Baptist pastor beats crap out of sinners in Sault's seediest backstreets

The last time Cliff McDowell was in the Sault's Grand Theatre was when Star Wars opened in May, 1977. Then just 10 years old, McDowell attended with his dad. This weekend, the Saultboy was back.

The last time Cliff McDowell was in the Sault's Grand Theatre was when Star Wars opened in May, 1977.

Then just 10 years old, McDowell attended with his dad.

This weekend, the Saultboy was back. this time as guest of honour - a producer introducing his first feature film at Shadows of the Mind Film Festival.

The Masked Saint is a flying neckbreaker of a movie filmed entirely in Sault Ste. Marie.

It was enthusiastically received by sell-out houses on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Starring Canada's Patrick McKenna (The Red Green Show, Traders), WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper, longtime U.S. television somebody Diahann Carroll and a veritable murmuration of Saultites, The Masked Saint is loosely based on the true story of Chris Whaley, a pastor and professional wrestler.

It explores the conflict between a spiritual leader's secret life of vigilante justice and his calling as a man of God.

McDowell says that Cineplex Inc. is planning to initially show The Masked Saint at 60 screens across Canada.

"If it does well, they'll increase that," he said last night.

He's currently trying to line up U.S. theatrical distribution as well.

The launch date won't be set until the U.S. screenings are scheduled, but McDowell hopes the film will be in theatres this fall.

Will it be shown at the Station Mall Cineplex?

McDowell isn't promising just yet.

"The likelihood of it hitting the Sault, I don't know. I'm going to push hard for it, seeing that I'm from the Sault."

McDowell says he got his start in the entertainment business in Grade 3 at Francis H. Clergue School.

He was assigned the role of Pierre in a school play based on Maurice Sendack's 1962 children's book of the same name.

"My line was: I'm Pierre. I don't care," he recalls.

Next, in Grade 8. McDowell played the Grinch in a Parkland Public School production of the Grinch That Stole Christmas.

After stints in retailing, manufacturing, corporate finance, licensing and the Canadian Forces, McDowell studied acting at the William Esper Acting Studio in New York City.

He then returned to Toronto to work on television and animation productions, forming his own company, P23 Entertainment in 2007 to focus on family animated series, television and feature films.

The Masked Saint is McDowell's first venture into feature films.

Local filming venues include the Essar Centre, Mill Square and First Baptist Church at Albert and March Streets.

"If you want to use the church, you have to speak at the church a couple of times." Dr. Jack DeVries, senior pastor at First Baptist Church, told McDowell.

So the devout-but-frugal film producer delivered a couple of sermons there to secure filming rights without expense.

Filming was done here in October, 2013.

An early cut of the film was screened in September, 2014 at the Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival.

The budget was around $3.2 million, including $1 million from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.

McDowell speaks fondly of his experience making a movie in his hometown.

"You know what? I'd do a film here again!" he said last night.

The Shadows of the Mind Film Festival continues Sunday with a 9:30 a.m. screening ay Galaxy Cinema of Terrance Odette's Fall, which was filmed in Sault Ste. Marie.

Four other films will be screened today, all at the Grand Theatre.

For times and film descriptions, please go to shadowsfilmfest.com

(PHOTO: Film producer Cliff McDowell at the Grand Theatre late Thursday with Robert Smelt, who played a young version of the protagonist pastor Chris Samuels in The Masked Saint. David Helwig/SooToday)