Rochester filmmakers release ‘Christmas’ horror short film shot in Albion
Photos courtesy of Liz Groat: The Coleman brothers film an installment of their horror serial, Merry Christmas Harold and Mabel” at the Downtown Drowsery. The film was released today on YouTube. Michael Ciesla is Harold dressed as Santa and Stephanie Harlowe is Mabel.
ALBION – The Coleman brothers have released the latest installment in their short horror films, and this one was shot in Albion, starring Santa. Click here to see “Merry Christmas Harold and Mabel” which is 8 minutes, 50 seconds.
Harold, a serial killer played by Michael Ciesla, plays a department store Santa at the Downtown Browsery. He is filling in for Nicholas, another Santa who is out sick. When Nicholas returns, Harold isn’t happy to give up a job he enjoys.
Stephanie Harlowe plays the role of Mabel who dresses as an elf and is very friendly with Harold. She creates a job opening for Harold by disposing of Nicholas. Harlowe has several millions views on her YouTube channel several million views on her YouTube channel exploring true crime and mysteries.
Liz Groat, one of the vendors at the Browsery, was impressed by brothers James and Vincent Coleman and their production.
“It is amazing to watch the process of creating the appearance of such murder and mayhem,” she said. “They wash off the fake blood, look to see if they needed another take, and then on to the next scene.”
The short film also includes a scene at the home of Charles W. Howard, a founder of a school for Santa Claus. Harold is shown by the historic marker about Howard, and walking to the front door of Howard’s former home now owned by John Kurtz and Brian Quinn. Harold also is shown taking a smoke break on Beaver Alley.
The Downtown Browsery provided the setting in a new short horror film by the Coleman brothers from Rochester.
About the Coleman Brothers
Coleman Brothers Films was started in 2013 by James and Vincent Coleman. They began their journey as filmmakers at the young age of 9 and 10 making numerous short experimental horror films. They went on to study cinematography through school and numerous film sets. This led to their fan film “Halloween Inferno” eclipsing over 1 million views and gaining them 10,000 new subscribers on YouTube. With the success of “Halloween Inferno” the Coleman Brothers wrote and directed the feature film “The Burned Over District.”
They took home multiple awards in several different categories including Best Feature and Best Cinematography at Horrorhound, Days Of The Dead and The Thing In the Basement film festivals in 2023.
James Coleman and Vincent Coleman, known professionally as the Coleman Brothers are Americans who write and direct horror, thriller, and short films. The brothers were raised in Rochester. They began making films in the second grade using a borrowed VHS camera which then turned into a Hi8 video camera gifted by their parents.
