Community Corner

Vampires In New England—The Tillinghast Nightmare Plays At The Garde

Historical Haunts' latest documentary on vampires in New England plays at the Garde Arts Center in New London on October 27 and features guest speaker Dacre Stoker, great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula.

Historical Haunts invites you to a spooky fun-filled evening in New London. On October 27, at 7 p.m. the Garde Arts Center will host the screening of, The Tillinghast Nightmare, a documentary about New England vampires directed by award-winning Rhode Island filmmaker Alec Asten.

The evening includes a presentation from guest speaker, Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula.

Historical Haunts of Old Mystic produces films based on real characters and places from American folklore. Interwoven with supernatural or macabre elements, their engaging tales are anchored in history. The company's newest documentary, The Tillinghast Nightmare explores the facts and folklore of vampire exorcism in New England in an effort to shed light on this gruesome practice. 

According to an 18th century legend from Exeter, RI, Stutely Tillinghast dreamed that half his orchard was destroyed. Soon after, his daughter Sarah became sick and died. One by one, his children took ill and followed Sarah to the grave. To save the lives of those remaining, Tillinghast dug up the body of his beloved daughter Sarah, cut out her heart and burned it. 

The Tillinghast Nightmare
 is the second film in the Historical Haunts series. The documentary was filmed at various locations in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The documentary also explores the transformation of the vampire from diseased kin to the aristocratic Count Dracula.  

Stoker On Stoker

Featured speaker Dacre Stoker is an author and the great-grand nephew of Bram Stoker, who wrote Dracula. Dacre’s credits the include Dracula the Un-Dead (2009), the Stoker family endorsed sequel to Dracula and Bram Stoker’s Lost Journal (2012), a non-fiction book by Dacre and Dr. Elizabeth Miller, based on Bram Stoker’s un-published, personal journal.

Dacre Stoker‘s compelling and informative presentation reveals the Stoker family perspective on the mysteries behind the writing of Dracula, which have kept scholars and fans awake at night. His presentation, Stoker on Stoker, is illustrated with Dacre’s own collection of seldom seen historic images and includes Dacre’s research for Dracula the Un-Dead.

Other showings: 

  • October 28, 7 p.m., at Columbus Theater, 270 Broadway Providence, RI. Tickets are $15. 
  • October 29, 7 p.m., The Jane Picken’s Theater & Event Center, 49 Touro St Newport, RI. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Box Office (401) 846-5474, on-line www.janepickens.com or in the theater lobby.
  • October 30, 2013, 7 p.m., Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford. Tickets are $15. Call (860) 280-3130 or go online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/492392 
The Tillinghast Nightmare Documentary is made possible in part by grants from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. 


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