KALAMAZOO, MI — The new movie theater in downtown Kalamazoo, KP Cinemas, is currently showing a thriller with strong local ties through Friday, Jan. 12. The film, “He Went That Way,” will then be available on streaming services starting on the same day.
The movie was co-produced by Hugh Broder, a Kalamazoo College alumnus, who drew inspiration from a book written by Kalamazoo College Professor Emeritus Conrad Hilberry. The story is based on a chapter about Kalamazoo-born serial killer Larry Ranes’ road trip with celebrity animal trainer Dave Pitts.
Ranes, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of one of his victims, had a four-day road trip with Pitts, who miraculously survived the encounter. The movie explores the events surrounding this bizarre journey and the reasons why Ranes spared Pitts’ life.
“Jacob Elordi stars as Bobby Falls, a 19-year-old killer based on Ranes, and the story follows Pitts’ real-life account of picking up Ranes as a hitchhiker on Route 66 in 1964. Zachary Quinto plays Jim Goodwin, based on Pitts,” added Broder.
The movie took 19 years from Broder’s initial discovery to its theatrical release. Broder noted that the independent film’s production process was challenging, as most of the team had no experience with feature-length projects and operated on a limited budget.
Kalamazoo College expressed pride in Broder’s achievements, commending his work for showcasing curiosity, creativity, and the ability to look deeper into various perspectives.
“He Went That Way” will be available for streaming on popular platforms and is currently showing at downtown Kalamazoo’s KP Cinemas until Friday, Jan. 12.