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In Monster’s Hands

A true-crime thriller about a police detective suffering from PTSD, who begins a daunting, cross-country search for a homicidal sexual predator targeting elderly couples.

  • Darren W Burch
    Writer
    Buried Alive: The Clay Killer, Badge Boys, The Badge ZONE, Dear Jodi, Who Killed Angel Adams
  • Darren W Burch
    Producer
    First Time Film Producer
  • Christopher Sheffield
    Director
    Welcome to the Sting, My left Arm, Bite the Dust, Split Lip, Bounty Hunters, Parallel Partners, Run For Your Life,
  • Bret J Green
    Key Cast
    "Darren Burch"
    Jane the Virgin, All Rise, Criminal Minds, The Inspectors, Ratched Mikey, Bones, How to Get Away with Murder, General Hospital, Coming Home
  • Heather R Wake
    Key Cast
    "Coleen Burch"
    American Housewife, Nashville, Pandemic, The Assent Reporter,
  • Pamela Fields
    Key Cast
    "Hazel Durnavich"
  • Joran Bean
    Key Cast
    "the Monster"
  • Darren Burch
    Key Cast
    "Sgt. Jim Markey"
  • Fred Gerle
    Key Cast
    "John Durnavich"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Television
  • Genres:
    Thriller, True-Crime
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    15:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Show Low Film Festival
    Show Low
    United States
    October 17, 2025
    North Arizona Premiere
    Best of Fest Top 10
  • Chandler International Film Festival
    Chandler
    United States
    February 2, 2025
    World Premiere
    Nominated Best Arizona Short Film and Best Short Thriller
  • Always Late TV Movie Awards
    Godfrey
    United States
    March 23, 2025
    Illinois State Premiere
    Best Short Thriller
  • Faith in Films Festival
    Tucson
    United States
    May 24, 2025
    Tucson Premiere
    7 Awards including Best Short Film
  • London International Short Filmmakers Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    April 1, 2026
    England Premiere
    Best Miniseries Pilot
  • Crown Pointe International Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    June 18, 2025
    Chicago Premiere
    Best Actress - Pamela Fields and Nominated Best Actor - Bret Green
  • New Jersey Mystery & Crime Film Festiva;
    Sparta
    United States
    November 1, 2025
    New Jersey Premiere
    Best Short Film
  • US Marshal Arts Film Festival
    Tempe
    United States
    May 1, 2025
    Tempe Premiere
    Nominated Best TV Pilot
Director Biography - Christopher Sheffield

Awards for Short Films
- 10 Wins and 5 Nominations for:
Welcome to the Sting, 2024
Bounty Hunters, 2024
Parallel Partners, 2024
The English Rose, 2024
Here to Stay, 2023
Bite the Dust, 2023
My Left Arm, 2022
Balance of Force, 2020
Split Lip, 2019

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"It's easy as a filmmaker to come across stories of good versus evil that were born from a screenplay, but it's so much rarer to encounter a story of good versus evil that started in real life. When Darren came to me with this incredible story of a dedicated law enforcement team that stopped a real-life monster, it felt like an absolute no-brainer that the story needed to be told. In this version we were only able to scratch the surface of the journey and introduce you to the players, but we're still working diligently behind the scenes to make sure this is a feature film and an incredible true story that we can tell in its entirety. we hope you enjoy it."