New Suspense Thriller Featuring Middlebury Faculty Member Headed to Lincoln Center After Montreal Premiere

Alex Draper, associate professor of theatre, with co-star Charlie Tacker in a scene from “The Witch in the Window.”

Costume designer Angela Lavalla, left, with theatre student Katie Weatherseed ’16, and film student Yuki Hu ’18 on the set of “The Witch in the Window.” Photo: Lorenzo Gori-Montanelli

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The new horror film The Witch in the Window, which was shot in Middlebury and features theatre professor Alex Draper ’88, enjoyed a sold-out world premiere in Montreal last month as an official selection of the Fantasia International Film Festival. Alumnus Andy Mitton ’01 wrote, directed, edited, composed music, and produced the film. Several current Middlebury students and alumni also worked on the crew.

“When we started submitting the film to festivals, the response was very positive,” said Draper, who plays the character Simon. “Fantasia in Montreal was the perfect festival at which to have the world premiere because of its size, reputation, and global profile.”

The Witch in the Window tells the story of a divorced father, who takes his 12-year-old son to “middle-of-nowhere Vermont” to renovate a farmhouse he’s purchased. The house, it turns out, is haunted by a former occupant who died alone in the house and whose wrath escalates with each home improvement Simon makes. Mitton’s past credits include codirecting suspense thrillers YellowBrickRoad and We Go On with fellow alumnus Jesse Holland ’02.

is one of 13 films selected for the Lincoln Center event, which is billed as “New York’s top horror festival.” Later this fall, the film will continue its tour at festivals in Telluride, Philadelphia, London, and Sitges, and will eventually be released by Shudder, a video-on-demand service for thrillers, suspense, and horror.