A horror film filmed at the historic Strauss House in Atlantic Highlands is being featured at the Smodcastle Cinemas on First Avenue opening October 16th and continuing through October 20.
The film, “What Lives Here” was written and produced by Troy Burbank and his wife Michele Burbank.
Burbank, a filmmaker who hails from Leonardo is a graduate of Middletown High School South. The movie is the story of a junk removal company lured to an out-of-state project by a real-estate agent. The agent promises an untold fortune in exchange for removing the contents of a mansion with a sinister past. What Lives Here
In addition to being filmed locally at one of the most historic mansions in Atlantic Highlands, the movie also highlights several other well-known sites in the Bayshore area, including Jaspan’s Hardware I and the Leonardo Motel as well as American Legion Post 338 in Leonardo. Production also took place at Snyder’s Tavern in West Shokan NY.
“What Lives Here” includes a broad cast, many of whom are local residents and some who have been featured in other films produced by Burbank and still available on Tubi and other media.
The cast includes Jeff Swanton, Catherine Parish, Ernie O’Donnell, Matt Riley, Ming Chen, Dan Gregory, Pete Hogan (son of Siobhan Fallon Hogan), Katie Walsh, Rob Ruvolo, Christian Keiber, Phil Kozma, Ugochukwu Onyianta, Saige Schoeller, Andrew Bane, Kerry McGann, Tammy Owens, Ron Millkie ( who played officer Dorf in the original 1980 version of Friday the 13th ), Don Jameson, Jackie Adragna, Heidi Bird, Carol Kozma, Michele Burbank, Nick Burbank, Dave Harris, Barbara Presalomsky and Rob Schnoor.
This isn’t the first film using the Strauss Mansion as a site. An earlier movie, the1979 cult classic “Don’t go in the House” with director Joseph Ellison and starring Dan Grimaldi was also filmed at the Historical Society site that is on the National Register.
Nor is it Burbank’s only film that reaches broad audiences and is getting acclaim. Currently he has “Gone For The Weekend” available on Tubi at no cost, as well as his sitcom, “On Our Own”, which has six episodes and is also free on Tubi. His first horror film, “The House at 831”, which was also filmed locally, is available on DVD. Then there’ s the short horror called “The Last One to Leave” Wasted Blind.”
Tickets for the Smodcastle Cinemas in Atlantic Highlands beginning next week can be purchased at the door and showtimes are available on the Smodcastle website for the cost of a regular movie ticket. Tickets will also be available each night on the showing.
The movie is best suited for ages 15 and older due to language, brief nudity, and violent content.
The film was funded through investors including Phil Kozma and funds through garbage removal for the 430 movie by director Kevin Smith.
The movie has already won awards including for Best director, Best Supporting actor Matt Riley and Best cinematography Marc Fratto .
