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‘The Raking’ Becomes Part of the Joshua Tree Legend
Los Angeles production company Lesson 1 Entertainment has completed principal photography on The Raking, an independent feature horror film starring Bryan Brewer, Cree Kelly, Allie Rivera, Thatcher Robinson, Marisa Davila and Marshal Hilton (The Bunnyman Massacre), Bloody Disgusting learned.
“The Raking tells the story of a group of college students who set out to debunk an urban legend in Joshua Tree, California for their anthropology thesis, only to find that they become part of the legend themselves.”
Directed by star Brewer from a script he co-wrote with writer and producer Laura Heine, Brewer also produces with Rivera under their Lesson 1 Entertainment banner.
“From the get-go we decided to steer clear of the found-footage genre, and to try to deliver a satisfying, cinematic film with a cool monster at its center, and as a life-long monster fan, I’m hopeful we did just that,” director and co-writer Brewer says of his approach to the micro-budget The Raking.
Designed by SyFy’s “Face/Off” Season 4 contestant Eric Fox of MORBAX FX, the artist says of his approach in creating the titular creature (which is based on the urban legend of The Rake), “It was all practical, and I wanted to deliver something we’ve never seen before in the genre. Also, there’s really very little information that exists on the legend itself, so that allowed me creative license in my design, and once it was on set, I think creature actor Alan Maxon really brought the result to creepy life.”
Horror fans attending the Pasadena, California monster makeup convention Monsterpalooza (running this April 22-24) will be the first to get a sneak peak at Fox’s creation.
The Raking is currently in post-production.
We have an exclusive first look at A Man in the Woods With an Axe, a blood-soaked, genre-twisting homage to 1980s slasher films.
Spanning four decades, A Man in the Woods With an Axe begins in the summer of 1987 before pushing into the modern era, weaving together timelines and perspectives in a way that builds both dread and intrigue.
Drawing inspiration from genre standouts like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Hatchet, and The Cabin in the Woods, the film blends visceral horror with moments of dark humor, creating a uniquely balanced experience that honors tradition while carving its own identity.
Writer-director Dillon Brown (Primal Darkness) aims to deliver everything fans crave from a slasher while boldly subverting expectations with a mid-film twist that redefines the story.
“This is an unapologetic love letter to the films that made me fall in love with horror,” Brown tells Bloody Disgusting. “But I didn’t just want to recreate that feeling; I wanted to challenge it. About halfway through, the film takes a turn that completely changes how you view not only this story, but the genre itself.”
Brown describes the vintage-inspired production as “far and away the bloodiest film I’ve ever made,” with practical effects helmed by Cody Ruch (The Mill, Pig Hill), an instructor at Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program.
From Horror Dadz Productions, A Man in the Woods With an Axe is currently in production and targeting an early 2027 release.
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