MERRIMAC — The crowd was primed for a Mel Gibson sighting.
Some had already seen his stunt double — who is reported to be a dead ringer for the star. They had binoculars, cameras ... even paper on hand in case Gibson came over to sign autographs.
As the filming of "Edge of Darkness" continues in Merrimac over the next few days and next week, chances are the crowd of spectators will continue to grow.
The movie, an adaptation of the 1985 British television mini-series of the same name, is Gibson's first movie since 2002 and has been billed as his comeback. Gibson stars as a police detective who investigates his daughter's death, uncovering corruption that led to her murder.
Movie crews are in Merrimac — right over the Haverhill line — for several days. Neighbors to the area received a letter informing them about the production and where it would be filmed.
Rhonda Smith, of River Road, agreed to allow the movie to film on her property after being contacted by the production company earlier this summer.
The crew arrived on site yesterday morning at 5, with all the equipment in tow, she said. As of yesterday afternoon, the road was blocked off to traffic.
While spectators were kept a distance away from the filming, some watching the action said they saw the leading actor. Others were keeping an eye on the tent in hopes of catching a glimpse, following the shooting.
"We've seen Mel; he's just down there," Smith said yesterday. Smith said the filming will include a car accident scene where a vehicle will be in the Merrimack River.
"We all just think it's pretty cool," Smith said.
Holly Baribeau, of Merrimac, spent two and a half hours on the West Newbury side yesterday observing the shooting. A big Gibson fan, she's seen "Lethal Weapon" a million times, she said, and plans to go see "Edge of Darkness" when it's released.
She was rewarded for her time at the scene when she saw Gibson drive by. He waved.
"It was unbelievable," she said, of watching the filming.
Baribeau returned to the site with her 13-year-old son, Jacob, after he got out of school. The teen is a huge Gibson fan, she said, adding that he's written reports on his movies and even wrote a letter to the actor himself.
"I wanted him to come down," Baribeau said.
Jean Walker, of Haverhill, also walked down from her nearby house. She didn't spot the star himself.
"I saw his stand-in," Walker said.
The movie, which began filming in Boston in August, was also slated to star Robert DeNiro. But DeNiro left the movie last week, citing creative differences.
"Edge of Darkness" is the latest in a string of movies that have been filmed in this area in recent months.
Some of that spike is due to the new tax credit program in the state.
Under the new law, studios, major producers and filmmakers who either shoot at least half of their movie or spend at least half of their production budget in the state are eligible for a tax credit equal to 25 percent of their total spending in Massachusetts, inclusive of any salaries over $1 million.
A total of 17 major productions have shot in Massachusetts in less than three years.
