The Melonheads (film)
| the Melonheads | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Dake Lisak |
| Produced by | Dake Lisak and Lyle Dunn |
| Screenplay by | Dake Lisak |
| Starring | Lyle Dunn Steven Yanko Daniel Davis Ben James Ryan Hishell |
| Music by | Ryan Hishell |
| Cinematography | Ryan Hishell Steven Yanko |
| Edited by | Dake Lisak Lyle Dunn |
Production company | Dunn-Lisak Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 55 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,000.00 [1] |
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The Melonheads (a.k.a. The Melon Heads, is a 2011 independently made American black-and-white science fiction film released by Dunn-Lisak Productions. The film was produced, written, and directed by Dake Lisak and stars Lyle Dunn, Daniel Davis, Ryan Hishell, Steven Yanko, and Ben James. The Melonheads was distributed theatrically by The Dunn Lisak Production team. It was released originally on youtube and was screened at small venues throughout West Michigan, the area of the film's release. The film was featured in the article, "Five Monster Movie Ideas Hollywood Should be Making Next," on cracked.com which gained the film notariety during a time that independent film making was at its infancy online. The film centers around the urban legend of the Melon Heads that live in the Allegan State Game Area in Western Michigan.[2]
In the film a young college student named Bryan Clark decides to go after the illusive monster upon learning his girlfriend encountered some when she was young. He pairs up with a local named Joe Dobbs whom allegedly had his daughter murdered by the Melon heads.
The film is noted for its technical imperfections, and being one of the only films about the urban legend has gained a modest cult following.
Plot[edit]
A young college researcher named Bryan Clark (Lyle Dunn) is studying biology at Western Michigan University he is highly skeptical about the field of cryptozoology. He has conversation with his girlfriend Stacy (Jacobs) wherein she reveals that she had an encounter with the Melon Heads when she was a young girl. She reveals that this is what caused her father to die. Trusting his girlfriend's story he decides to hunt for the monsters in an attempt to prove their existence. He drives to Allegan, Michigan to see if he can find anyone who might be of help, and guide him on the hunt. He goes to a bar where he meets two locals, a bar tender (Steven Yanko) and a drunk named Alan (Ryan Hishell). The drunk gives Bryan a difficult time, however, the bar tender, who believes the stories to be true tells him of a man named Joe Dobbs (Daniel Davis) who believes that his daughter as killed by the Melon heads.
Bryan goes off to find Joe Dobbs who is initially reluctant to help. However, his wife later encourages him to go after them to avenge the death of their daughter. Bryan and Joe go off looking for the monster, and quickly have a sighting. However, realizing they are overpowered they retreat in order to get more weaponry. Joe Dobbs sheads some light on the background of the monsters, explaining that they were people who had their DNA altered via radiation by a mad scientist near the Dorr E. Felt Mansion in the Allegan State game area. The two gather up weapons and go to a local farmer who agrees to let them hunt for the creatures on his property. The two eventually find a Melon Head. Joe is quickly subdued and is killed, however, Bryan kills the Melon Head with a pistol and contacts emergency services for Joe, and presumably staking claim on his find. Bryan informs Joe's wife that he died, and she is devastated.
Time passes by, and he completes his report detailing his findings of the Melon Heads. Bryan is upset at the loss of Joe as they had become close friends. He goes to visit his grave site with his girl friend. On the drive back he contemplates if there are more Melon Heads out there, and as he drives he sees one come out of the woods.[3] [4]
Cast[edit]
- Lyle Dunn as Bryan Clark
- Daniel Davis as Joe Dobbs
- Angela Jacobs as Stacy
- Steven Yanko as Bartender
- Ryan Hishell as Alan
- Ben James as Wayne Forsythe
- Hannah Perks as Joe's Wife
Production[edit]
The Melonheads was filmed on location in and around Allegan, Michigan and Otsego, Michigan, with a number of tell-tale landmarks like the Otsego Paper mills, the Allegan Sunset Motel and the Allegan Bridge. The film was shot on a minimalist budget of roughly $1,000.00 dollars. The bulk of the budget going towards film equipment and computers for editing. The majority of the cast was reunited for a follow up project called, In the Mind of the Damned which was released several years later.[5]
Release and aftermath[edit]
The film was filmed over the summer of 2011 and was released that fall on youtube's film platform, shortly after the website allowed for videos longer than ten minutes to be on the platform. The film's views were initially minimal until cracked.com released an article referencing the film, gently bashing it for its technical short falls. The film remains one of very few about the Melon Head legend, and the only one about the legend in West Michigan.[6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2648138/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2648138/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2648138/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
- ↑ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_melonheads
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2648138/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
- ↑ https://www.cracked.com/blog/5-monster-movie-ideas-hollywood-should-be-making-next/
External links[edit]
- The Melonheads on IMDb Search this movie on
- Template:Rotten-Tomatoes
- Cracked.com. "[https://www.cracked.com/blog/5-monster-movie-ideas-hollywood-should-be-making-next/}". May 8, 2013.
- The Melonheads on YouTube film
References[edit]
The Melonheads[edit]
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