If you’re scrolling through Netflix and stumble across a gritty horror movie called “Rites of Spring,” don’t skip it just yet — especially if you’re from Mississippi. Behind the eerie farmhouse, creepy kidnap plot, and the tagline “Fear Has a Season,” is a film with deep Magnolia State roots.
That’s right — “Rites of Spring” was filmed entirely in the Jackson metro area back in 2010. You’ll catch glimpses of Canton and Jackson locations (some hauntingly beautiful Mississippi farmland), and even a few familiar names if you stick around for the credits.
The plot? A group of kidnappers snatch a girl and plan a ransom, but their scheme goes sideways when they hole up in an abandoned school and awaken something… older, darker, and much scarier than themselves. The result is a bloody mashup of crime thriller and supernatural horror.
The film was directed by Padraig Reynolds, who moved from Missouri to Los Angeles to chase his filmmaking dreams. Though he didn’t attend film school, Reynolds said he’s been obsessed with film since childhood. He tailored “Rites of Spring” to the Mississippi setting after visiting and falling in love with the landscape — calling it “a writer’s dream.”
Mississippi-based production company Red Planet Entertainment, run by brothers Wes and Bobby Benton, produced the film. They’ve been working in the industry since the ‘80s and are committed to growing the state’s film scene. In fact, “Rites of Spring” was just the beginning — they announced plans for three more films to be shot on the Mississippi Gulf Coast shortly after its release.
The film’s local crew is part of what makes it special. Mississippi hairstylist Amanda Bowman, who worked on the set, said she never expected to work in the film industry, but once the opportunity found her, she was hooked. She even learned the importance of “continuity” — snapping hair and makeup pics to match scenes shot days or weeks apart. Now, she’s paying it forward by helping teach film industry classes at Hinds Community College.
So the next time you’re in the mood for a spooky flick with Southern flair, queue up “Rites of Spring” — and keep your eyes peeled for those familiar Mississippi backdrops. After all, horror feels a little closer to home when it is home.
