Horror movie plans to film at Sandusky video store this summer, looking for paid actors

Sandusky is going to set the stage for something dark and sinister this summer, with a Michigan director planning to shoot scenes for his horror film there.

And he’s looking for paid actors and local residents to take part.

Dryden resident Chris Whitworth said he plans to start filming “Evil Playthings” this August, a film about a family of four that moves to Imlay City to start a new life in the country.

Things take a dark turn when the daughter finds a toy chest with a jack-in-the-box, a teddy bear, “old jolly chimp” and, of course, a decrepit doll, that slowly possesses the girl.

But there’s a bigger, more insidious reason for what is taking place, Whitworth said, describing the film as “not your typical gory horror movie” but a “darker possession type of film.”

“I want my movie to stand on the story,” he said.

It’s not all creepy though and there are scenes to make the characters seem more real, including a scene where the son and father stop by a video rental store.

Which is where Real Video of Sandusky comes in.

“Of course I’m super excited about this,” said Kim Cory, the store’s owner.

She said Whitworth reached out to her as one of the only video stores left in Michigan and she was excited to take part. The industry has struggled and many video stores have closed, including several Family Video locations.

The movie is something residents can get involved in and having it filmed in the area could shed light on the great community, Cory said.

“I think this would be a lot of fun,” she said.

The store will be selecting customers as extras for the movie and will post a notice in the store or reach out to individuals. There is also an open casting call for paid actors and those interested should send a letter of interest with noted experience to Real Video of Sandusky, 462 W. Sanilac Road, Suite A, Sandusky, MI 48471.

Whitworth said he would like all letters by mid-July. He is still looking for a couple other places to shoot, like an old farmhouse, and Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum has offered to talk to about filming on its property.

He said locals will have less driving time than actors from Lansing and Detroit and could be more interested in sticking with the project. Even if only a quarter of the cast is from the area, it would really add more to the local feel of the story, he said.

Whitworth said he has over 15 years in the film industry, graduating from the Motion Picture Institute in Troy in 2004, student teaching, writing for film magazines and working in the industry when he could, including a Bigfoot movie he produced and premiered in 2011 called “Primal Rage” that he plans to recreate.

He currently works security at the Detroit Zoo and the movie will be shot on his days off, seven days over three months this summer. 

“It’s going to look really nice for such a low budget,” he said.

Whitworth is funding the project out of pocket and is still working on a budget, which  depends on which actors are present which days and actors coming from metro Detroit will get a gas stipend.

Although the entire movie won’t be filmed in the city, Whitworth said he has plans for other movies he’d like to film in Sandusky and feels it might be his “new filmmaking home.”

 And they might tease a sequel in the movie. 

Whitworth said he has a couple companies he plans to reach out to for distributing the film.  But if that doesn't work, he will release it himself.

“One way or another, the world will see this movie,” he said.

People interested in offering space for filming can contact Whitworth at (810) 706-0802.

Contact Bryce Airgood at (810) 989-6202 or bairgood@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123.