With ‘Hay Man,” Marlborough resident enters scary-funny genre

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Zachary Benton, known as “Melodious Zach,” shares a secret with the cow at the Vin Bin in Marlborough. Benton will premiere his second film, “The Hay Man,” in October in Lexington. (Photo / Maureen Sullivan)

Zachary Benton, known as “Melodious Zach,” shares a secret with the cow at the Vin Bin in Marlborough. Benton will premiere his second film, “The Hay Man,” in October in Lexington. (Photo / Maureen Sullivan)

MARLBOROUGH – Within the expanse of a New England farm, a monster flourishes.

It targets two brothers who resent each other.

What happens? Well, you’d have to go see “The Hay Man,” a comedy-horror film produced, co-written, directed and co-starring Zachary Benton, also known as “Melodious Zach.”

The premiere for his second film will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Lexington Venue. It will also be streamed, and Benton hopes it should be on Tubi by the end of October.

Benton said this production is along the lines of “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” and other films that blend a bit of laughter with the screams.

He got the idea from a boyhood memory – picking up hay in the summer at his grandparents’ farm. He said that afterward, while cleaning up, he would notice “all these little cuts” from the hay.

Benton began to develop the story of a monster made of hay, and of two brothers who inherit this farm. One son, played by Benton, left to pursue another career; when he gets fired, he returns to the farm, only to be shut out by the other son, played by collaborator Dave Allen.

The film features “lots of cameos” from local residents, including some of the staff from WMCT, where Benton currently works as a youth coordinator.

Benton is a native of New Hampshire and a graduate of Keene State University.

“I always liked to put on a show when I was a kid,” he said. “I took jazz and tap classes.”

Benton also put on comedy shows, and he began writing and performing music.

He first got involved with creating video programs at a public access station in New Hampshire. He was soon producing content every week, but he had to cut back because of COVID-19.

After he was laid off from his day job at a radio station, Benton decided to do something with the episodes he had produced in New Hampshire.

“I learned how to edit, and film scoring,” he said.

From these episodes, Benton created his first film – “O! Melodious Movie: Side 1,” a science fantasy-comedy. This film is currently available on Tubi.

When not filming, scoring, writing or singing, Benton has worked as a park ranger – first at Wellington State Park, then at Monadnock – and a substitute teacher at Goodnow Elementary School.

Much of the equipment and studio work for this production was done at WMCT.

“Thanks to the resources at WMCT, I was able to keep the budget low,” said Benton.

The poster for “The Hay Man,” which will premiere at the Lexington Venue in October.

The poster for “The Hay Man,” which will premiere at the Lexington Venue in October.

See the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWheU9TlTEA

For information on “Melodious Zach,” visit https://melodiouszach2.wixsite.com/melodiouszach

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