By ERIC SCHELKOPF
According to a new survey, many people like to watch horror movies year-round – even during the Christmas season.
Of the 3,000 Americans surveyed, 44% of them said they enjoy watching horror movies throughout the year, with only 6% watching horror movies just during the Halloween season.
So if you want to want something scary this holiday season, you might consider checking out "Evil Lurks," a movie released in 2022 by Batavia resident Aaron Hawkins. The movie, which premiered at the Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 movie theater in St. Charles, is now available on such streaming platforms as Tubi, The Roku Channel and Apple TV.
The movie also is for sale at his eBay store, https://www.ebay.com/usr/crazy-rock-productions-store.
Hawkins is currently working on his second feature movie, "Hellsgate." I had the chance to talk to him about the movie.
Q – I understand that you are now casting for the movie. I see that one of the actors, Adam Hinkle, has done work on "Chicago Fire" and "Haunt Season."
So obviously the actors in "Hellsgate" have had prior TV and perhaps even movie experience.
Absolutely. One of them, his name is Ross Childs, he does standup comedy and he's also an actor. He was in "Chicago Med."
So I'm getting a lot of people that have done a lot of decent things, like Bill Oberst Jr. He's an Emmy Award winning actor who is playing the role of FBI director in the movie.
Q – So that must make you feel pretty good, that people of this caliber want to be part of this movie.
It is really, really awesome. We're trying to get Glenn Morshower. He was in the television show "24" and he's done a ton of other work.
And he's also my acting teacher, too. He lives in Texas and we do all the classes remotely.
Q – So he might be interested in being in the film as well?
Yes. We're also talking to Billy Hayes.
Before he started his acting career, Hayes was a drug smuggler and he spent a few years in a Turkish prison. Hayes wrote the book "Midnight Express," which was adapted into the 1978 movie.
Q – By coincidence, the other night I watched "Grumpy Old Santa," which Morshower starred in. What do you think Glenn would bring to "Hellsgate" if he agrees to be part of it?
He would bring his very well-rounded acting style to the movie and his fan base. It would bring more eyes to the project.
Q – Of course, you wrote the script for "Hellsgate," which follows the story of Samantha, an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates a cult. She becomes entangled in a dangerous web of drugs, manipulation and violence.
This is your second feature film. Is this following the timeline that you envision for making movies?
I don't necessarily have a specific timeline. I don't like to rush things.
I would rather do it right the first time. I like to be meticulous and put the time into a storyline and make sure it sounds good and looks good and things like that.
Q – I know you live in Batavia. Are you going to shoot "Hellsgate" in the area, like you did with your last movie?
I'm scouting locations in this area. I've found quite a few.
We're looking to film some scenes in Batavia. It depends on what the needs are of the production.
And then I have a co-director who lives out towards Elmhurst who has been scouting for me as well.
Q – Is your vision for "Hellsgate" coming together?
It's coming together, yes. We're tentatively set to start filming in August.
That could be pushed back or brought forward. Filming will take at least 18 days.
Q – When would you like the movie to be released?
We're going to be filming and editing as we go. It would be released probably around Christmas 2025.
It depends on when we start filming As it stands now, we're going to be filming in August.
People watch horror films during Christmas.
Q – I just read that. I was kind of surprised about the number of horror films that people do watch during Christmastime.
That's what I do. I watch horror films around Christmastime on top of movies like "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
Q – Do you have more movie ideas?
Absolutely. I have two more horror scripts and one of them is complete.
The other one is about 60% done.
Q – What attracts you to the horror genre in general?
As a kid, it started out with the jump scares, things like that. As an adult, it's more of, how can I do the kill scenes that I've seen differently and can I push the envelope more.
With horror films, it's like the sky is the limit for me. Horror films are not meant to make you laugh.
They're meant to question life. A lot of the killing you see could actually happen.
Like the scene in the trailer for "Hellsgate" could happen in real life, especially how the person dies.
Q – What would you like people to get out of your movies?
Entertainment, for one. I want people to get entertainment value out of it.
If you're feeling nauseous because of the kill scenes, then I've done my job as well.
Those who would like to know more about the roles being cast in "Hellsgate" should go to the movie's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563106123349.
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