"Redheaded hitchhiker" sightings on reportedly haunted Massachusetts road inspire short film
REHOBOTH – The road that has been dubbed the scariest in Massachusetts is being brought to life on the screen in a short film inspired by reported sightings of a haunted hitchhiker.
Pasta Bedtime Productions created the horror short film "44," inspired by reported sightings of a redheaded ghost on Route 44 in Rehoboth.
Scariest road in Massachusetts
In the past, Route 44 has been named the "scariest road" in Massachusetts because of the haunted happenings. Urban legend has it that drivers go to pick up a man who sits in the backseat, then vanishes in the middle of the ride.
"In this area in Rehoboth everyone knows about the redheaded ghost," said Amelie Iselin, founder, producer, and actress for the film.
Max Corso, founder of Pasta Bedtime Productions, said people report seeing a redhaired, older, weird looking gentleman walking on the road.
"Everyone sees him differently and he's there and he's gone," Corso said.
The "redheaded hitchhiker"
There are stories of the ghost's crazy laughter and disappearing act. No one knows the real story of the hitchhiker. Some think he was involved in a car crash there, or perhaps lived along the stretch of road.
Now, the production company is stitching together the pieces, bringing folklore that's disturbed drivers in Bristol County to life.
"Everyone's fascinated by it. No one's ever made a film about the redheaded ghost," Iselin said. "What was really important about this short 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 an enormous amount of talent locally," Corso said.
Short film "44"
The film was shot around Rehoboth in 2023. Iselin said they gathered input from the community to help create the ghost's backstory.
"Talking to the locals here everyone has their own experience of 'Oh my friend Sue saw him in a puppy mill,'" Iselin said. "So I was like, can we incorporate that into the script somehow?"
A year later, the film was just shown to Rehoboth residents in October during a film festival. The event drew in 300 people, along with special vendors.
The goal now is to expand upon the short film and create a feature project animating the tales shared over the years that have kept drivers on the lookout for the redhaired hitchhiker.
"We want to immortalize him," Iselin said.
Filmmakers said it was important for them to give back to the community that helped put the short together. So proceeds from the film festival went to the Rehoboth Senior Center, raising nearly $4,000. They plan to host a second event in the future.