“Bridgette Wrona and the Whisper Creek Murders,” a YA mystery film from Little Spark Films, has wrapped filming in Arlington, Texas. Mary Beth McAndrews directed the feature from a script by Preston Fassel, based on a concept by Cameron Hazelwood.

Per a press release, the film is about “the eponymous 20-something sleuth, the hostess of a popular true crime podcast called ‘Hot Coffee, Cold Cases.’ For her latest case, Bridgette is dispatched to the remote East Texas town of Whisper Creek, where a long-dormant serial killer known as The Flower King has resurfaced. Haunted by memories from her own rural past, Bridgette must uncover the truth in a place where everyone is a suspect.”

Newcomer Amanda Huerta, who was discovered in a Little Spark Film “48-Hour Spark” film race, leads the cast, which also includes Lisa Gaye (the “Toxic Avenger” franchise), Kelli Maroney (“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”), Alexandra Broussard and Larissa Dali (the “Becky” franchise).

“While we were in pre-production, we also hosted a 48 Hour Film Race entitled ’48 Hour Sparks’ where our Office P.A.-turned-2nd-AD Jacob Harper had worked with Amanda,” Little Spark co-founder Catalina Querida said in a press release. “Seeing how quickly she was able to take on his 48 Hour film, ‘Music to my Ears,’ we thought she would fit the role as our confident hero.”

When describing the film in its press release, Fassel said, “I had a few personal initiatives, including doing a YA story in the vein of what I grew up with — ‘Tuck Everlasting’, ‘Bridge to Terabithia’, ‘Maniac Magee’ — this non-IP, thoughtful approach that spoke to its audience as real people. Something that I’d show a theoretical daughter of mine, about a girl I imagine would be what that daughter would turn out like. And my hope is I’ve delivered a teen ‘Twin Peaks’ that mothers can use to introduce their daughters to David Lynch.”

“As a certified weird girl, now is the time for Weird Girl Cinema, and I couldn’t be more grateful to direct an entry into that growing pantheon,” McAndrews added in the release. “‘Bridgette Wrona’ is a film for all the weirdos out there who are passionate, creative, smart, and a little different from the world around them. My hope is that teens will watch this and feel inspired to dive further into the world of genre films; we don’t get a lot of true gateway horror anymore! This is gateway horror for the girls out there who spend their days watching true crime videos and reading about serial killers.”

“Bridgette Wrona” was produced by Querida and Dali. Joe Manco and Chris Rushing served as executive producers. Fassel served as associate producer. Robert “Ghoulio” Alcala was the DP on the film.

“Bridgette Wrona and the Whisper Creek Murders” is currently in post-production.