Las Cruces writer/director brings a childhood fear to the big screen with Lance Henricksen, Matthew Lawrence

Las Cruces writer/director Robert Dean’s latest movie, “The Dead of Night,” is based on one of his childhood fears.

“There is something about growing up on an isolated ranch that truly inspired yet frightened me at the same time,” Dean said. “Rural America is a strange crossroads where recluses, drifters and outlaws like to dwell. It’s eerie out there – being in the middle of nowhere, especially at night. These feelings are what spawned ‘The Dead of Night.’ I couldn’t be prouder of this film and every single individual that believed and helped bring this vision to life.”

In the film, which stars Lance Henricksen, Matthew Lawrence, Colby Crain and Jake Ethridge, violent, masked drifters dressed as wolves arrive in a small rural town, a local young couple goes missing and their bodies are discovered near a ranch run by brother and sister Tommy (Jake Etheridge) and June (Colby Crain). Her ex-boyfriend and local Deputy Sheriff Luke Walker (Matthew Lawrence), start suspecting Tommy of murder, leaving the siblings ostracized and disenchanted with the community.

The next day, Tommy catches the killers committing another murder nearby and moves in closer to investigate, but he is spotted by one of the drifters and chased across the ranch, running for his life. Isolated, the siblings find themselves being hunted and terrorized by the nomadic killers, setting the scene for a startling twist and a gruesome outcome that will change the town forever.

Las Cruces actor Jack Lutz plays one of the wolf-clad killers. One of his recent Facebook posts sums up his experience.

“When I got offered the role of The Coyote Killer, I was in a very weird place in life, mentally that is,” Lutz wrote. “Heartbroken, bitter, worried about the health of certain loved ones and grieving the loss of someone close. I needed an outlet, and this was it. I put all my anger, all my bitterness, all my frustration and all of my fear into this very evil person, and when filming was done, I left him in the mountains of Capitan. What I didn't expect was to have the greatest time of my life. I didn't expect to form friendships and create memories with such amazing people, but it happened and I'm glad it happened, because not only do I treasure these memories, but I treasure these people and friendships as well. Thank you to director Robert Dean for letting me put the mask on, and I can’t wait for this little film to pick up momentum. To the entire crew for ‘The Dead of Night,’ thank you for giving me one of the best experiences of my life. Each and every one of you now has a friend for life, as well.”

Dean not only wrote and directed “The Dead of Night,” he also served as the movie’s production manager.

Troy Scoughton Sr. of PRC Productions and Matthew Helderman of Buffalo 8 led the producing team. The cast also includes Kyle Overstreet, Leah Bezozo and Jesse Kinser. The movie was filmed in New Mexico.

Henricksen’s film credits include “The Right Stuff, “The Terminator,” “Aliens” and “Pumpkinhead.” Lawrence’s films include “Mrs. Doubtfire.” He also starred the television series’ “Brotherly Love” and “Boy Meets World.”

Dean, “originally from a small town without a single stoplight in the sprawling landscape of south-central New Mexico, is a multiform artist who has been working professionally in the film business for the past 10 years and has witnessed first-hand “the many pitfalls facing independent filmmakers.”

Dean said he joined forces with PRC Productions and Buffalo 8 Productions “to create a sustainable platform that allows himself and others the ability to viably share their visions.

The film is being distributed by VMI Worldwide, a leading independent film sales, distribution and production company based in Hollywood.

Watch the official film trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTgyK0aSELA. Visit www.prc-productions.com and www.buffalo8.com.