Local film shot in Northwest Georgia and Signal Mountain

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WDEF) – There’s a new movie in town—and this one’s homegrown.

Sanctus House, a suspenseful, faith-infused horror film starring 21 Jump Street actor Richard Grieco, has just wrapped production after filming across Northwest Georgia and on scenic Signal Mountain.

The story, based on a book by local author Kenyon Henry, brings chilling fiction to life while showcasing regional talent.

Henry, who also wrote the screenplay, said the idea for the film came from a short story he had previously published.

“I was writing a script that was going in a completely different direction,” he explained. “At the same time, I had a short story I’d published through a publisher—and when I got the rights back, I decided to turn it into a book. As I was putting it into a book, I realized: this is it. This is the story I need to tell on film next.”

Henry said Sanctus House stands apart from his previous work, particularly his earlier film, Country Rain.

“It’s so different from our first film,” he elaborated. “I didn’t want to get stuck in a rut of doing the same thing over and over. I wanted to do something that could reach a completely different audience.”

The plot centers on four college students assigned a research paper about urban legends.

To complete their project, they visit a reportedly haunted house—only to find that it’s not as abandoned as they thought.

“There’s actually a caretaker who invites them in and offers to share the home’s tragic story,” Henry said. “But once they’re inside, bad things start happening. Some of the group starts turning on each other. The only thing they can agree on is—they never should have come to Sanctus House.”

The film builds suspense by combining visual tension with psychological fear.

“We start off with a punch,” Henry said. “There’s a chase scene in the woods and later, a heated argument on a rooftop.”

But not everything is shown.

“One of the things I’ve learned in film is that what people imagine can be far worse than what you could ever show them,” he explained. “We take the viewer right up to the edge of something happening, then we cut away—and let their imagination fill in the blanks. Later, we circle back and reveal what actually happened.”

Though the film explores dark themes, it weaves in deeper meaning.

Henry confirmed the film carries allegorical elements rooted in faith, even though it’s not explicitly labeled as “faith-based.”

“There are a lot of different ways to tell faith-based stories,” he said. “For this one, there’s a lot of allegory built into it. In fact, the first thing you’ll probably see in the movie is a passage—the Parable of the Sower.”

He continued:

“That part wasn’t even intentional at first. But when I went back and reread it, I realized this story actually mirrors that parable in a pretty powerful way.”

The production involved numerous local cast and crew members, including students from Dalton State College.

Henry praised the talent that emerged during filming.

“I’ve been surprised—on both this film and Country Rain—by just how much talent there is here locally,” he said. “Most of the people involved are volunteers. They just want to exercise that creative side.”

Some of those involved in Country Rain, he added, have even launched careers from the experience.

“It’s really special,” he said. “So now you just sit back, get ready to be a little scared—and enjoy the movie.”

As for the premiere, News 12 is hoping to attend the official debut.

Henry said plans are already in motion for a screening.

“We’ll do a premiere somewhere in the Chattanooga area,” he said. “We haven’t figured out exactly where yet, but it will be open to the public.”

Distribution will follow a similar path to his previous film.

“JC Films has partnered with us on this,” Henry explained. “They usually release content on JC Plus first as a thank-you to their supporters. After that, I imagine it’ll follow in Country Rain’s footsteps—available on YouTube, Roku, and other platforms.”

With a local setting, local talent, and a suspenseful message built to entertain and provoke thought, Sanctus House is shaping up to be a Southern-made thriller worth watching.