Independent Dark Comedy Girl in the Refrigerator Brings Midwest Filmmaking and Morbid Humor to Streaming Platforms

Screenwriter James Ziolkowski from Mount Prospect has released his first feature film, the dark comedy Girl in the Refrigerator, now streaming on Tubi, Roku, Plex, Fawesome, and Xumo. Distributed by Bayview Entertainment (official site), the 93-minute, rated-R film marks a major step for Ziolkowski and his company, Strawcutter Films.

Ziolkowski says writing dark comedy felt like a natural progression in his creative path, and he approached the project with a focus on tight, micro-budget storytelling. Most of the movie was shot near downtown Mount Prospect, with additional scenes filmed at the Lions Park Bandshell and a key moment taking place near the Des Plaines River at Central and River roads. Interior scenes were completed at a home on Forest Avenue, while the majority of the driving sequences were filmed throughout Des Plaines.

The crew considered filming a driving scene outside Nelson Funeral Home in Park Ridge as a tribute to The Blues Brothers, but the timing didn’t align with their production schedule. The full shoot took 24 days over four months, reflecting the constraints and creativity typical of independent filmmaking.

The story centers on Coleman Walinski, a theater manager who accidentally kills his girlfriend and struggles to remove her body from his busy apartment complex. Ziolkowski brought in director Francis Juelkuvsky, originally from Poland, after cinematographer Brian Wiebe, who had taught at the SAE Institute of Chicago, suggested him for the role based on his strong dedication to filmmaking.

A standout feature of the movie is its playful homage to 1920s silent films, with two scenes transitioning into silent-film style. Legendary Chicago silent-film organist Jay Warren, whom Ziolkowski knew from years of attending local screenings, provided the music. Warren passed away earlier this year, making these contributions especially meaningful to the team.

Post-production took longer than expected due to technical complications, but editor Matthew Baran stepped in to guide the film to completion. Casting involved a mix of phone auditions and local talent discoveries, with “scene stealers” Shirin Caiola and Ian Sargent Phillips impressing the team with their comedic timing.

The film stars Jimmy “Kāsh” Bevetti, who brings a background in radio and had previously been an on-air personality at WCBR in Arlington Heights. Ziolkowski reached out to Bevetti directly after admiring his work for years. Actresses Jaclyn Francine and Maria Brenda, both experienced in independent features, were chosen early for their roles, and comedians Gus Klett and Tyler Ross rounded out the group with their stand-up experience.

Girl in the Refrigerator premiered to an enthusiastic crowd at a festival screening in Elk Grove Village and performed strongly on the festival circuit. Ziolkowski’s passion for writing dates back to helping his brother write a college TV script, which earned top marks and pushed him to explore screenwriting more seriously. He taught himself by checking out film scripts from the Des Plaines and Mount Prospect libraries and has since won awards in comedy, horror, and drama categories.

His lifelong love of movies traces back to childhood visits to the Des Plaines Theatre and the Twin Drive-In on Milwaukee Avenue. He later managed a movie theater in Glenview, where he built 35mm film prints and handled projection before the transition to digital.

Ziolkowski revealed he was nearly optioned three times for an award-winning comedy script, but each deal fell apart, the last just days before signing. That experience pushed him to make his own path, leading to the creation of Girl in the Refrigerator as a micro-budget project he could film independently.

Despite a packed schedule promoting the movie, Ziolkowski still prioritizes time for writing and continues developing future projects.