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‘The Clearing’ Set on the Dawn of the Apocalypse [Exclusive]
Lexicon Entertainment, in association with Room in the Sky Films today announced the start of production on their fourth production of the year: The Clearing, the feature directorial debut for writer-director Dave Matalon who directs from his own screenplay, Bloody Disgusting learned.
“A horror-action film, The Clearing is set at the dawn of the zombie apocalypse. Amid tensions between Tom (Liam McIntyre) and his wife (Sydelle Noel) over his parental responsibilities and the time he spends with his young daughter Mira (Aundrea Smith), Tom takes Mira on a camping trip, only to discover the impending disaster, trapping the pair in…The Clearing. Will Mira’s recently learned backwoods and orienteering skills help her survive the onslaught of the infected and rejoin her father, who is using every physical and intellectual tool at his disposal to hold the horde at bay?”
In addition to McIntyre and Smith, The Clearing also stars Sydelle Noel (GLOW; Black Panther) and Steven Swadling (Kickboxer franchise; Point Defiance), while producers on the project are Mark Mathias Sayre (Doubting Thomas; DOE; Point Defiance; Waterlily Jaguar) and Jonathan Piumelli (DOE; Waterlily Jaguar) with Christopher Wolfe, Steven Swadling (Waterlily Jaguar, Kickboxer: Vengeance & Retaliation, Point Defiance). Ryan O’Quinn, Wes Halula, and Michael Davis are serving as executive producers.
“I was interested in bringing back the classic horror-action films I loved as a kid in the 80’s and 90s,” says director David Matalon.
“Movies that were full of chills and thrills, but at their heart were about deeply personal relationships and family. I’m so proud to have been able to have such an amazing cast and crew. Liam McIntyre’s incredible dedication and professionalism. Director of Photography Olivia Kuan’s keen eye, and the entire crew’s commitment to making The Clearing. It will be a very ambitious shoot on a tight deadline, and we could not have attempted it without each and every member of our team.”
Production will continue through early October at remote locations throughout Los Angeles County.
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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