Conroe Courier October 16, 2023

Just in time for Halloween, Magnolia filmmaker Dustin Tamplen has debuted his second horror feature about a strange phenomenon in Montgomery County that involves extraterrestrials.

“Lights Over Montgomery County,” is a found-footage horror film, inspired by the Marfa Lights in West Texas, Tamplen said.

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Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, a public access station airs a special about a light phenomenon that brings tourists to Montgomery County as well as alien abductions. 

“I knew from the beginning I wanted to do a faux-documentary style (movie) because I grew up as a fan of unsolved mysteries and public access special broadcasts, where they would show you something under the premise that it was real,” Tamplen said, noting that the 1998 film “Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County” heavily inspired his film. “I knew right from the beginning, that was the vibe I wanted to try and hit.”

The feature was made for less than $500 and starred three of Tamplen’s children as well as other filmmakers across the country, he said. It is currently being streamed on Scareplex, a streaming platform for horror, SciFi, true crime, and paranormal genres. 

Turning love of movies into filmmaking

Tamplen, 42, had been a fan of film at a young age, believing that acting could be fun, he said. As time went on, he said he enjoyed watching movies rather than creating or being in one.

Last year, he decided to join some Facebook groups and met a lot of filmmakers, who told him “what’s holding you back, why not now?” 

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“I thought, ‘let’s give this a shot,'” he said. 

By the end of 2022, Tamplen picked up a camera, bought some editing software, turned his closet into an editing room and took the advice from other filmmakers on how to make a film. 

“I just decided to try my hand at making a found-footage horror movie, because that’s my favorite genre of horror,” Tamplen said. “The first (film) was…not great, but it’s a film that I made and I’m proud of it.” 

During the week, Tamplen works for Magnolia ISD in the transportation department, working roughly 60 hours a week — leaving only the weekend to work on his passion projects. He’s not alone, as he receives support from his wife, his children, and filmmakers he’s befriended a long the way, he said. 

“My support system is phenomenal,” he said. 

Relying on support from filmmakers

Dillon Brown, cofounder of Horror Dadz Productions, said he had made several movies when he joined a found-footage horror Facebook group of 50,000 members. He remembers receiving several messages from Tamplen, who would constantly ask Brown questions about filmmaking. After a while, he decided he would speak with him. 

The conversation ended up creating a friendship, Brown said, a Nevada resident. 

“I started realizing that he was basically embarking the same way that myself and some of my partners in my film company had started,” he said. “He was a dad, really doing everything he could as a weekend warrior. And I think it just tugged at my heartstrings a little bit. He was in an area that didn’t necessarily have a ton of opportunities, I think, for actors and filmmakers. And I sort of had the same thing growing up in a really small town.”

Brown started making horror films in 2020, he said. After the release of his film “Tahoe Joe,” he said he started to receive a lot more opportunities.

“It just led to me being in a position, where I can mentor others,” Brown said. “Same way as Dustin, I am just a dad. I make (films) on the side. And I’m very blessed to have a cult following.” 

Brown stars in “Lights Over Montgomery County” as well as helped create the cover art for the film. His production company also sponsored the film. 

“We wanted to throw our name on to it to help (Tamplen) get that signal boost, because we already had a big following,” he said. 

Unlike other productions, which have $100,000 budgeted films, filmmakers such as Brown and Tamplen have to rely on one another if they want to stay active, Brown said. 

Making ‘Lights Over Montgomery County’

“Lights Over Montgomery County” also stars Michael Rock and Hunter Nino, the other cofounders of Horror Dadz Productions, as well as Canadian filmmaker Ron Chevarie. 

The filming of the feature took roughly two months, Tamplen said. It consisted of virtual shots due to some actors living in different states and countries. All of the filming done in Texas were done around Tamplen’s Magnolia home as well as in Washington state, where his eldest son lives. Three of Tamplen’s five children starred in the film as well. 

Upon walking into Tamplen’s garage, a skeleton prop, covered in fake blood, can be seen at the corner. Nearby, a container sits, which carries alien masks, fake dismembered hands and feet and other props used during the filming. 

His passion for the horror genre is evident.

Tamplen also hosts a podcast called “Hot Death Horror,” where he interviews other filmmakers in the industry. 

“I have a lot of things getting started,” Tamplen said.Â