The locally shot “Midnight Massacre” will have its premiere Saturday at Movies 8 in Boardman.

Considering how long it took to make, “Midnight Marathon” might be a more appropriate title.

Writer-director Travis Bowen started shooting the movie in late 2013. Two of the film’s actors — Conrad Brooks, who appeared in such Ed Wood films as “Plan 9 from Outer Space” and “Glen or Glenda,” and Pedro Don Colley (“THX 1138,” “The Dukes of Hazard”) — died eight years ago.

“I was kind of embarrassed, because I kept getting asked, ‘When’s this movie gonna get done?'” he said.

Some of the problems were logistical, such as finding a jail cell where a pivotal scene could be shot.

After many rejections, Bowen was able to shoot at the East Liverpool Police Museum.

Some were global — the COVID-19 pandemic made filming impossible.

And some were personal. Bowen found his daughter, who he hadn’t seen in nine years, in 2015, and spent several months trying to get custody of her. Once he succeeded, being a parent took priority over being a director.

Bowen, who also is one of the film’s stars, said there were some advantages to the off-and-on shooting schedule.

“I was the fattest I’ve probably ever been when we were filming (in 2014),” he said. “In the beginning of the movie, I’m fatter, but then I got to jail. This way it looks like I lost weight (in jail).”

Inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” “Midnight Massacre” is the story of an outlaw terrorist organization led by Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and Julius Caesar, who are plotting to create a new government after World War III. However, a select few stand in their way and the future of humanity depends upon them.

Bowen, whose other films include “The Girl” and “Shadows in the Woods,” described the film as a science fiction story with horror elements that is set in an alternate reality in the near future.

His films are shot on low budgets with mostly local talent but Bowen also promotes horror and pop culture conventions. Cameos and larger roles often are played by some of the guests he brings in for the conventions.

One of the stars of “Midnight Massacre” is Susie Feldman / Savannah Sprague. Feldman was married to actor Corey Feldman — their wedding planning became a plot point in the reality series “The Surreal Life” — and she also was a regular in the reality series “The Two Coreys.”

“In 2014 we had Susie out here for like a week, and we shot all of her scenes,” Bowen said.

Feldman will join Bowen and other local cast and crew members at the premiere in Boardman at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include a movie poster, which attendees can get signed by cast members after the film. Tickets are available at boardmanmovies8.com.

“Midnight Massacre” will be the last film appearance by Colley, and the movie also features Byron Cherry, who played Coy Duke on the 1982-83 season of “Dukes of Hazzard,” when stars John Schneider and Tom Wopat were absent for part of the season due to a contract dispute.

In addition to Colley and Cherry acting together, ” we filmed a conversation with them, because it was their first time working together in like 35 years,” Bowen said. “So there’s a nice conversation, and we want to put that on the special features for the DVD and Blu-ray, maybe four to six months from now, when we get that together.”

Other actors with prominent credits include Matthew T. Metzler, who had a recurring role on the AMC series “Breaking Bad” and co-starred in “Maze Runner: Scorch Trials”; professional wrestler Honky Tonk Man; and erotic horror actor Erin Brown / Misty Mundae.

Bowen was most excited by being able to cast Linda Harrison, who starred opposite Charlton Heston in “Planet of the Apes” and also appeared in “Beneath the Planet of the Apes.”

“One of my favorite science fiction movies of all time is ‘Planet of the Apes,’ so it was really cool for me to get to work with Linda Harrison in the movie,” Bowen said. “I always tell people it’s probably how JJ Abrams felt working with Leonard Nimoy when they did the 2009 ‘Star Trek.’

“It was kind of nerve wracking. We filmed one of our scenes down at the cemetery in downtown Warren. It was freezing cold, and it’s like, ‘How do you tell this lady to get out in this cold weather and film?’ But she did it. She was a trooper.”

If you go …

WHAT: Premiere of the film “Midnight Massacre”

WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Boardman Movies 8, 469 Boardman Poland Road, Boardman

HOW MUCH: $10. Tickets are available online at boardmanmovies8.com.