Reeseville

Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Released: February 2005
Rated: R (USA), 15 (UK)
Director: Christian J. Otjen
Mark's Role: Zeek Oakman, town coroner
Also starring: Brad Hunt, Majandra Delfino, Missy Crider

Available Formats:
Region 1 DVD from welcometoreeseville.com
Region 2 DVD (English) from Amazon (UK, DE, FR)

Mark says...

"I liked that it wasn't formulaic. It was reminiscent of those old Warner Brothers crime melodramas where a violent crime is hushed up and covered up by a small town. It was just intriguing. I mean, usually, you can tell what's going to happen in the first 10 pages. Because I didn't and because they asked me, I was happy to go and be a part of it."
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Zeek Oakman

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Summary

In small Reeseville, people know each other and nothing much ever happens. But when John Myers is found dead in his house it looks like nothing is quite as it seems.

Sheriff Jason Buchanan is convinced that Myers took his own life, but town coroner Zeek Oakman is not at all sure. Many details don't add up. As Myers' son David returns after more than twenty years of absence and Zeek finds evidence that suggests murder, things begin to unravel.

Sheriff Buchanan is wary of David and suspects he has murdered his father. David doesn't help his first impression, displaying obvious dislike for Jason. He has bones to pick with the Buchanan family - he blames Jason's parents for the death of his mother.

Tension mounts and Jason Buchanan is ready to snap as David romances his younger sister Iris. She is responding in kind, fascinated by the mysterious stranger. She trusts him and lets him in on a dark family secret.

A second murder happens and all evidence points to David. When Iris finally realizes the truth, it is almost too late.

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Behind the Scenes

Reeseville was filmed in several towns in Wisconsin, USA. IMDb lists Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Lowell, Madison, Milwaukee, Reeseville, Waterloo, and Watertown.

The movie was shot in 2002 and premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival on March 7, 2003.

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The Critics

"Hamill, whose boyish and eager Luke-like qualities have been obscured by time, has aged into a distinctive character actor, and brings a world-weary dimension to the production."
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"He's extremely talented. I would give him any kind of role to do, and he could do it in a heartbeat. He was amazing at taking real subtle direction and then nailing it."
Christian Otjen, Director/Writer