Decay

Based on a true story and filmed here in Denver by local director Joseph Wartnerchaney, this psychological thriller introduces us to Jonathan, who works as the groundskeeper of an old-fashioned theme park. It's a humdrum job, but Jonathan—whose horribly abusive childhood has left scars in the form of a debilitating case of obsessive-compulsive disorder—thrives on his routine. When a pair of girls breaks into his creepy abode, filled with taxidermy specimens, to take selfies, they set off a chain of events that ends with a dead body in Jonathan's basement. Upon discovering the beautiful young woman, Jonathan is unsure what to do—but he's pleased to have a companion, so instead of alerting the authorities, he begins a relationship with her. As she begins to decay, however, so does his already-fragile mental state. (Denver International Film Festival)