Bridgewater-Raritan Grad, Filmmaker Returns Home To Screen Horror Film At Reading Cinemas

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater-Raritan High School graduate Robbie Banfitch has come "full circle" in his filmmaking career as he is returning to the very theater that inspired his movie-making passion.

Banfitch is hosting an advanced screening open to the public for his found footage horror film "The Outwaters" on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Reading Cinemas Manville.

The event kicks off at 7 p.m. with an introduction by Banfitch. After the screening, Banfitch will be joined by cast members his mom Leslie Ann Banfitch, and Nancy Bujnowski (who has been in all of the films he has made since childhood) for a Q&A.

Growing up, Banfitch's father lived in Manville just around the corner from the theater.

"I saw most movies growing up at that theater. I could walk to the theater and would go anytime I was bored or cutting school," Banfitch told Patch. "From an early age, I loved being scared."

In high school, he would make films and also worked at Marquee Video in Martinsville.

Banfitch then saw "The Blair Witch Project" when it was released in 1999 at that very theater. "The Blair Witch Project" inspired his current film "The Outwaters."

"I had no money and I always wanted to make a found footage film and make something on my own," said Banfitch. His film only cost $15,000 to produce.

"The Outwaters" follows footage captured from memory cards unearthed in a remote stretch of the Mojave Desert showing the story of four travelers who vanished during a sun-drenched camping trip.

"One night, ominous things begin to happen and an unexplainable horror descends upon them," said Banfitch of the film's story.

The indie horror film, which Banfitch describes as a mix of the "Blair Witch Project" and the 2011 coming-of-age drama film "Tree of Life," made some buzz at film festivals leading to his homecoming this week.

"The film being released is 100 percent my vision. I was not asked to change anything. I 100 percent stand behind it," said Banfitch.

The Outwaters opens in select theaters beginning Feb. 9 from Cinedigm. Following its theatrical run, it will stream exclusively on Screambox.

"It's very full circle," said Banfitch of his film coming home to the very theater that inspired his career.

"The Outwaters" stars Banfitch, Angela Basolis, Michelle May, Scott Schamell, and Leslie Ann Banfitch. It's produced by Beau J. Genot and Banfitch with Robert Abramoff serving as executive producer.

He also incorporated his longtime friend and fellow Bridgeweater-Raritan graduate Lauren Jacquish's song "Red Hands," which plays over the ending credits.

While Banfitch did act in his film, his aspirations are behind the camera.

"I want to make all kinds of movies - love, drama, and horror," said Banfitch.

To learn more about The Outwaters and Banfitch's film career follow twitter.com/TheOutwaters.

Warning: Graphic imagery:

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