Private Project

I Dream of a Psychopomp

A grieving widower haunted the distressed ghost of his wife is visited in his dreams by a psychopomp who teaches him about the spirit world and soul guiding through stories of death and the supernatural.

  • Danny Villanueva Jr.
    Director
    Don't Cry, Papa
  • Danny Villanueva Jr.
    Writer
    Don't Cry, Papa
  • J. Anthony Ramos
    Writer
  • Danny Villanueva Jr.
    Producer
  • J. Anthony Ramos
    Producer
  • Elohim Pena
    Key Cast
    "Kerry"
  • Jillian Lebling
    Key Cast
    "Elayna"
    Bridge of Spies, The Blacklist
  • Ben Shaul
    Key Cast
    "Adriano"
  • Peter Knox
    Key Cast
    "Carl Crimwood"
  • Steven Alonte
    Key Cast
    "Charles Valentine/The Psychopomp"
  • Fiona Rose
    Key Cast
    "Caroline"
  • Nakada Wilson
    Key Cast
    "Deena Swann"
  • Kulani Kai
    Key Cast
    "Evelyn"
  • Stephen Wester
    Cinematography
  • Josh Daniel Taylor
    Cinematography
  • Michael Thomas Determan
    Cinematography
  • Donny Walker
    Music by
  • Zachariah Jarret
    Sound Design
  • Sara Elizabeth Bradley
    SPFX
  • Paul Hoepner
    SPFX
  • Danny Villanueva Jr.
    Editing
  • Jeff Olm
    Colorist
    The Revenant, Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Danny Villanueva Jr.
    VFX
  • Olivia Kraus
    Costume Design
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    supernatural drama, horror
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 20 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 2, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:77:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Music Box Theatre
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    September 3, 2021
    World Premiere
  • HorrorHound Film Festival
    Cincinnati, OH
    United States
    September 11, 2021
    Ohio Premiere
    Nominations: Best Feature, Best Director, Best Lead Performance, Judges Choice
  • Ocean City Film Festival
    Ocean City
    United States
    March 3, 2022
    Maryland Premiere
    “Best of the Fest” Award
  • Milwaukee Film Festival
    Milwaukee, WI
    United States
    April 23, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Houston Horror Film Festival
    Houston, TX
    United States
    Texas Premiere
    Best Cinematography
Distribution Information
  • Terror Films
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Free TV, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
Director Biography - Danny Villanueva Jr.

Danny Villanueva Jr. is a Mexican-American screenwriter/director born on April 6, 1989 in Chicago, IL. He studied Digital Filmmaking/Video Production at the Art Institute of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. In 2012, he launched a horror-themed web channel, How Bizarre, which featured short films, mini documentaries and bite-sized cartoons. In 2017, the channel evolved into an independent film production company, How Bizarre Pictures. I Dream of a Psychopomp is Villanueva’s feature-length directorial debut.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Creating this film was a way to familiarize myself with death in order to ease some of its force when it knocks. Throughout the editing process, I was the primary caregiver of my dying mother who passed away from stage 4 lung cancer on Memorial Day of 2020. She was such a loving person and truly my best friend. I found my exposure to the subject of death and understanding why it is what it is through creating this film to be helpful through the grieving process.

Death has become a taboo subject in American culture. We often avoid conversations about it until it arrives, and when it does, we whisper. It's looked at as such a malevolent force and we forget that it's a natural part of the process of life. I think if we better understand it, it can be less devastating when it comes.

In a time where we are collectively grieving from the many lives lost during the pandemic, I believe this film is especially relevant today.