Horrors! Creative Alliance hosts Dohler doubleheader

by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

When Baltimore indie horror filmmaker Don Dohler died, he left behind more than a legacy that included images of giant, bloodthirsty aliens, knife-wielding baddies and curvaceous naked women literally bathing in blood.
He left behind a developmentally disabled sister, for whom he had helped care since the death of his own parents, years back.
“Don was really devoted to Joy,” said Joe Ripple, Dohler’s long-time collaborator. “He wanted to take care of her.”
Dohler, a Perry Hall resident who had also been the editor of the Times-Herald, died in December shortly after the release of his last film, “Dead Hunt.” Glen Dohler, Don and Joy’s brother, assumed care for Joy.
“I know the one thing Don wouldn’t have wanted would be for Joy to be in a home,” said Ripple. “She’s been living at home her whole life.”
On Saturday, June 23, TimeWarp Films (Don’s production company, now guided by Ripple) will offer what they are calling the “Don Dohler Double Feature,” back-to-back showings of two Dohler horror classics, “The Alien Factor” and “Dead Hunt.” All proceeds will benefit the Joyce Dohler Foundation, which helps fund Joy’s ongoing care.
The event will take place at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets (advance purchase is suggested) are $15 to the public and $12 for Creative Alliance members.
Also on the agenda will be a silent auction of Don Dohler memorabilia (some of which is autographed) including movie props and related items.
“I’m really trying to make it as profitable for the family as possible,” said Ripple, who organized the event.
“Don loved Joy, and she is so well-named,” said Leanna Chamish, who acted in five of Dohler’s films, and became a longtime friend. “She is a joy — she’s sweet and gentle, but she can’t ever be independent, so we want to do this for her and for Don.”
Kristen Anchor, the Creative Alliance’s director of moviemaking, said the benefit has a natural audience.
“There is a big horror film community in Maryland and in Baltimore — there is a lot of work that is going on now because of Don and because of his creativity.”
According to Chamish, Dohler was generous with his advice-giving, and patient in answering the questions of amateur film-makers.
“I’ve seen Don get on the phone with perfect strangers, people who wanted to know how to get started in the business, and he’d talk to them for two hours. He was so patient and so good at listening and giving advice.”
Dohler’s first film, “The Alien Factor,” featured an alien spacecraft crashing into a small town. According to the promo in the Creative Alliance’s brochure, the spaceship then opens, “releasing its bloodthirsty cargo of beasts — the lizard-like Leemoid, slimy Inferbyce, and wild and wooly Zagatile.”
Whew.
That film, which will be half of the double-feature, led to other Dohler movies including “Blood Massacre,” “Nightbeast,” “Vampire Sisters” and “Galaxy Invader.” Later, Baltimore documentary film-maker John Kinhart would follow Dohler for the better part of a year, chronicling his work and life. (That movie, “Blood, Boobs and Beast,” debuted this year with much fanfare and celebration at the Maryland Film Festival).
The final film of Dohler’s career was “Dead Hunt,” (the second part of the double feature), in which 10 movie reviewers come to a horror film convention to find themselves facing deaths more gruesome than any they have seen on a screen.
“’The Alien Factor’ was Don’s very first film,” said Ripple. “’Dead Hunt’ was the last one he and I worked on together. I felt like it was a nice bookend, and a nice little segue (for the benefit).”
The event itself — and the cause behind it — were something that Ripple couldn’t turn away from.
“I knew Don for so long that I really felt it was incumbent upon me to help the family out.”
The benefit will include a concession stand with a bar and refreshments (including, of course, popcorn, without which no horror movie experience would be complete).
Ripple and Chamish say they both miss Dohler every day.
“I don’t know how to express it,” said Chamish. “He was a mentor, he was a friend, he was special. He was someone you could call and ask questions and talk for hours.”
Dohler left behind a wife (he had been married to Leslie only a short time before being diagnosed with cancer), a son, daughter and granddaughter, as well as his brother, Glen, and Joy.
Chamish, Ripple and others who worked on Dohler’s films will be present for the Creative Alliance film fest, as will others who worked with him and knew him over the years.
“Don brought us all together,” said Chamish, “this collection of people. He could bring people together and make something completely new and different.”
After Dohler’s death, said Ripple, Don’s friends and collaborators at TimeWarp Films met to discuss whether to continue the company and its mission of making low-budget horror films, or to disband. Ultimately, they decided that the best way to honor the work and memory of their friend and mentor was to move forward.
“But it’s hard,” said Ripple. “It’s hard to sit through those pre-production meetings without him.”
Still, TimeWarp continues. Next up, said Ripple, is a trilogy of three short horror films that will be released on DVD. And, he added, Dohler’s influence is still there.
“Something like that will never go away.”
Note: The Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Avenue, hosts the Don Dohler Double Feature on Saturday, June 23, 7 p.m., with showings of two of Dohler’s horror classics, “The Alien Factor” and “Dead Hunt.” All proceeds benefit the Joyce Dohler Foundation. Tickets are $15 for the public and $12 for Creative Alliance members. Advance purchase is suggested. Those who would like to donate money directly to the Joyce Dohler Foundation can send checks (all contributions are tax-deductible) to The Joyce Dohler Foundation to 18530 Falls Road, Hampstead, Md. 21074. Donations can also be made via PayPal (contact timewarpfilms@comcast.net for information and directions). Info for Creative Alliance: 410-276-1651, electronic ticket purchase at www.creativealliance.org/tickets.html#advance.