Two screenwriters and producers are trying to bring back the horror to South Texas and Karnes County is getting to play a part in their endeavor.

Screenwriting graduates from Texas A&M Corpus Christi Justin Meeks and Duane Graves have finished post production on what they describe as a "vintage horror movie" and are in the process of marketing it to local film festivals.

Many scenes from the film were shot in brush country between Karnes City and Kenedy and along a few Karnes County back roads. The story is based on the Texas folk legend surrounding "The Wild Man of the Navidad."

The movie by the same name also is being produced by Kim Henkel, the original writer and producer of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and Meeks’ and Graves’ screenwriting teacher at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

"Our film adds new chapters to the original story," explained Meeks.

He and his film partner ran into Dale S. Rogers in Sublime when they first heard the story. Rogers had lots of information out in left field and the duo weren’t sure they believed everything he had to say. Then they saw his journal.

Sketches, pictures, testimonies, and newspaper articles — the journal was a collection of evidence about all things Wild Man. Meeks and Graves both were inspired to turn it into a movie.

"It came to our knowledge he couldn’t have just (written) this overnight," Meeks said. "As we investigated it and listened more and more, it (became) convincing. We took it and we wrote a screenplay."

The goal, Meeks said, is to return to the feel of the old horror movies of the 1970s where special effects weren’t all a story had going for it.

"The horror movies now, it just seems like sometimes you’re watching a video game or a music video," Meeks said. "We wanted to do a Texas slasher movie reminiscent of the old 70s horrors — you know, the drive-in movies and stuff."

Meeks and Graves also used everyday folks from around South Texas as actors to fill unique rolls in the film.

Meeks recalled three locals from the Bar K in Pleasanton that stood out. The original flyer advertisement asking for actors said something to the effect of "if you have a beard or look rough, that’s all the better," Meeks recalled. "It’s kind of funny because we actually found some guys that are very good character actors."

Visit www.thecountywide.com to click a link to the movie’s web site where the trailer for the film can be seen. News on special pre-screenings will be posted there and the producers are planning to take their movie to local film festivals before it heads to DVD.