Closed for the Season (film)
Encyclopedia
Closed for the Season is a 2010 supernatural thriller film written and directed by Jay Woelfel
, starring Aimee Brooks
, Damian Maffei
, and Joe Unger
.
. She quickly finds herself being terrorized by all the myths and urban legends that have become part of Chippewa Lake’s 130-year history. While attempting to escape the sights and sounds she is witnessing, Kristy runs into James, whose parents are the caretakers of the park.
James listens to Kristy’s plight and journeys with her to investigate these ghosts that have come alive to threaten her. He quickly determines that her frightening accounts are amazingly accurate. However, James discovers that he, too, is now trapped, along with Kristy, inside the park with these demons from the past. Searching futilely for an exit, the pair finds that various attractions—long discarded and fallen into ruin—suddenly come to life, tormenting them at every turn.
As Kristy and James make their way through the remains of the park, they encounter a mysterious carny
in clown makeup, who once was responsible for operating the amusement park’s roller coaster
but who died many years previously. He advises the couple that their only escape to freedom is to relive and survive all the life-threatening tales from the park’s past and to ride the now-operational rides in the park one final time.
The couple has no choice but to heed the baffling advice of their inexplicable guide, as he leads them through the park from one horror to another, so they might win their freedom. The looming question remains: will Kristy and James survive the deadly, mythical and mystical apparitions of this desolate and ruinous amusement park or simply become just one more urban legend
of the infamous park?
, and produced by ShadowCast Pictures; Jay Ellison and Jon Wagner worked as executive producers. It was shot in Chippewa Lake, Ohio
and Los Angeles, California
. The film is based upon folklore surrounding an amusement park
in Chippewa Lake, Ohio
. Many of the film's scenes were shot on the site of the long-closed amusement park, using some of the derelict attractions as backgrounds.
Jay Woelfel
Jay Woelfel is a writer/director of independent films, and with producer Johnnie J. Young, a partner in Young Wolf Productions.-Credits:* Closed for the Season...
, starring Aimee Brooks
Aimee Brooks
Aimee Brooks is an American actress born on 19 November 1974 in California. She is known for her starring roles in horror movies. She had acted in Critters 3 with Leonardo DiCaprio...
, Damian Maffei
Damian Maffei
Damian Paul Maffei is an American actor known for his work on stage and in independent movies. Maffei is especially heralded for his work in horror films, including the highly-touted Closed for the Season.-Early Life:...
, and Joe Unger
Joe Unger
Joseph 'Joe' Unger is an American actor who has starred in many films and on television. He is best known for his role in the 1984 horror hit film A Nightmare on Elm Street as Sgt...
.
Plot
The film tells the story of Kristy who, one ill-fated night, wakes up to find herself trapped beneath the ruins of a dilapidated wooden roller coaster inside the decaying vestiges of an abandoned amusement parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
. She quickly finds herself being terrorized by all the myths and urban legends that have become part of Chippewa Lake’s 130-year history. While attempting to escape the sights and sounds she is witnessing, Kristy runs into James, whose parents are the caretakers of the park.
James listens to Kristy’s plight and journeys with her to investigate these ghosts that have come alive to threaten her. He quickly determines that her frightening accounts are amazingly accurate. However, James discovers that he, too, is now trapped, along with Kristy, inside the park with these demons from the past. Searching futilely for an exit, the pair finds that various attractions—long discarded and fallen into ruin—suddenly come to life, tormenting them at every turn.
As Kristy and James make their way through the remains of the park, they encounter a mysterious carny
Carny
Carny or carnie is a slang term used in North America and, along with showie, in Australia for a carnival employee, as well as the language they employ...
in clown makeup, who once was responsible for operating the amusement park’s roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
but who died many years previously. He advises the couple that their only escape to freedom is to relive and survive all the life-threatening tales from the park’s past and to ride the now-operational rides in the park one final time.
The couple has no choice but to heed the baffling advice of their inexplicable guide, as he leads them through the park from one horror to another, so they might win their freedom. The looming question remains: will Kristy and James survive the deadly, mythical and mystical apparitions of this desolate and ruinous amusement park or simply become just one more urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
of the infamous park?
Production
The film was written and directed by Jay WoelfelJay Woelfel
Jay Woelfel is a writer/director of independent films, and with producer Johnnie J. Young, a partner in Young Wolf Productions.-Credits:* Closed for the Season...
, and produced by ShadowCast Pictures; Jay Ellison and Jon Wagner worked as executive producers. It was shot in Chippewa Lake, Ohio
Chippewa Lake, Ohio
Chippewa Lake is a village in Medina County, Ohio, United States. It is located on Chippewa Lake, Ohio's largest natural inland lake...
and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The film is based upon folklore surrounding an amusement park
Chippewa Lake Park
Chippewa Lake Park is a defunct amusement park once located in Chippewa Lake, Ohio, Medina County. It operated from 1878 through 1978, after the final owner, Continental Business Enterprises closed it due to lack of attendance...
in Chippewa Lake, Ohio
Chippewa Lake, Ohio
Chippewa Lake is a village in Medina County, Ohio, United States. It is located on Chippewa Lake, Ohio's largest natural inland lake...
. Many of the film's scenes were shot on the site of the long-closed amusement park, using some of the derelict attractions as backgrounds.