Los Angeles, CA. (2003) -- There is a place where fact and fiction come together to form a reality all their own, where truth becomes subjective, where legends are born. Lurking foremost in this dark netherworld of superstition and otherworldly faith is America's first supernatural mystery, The 13th Child: The Legend Of The Jersey Devil. Now an all-star cast, including Academy Award Winner Cliff Robertson, Emmy Award winner Robert Guillaume and Golden Globe nominee Lesley-Anne Down bring the first chapter of this unforgettable entry to the reality-based fright genre to life, in a Painted Zebra Production that has been leaving audiences questioning all that they believe.
Ever since the 16th Century, residents of the Pine Barrens, the vast forests of southern New Jersey, have reported savage, unsolved murders and unexplained sightings of a terrifying creature known as The Jersey Devil. Prompted by these intriguing reports, which continue to this day, and inspired by the book, The Jersey Devil, written by James F. McCloy and Ray Miller, Jr., the screenplay was brought to life by co-writers Michael Maryk and Cliff Robertson and directed by Stephen Stockage.
The legend of the Jersey Devil is prime material according to screenwriter Maryk. "It's existence goes back further than 300 years in the region and traces back to the Lenni-Lenape Indians, who thought of the Pinelands as taboo," he says. "For those who saw the Blair Witch Project and the Mothman Prophecies and waited to see a truly evil character, this is one film that won't disappoint."
The plot of The 13th Child: The Legend Of The Jersey Devil revolves around the mysterious murder of several victims in the Pine Barrens and a clever investigator (Michelle Maryk) who is sent to investigate by her boss (Down). Once on the scene, she encounters a mysterious recluse named Shroud (Robertson) and an off-beat series of would-be witnesses, including an unhinged former cop (Guillaume) and the park ranger who discovered the grisly bodies (Christopher Atkins).
Shot in 50 days in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey and in nearby Philadelphia, The 13th Child: The Legend Of The Jersey Devil made use of local crews and a huge dose of independent spirit to bring the vision to life. So taken were locals by the gesture, that a group of state legislators sponsored a ceremonial resolution thanking the producers for making the first major motion picture featuring their homegrown bogeyman.
To further pump up interest in this folkloric shocker, the DVD includes a documentary of real eyewitness accounts of the Jersey Devil and a Behind The Scenes featurette.
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