New Horror Movie Starts Filming Soon In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — A new independent horror movie, “The Itinerant,” will begin filming in Wallingford in early April, according to producers.

“The Itinerant” marks the writing and directorial debut of Wallingford resident Daniel Kearney, who also serves as executive producer and stars in the movie.

Kearney is a lifelong horror movie fan who now works alongside some of the biggest stars in the genre that he grew up watching. His newest film, “Watchdog,” which was shot in Alabama, recently started streaming on Amazon Prime.

Kearney said that principal photography for “The Itinerant” begins in early April and they will be shooting in Wallingford, along with multiple locations in New Haven County.

While he can’t mention many of the locations, Kearney said Gaetano’s Tavern On Main will be a “quick shooting spot.”

“Debbie Pacileo, the owner, has always been so kind and gracious to me, I love her!” Kearney said. “We are also again working with Middlesex Community College to allow students first-hand on-the-job training to work on a feature film. That way, they can build their resumes before graduating. I’m very excited about that and helping them grow.”

Mr. D’s ice cream shop will also be used for some filming, according to Kearney.

“I am so excited to work with Wallingford natives Kara Gonzalez, who will be helping me on location for a horse scene, and my dear friend Britney Drohan, who plays Calista in the film,” Kearney said. “It’s all very surreal, but that’s why I love bringing features to Connecticut – you get to work with so many people you grew up with and care for!”

Kearney describes “The Itinerant” as a “deeply disturbing character study.”

“An eccentric man, lost in time, is reintroduced into a community he was taken from 30 years prior,” according to its synopsis. “Whether from nurture or nature, his return sparks a desperately dark and disturbing descent into madness that leaves no stone unturned.”

Kearney stars in the film alongside horror legend Hannah Fierman (VHS, Creepshow, SIREN), who he worked with on “The Events Surrounding A Peeping Tom,” which was also shot in Wallingford and recently had its premiere.

“The Itinerant” also stars BJ Mezek (CRUST), Jeremy Hirsch (Macabre Mountain), Chanda Rawlings (Black Sheep), and is co-produced by Mezek Films, Black Ave Films, and Stag Mountain Films.

“The film is deeply rooted in realism and will be shot in a very shotgun style way,” Kearney said. “I play Dean Montgomery, a character I am very excited to bring to life. A deeply disturbing character with so many emotional facets. It has a bit of everything – horror and a true crime element that many won’t expect. I felt touching both areas would not only expand the audience's reach but also interest even the non-horror genre fans. I think it’s going to resonate very well. My character is just deeply, deeply disturbed. You don’t know if you should feel bad for him, fear him, or loathe him! In any case, it’s the theme of nature vs. nurture, and he knows not what he does.”

After producing and performing in movies for almost a decade, Kearney said he just felt it was time to write and direct his own film.

“Writing, producing, directing, I wanted to create a baby from inception,” he said. “Making a film, truly not to trivialize, but it’s something that is created from nothing – made from a simple concept or idea and so much hard work. The story grows and blooms and you draft the piece, which grows into pre-production, then principal photography, and post-production. Then, finally, I call it ‘sending off to college’ when it’s time for distribution.

“The amount of energy it takes to create an independent piece like this really takes a part of yourself and energy that you never get back. It’s like a currency, only so much of it, and you have to spend it wisely. You just hope and pray it resonates, but in the end, for me, it’s all about creating the art of if it all, which is subjective. Making films, my ultimate goal is to give that same great feeling I had walking into the video rental stores growing up.”

Kearney said that while acting has always been his main ambition, he has written many screenplays over the years, “but I have devoted much of my career bringing others’ screenplays and visions to life.”

“I guess it was a confidence thing, I wanted to, but never jumped at the opportunity,” he said of writing and directing. “I received this opportunity from producer and actor BJ Mezek, who loved the screenplay, and I just had to jump at the opportunity.”

Kearney first wrote “The Itinerant” in 2022, along with another screenplay, "The Treehouse Murders."

"When I had decided to change the budget and style of the film, I blended the two screenplays, 'Frankensteining,' them," he said. "When this happened, I presented it to some dear friends and producers, and they fell in love with it."

Kearney said he drafted five different versions of "The Itinerant" in total. Mezek helped write the newest draft as co-writer.

With principal photography taking place in April, Kearney said they hope to have “The Itinerant” out in early 2027.

“Then we search for distribution,” he said.

Kearney said he’s grateful for all of the love and support and “all of the kind messages I’ve received in our community.”

“It’s very, very overwhelming for me,” he said. “Living a dream is very special, and I don’t take a second for granted. My greatest joy in all of this is showing my children that they can do anything they put their mind to, and I hope it helps them grow. We work so hard on these films and I hope you enjoy it.”

See also: Wallingford Man Living A Dream Making Horror Movies

For more information on the filming of “The Itinerant,” visit its Facebook page here, and for the latest on Kearney’s productions, visit his IMDB page here.