Ear: Short film

“I just wanted to make you aware of the cult classic film ‘For God and Country,’ created by the Donnelly Brothers (locals to Astoria),” actor Peter Wickliffe (pictured) posted on The Astorian’s Facebook Messenger. The film was shot in 2007 and 2008 in Astoria, Warrenton and Hammond. “It showcases several locations on the Oregon Coast, including Fort Stevens.”

The 13-minute horror/thriller short film was released in 2009. Peter stars as Jonathan Fahlstrom, and the film is directed by Nathan Donnelly and written by Josh Donnelly, with a nice thank you to the extras at the end. (Maybe a familiar face is among them?)

“It was a fun project and really at the start of my career,” Wickliffe noted. “I think I answered a Craigslist ad, to be honest, and that’s how I became involved — I was living and working in the area at the time.

“As a kid, I lived near Fort Stevens at one point, so I played in and around Fort Stevens all the time. It was a very comfortable backdrop for me. It was many years ago, but as I said, it really was a start to my career as an actor. That, and being in the local play, ‘Shanghaied in Astoria.’ The beginnings of my film and theater career.”

He wrote to the paper because he recently “went back to watch it myself. It’s a spooky-type fall film. I just felt it deserved a little more attention.” Sounds like a good plan for a rainy fall evening.