Lou Ferrigno’s Chilling New Horror Movie: Will You Survive ‘The Hermit’ Premiere? Find Out Now!

A new horror movie, “The Hermit,” is set to make waves in the film industry with its trailer release and a scheduled digital launch on March 3, 2023. This film, shot in Central New York, marks a significant return for former bodybuilder and actor Lou Ferrigno, who takes on a creature role for the first time since his iconic portrayal of the Hulk in the television series “The Incredible Hulk.” The film will premiere in Los Angeles on March 2, according to reports from Bloody Disgusting.

In “The Hermit,” Ferrigno stars as a murderous, cannibalistic pig farmer who takes a chilling turn by cooking people and turning them into jerky. This dark yet quirky horror tale features teenagers Malina Weissman, known for her role as Violet Baudelaire in “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” and Anthony Turpel from “That ‘90s Show.” The plot unfolds as the teens embark on a vacation to the woods, only to find themselves in a fight for survival against Ferrigno’s terrifying character.

“I’ve always been a big fan of scary movies and I hope this one will be on everyone’s list to watch!”

— Lou Ferrigno

The film's production faced multiple challenges, particularly during its time in Syracuse. Filming began but was interrupted in August 2022 due to an actor’s injury and a dispute over pay that caused some crew members to walk off set. Compounding these issues, $24,000 worth of grip and electrical equipment was stolen from the production site, according to a Syracuse police report filed in November 2022.

Ferrigno, who has appeared in over 75 movies and TV shows, was named an honorary Syracuse police officer during his time in town. Scenes featuring his character’s home were filmed at a farm in South Onondaga. The production encountered additional delays when Weissman suffered an injury on set, specifically glue in her eye, which required a microscopic knife for treatment and caused her to miss filming for five days.

Heavy rains also contributed to the film's setbacks, along with the unexpected hospitalization of David Wolfgang, the director of photography, for gallbladder surgery. However, the most significant hurdle was financial. During the third week of production, the film crew went on strike when payments from investors fell behind, affecting labor, equipment, and construction costs.

Producer Gerry Pass mentioned that they plan to complete filming in California after securing new funding. According to IMDb, additional scenes were filmed in Thousand Oaks, near Los Angeles, though specific dates for this part of the production remain unclear.

Pass has a history in the film industry, having previously worked as an executive producer on “Manodrome,” which was shot in Syracuse between November 2021 and January 2022 and currently streams on Netflix.

As the countdown to the release of “The Hermit” begins, anticipation grows amongst horror fans eager to see how this film will shape the genre. While a list of digital platforms for renting and purchasing the movie has yet to be announced, it stands poised to attract attention not only for its gripping storyline but also for its troubled production history that has added an extra layer of intrigue.