How Kansas City’s ‘Big Slick’ charity weekend solidified Rob Riggle’s new horror-comedy movie

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – For the past six years, Kansas City native Rob Riggle and “Impractical Jokers” star James “Murr” Murray have shared the spotlight at the T-Mobile Center during Big Slick celebrity weekend. Their latest collaboration is taking them from the arena to the big screen.

The partnership for the new horror-comedy film “Don’t Move” was born directly backstage at the annual charity event that raises millions for Children’s Mercy Hospital.

“Backstage two years ago at T-Mobile, I said to Rob, ‘Buddy, we have a horror movie we want to shoot in Kansas City. I said I want to kill you in it,’” Murray said during a post-premiere Q&A session. “Without seeing the script, he said, ‘I’m in.’ That gave us the momentum to make the movie.”

The film’s connection to the hospital didn’t stop with the actors. Riggle turned the project into another fundraising opportunity, hosting fans who purchased a VIP movie premiere experience with him during the last Big Slick Charity Auction.

“The fact that we got to shoot in my hometown is the greatest thing ever,” Riggle said.

Riggle hadn’t even screened the final film before Tuesday’s local premiere. He admitted the Ozarks-set camping thriller, which is based on a book written and produced by Murray, delivered plenty of genuine scares.

“It was awesome. It blew me away,” Riggle said. ”I did scream, and my girlfriend was sitting next to me. She probably has a bruise on her knee right now.”

Scenes from the movie were shot in the Kansas City-area over 17 days last year. If you watch closely you’ll notice Kansas City’s historic 12th Street Bridge and a nearby farm.

The visiting cast and crew were quickly initiated into local culture, and said they found plenty of reasons to fall in love with the area.

“I absolutely love it. The [Negro Leagues] Baseball Museum did a lot of fun stuff, great barbecue. Just a great crew all around,” said Matt Biedel, who plays Mike Forrester in the film.

The hometown synergy behind “Don’t Move” is part of a larger trend of stars from Kansas City bringing major projects back home.

Fellow Big Slick co-host Heidi Gardner is currently in town filming her upcoming movie, “The Swimming Lesson.” Meanwhile, Overland Park native Jason Sudeikis and the cast of “Ted Lasso” took over the metro last summer to film Season 4 of the hit series.

“Don’t Move” held premiers in New York on Monday, Kansas City on Tuesday and Los Angeles on Wednesday. It opens in more than 500 theaters across the country on Friday, September 11, including AMC and B&B Theaters in the Kansas City area.