple had a steady wage coming in.

Now the couple run Zen Films, with Robert writing and directing and Helen still in charge of the finances as executive producer.

The film London Voodoo is about an American couple who move to London with their child and unsuspectingly reveal the secrets of their new home.

Reviewers in the US say the horror genre has waited a long time for a film like this and urge people to see it.

As well as unfolding steadily into a tale of black magic that will make audiences sit uncomfortably, the film deals with issues such as work and ambition, marriage breakdown, family life and the anxieties of moving into a new home and community.

Robert said: "There are moments we can all relate to, but others, with the grace of God, we never will."

Helen said: "The most glamorous thing is showing the film to people. It's great fun making the film, but hard work. And there's nothing glamorous about standing around in the wet and cold while filming. There is fantastic cameraderie, though."

She added: "It was our dream to go and do it and I would advise others to do the same. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet."

London Voodoo will be shown at the Commonwealth Film Festival on Thursday, May 6 at 8.45pm at the AMC Great Northern Cinema complex.

More details on the film itself are at www.londonvoodoo.com and Helen can be contacted by any old school friends at helen@pratten.com