If you’ve ever had a hard time getting over an ex or a lost pet, take comfort in the fact that your coping mechanisms are probably healthier than what’s coming to the big screen. Cameras are officially set to roll this month in Massachusetts on The Hours That Keep Us. It’s a deeply unsettling psychological horror anthology. It digs into the terrifying, desperate, and downright deranged things human beings do when they refuse to let someone go.
In three interconnected vignettes, writer-director Tommy Jay Dwyer explores what happens when the phrase “moving on” is entirely erased from the vocabulary.
A Cast That Can Literally Kill You
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the project is its wildly eclectic ensemble. The production has assembled a lineup of heavy-hitters from the worlds of combat sports, gaming, and cult cinema.
Leading the charge are mixed martial arts standouts Paige VanZant and Mickey Gall, alongside professional wrestler Vinny Pacifico. Seeing athletes who treat physical trauma as a Tuesday afternoon transition into the world of existential dread promises to give the film a uniquely visceral energy.
Joining the fray is genre favorite Zack Ward. He’s a man who famously terrorized a neighborhood as the bully Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story before graduating to the slasher big leagues in Freddy vs. Jason.
Rounding out the cast are popular video game streamer Avori Strib, alongside Chelsea Brea, Devin Petry, and director Tommy Jay Dwyer himself.
Why Horror and Comedy Share the Same DNA
For director Tommy Jay Dwyer, the leap from making people laugh to making them lock their front doors isn’t as wide as you’d think.
“I came from the world of comedy, and to me, horror and comedy work exactly the same way,” Dwyer noted. “They both force us to look at the things we are otherwise too afraid to talk about in polite conversation. Honesty is inherently scary, especially when we bring to light the bizarre, desperate things we do when we think we are completely alone.”
It’s an apt comparison—both genres rely entirely on tension, timing, and a sharp release. Only this time, the punchline is going to involve a lot more fake blood.
Pro wrestler Vinny Pacifico is equally hyped about the film’s cross-genre appeal, adding:
“Being cast in The Hours That Keep Us means a lot to me. This film is going to be incredibly unique because of the massive, wide-ranging variety of talent involved. Whether your specific fandom is horror cinema, combat sports, or streaming and gaming, there is a hook in this script for everyone.”
Behind the Scenes of the Nightmare
The anthology is being brought to life by the joint forces of Greatest Gram Productions and HollyWoot Film Group. By utilizing the naturally eerie, atmospheric backdrops of rural Massachusetts, the production is setting itself up for plenty of authentic, chilly New England dread.
Keep your eyes peeled for updates. Cameras start spinning on The Hours That Keep Us this month.
