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[Fantastic Fest ’12] First Look At ‘The American Scream’!
Magic Stone Productions, the team behind the critically acclaimed documentary Best Worst Movie, and Brainstorm Media are pleased to announce that their feature documentary, The American Scream, will have its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S., on September 23 in Austin, Texas. The American Scream is the second documentary from director Michael Paul Stephenson. His first documentary Best Worst Movie was a critical success when it was released in 2010.
“Every Halloween, sleepy Fairhaven, Massachusetts erupts with the most ambitiously creative spookery in the world. Endless styrofoam tombstones and backyard beasts come courtesy of a few supremely dedicated local “home haunters” who’ve devoted their lives to the art of handmade monster making. The American Scream follows three of these horrific households to uncover the triumphs and tragedies that come with carrying the blackened banner of true Halloween spirit.“
“After Best Worst Movie, the thought of making another documentary was a bit terrifying. With Best Worst Movie, I felt as if we got lucky; lucky to have been able to follow amazing characters and tell a story that meant so much to everybody involved. How on earth could we make another documentary that would have as much meaning,” said filmmaker Michael Paul Stephenson.
“But then came The American Scream and with it, a feeling of immense love and pride for these characters and their story. This film is about more than ‘haunted houses’ or Halloween. It’s a small, intimate story that is centered on dedication, creative passion, obsession and even sacrifice. It embodies a strong sense of small-town American identity, family and community. It only feels fitting to return to the Alamo Drafthouse for the premiere,” continued Stephenson.
The American Scream will world premiere at Fantastic Fest at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar on Sunday, September 23. Filmmakers and stars of the film will be in attendance. This includes director Michael Paul Stephenson and stars Manny Souza and Victor Bariteau and family.
The American Scream is an original feature length documentary for NBCUniversal’s cable channel, Chiller. It will premiere on the Chiller Channel on October 28, 2012 at 8pm EST and will play theatrically in select cities in October. Michael Stephenson, Lindsay Stephenson, Zack Carlson and Rod Olson of Magic Stone Productions and Meyer Shwarzstein of Brainstorm Media produce the film.
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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