Private Project

The Murders of Whitney Manor

In this parody of late 50s cheap horror B movies, Donald Whitney is haunted by the ghost of his murdered business partner. A familiar priest gets stopped in the rain and seeks shelter in Whitney Manor for the night.

  • Jacob Bradford Woodruff
    Director
  • Jacob Bradford Woodruff
    Writer
  • Jacob Bradford Woodruff
    Producer
  • Reed Williams
    Producer
  • Reed Williams
    Key Cast
    "Adam Rains"
  • Alex Smith
    Key Cast
    "Guiver McGee"
  • Sarah Woodruff
    Key Cast
    "Victoria Wallace"
  • Jacob Bradford Woodruff
    Key Cast
    "Donald Whitney"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Horror, Comedy, Satire
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 3, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:1
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Jacob Bradford Woodruff

Jacob Bradford Woodruff is an independent writer-director from Columbus, Ohio, known for blending genre filmmaking with raw, personal storytelling. Inspired by directors such as David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, and Sean Baker, his work explores themes of dysfunction, identity, and rebellion with a dark sense of humor, emotional depth, and a distinctly Midwestern sensibility.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Murders of Whitney Manor is a love letter to two things that shaped me: schlocky B-horror films and my grandfather.

As a kid, my grandfather and I would binge those bargain-bin horror collections, Corman knock-offs, public domain monsters, and strange little movies that barely made sense. We’d laugh until our sides hurt. He always encouraged me to write, direct, and dream. He passed when I was 14, so I made this film for him and me, because I miss him, and I wish he were here to laugh, or smile, or even be proud of me.

This isn’t just nostalgia. As a Catholic, I’ve wrestled with sin, guilt, and redemption—especially the idea that even priests can fall. The main character, Father Rains, is haunted not just by a literal ghost, but by his own spiritual failure. The story explores justice, mercy, and the human side of faith—framed as a haunted house movie that mirrors the rhythm of a Catholic mass.

We made this film with a crew of five, in the exact house I imagined, with friends I trust. It’s absurd, heartfelt, and handmade.

I hope people laugh, get a little spooked, and feel something real. And maybe they’ll walk away saying, “I want to see what this guy does next.”

—Jacob Bradford Woodruff