HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Ginny Weirick and Chris DiVecchio, actors, during the filming of a scene from "Dark Moon Rising," the love-horror story being filmed in and around Pahrump by Lightning Strikes Productions. HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Julie Snider-Mennie and her husband, Dana, take some time out from filming "Dark Moon Rising" here and discuss the film. Julie is the film's producer and Dana is the writer-director as well as co-producer. Advertisement

When Dana Mennie first wrote the script for "Dark Moon Rising," one of two feature movies being filmed here in Pahrump, he originally planned on filming it in Oregon.

But when his co-producer and wife Julie Snider-Mennie began to show him possible locations here, Dana immediately re-wrote the script to take place in Pahrump and incorporate existing locations right here in town.

Dana, who said he's "phobic" about overdone sets, couldn't be happier with the decision.

And, according to the writer-director-producer, neither could any of the actors and crew working with Lightning Strikes Productions who have flown in from all over the country to film the movie.

"They love it here, some of them have said they could move here," Dana said about the crew.

Not only are the desert vistas and various locations ideal for the "love story/horror story," as Dana describes it, but the cooperation the cast and crew has received were described to him as "major local support, right down to people letting us use their cars."

In addition, a large number of locals have been cast as extras for several scenes in the movie, including a notable cameo by Nye County Commissioner Gary Hollis.

"We're community members and we believe in involving the members and supporting the local economy," Dana said.

And support the economy the crew has, from cleaning out Wal-Mart to the Rent-A-Center in acquiring props and supplies.

The movie features notable actors such as Maria Conchita Alonso, whose long list of television and film credits include appearing on episodes of "Desperate Housewives" and "CSI: Miami," and Sid Haig of "The Devil's Rejects."

As for the movie's plot, it's a story as old as time -- or almost.

Small-town girl meets mysterious drifter boy, they fall in love. Only in this case, the boy brings with him a family curse and unimaginable horror that rains hell upon the small town.

Dan got the curse from his father, Darkman.

During the course of the film, some locals attempt to take matters into their own hands, including Crazy Louis, a farmer who forms a vigilante posse after his dog is killed.

Meanwhile, Thibodeaux, an ex-cop from another city who is already familiar with the hell Darkman can reap, works with the local sheriff (the Mennies were especially grateful for the Nye County Sheriff's Office for its cooperation) and Amy's father to prepare for an ultimate showdown with Darkman.

"Julie has been indispensible," Dana said of his wife. "She developed some of the characters and helped me to pick the actors."

The film also features a soundtrack of 14 original songs by Geoff Gibbons.

The first two weeks of the six-week filming schedule will take care of all the day shots, and then it's on to the night shots.

The post-production work will be completed in Los Angeles, Calif., and the film is being shot for theatrical release, although an exact date had not been determined as of this writing.