Ohio Filmmaker Jarrod Robbins Premieres Psychological Thriller “Mad River”
Fairborn native Jarrod Robbins is set to premiere his first feature film, “Mad River,” a psychological thriller filmed entirely in Ohio. The film, based on Robbins’s own novel, explores themes of mental health, isolation, and societal perceptions of those struggling with inner turmoil.
From Short Films to Feature Production
Robbins, who has been producing short films and acting for over 20 years, established Mad River Entertainment as an LLC at the complete of 2025. “This is the first feature film I’ve directed, so it is the most personally and professionally significant one for me,” Robbins stated. He previously worked in Los Angeles and Nashville before returning to Ohio in 2022 to focus on bringing “Mad River” to life.
A Story Rooted in Empathy
“Mad River” centers on a lonely man’s descent into insanity, presented from the protagonist’s perspective, allowing the audience to experience his fracturing mind firsthand. The film was inspired by Robbins’s encounters with a troubled homeless man while managing the third shift at a hotel in Los Angeles. “I listened to him and talked to him like a person. It’s when I realized that, as a society, we label people as ‘crazy’ or ‘evil’ to keep them at arm’s length. Mad River is a deeply empathetic look at a broken man,” Robbins explained.
Filmed Across the Miami Valley
The film’s production spanned several Ohio locations, including Springfield, Urbana, New Carlisle, Medway, Enon, Fairborn, Xenia, and Yellow Springs. Robbins hopes the film will resonate with audiences, spark conversation, and inspire individuals from small towns to pursue their creative ambitions. “I hope it encourages other small town folks to believe in yourself and make you own way. And I hope that it makes Ohio proud,” he added.
Premiere Dates and Availability
“Mad River” will premiere at the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs on Saturday, April 4th, at 7 p.m. Additional screenings are scheduled for April 10th at the Fairborn Phoenix (7 p.m.), April 17th at the State Theatre in Springfield (6 p.m.), and April 24th, 25th, and 26th at the Esquire Theatre in Cincinnati (7 p.m. And 2 p.m. Matinee on the 26th). Tickets are available through the respective venues’ websites.
The film will be available on Blu-ray this spring and will initiate streaming later in the year. Robbins also wrote, performed, and recorded the film’s score, which, along with the soundtrack featuring local artists Ryan Fyffe, Annie Nereng, and Matt Clarkson Band, will be released on vinyl.
Where to Find More Information
Robbins’s novels are available on Amazon and can be ordered through most bookstores, including Tesseract Books in Yellow Springs. Some of his short films are available on his YouTube channel. Further information about Robbins and his work can be found at https://jarrodrobbins.com.
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