Locals walk the red carpet as 'Sherlock Holmes: Mare of the Night' expands release

C.J. Goodwyn, a Tivy High School and Schreiner University alumni, has four feature-length films under his belt. His most recent, “Sherlock Holmes: Mare of the Night,” had its initial red carpet premiere at the end of January at City Base Cinemas in San Antonio.

Goodwyn is self-taught and served as director, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor for the film.

It won the box office for the weekend of Jan. 24, with attendance records beating out all major movies showing at City Base. The film then had a two-week run at Santikos Theaters in San Antonio, selling out both weekends.

A local red carpet premiere for “Sherlock Holmes: Mare of the Night” is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Kathleen C. Cailloux City Center for the Performing Arts, 910 Main St. The film screening will begin at 3 p.m, with a Q&A with Goodwyn and the cast of the film scheduled for after the screening.

The film is set to go on a theatrical tour in March, screening in Austin, Houston and Dallas.

“We’re also scheduled in Chicago, New York, and I just heard from a theater in Oregon this morning,” Goodwyn said on Tuesday.

He is looking to expand the release to even more theaters around the country within the year.

“Sherlock Holmes: Mare of the Night,” offers audiences a new look at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic consulting detective.

“I researched Arthur Conan Doyle. He had an interest in the supernatural, and his books are actually really dark. A lot of drug and alcohol abuse, some of the cases are very dire, and Sherlock doesn’t always win,” Goodwyn said. “That really intrigued me, I wanted to explore what covering crime in the streets of London in the 1800s for years does to your psyche.”

In this new Holmesian installment, the detective is haunted by a case he couldn’t solve. Holmes turns to self-medicated despair that plunges him into a state of psychological horror. Audiences will recognize several classic characters alongside brand-new additions from Goodwyn as screenwriter.

Goodwyn has been a full-time filmmaker for five years and cites Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen Spielberg as influences for his films, especially when it comes to how to tell stories and light or frame a scene.

“Hitchcock knew how to tell a story without much dialogue,” he said. “Spielberg was a pioneer in bringing worlds to life which we’ve never seen before with movies like ‘Jaws,’ ‘E.T.’ and ‘Jurassic Park.’”

On the horror side of the movie genre, Goodwyn is a fan of James Wan, who made a name for himself with the “Insidious” and “Conjuring” franchises.

“I always tell people that ‘The Conjuring’ is like a love story surrounded by horror, so I really like that style,” he said. “You see that in this film with the brotherly love between Holmes and Watson.”

Goodwyn put out a local casting call for the film, and the Cailloux Theater provided the space to host auditions.

“Since I grew up here, I really try to encourage and involve the community. There’s a vibrant theater scene, but not much involving film,” he said. “I enjoy providing an opportunity for people who wouldn’t have otherwise had one to be in a movie, especially on the big screen.”

The title role is played by Les Best, a seasoned character actor originally from Georgetown with numerous credits to his name.

“I’ve known Les for 13 years now, he’s been in all four of my films,” Goodwyn said. “There’s a lot of respect there. He’s always been so positive and encouraging.”

Jon Rich and Emily Edwards, both Kerrville natives, play John and Mary Watson.

“It’s great that the Cailloux has opened their doors to us,” Goodwyn said. “I think they’re true lovers of art no matter what it is.”

While many might view acting and filmmaking as often glamorous, it’s a different story for those involved in independent projects. Goodwyn’s actors, extras and those behind the scenes are local volunteers who generally have day jobs, which means filming must be scheduled primarily on weekends. For six months, many of them were on set for 14-hour days out in the middle of nowhere to film a scene, finishing the last shot at 4 a.m.

“Making a film is hard work, but the cast and crew had a lot of patience and enthusiasm. They trusted me,” he said. “A lot of them were new to film, and I love giving people a chance and watching them grow.”

To purchase tickets to the “Sherlock Holmes: Mare of the Night” red carpet premiere, visit www.caillouxperformingarts.org.

“Dress to impress. It’ll sort of be like the Oscars for anyone that comes,” Goodwyn said. “It’ll also be a great networking opportunity for anyone that wants to be in the film industry. Come out, meet people and celebrate with us.”

While “Sherlock Holmes: Mare of the Night” is not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America, it is intended for adult audiences. The film currently has above 90% ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.

To learn more about CJ Goodwyn and his other films, visit www.trigoodwynproductions.wordpress.com or follow his production company on Facebook at Trigoodwynproductions.

Originally published in the Feb. 13, 2025 edition of The Kerrville Daily Times.