Islas’ 1st horror feature gets digital & DVD release

HORROR THRILLER, “BACHELOR’S GROVE,” “an exercise on evil and horror,” the first feature from horror meister Ricardo Islas, was released Sept. 13 by SGL Entertainment on iTunes, worldwide digital platforms, VOD and DVD / Blu-Ray.

In the 120-minute film, a series of bizarre murders terrorize the peaceful community of Bachelors Grove. Friendly citizens suddenly turn against their own families. Fingers point at the horrors that occurred at Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery decades ago.

This is the first feature about one of the top 10 ‘scariest haunted places in America,’” says Islas, who wrote, directed and produced. It was inspired by suburban Midlothian’s supposedly haunted abandoned Bachelor’s Grove cemetery that received national attention after being featured in several cable shows dealing with paranormal phenomena.

Tim Krueger, Suzy Brack, who was also casting director, and Ned Ricks who also produced, star among the cast of 51. Watch the trailer here.

PRODUCTION STARTS SEPT. 26 on longtime indie filmmaker Kevin Epperson’s latest short, “The Courtship,” a 1940’s homage to the dark and seductive world of film noir, in black-and-white and set in modern times.

Epperson of One Tear Productions in Uptown wrote and will direct and edit the 15-minute film. The story, he says, “takes place in “a world full of manipulations, ulterior motives and slowly-revealed intentions. As all the characters involved have their own motives, who shall be the one to come out unscathed?”

It will be shot over two days at a restaurant in Lakeview, and other locations and one day in a West Side warehouse.

Starring are Kara Zediker (“Chicago P.D.” and “24”) as the seductive and mysterious Mattie and Guy F. Wicke as the over-confident and improperly motivated Derek. Also appearing are Wendy Hayne, Arch Harmon, Kenny Thompson and D.R. Edwards

Co-producing is Troy Pryor’s Creative Cypher “whose help was invaluable,” notes line producer John Weaver. DP is Jason Deuchler; Eric Mattson is associate producer.

VINCE GAFFNEY’S FEATURE, Chicago-set “Resurrecting McGinn,” which he wrote, directed and co-produced, was released on Amazon, also on Sept.

The story is about the McGinn siblings who come together celebrate what would’ve been their dead brother’s 50th birthday only to be confronted by the truth surrounding his death. It stars Ira Amyx, Kelly Kruger, Keith Kupferher, Emily Peterson and Emily Bennet. Angie Gaffney was production manager and Kevin McGrail production supervisor; Jeffrey Brown, DP; Danny Fogarty, editor; casting by Paskal Rudnicke.

See the trailer here.

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