Indie
‘Se7en’ Writer’s ‘Psycho Killer’ Hails Satan!
K5 International’s Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur have struck a major deal to finance and produce SE7EN screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker’s Psycho Killer, a serial killer thriller that offers the same taut, whip-smart calibre of writing that made David Fincher’s 1995 thriller an instant classic and global box office smash, Bloody Disgusting learned out of Cannes.
“Psycho Killer follows a nameless murderer, wearing a nightmarish mask, who stalks his way across the United States, leaving a long trail of random victims left in bloody tribute to Satan.
A chance encounter with a highway patrolman on a Kansas highway ends tragically, but this time there is a witness; the patrolman’s wife, Jane, a fellow police officer. Now Jane, who has just discovered she is pregnant, sets out to seek vengeance. She unyieldingly goes after the relentless evil force that is Psycho Killer, whose ultimate goal is the engineering of an unspeakable mass murder that he believes will assure his triumphant entrance into hell.”
“Andrew’s pedigree as a writer is unparalleled for this kind of nail-biting thriller,” say K5’s Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur. “Delivering a disturbing and powerful punch, Psycho Killer will come to be seen as one of the great cinematic inventions. It recalls the great villains of our nightmares, from Hannibal Lecter to Jason but also compels and gives us a sense of awe at his sheer power. We’ve no doubt that Gavin will deliver a truly exceptional thriller.”
Psycho Killer is directed by Gavin Polone, who directed six episodes of “Twisted” for ABC Family, which he also executive produced. Polone’s background is as producer of major productions including Zombieland and Panic Room.
The film is produced by Matt Berenson (A Place Beyond the Pines and upcoming horror film The Boy with Lakeshore/STX starring Lauren Cohan from “Walking Dead” and directed by Brent Bell (The Devil Inside)), and written by SE7EN screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker who was nominated for a BAFTA and won numerous awards for the film’s screenplay.
Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.
The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:
“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.
“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.
“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.
“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”
Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.
WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.
To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.
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