REHOBOTH – The road that has been called the scariest in Massachusetts is brought to life on screen in a short film inspired by reported sightings of a troubled hitchhiker.
Pasta Bedtime Productions created the short horror film “44”, inspired by reported sightings of a red-headed ghost on Route 44 in Rehoboth.
Scariest road in Massachusetts
In the past, Route 44 has been named the “scariest road” in Massachusetts due to its hauntings. Urban legend has it that drivers go to pick up a man sitting in the back seat and then disappears mid-ride.
“In this area in Rehoboth, everyone knows the redhead ghost,” says Amelie Iselin, the film’s founder, producer and actress.
Max Corso, founder of Pasta Bedtime Productions, said people are reporting seeing a red-haired, older, strange-looking gentleman walking down the street.
“Everyone sees him differently and he’s there and he’s gone,” Corso said.
The “redhead hitchhiker”
There are stories of the ghost’s crazy laughter and vanishing act. No one knows the real story of the hitchhiker. Some think he was involved in a car accident there, or perhaps lived along the stretch of road.
Now the production company is stitching the pieces together, bringing the folklore of crazy drivers in Bristol County to life.
‘Everyone is fascinated by it. No one has ever made a movie about the redhead ghost,” Iselin said. “What was really important about this short film is that we developed the character. How does he haunt? How does he scare people?”
Corso said the film features all local actors.
“There is a tremendous amount of talent locally,” Corso said.
Short film “44”
The film was shot in 2023 around Rehoboth. Iselin said they gathered input from the community to help create the ghost’s backstory.
“Talking to locals here, everyone has their own experience of, ‘Oh, my friend Sue saw him in a puppy mill,’” Iselin said. “So I thought, can we work that into the script somehow?”
A year later, the film was shown to Rehoboth residents at a film festival in October. The event attracted 300 people, along with specialty vendors.
The goal now is to expand the short film and create a feature film project that animates the stories shared over the years that have kept motorists on the lookout for the red-haired hitchhiker.
“We want to immortalize him,” Iselin said.
Filmmakers said it was important to them to give back to the community that helped make the short film. So proceeds from the film festival went to the Rehoboth Senior Center, which raised almost $4,000. They plan to host a second event in the future.
Jordyn Jagolinzer
