Described as a “supernatural neo-noir revenge western set against the stark landscapes of Southern Colorado,” the filming of upcoming horror film Devil in the Trunk is underway in the Centennial State. The plot of the film follows a young woman who encounters a mysterious female traveler on the side of the highway who comes with a stern command… “don’t open the trunk.” A sort of cat-and-mouse game ensues.

Local filming of the movie started on May 7 and is scheduled to take place through June 11 in the area of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Victor, Sedalia, Calhan, and Golden. Executive producers of the film are Dr. Leon Kelly and Dr. Dan Lingamfelter – forensic pathologists who also founded the Six Feet Under Horror Fest. Award-winning filmmaker Evan Alderson is on the project, as well, with the film expected to blend elements of psychological horror, western grit, and dark Americana.

“Devil in the Trunk takes place on the rural highways of the American West,” said Director Evan Alderson. “It’s an isolated landscape where the people themselves are isolated, which presents a perfect playground for the Devil.”

Executive Producer Leon Kelly further explained why the Colorado scene caters to this story: “Colorado’s deserted landscape kind of really speaks to the themes of isolation and mystery. A road that isn’t a place where you go to hide or to get away, but a road that’s like a trap.”

While most know Colorado for its mountain views, the Eastern Plains landscape is often overlooked – but it sounds like that won’t be the case with Devil in the Trunk and filmmakers’ plans to put this vast and sparsely populated landscape on center stage.

Inspiration for the movie is said to come from films like The Terminator, Christine, Death Proof, and No Country for Old Men.

According to an initial press release about the production, “the production represents a significant milestone for independent filmmaking in Southern Colorado, with a fully-funded $250,000 production budget already secured.” It’s believed that the full project, including distribution, will have a cost that lands somewhere between $400,000 and $500,000.

Following the filming, a crowdfunding campaign on Seed&Spark is set to help support the post-production and distribution efforts, with the goal for crowd funding being $30,000. Follow along with that campaign here and keep up with Devil in the Trunk’s progress on the movie’s Instagram page.

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