‘I Dream of a Psychopomp’ announces Chicago premiere

How Bizarre Pictures just announced the red carpet world premiere screening event for writer/director Danny Villanueva Jr.’s debut feature-length supernatural drama/horror anthology film, I Dream of a Psychopomp.

The film, which opens in September at the Music Box Theatre, in Chicago, stars Jillian Lebling (Bridge of Spies, The Blacklist), Elohim Peña, Ben Shaul, Peter Knox, Steven Alonte, Kulani Kai, N. Meridian, Fiona Rose, and more. Screenplay is written by Danny Villanueva Jr. and J. Anthony Ramos. The music is composed by Donny Walker of Mind Exchange Music. Coloring was done by Jeff Olm (The Revenant, Avengers: Age of Ultron).

So, um, what the hell is a Psychopomp?

Danny Villanueva Jr.’s directorial debut feature-length film I Dream of a Psychopomp is a supernatural drama/horror anthology that explores the world of psychopomps, soul guides that assist spirits in the transition from earth into the afterlife.

According to filmmaker Danny Villanueva Jr., there are different forms of psychopomps have been present throughout history in many different cultures around the world. The ancient Egyptian God, Anubis, in Greek Mythology, Hermes, angels, and the grim reaper are all forms of soul guides. Psychopomping is still practiced today in modern Shamanism and by psychic mediums.

By going into an alternate state of consciousness through meditation, these mediums can have conversations with earthbound spirits, help them come to terms with death, and assist to make an easier transition into the afterlife.

IDOAP is a supernatural drama/horror anthology film that explores the world of psychopomps, soul guides that assist spirits in the transition from earth into the afterlife. The film was shot in Kenosha and Racine Wisconsin, just over an hour north of the Music Box Theatre.

In the story, a grieving widower haunted by the distressed ghost of his recently deceased wife is visited in his dreams by a psychopomp who teaches him about the spirit world and soul guiding through stories of death and the supernatural.

IDOAP is set in a fictional small American town called Spellbound and includes 3 contemporary ghost stories that intertwine in a wraparound: Spellbound High Monster hop, a segment about an introverted girl who’s encouraged by her friends to ask her crush to the high school Halloween social, Answers, a story about a medium motivated by her dark past to assist in an investigation of a missing boy, and Until Forever, a curious girl sneaks into an abandoned library to seek out an urban legend about an immortal Vampire.

Psychopomp

Director Danny Villanueva Jr. spoke about his motivation for creating a film on the subject of death, his personal journey throughout the making, and how the film became a grieving tool when he lost his mother to lung cancer during post-production

“Creating this film was a way to familiarize myself with death in order to try to ease some of its force when it knocks. Throughout the editing process, I was the primary caregiver of my dying mother who passed away from stage 4 lung cancer on Memorial Day of 2020.”

He adds, “She was truly a great human being and my closest friend. I found my exposure to the subject of death and understanding why it is what it is through creating this film to be helpful through the grieving process. I hope this film can be beneficial for others going through bereavement.”.

How Bizarre Pictures is an American independent film production company specializing in dark drama/horror films.

The public event will be held on September 3rd 2021 at the historic 700 seat movie palace, the Music Box Theatre, in Chicago, IL. Cast and crew will be in attendance and speaking on a Q&A panel following the screening.


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