A home-grown, independent supernatural thriller that got a second life thanks in part to “Mystery Science Theater 3000” is about to claw its way into Mobile’s Crescent Theater.
Fighting Owl Films recently released a trailer for “Demon Squad: Tooth and Claw” that features plenty of Mobile scenery. The filmmakers and the venue have announced a “special screening” for the sequel.
“Demon Squad” is an ultra-low-budget supernatural noir filmed in Mobile: In it, Khristian Fulmer plays detective Nick Moon, who investigates a spooky threat with the help of a skeptical assistant (Erin Lilley) and a femme fatale (Leah Christine Johnson).
Initially released in 2019, “Demon Squad” got an unexpected round of exposure when the makers of the long-running sci-fi franchise made it a pick for their 13th season. That meant that in summer 2022, the flick would undergo a satirical vivisection by MST3K’s host characters, but also that it would be seen by a huge group of new viewers.
That exposure, in turn, helped a crowdfunding effort to underwrite a sequel, with $30,000 in pledges. By spring 2024, core members of the Fighting Owl crew – including director and co-writer Thomas Smith, co-writer and actress Erin Lilley Smith, Fulmer and director of photography Kris Skoda – were at work filming “Tooth and Claw” in places like the Mobile Carnival Museum.
The trailer released in early January shows Moon on the trail of a supernatural menace, with the help of some allies just as dubious as the ones who helped him along in the first film. Accompanying information says that a bloodthirsty werewolf is on the loose, but as Moon investigates the killings he uncovers a dangerous conspiracy.
In a November Facebook post, Fighting Owl Films notified fans that post-production work was finished and that distribution “is being figure out.” No release plans have been revealed, but the original score has been released. In early December, Fighting Owl notified Kickstarter.com backers that they could access digital downloads.
“Demon Squad: Tooth and Claw” will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Crescent Theater, 208 Dauphin St. Advance tickets can be ordered online and are $15, or $20.51 including fees and taxes.
For updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/fightingowlfilms.