Acclaimed FX artist Tom Devlin has finished production on his feature directorial debut “Teddy Told Me To”, which is currently in post-production.
The horror-comedy – which was directed by Devlin from a screenplay by Vincent Cusimano and Lola Devlin, was filmed on location at his celebrated Boulder City, Nevada roadside attraction Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum. Tom Devlin and Kayla Bushell produced, with special makeup effects by Devlin and Walid Atshe.
Revolving around the plight of a pair of haunters who set out to resurrect a shuttered Halloween haunt with a bloody past, “Teddy Told Me To” brings to the screen one of Devlin’s fan-favorite character makeup creations: the titular slasher “Teddy” (which he originated in 2011 in SyFy’s popular special effects makeup reality series “Face Off”.) Topher Hansson and Kamarra Cole star as the beleaguered haunter duo, along with genre notables Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Trent Hagga (68 Kill), Warrington Gillette (Friday the 13th Part 2), CJ Graham (Friday the 13th Part VI) and Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master). Michael Shields portrays Teddy.
Additional cast includes “Teddy Told Me To” co-writer Cusimano, Lily Devlin, Matt Osborn and Peter Stickles, professional wrestlers Papa Shango, Sinn Bodhi and Beast the Butcher, adult film actors Kiki Daire, Daisy Ducati, and Tabitha Stevens, and YouTube personalities JustinScarred, Jacob the Carpetbagger and The Grim Life Collective. John Massari (Killer Klowns from Outer Space) provides the film’s score.
“As a lifelong fan of horror films – slasher flicks, in particular – I felt it was time to tell my own story that’s a throwback to the fun slasher flicks of my youth,” says Devlin of “Teddy Told Me To”, the first film of an intended trilogy centering around his murderous take on the teddy bear. “I wanted to make a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously but plays well on a spooky October night or a fun summer sleepover. We filled it with gory effects, colorful characters, and the mandatory 3 B’s. It’s a love letter to not only the films that have inspired me – and their punk rock ethos, but also to the haunters of the world, and we hope it’s a hell of a good time!”
For exciting updates and exclusive “Teddy Told Me To” content, visit Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum, like Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum on Facebook, and follow @TomDevlinsMonsterMuseum on Instagram.
About Tom Devlin
Tom Devlin has been working professionally as a special makeup effects artist since 2001. If you’ve ever met Tom, it is clear that monsters, horror movies and Halloween are not just a job for him, but a passion. Through his company 1313FX, Tom has provided creatures and special effects makeup on over 100 feature films, working with many of the actors and directors that have inspired his path.
About Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum
Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum (voted the ‘One of the Best Museums in Las Vegas’ by Vegas Lens) is located in historic Boulder City, Nevada, between Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. Opened in 2017, the museum’s mission is to preserve the art and history of special makeup effects and contains within an extensive gallery of Tom’s own art – from screen-used props and creature suits to custom pieces representing movie monsters throughout the history of horror cinema.