Zombies Come To Mystic

A banquet room in the in Mystic has been transformed into a casino floor in Reno, Nevada. Filming began last week on the NBCUniversal owned Chiller Network movie and the production of Steve Niles’ Remains is quickly becoming a local affair.

Stonington’s First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr., and Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom were on set Sunday, June 5, playing small roles in the casino section of the movie that their town and city is hosting production.

“They [producers] thought it would be cool,” Haberek said of being asked to play a role in the movie. “It was neat.”

According to Haberek he was asked to not wear any black and white to the filming.

The Chiller movie is based on the graphic novel 30 Days of Night written by Steve Niles. Remains according to an NBCUniversal press release, “is set in a chilling post-apocalyptic Reno, Nevada, and follows the survivors of a bizarre accident that reduced most of the world’s population to zombies. The group takes refuge in a vacant casino and fights a losing battle against the undead, who grow steadily stronger, smarter and more aggressive by the minute.” Grant Bowler of True Blood and Ugly Betty, Lance Reddick of Fringe, Lost and The Wire, Miko Hughes of Pet Sematary and Twany Cypress of Rescue Me and Heroes star in the zombie movie.

The Ramada Hotel is serving as the role of casino while many of the outdoor scenes will be shot in Norwich.

“It’s been very busy, lots of energy,” said Ramada Manager Zulfi Jafri. 

But it’s not just Norwich and Stonington that make this a local film. Synthetic Cinema International, based in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, is producing the movie, and Side Effects Studio in Westerly is responsible for the special effects and costumes.

And this may just be first of many films from NBCUniversal to come to the Mystic area.

“The executives were very impressed with the area, they just wanted to take it all in,” Haberek said.