A horror thriller feature film, “The Absent,” will be shot in and around Winthrop starting, according to an announcement from Last Night LLC, Winthrop.
     Filming began Sept. 26.
     The film is directed by Winthrop resident Sage Bannick, who also directed “Just Hustle.”
     Chris Sivertson, director of “I Know Who Killed Me,” is producing, alongside Lorna Paul (“Uncharted”). Mike Josten (“Night of the Demons”) is executive producer, according to the announcement.
     “The Absent” centers on Vincent, a high school teacher forced to choose between career and a love affair with Katie, one of his students. The pressure mounts when his twin brother, Oscar, returns to town after serving 25 years in jail for killing their parents, according to the announcements.
     One by one, Katie's friends disappear, prompting the local sheriff to target Vincent as the No. 1 suspect. Vincent knows his brother is involved, but is unable to catch him in the act until the final scene, the announcement continued.
     By then it is too late and the hunter becomes the hunted, the filmmakers said.
     The cast includes Bryan Kirkwood (“Hellbent,” “Forsaken”) as Vincent with Yvonne Zima (“ER,” “Long Kiss Goodnight”) as Katie. The homicidal twin, Oscar, is played by Bryan's real life twin brother, Denny Kirkwood (“Never Been Kissed,” Groove”).
     Sam Ball (“13 Going on 30,” “Pumpkin”) plays the sheriff and Kelly Eviston (“Home of the Brave,” “Mozart and the Whale”) is the school principal.
     Vanessa Zima (“Ulee's Gold,” “Wicked”) rounds out the cast along with Matthew Josten (“Chicken Little,” “The Drew Carey Show”) and Jennifer Blanc (“The Crow,” “Dark Angel”).
     Screenwriters for "The Absent" are Sage Bannick, Damon Abdallah and Ari Bernstein. Bernstein also is editing the film, according to the announcement.
     The film will be shot in Winthrop, Twisp and Mazama. Second unit photography was completed in Los Angeles in August. Post-production will take place at Lalamino Studios on the big island of Hawaii.
     Production is expected to wrap by Oct. 6, according to the announcement.
     Bannick said he is enthusiastic about shooting in Washington instead of Los Angeles.
     "After battling the Hollywood system over financing and studio cost, Last Night LLC decided to go grass roots and shoot the film on a shoestring budget with help from friends and family,” Bannick said. “We wanted to make a film the way George Romero did when he shot "Night of the Living Dead," or Robert Rodriguez with "El Mariachi."
     "Oscar may slash high school students but he's bringing independent cinema back to life," Bannick said. "Slash and burn . . . slash the students, burn the building and blow up a car while we are at it."