Local horror film back at Charlestowne 18 Theatre
The locally-made horror film "Munger Road" will be returning to the Charlestowne 18 in St. Charles just in time for the Halloween season.
"Munger Road" will open Sept. 28 and run for one week. Writer and director Nicholas Smith, a St. Charles native, will be on hand from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss the film and interact with fans.
Given three-star reviews by movie critics Dann Gire of the Daily Herald and Roger Ebert of the Sun-Times, the 2011 movie follows two St. Charles police officers as they search for a return killer the same night four teenagers go missing on Munger Road near Wayne.
In his review, Gire wrote: "I don't want to oversell 'Munger Road' as the greatest horror film since 'The Exorcist.' ... But as a first feature effort from a budding new filmmaker stuck with a budget smaller than the nucleus of an atom, it's an amazingly effective scare fest that knows the best parts to borrow from the giants of the genre.
" 'Munger Road' doesn't break much new ground, but it covers the old ground nicely.
"Smith understands how to the use the power of the unseen," Gire said. "Just like in 'The Exorcist,' Smith knows the scariest thing on the planet is a closed door."
Gire called "Munger Road," an "auspicious first movie" for the talented Smith and his cast and crew, many of whom came from Smith's alma mater, Chicago's Columbia College.
Gire said Smith eschewed violence for slowly building a suspenseful atmosphere.
The movie was shot in St. Charles, Geneva, Sugar Grove, Wayne and Bartlett.
For a list of show times, visit classiccinemas.com. The Charlestowne 18 is at 3740 E. Main St.