HOLLANDSBURG is a high concept psychological thriller based on the 1977 American true crime that became so appropriately known as “The Hollandsburg Massacre.” The screenplay was written by the Indiana native Writer/Director Ryan Kaercher after doing months of extensive research, analyzing hundreds of newspaper articles, and taking a road trip back to the area in order to conduct first person interviews with the victim's friends and several law enforcement officers involved.
After gaining a deeper understanding for the area, culture, and people it was apparent that this horrific incident not only ruined the lives of the victims, who were unjustly taken before their time, but it drastically changed the lives of all those involved. Therefore the filmmaker decided that the best approach to effectively convey the result of this heinous crime was to tell the story through multiple subjectivity meaning that there is no main character in the piece but instead we share different moments with a ensemble of characters throughout the film.
Due to the fact that the home invasion and subsequent murders literally “came out of nowhere” the events are structured exactly that way in the picture much like Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”. We open our film on February 13, 1977 following along with the Spencer boys as they go about life in a small farming community as adolescents. These are boys who mean no real harm killing time by building cars and chasing girls leading the audience to believe that is a coming of age tale about the Midwestern family as they have supper and the husband leaves for his night shift at a Indianapolis TV station.
A few moments later the film’s tone takes a dramatic turn as the doors fly open and a young gang storms in brandishing sawed-off shotguns. The gang proceeds to line the family up on the floor, ransack the house, and execute the family members one by one at point blank range. The gang leaves in a stolen car with less than $40 and a few personal belongings they took an interest in. They thought they had left no witnesses and consequently committed the perfect crime. They were very wrong… Thus the MANHUNT ensues!
HOLLANDSBURG will be filmed on Super 35mm film in a 2.40 apect ratio over a 30 day shooting schedule and will be shot on location in Indiana (or a tax incentive state such as Michigan, Georgia, or Lousianna) utilizing naturalistic lighting to bring a particular authenticity and realism to the picture.
The setting of late 70’s Midwest in the wintertime not only serves the true story (we learned that more violent crimes occur in Feb. than any other month) but also helps visually reinforce the themes of isolation and desolation throughout the set up of the film.
HOLLANDSBURG is a “period piece” and therefore the production will utilize creative solutions in order to accurately and believably establish the 70’s era with a keen attention to detail and budget.
While on the run during the months of February, March, and April of 1977 Roger Drollinger and David Smith were the FBI’s MOST WANTED FUGITIVES therefore NO PLACE WAS SAFE and EVERYONE was a POSSIBLE VICTIM at ANY TIME. Therefore the horrifying real event, which Hollandsburg was based on not only, shocked the surrounding communities but it had an overwhelming affect on the entire nation. We believe that still resonates today and that it will have a truly emotionally cathartic effect on present day audiences.