Skunks Misery Road sets the backdrop for Netflix thriller

NORTH EAST — Something supernatural has crept its way into the area as a section of Millerton was scouted last month for filming scenes for the upcoming Netflix film, “Things Seen and Heard.”

Based on Elizabeth Brundage’s novel, “All Things Cease to Appear,” the film adaption has been described as a supernatural psychological thriller set in 1980. Focusing on a young couple haunted by the murders that took place in their new home all while hiding secrets of their own, the film reportedly features the talents of Amanda Seyfried (“Mean Girls,” “Mamma Mia!”) and Natalia Dyer (“Stranger Things”), according to IMDB.com. Written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (“The Nanny Diaries,” “American Splendor”), the film will be produced by Citiot Productions Inc., Likely Story and Netflix.

In a letter written to North East Town Clerk Lisa Cope on Thursday, Oct. 10, the film crew shared its intention to film scenes at 144 Skunks Misery Road in Millerton. With six cast members and an 80-person crew involved, filming was set to begin on Monday, Oct. 21 with the expectation of finishing on Thursday, Nov. 21. Included in its requests, the film crew asked permission to coordinate with the local police and highway department for intermittent traffic control at the intersection of Skunks Misery Road with Route 199 and McGhee Hill Road, and expressed their willingness to compensate both the police and the highway department. Along with making arrangements with the neighbors of the Skunks Misery Road property, the crew shared its intent to hire private security to secure the filming location, trucks and equipment and to rent two drive slow signs to place near the set on each side of the property.

In addition to filming scenes in Millerton, there have been reports of the film crew scouting other towns in Dutchess County. The Poughkeespie Journal published a report on Friday, Oct. 11, that the Red Hook Public Library canceled programs on Tuesday, Oct. 15, through Friday, Oct. 18, to accommodate a film production. 

Meanwhile, around mid-morning on Friday, Oct. 18, the parking lot behind The Stissing House in Pine Plains was occupied by a large number of vehicles. Yet as quiet as the atmosphere was around The Stissing House, there were a few whispers around town about something happening in Pine Plains, including some mention that there was filming taking place down the road at a horse farm while The Stissing House was being used for catering.