Director Danny LeGare said the feature film Blood Harvest is the culmination of several ideas he and others have had, and the psychological thriller will be filmed in South Windsor this August.
LeGare is the CEO of Burden Media, LLC, based in Vernon. He typically produces shorter films and video content for small businesses, which he’s been helping, especially during the pandemic.
“It’s a feature film that was brought to me by David Gere, out of Cromwell. This is a passion project, of a bunch of friends coming together. We wanted to make a movie, because we haven’t been allowed to for more than a year,” LeGare said, adding that it’s a funny story of how the film came to be.
LeGare and friend cinematographer George Lyon were talking about how they hadn’t seen each other in a while, or worked on a project. The two surmised that if they had a script for something that could be filmed relatively easy, as on one or two locations, and with a low budget, they could make that work. Approximately two months later, Gere contacted LeGare and said he had a movie that takes place on a farm and asked if he’d like to direct it.
“So, now we’re making the movie,” he said.
Blood Harvest is not a gory slasher movie, but rather a psychological thrilled about a family who comes across hard times. They move back to a relative’s farm in the mother’s hometown. One of the children is a clairvoyant.
“He has this gift that he doesn’t understand,” LeGare said. “His sister, who is about 16 years old, who does understand it, and she’s trying to help him figure it out and use it. As they are exploring the farm, having fun and exploring his gift, they start to unravel secrets and things that have happened on the farm over the years. They find out that the town is involved in a cult, that believes in sacrificial rituals to better their lands, crops, and life.”
South Windsor was chosen because LeGare found a farm there that suits the production perfectly, and is adjacent to land that will also make a good backdrop.
“The folks who own the farm were gracious enough to allow us to film there,” he said. “Their son wants to go to school to film, so we’re glad he can be part of it. It all just kind of came together. I think shooting movies in New England is some of the most beautiful locations you can have.”
The movie is in pre-production and starts shooting Aug. 9. It will take approximately two weeks to shoot.
The cast is mostly local actors, but includes New Haven native Greg Nutcher, who has appeared in Bridge of Spies, Grandpa’s Psycho and Dark Haul, and actor Robert LaSardo (Nip/Tuck, Bones, CSI:Miami) is expected to play a small role.
LeGare said he doesn’t yet know how the executive producers at UnCork’d Entertainment plan to release the film, but expects it will be available on streaming services.
“We’re just really excited to make a movie here in South Windsor,” LeGare said. “It’s a great town. We love living here and we’re very active in the town.”
