There goes the neighborhood

Petaluma-shot horror film, 'The Hamiltons,' will show next week at a San Francisco film festival

June 7, 2006

By DANE GOLDEN
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

For any teenager from an ordinary family, it's hard to fit in at a new school.

But Francis Hamilton's family is not ordinary. Francis (played by newcomer Cory Knauf) and his siblings have been recently orphaned and the eldest son, David (played by Samuel Child, "Lurking in Suburbia"), has assumed responsibility for the family, relocating them to an idyllic Northern California town to start anew.

Francis, the youngest of the four kids, has another challenge, one not commonly found in a coming-of-age film.

He lives in a family of cold-blooded killers.

Sonoma County, the setting for horror and suspense films "Shadow of a Doubt," "The Birds," and, more recently, "Scream," has one more film of that genre to add to the list.

"The Hamiltons," shot entirely on location in Petaluma over a fast-paced two-week shoot last February, is being heralded on the film festival circuit as a unique and exceptional addition to the canon (if a bit more twisted).

It won the Malibu Film Festival's Jury award, and the Golden Vision award at this year's Santa Barbara Internat-ional Film Festival, "for the most innovative and unique film with and inspiring and groundbreaking vision."

At one festival screening, 100 people had to be turned away after the film sold out early.

"The Hamiltons" was directed by The Butcher Brothers, pseudonyms and alter-egos for young Northern California natives Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores, who grew up in South San Francisco. The film has a distinctively Petaluma influence, both with the settings and the film's creators. It was shot largely in and around an anonymous westside house, but the film also has a few scenes set at Traxx Bar and Grill, on the Petaluma River and at local granaries.

Petaluma -- long termed "Anytown, USA," by movie makers because of its ability to serve as the setting for a variety of different films (including "American Graffiti," "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Mumford") worked just right, the film's creators said.

"I think with the location, you couldn't ask for anything more," said co-director and Petaluma resident Mitchell Altieri. "The main decision to shoot in Petaluma was pretty much based on the fact that were looking for something that had an older feel to it and definitely and industrial feel to it."

"The people in Petaluma will recognize parts of their town," said the other Butcher Brother, Phil Flores, who also lived in Petaluma for a time. "Otherwise, you might think it's in Eureka or near Portland, or anywhere on the West Coast."

There are other Petaluma contributors to the film. Local writer Adam Weis co-wrote the film with The Butcher Brothers, and the movie's director of photography was Petaluma resident Michael Maley. Additionally, a number of production assistants and interns were local residents.

The film was shot in February of last year in order to make use of that month's gloomy skies, which helped set the mood for the film.

Gray skies or not, there's no blaming The Hamiltons' problems on Seasonal Affective Disorder. Their issues run a bit deeper, as the audience finds out with a plot-revealing secret at the end of the film.

If you like being scared out of your wits, "The Hamiltons" is showing at San Francisco's Another Hole in the Head Film Festival, on Monday, June 12, at 7 p.m., and Thursday, June 15, at 2:30 p.m. Call (415) 820-3907 for ticket information. Pre-purchase of tickets is recommended. Although it has not yet been rated, an R rating should be assumed. The film has adult situations, which may not be suitable for children.

(Contact Dane Golden at dgolden@arguscourier.com)

THE HAMILTONS

Genre: Horror, Suspense

Rating: Presumed R rating, but not yet rated

Directed by: The Butcher Brothers

Written by: The Butcher Brothers and Adam Weis

Produced by: Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores

Starring: Cory Knauf, Samuel Child, Joseph McKelheer, Mackenzie Firgens, Rebekah Hoyle and Brittany Daniel

Director of photography: Michael Maley

Web: www.sffilms.tv/thehamiltons

"The Hamiltons" is showing at the Another Hole in the Head Film Festival

Roxie Theatre

3117 16th St., San Francisco

When: Monday, June 12, 7 p.m. and Thursday, June 15, 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10, advance purchase recommended

Parking: For at fee on Hoff Street, off of 16th between Valencia and Mission Streets

Phone: (415) 820-3907

Web: www.sfindie.com