Micro-budget Mobile film got noticed by MST3K: How about a sequel?
OK, “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ fans. Here’s your chance to help create a sequel to “Demon Squad,” an ultra-low-budget made-in-Mobile movie that entered the halls of “MST3K” infamy in 2022.
The film, shot by the Mobile-based Fighting Owl Films crew in 2015 and released in 2019, is a supernatural neo-noir detective story. Co-written by director Thomas Smith and Erin Lilley Smith, it features Khristian Fulmer as Nick Moon, a hard-boiled detective with more than his share of demons. Most of them weren’t the figurative kind.
It was a surprise pick for the 13th season of “MST3K,” a cult franchise that captures the fun of watching cheesy movies with wisecracking friends. It was unusual for the show to pick such a low-budget feature, but “Demon Squad” seemed to get some love as the show’s hosts joked their way through a screening for thousands of paying subscribers. And there was some hope at the time among the filmmakers that the exposure might help pave the way for a follow-up.
Smith has now launched a Kickstarter drive aiming to raise $125,000. As of Tuesday afternoon, backers had pushed it to $14,900 with 22 days left to go.
While leery of revealing any spoilers, Fighting Owl Films says that the script brings back paranormal investigators Moon and Daisy O’Reilly (Lilley Smith) in a tale that will “lean more into adventure, science fiction, and fantasy.”
As for where the money will go if the all-or-nothing drive is successful, Smith says this: “As much fun as we had with MST3K, it isn’t our goal with Demon Squad 2 to double down on the cheesiness or B-movie aspects. We want to make this movie earnestly and properly. The story is one we’ve been tinkering with for nearly a decade, so realizing it as fully as possible is incredibly important. Funding will help us create a much more fully realized film with better cameras, audio, locations, costuming, props, makeup, and visual effects. In the world of film budgets, what we’re hoping to raise is a drop in the bucket by Hollywood standards. However, for us, when compared to the original film’s $15,000 budget, it will make a world of difference.”
Fulmer also shared his thoughts in a YouTube video, saying that there’s a lot more life left in Nick Moon. Maybe even enough to support a “Demon Squad Universe.”
“Hey, there’s a universe for everything out there,” he said. “Why not do this one?”
The Kickstarter drive continues until April 20. To read more or contribute: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fightingowl/lets-make-demon-squad-2.
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