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Christopher J. LaFleur, The Man Behind the Idea of Creating ‘The Hand that Feeds’
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Written by Melissa Salinas
The 2021 award-winning horror mystery thriller The Hand that Feeds took audiences on a heart-pounding hour-and-thirty-minute ride that left them on the edge of their seats. The spine-chilling suspense is returning to reach wider audiences worldwide, as it has been recently announced for a global digital release. Produced by the renowned Minnesotan indie film producer Christopher J. LeFleur, who has a proven track record of crafting captivating films on a budget, LeFleur has brought his signature style to this must-see production. Watch The Hand That Feeds at VUDU and Spectrum.
The film's use of modern-day cinematography was widely praised, and reviewers held the special effects as near-perfect. It was also, as expressed by Christoper, one of the most challenging parts of the project. The small-budget production with limited resources collaborated with the post-production team within and outside the state to deliver the final product as they had imagined. This isn't the first time the producer has shown the absolute brilliance and unmatched energy he brings to his projects. Previously, he gained notoriety for Area of Conflict, another Minnesota-based project made available digitally worldwide due to high demand.
This is really how the minds of filmmakers work. My wife and I bought a property, and ever since I was convinced that the place has a spooky vibe that could be capitalized into something worthy of creation, I was on it there and then,' Christopher shared for the first time that the bar and upstairs of the section in the film shown are his private property. He partnered with The Curse of Raven Heights director Blair Smith. He roped in a writer hailing from rural Minnesota, Wesley Johnson, who both agreed that the eerie setting of the place was conducive to making a spine-tingling horror film.
Christopher enjoys working with a small cast and crew who are relatively new to the industry; he believes the essence of indie cinema is providing future generations with opportunities that are otherwise far-fetched. Porter + Craig Film and Media Distribution is the official digital release partner for the film.
The film has won the Best Minnesota-Made Horror Feature award at the Crypticon Shockfest and Cryptic Awards. The producer has, at many instances, regarded The Hand that Feeds as his career's best work given the difficult circumstances—the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis that had taken an unforeseeable toll on the entertainment industry. He owes the project's success to the exceptional professionalism of the cast and crew. Despite facing numerous obstacles that threatened to derail the project, they remained steadfast and resolute, serving as a formidable force ensuring its completion.
'At the receiving end of the strict standard operating procedures amid COVID-19 and the protocols to be followed, we knew it was going to be really hard. Despite all this, I can confidently say that the collaborative efforts required to bring this film to life were the best part of the entire process. We worked as a team to find creative solutions at every point. Every member of the team had valuable input, and we were able to make the most out of every location we had available to us,' he reflected on the collective efforts of the team of The Hand that Feeds. The film stars Nicolas Sullivan and Tricia Buerke as the main leads, along with Chris Mulkey.
'The Hand that Feeds was a game-changing release for me. It sparked a lot of interest and curiosity from people who were eager to know when I would venture into commercial film-making. I used to deny any potential advancements in my career in a respectful manner,' he shared. Christopher firmly believes that his roots in indie production have made him successful, and he has no intention of leaving that behind. While he acknowledges that joining a production house is possible, he remains committed to the indie scene and the opportunities it has provided him. Readers can read more about the film at The Hand That Feeds IMDb.