Witness Infection starring Jim Belushi’s son, Robert Belushi, will make its California premiere at Shriekfest, now in its 21st year, in Los Angeles next month.
The story is about two rival mob families who end up in the same small California town after being placed in witness protection. Carlo (Belushi) has been left alone by his father to work in a pet grooming store, but he’s now being forced by his father into an arranged marriage with his brother Dominic’s girlfriend Patricia, since Dominic “shoots blanks.”
At a dinner that should be a celebration, Carlo announces that he’s not going to marry Patricia, causing Patricia to threaten murder once she goes back to her father. Now Carlo, with the help of his co-workers Gina and Vince, must drive to Patricia’s father’s house to face the consequences, but along the way, they begin to see strange behavior. On the streets, they see familiar faces, but they are now zombies with rotting flesh.
When they arrive at their destination, they see that many in the house have turned into zombies, and it seems to perhaps have something to do with the sausage sandwiches purchased at a beloved local food cart. Now, instead of finding a diplomatic way to get out of an arranged marriage without getting whacked, Carlo must work together with Gina and Vince as they stop the growing zombie hordes, and Carlo must return to his own home to see if he can rescue his own family before it’s too late. Watch the trailer below:
REELated: Shriekfest: Screenplay finalists revealed for 21st celebration
And there’s a poster:
In addition to 7 features, the festival will also screen more than 65 outstanding and diverse international short films, covering just about every aspect of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.
Shriekfest, now in its 21st year, was created in July 2001 by Denise Gossett and has grown into the longest-running and one of the largest horror and sci-fi film festivals in the country. Since its inception, Shriekfest has offered young and upcoming writers, actors, and producers a chance to have their work screened and rated by peers.
Starring Robert Belushi (Chicago P.D, How I Met Your Mother, Devil’s Due),
Jill-Michele Melean (Mad TV, Reno 911), Vince Donvito (C.S.I NY, V.I.P, Criminal Minds, Seinfeld), Erinn Hayes (Bill & Ted Face the Music, They Came Together, Parenthood, Grey’s Anatomy), Tara Strong (Batman:The Killing Joke, My Little Pony, The Fairly OddParents), Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911, Family Guy, SpongeBob SquarePants).
Directed by Andy Palmer (2018 Shriekfest Winner for Camp Cold Brook)
Written by Carlos Alazraqui, Jill-Michele Melean
Produced by Carlos Alazraqui, Jill-Michele Melean, Warner Davis p.g.a.
The Shriekfest Film Festival runs September 30-October 3, 2021. An opening night party will take place at Boardners/Bar Sinister in Hollywood; the rest of the festival will be at the iconic Raleigh Studios on Melrose Ave.
The annual Los Angeles competition will kick off with an opening night gala September 30.
