After more than 35 years, a man reunites his old friends to recapture their wayward youth as represented by his old 1968 Mustang.
Back in the 1970s, Mike Ondish and his friends tore up the roads in the Catskills, racing other cars, running moonshine, and gleefully evading the authorities at every turn in a real-life Northeastern DUKES OF HAZZARD. Eventually, they put their cars away and settled down to much quieter lives. Now, decades later, Mike is repairing his legendary car, the Demon, to get it back out on the road, reuniting with his friends, and his youth, as a result. Director Christina Eliopoulos, producer George Wieser, and executive producer Josh Levin follow Mike as he commits himself to his new mission.
Currently in production, the project is just a couple weeks away from completing a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to shoot Mike’s rebuilding of the Demon – so there’s time to contribute, if you’re so inclined. There’s a placeholder website for the film that will hopefully include more information and a mailing list signup at some point in the future for interested potential viewers to keep updated on the project.
There’s something incredibly likeable and relatable about Ondish and his friends. It’s easy to picture them as ne’er-do-well young men, having good-natured, albeit reckless, fun and getting away with everything they could. They’re gifted storytellers, bringing just the right balance of bravado, nostalgia, and self-awareness to draw in viewers and make them feel part of their circle. On a deeper level, the film addresses an awareness of mortality and aging in a poignant but light manner, underscoring Ondish’s decision to restore the Demon. Add to this beautiful lensing, and I can’t wait to see the film out on the circuit – and, I should note, I have zero interest in cars.
what (not) to doc 