A new Indie movie filmed in Bruce County is hitting the big screen this month.
The dark comedy Loathe Thy Neighbor was filmed in Arran-Elderslie on a 100-acre farm in 2023 during the Hollywood strikes.
Actor, Producer and Executive Producer Brennan Clost, known for Netflix’s Tiny Pretty Things and The Next Step, says the film follows his big city character who moves to the area after inheriting a farm.
“As soon as arriving on the property, he is this quintessential city kid, is allergic to everything in the country, orders and online epipen and upon the delivery arriving, it gets misdelivered to a neighbour’s house. When he goes to the neighbour to ask about the package, a feud erupts. That is sort of the catalyst for then the drama throughout the film,” says Clost.
He says while audiences can expect to laugh, there will also be some emotional moments as the main character deals with personal loss.
Clost says he was drawn to film in Bruce County after coming to the area every summer with his family growing up.
“It has always been a place that I love and has been very special to my heart. I had through a family connection access to this 100-acre property, this beautiful farm, and it was sort of just the right recipe at the time, there was the writers and actors strikes in the United States, so there was no film and TV work happening up here in Canada as well,” says Clost.
It was at this time he looked at what they had available and what film they could make.
“From the first draft of our script thought to the end of our filming, I believe it was only about seven weeks which is unheard of in Hollywood and film and TV, that is exceptionally fast, but we really wanted to capitalize on everyone being available because of the strike,” says Clost.
He says the cast and crew had to take on a variety of roles while they lived on the farm property.
“It was really like film camp because we wake up in the morning, we would all have catered breakfast together, and then do our shooting for the day and then after wrap, actors would get together and run our lines for the next day, while we were also steaming our wardrobe and getting props ready,” says Clost.
Loathe Thy Neighbor Cast (Photo provided by Michael Usling)
Loathe Thy Neighbor is also Clost’s first go at being a producer.
Clost thanks all the local vendors and residents who contributed to making the film.
An invite only screening is being held on Monday in Owen Sound before the film debuts in theatres across Canada on Aug. 29.
