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October 18, 2018

A film crew from the US is using a Petrolia landmark for a highly-anticipated film.

CBS Studio’s and Entertainment One are financing Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.   Guillermo del Toro of the Oscar winning The Shape of Water is producing and co-writer, and André Øvredal of Hellboy fame is directing it.  In September, crews were in St. Thomas shooting at the former psychiatric hospital. They’ll be in Petrolia for the next few days preparing Sunnyside Mansion on Petrolia Line for its time in the spotlight.

About a month ago, the Town of Petrolia gave permission to the owner, David Burnie, to let the grass around the historic home grow. It was in preparation for the film, which according to news releases from the company “follows a group of teens who must solve the mystery surrounding a wave of spectacularly horrific deaths in their small town.” It’s based on the novels of Alvin Schwartz.

Work crews moved onto the property Wednesday, using large rental trucks to bring in equipment. People could be seen working on the front porch and around the building this morning.

Allison Barber is the publicist for the movie. She’s keeping tight lipped about what is going on saying only the filming will be sometime next week.

The film doesn’t have a release date yet.

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