4 New Cleveland-Made Horror Movies to Watch

Now that autumn has started, a number of yearly traditions are once again coming along to accompany it. From changing leaves and decorations, to pumpkin spice lattes and Hallmark’s fall-themed cards, we’ve truly entered a magical time of the year. 

Plus: horror movies. A staple activity of the Halloween season allows us to fully immerse ourselves in fright and forget about that cozy pumpkin spice latte. 

And it has been a great year for the Cleveland film scene thus far.

“After projects like Superman, a number of projects have been announced and had tax credits approved,” says Mike Wendt, the production coordinator for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.

Cleveland is already a prominent figure in the film business, so it should come as no surprise that filmmakers with local ties have some new releases that you can add to your list of horror movies to watch this season.

A handful of upcoming movies all have some connection to Ohio — so when you’re watching any of them and trying to convince yourself that everything is gonna be alright, you can also marvel at a sense of hometown pride.

“These projects help put a spotlight on the Greater Cleveland area,” says Wendt.

Shelby Oaks 
Release date: Oct. 24
Written and directed by Boston Heights native Chris Stuckmann and filmed in numerous Ohio locations including Cleveland Public Library and Medina’s Chippewa Lake Park, this horror-mystery follows a woman looking for her long lost sister while dealing with a supernatural threat of their own making. The movie will  be released by Neon just a week before Halloween. imdb.com

Sweetest Day
Release date: To be announced (Post-Production)
Filmed in Warren Ohio, this movie follows Mindy confronting an undead confederate soldier that she faced off against before. This will be the directorial debut of Warren native Doug Hawley who wrote the proof-of-concept short version of this film. imdb.com

Beneath the Light
Release date: Oct. 14
Lorain-born writer and director John Baumgartner heads this project about a man grappling with reality as spooky events take place in the lighthouse he works at. The real-life set made use of Lorain’s Marblehead lighthouse. imdb.com

Buddy
Release date: To be announced (Post-Production)
This horror-comedy starring Cristin Milioti filmed in Cleveland this summer, says Wendt. A group of kids confront spooky events that test their courage and friendship. Produced by Tyler Davidson, and now in post-production, this film’s release date will be announced soon. imdb.com