At the Gardens: A Psychological Thriller Based on a True Story - A Film That Pulls No Punches

"At the Gardens" is not just a movie—it’s a harrowing descent into systemic corruption, unchecked power, and the brutal consequences of Harbor Property Management and LAPD negligence. This psychological thriller follows Ben, a tenant who unknowingly moves into a complex where harassment, violence, and manipulation are not just ignored but actively weaponized against tenants.

Inspired by true events, the film lays bare the horrifying realities of verbal abuse, physical assault, multi-tenant conspiracies to harass, poisoning, and even organized gang involvement—manipulated by corrupt individuals to further a campaign of fear.

It exposes the devastating impact of mismanagement and neglect on mental health, the violation of disability rights, and the dangers of a hostile LGBTQ+ environment—revealing how systemic failures in protective programs can push a tenant to the ultimate crisis: suicide.

Through a blend of psychological horror, social commentary, and true-to-life legal battles, "At the Gardens" doesn’t just tell a story—it exposes a real-life crisis where the institutions designed to protect tenants fail them at every level.

A Nightmare That Became Reality

• This film is based on actual events at a Harbor Property Management (HPM) location in Los Angeles CA, where tenants begged for safety as they endured a relentless campaign of harassment, hate speech, property damage, and escalating violence.

• Between March 2023 and October 2024, multiple tenants reported a violent and abusive guest, Shawn, who terrorized the complex with homophobic slurs, brandished a gun, and physically assaulted residents. Despite tenants providing police reports, security footage, and direct complaints, no meaningful action happened.

• The story deepens as gang members were unknowingly pulled into the conflict, manipulated into participating in the harassment by a carefully crafted campaign of misinformation.

• False accusations, intimidation tactics, and a deliberate effort to isolate and break tenants created an environment where people lived in fear of retaliation, physical harm, and even death.

• Then, in June 2024, things escalated further: A tenant was violently assaulted by Shawn, who smashed their phone and inflicted serious injuries. Security footage captured Shawn throwing a white powder into a disabled tenant’s air conditioning unit—multiple times, in broad daylight.

• A gang was misled into believing they had a reason to target certain tenants, further heightening the danger.

• False accusations of pedophilia were deliberately spread, inciting hostility and creating an even more volatile situation.

• A disabled tenant’s requests for accommodations were ignored, even as security cameras were stolen and safety measures were deliberately sabotaged.

• By the time authorities stepped in, the damage had been done. Lawsuits were filed, agencies launched investigations, and tenants continued to fight—but the system was built to stall, to delay, and to protect the wrong people.

A Cinematic Approach That Puts You Inside the Nightmare

The film’s immersive storytelling techniques will transport viewers into Ben’s fractured, increasingly volatile reality, showing how it feels to be gaslit, abandoned, and pushed toward psychological collapse:

• Disorienting Time Jumps: Scenes repeat with slight variations, showing Ben’s unraveling perception of reality.

• Auditory Overload: Voices from past threats, legal gaslighting, and police dismissals will echo through his mind.

• Distorted Cinematography: Sudden shifts in framing, color grading, and camera movement will visually simulate the unpredictability of trauma and bipolar mood swings.

• Surreal Nightmare Sequences: The legal system becomes a twisted, never-ending labyrinth, where corrupt figures pull the strings and the victim is always at fault.

• Drawing inspiration from films like Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, and The Father, At the Gardens is designed to be a visceral, haunting experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

Why This Film Must Be Made: This isn’t just a story—it’s an urgent warning.

The real-world case behind At the Gardens is ongoing, with HUD, the Los Angeles Housing Department, and other agencies investigating the horrific mismanagement of the property. The evidence is overwhelming.

But still—justice is delayed. The cycle of harassment and neglect continues.

This film is a call to action—a chance to expose the failures of the system, the complicity of property management, and the devastating impact of unchecked violence in vulnerable communities.

How You Can Help

• This project needs funding to bring this critical story to the screen. Your contribution will directly support:

• Casting and crew hires to ensure the film is made with authenticity and integrity.

• Location and production costs to create a realistic, immersive environment.

• Post-production work to enhance the film’s psychological horror elements.

• Marketing and distribution efforts to make sure this story reaches the widest possible audience.

By supporting At the Gardens, you are helping to expose the truth. You are helping to document the gaslighting, harassment, and systemic failures that allow abusers to thrive while victims suffer.

Stand with us. Stand for justice. Help bring At the Gardens to life.