With the release of STRANGELAND in 1998, writer/star Dee Snider and director John Pieplow introduced us to Carleton Hendricks, a.k.a. Captain Howdy, a man who would log into internet chat rooms with the intention of luring teenagers over to his house so he could put them through torturous body modification "coming of age" rituals. On the film's audio commentary, Snider promised that viewers could fully expect to see a multi-installment Captain Howdy franchise. Unfortunately, it has been an eighteen year struggle to even get one sequel off the ground.
There is a script in place. Titled STRANGELAND: DISCIPLE, it even has a synopsis that was made public:
One year after Carleton Hendricks aka Captain Howdy’s sadistic rampage, much more than the physical scars the schizophrenic, sexual sadist gave his victims are left behind. Their lives, destroyed by emotional torment and the media frenzy surrounding the crimes, Detective Mike Gage, his daughter Geneveve and vigilante Jackson Roth each have their crosses to bear. But when the badly burned and mentally broken Carlton Hendricks is taken from a state run mental hospital and off his medication by billionaire, media mogul, Morgan LaForce, leader of the body modification/fetish haven called “The Torture Garden”, the door swings wide open for each of Captain Howdy’s victims to find closure… and retribution.
Snider has tried to get the project set up with multiple companies over the years, but for one reason or another it just hasn't made it to production. He's not giving up on bringing Captain Howdy back to the screen, though. During a recent chat with IconvsIcon.com, Snider discussed STRANGELAND 2 and the hope of getting it made as the 20th anniversary of the first film approaches.
I’m always trying to get “Strangeland 2” going. I don’t know what the hell it is with that thing! [laughs] That whole experience could be a documentary in itself — “The Making of Strangeland 2.” [laughs] What the f*ck?! That is what it would be called, “The Making of Strangeland 2: WTF!”
…Someone asked me, “Well, why don’t you crowdfund it?” I’m thinking, “Good point!” if people want this movie so bad, and it seems like when I go to these horror conventions and it seems like everybody wants it, maybe that is the route to go. Maybe this coming year, heading toward the 20th anniversary, what sounds like the right amount of time between funding it, filming it and releasing it, I will see if the audience wants to put their money where their mouth is and join me in this journey!
If Snider does decide to give crowdfunding a try, I would absolutely toss in some coin to help STRANGELAND 2 get made. I really liked the first film and have been waiting a long time for this sequel. I want that franchise I was promised!
STRANGELAND co-star Linda Cardellini