Lake Michigan Monster | |
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![]() Official release poster | |
Directed by | Ryland Brickson Cole Tews |
Written by | Ryland Brickson Cole Tews Mike Cheslik |
Produced by | Mike Cheslik Sebastian Johnson Ryland Brickson Cole Tews |
Starring | Ryland Brickson Cole Tews Erick West Beulah Peters Daniel Long Wayne Tews |
Edited by | Mike Cheslik |
Music by | Chris Hoelter Chris Ryan De Wolfe Music |
Production company | Blood Sweat Honey |
Distributed by | Arrow Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $7,000 (estimated)[3][4] |
Lake Michigan Monster is a 2018 black-and-white American adventure comedy horror film written, produced, and directed by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, starring Tews, Erick West, Beulah Peters, Daniel Long, and Wayne Tews. It centers on an eccentric alcoholic who assembles a team to track down and kill the title monster out of revenge for the death of his father.
The Lake Michigan Monster was developed by Tews and Mike Cheslik after a conversation Tews had with a close friend on the possibility of what would happen if a monster washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan. The film was influenced by British comedy group Monty Python and the earlier episodes of the television series The Simpsons, with additional inspiration gathered from the films of Guy Maddin, specifically Brand Upon the Brain. The Lake Michigan Monster's visual style was developed to fit its low-budget and comedic style, as the only camera available developed only low-resolution footage. Filming began mostly around Milwaukee and Muskegon, Michigan, over sixteen months.
It premiered at the Milwaukee Film Festival on October 24, 2018, and was later screened extensively at various film festivals in 2019, including the Beloit International Film Festival, and Fantasia International Film Festival. Video distribution company Arrow Films later purchased distribution rights to the film, releasing it via the company's channel and video on demand on August 3, 2020, before releasing it on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on November 2. In addition to garnering multiple awards and nominations, it was generally praised for its homage to 1960s B movies, humor, and use of practical and visual effects.
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