'Halloween Ends,' partly filmed in Sylvania, Savannah, to be released on streaming service

Seeing a new movie isn't easy for Sylvanians. The nearest theater is over 20 miles away. That won't be the case for "Halloween Ends," a movie filmed, in part, in Sylvania and Savannah.

On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Universal Studios released a special video message with Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays the franchise's longstanding heroine, Laurie Strode, announcing her last fight with masked serial killer Michael Myers will be available in theaters and... wait for it... on Peacock, the NBC, Universal and A&E streaming service.

Residents like Eva Marie Everson and Colin Blackburn were already excited for this movie because it was filmed locally, and now they won't have to fill up the gas tank to see it.

More: Universal releases trailer for 'Halloween Ends,' partly filmed in Sylvania, Savannah

"It helped put little Sylvania on the map," Everson said. "I'm not a horror flick fan, but I am a fan of Sylvania!"

"I think it's always so cool for a person or audience members to experience where that particular scene was shot and witness it from a film, which is usually in (Los Angeles)," Blackburn said "and then that moviegoer goes, 'Oh my God, I was just there!' or 'Oh my God I'm a part of history.'"

Universal did the same thing with many of their movies last year, including the most recent Michael Myers flick, "Halloween Kills," because the COVID-19 pandemic caused lasting theater closures across the world.

"We discovered that there are people who want to go the theater and scream their guts out, and other people, who want to stay at home, and scream their guts out," Curtis said in the video. "But what we knew is that people watched, and we got great results, both at the box office and from streaming."

The local filming was overseen by the Savannah Film Commission. While they could not provide details on the specific sites and what made the cut, Little Dipper Coffee and Ice Cream, might be one local site – casting calls for extras took place there. There are also photos circulating on social media showing the viaduct on West Ogeechee Street between Huddle House and downtown Sylvania was a major spot for filming, both on top of the viaduct along the roadway and below the viaduct along the railway.

Prop banners and advertisements indicate Sylvania was made to be the set for Haddonfield, Illinois, the fictitious setting for all of the "Halloween" movies.

This will be the 13th film in a franchise that has grossed over $500 million, according to Box Office Mojo. While no data has been released on how Peacock affected its performance, "Halloween Kills," with a budget of $20 million, grossed over $130 million worldwide.

"Halloween Kills" will release to theaters and Peacock on Friday, Oct. 14.

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This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 'Halloween Ends,' filmed in Sylvania, coming to theaters and Peacock