ABOUT THE FILM
Talk about a filmmaker who bleeds for his art!
Nightmare Legend John Skipp was one of the original splatterpunks, pioneering a fresh style of literary horror that was smart, savage, sexy, cinematic, unbelievably gory, wickedly subversive, and fiercely fun.
Now writer-turned-filmmaker Skipp presents his new movie project, THIS IS SPLATTERPUNK: a wild, definitive statement on horror’s rowdiest, most rebellious sub genre.
By showing, not telling, Skipp’s provocative feature drops FOUR INSANE SHORT FILMS that illustrate the difference between original 80’s splatterpunk, the traditional horror it slammed up against, and the two types that spun off from it when it died: Extreme Horror and Bizarro.
Part deranged anthology film, part educational personal statement, and 100% designed to kick ass, THIS IS SPLATTERPUNK is landmark horror about landmark horror. You have never seen anything like it.
ABOUT JOHN SKIPP
John Skipp’s 2021 Splatterpunk Lifetime Achievement Award encapsulates his long, weird, colorful career as a Rondo Award-winning filmmaker (Tales of Halloween), Stoker Award-winning anthologist (Demons, Mondo Zombie), and New York Times bestselling author (The Light at the End, The Scream) whose books have sold millions of copies in a dozen languages worldwide.
His first anthology, Book of the Dead, laid the foundation in 1989 for modern zombie literature. He also co-wrote one of the gnarliest episodes of Shudder’s Creepshow Season One. From splatterpunk founding father to bizarro elder statesman, Skipp has influenced a generation of horror and counterculture artists worldwide.
In 2022, Skipp announced his official retirement from writing fiction, dedicating the rest of his life to making movies and scoring them. Until now, his supposedly “last” book is a collection of short stories, short screenplays, and essays called Don’t Push the Button. His two newest albums — in which he wrote, performed, recorded, mixed, and produced all the music — are Cry Me a Rainbow and The Antidote to Fear. And his most recent film — Skipp’s solo feature debut as writer, producer, director, composer, editor, and actor — is a darkly satirical class-warfare comedy called The Great Divide.
You can follow his artistic, philosophical, and other troublemaking musings in his Substack column, Yer Pal Skipp. And meet him on the level of pure film love here on Letterboxd, where he shares his favorites (only 1,884 to date!).
ABOUT THE BOOK
If you want to understand what makes splatterpunk so different from the horror that came both before and after, your best bet is to read the authors who pioneered the form. It wasn’t just the visceral intensity of their literary assaults on convention. All the key writers — Clive Barker, Joe R. Lansdale, David J. Schow, and John Skipp and Craig Spector — were ferocious stylists, with original voices that completely stood out from the crowd.
In THIS IS SPLATTERPUNK: THE JOHN SKIPP PRIMER, you’ll find 15 of Skipp’s most powerful, passionate, unbridled, and influential splatterpunkian short stories, from his early years in Twilight Zone magazine to the present day.
Skipp also includes a definitive essay on the history and core elements of the movement — which he defines more as a “spontaneous eruption of the arts” — with additional notes on each story, for context.
But mostly, it’s about Skipp’s unflinching empathy — his ability to put you inside the skins of his characters, make you feel what they feel every speck of the way — that makes THIS IS SPLATTERPUNK: THE JOHN SKIPP PRIMER an essential read for lovers of fearless fiction, and the perfect companion piece to his film.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
I love horror stories. I always have. And not just because dancing with monsters is fun. Horror is the fiction of worst-case scenarios. The genre best suited to address the damage. Hence its wild popularity, in a culture gone mad.
People need a safe place to face down the shadows, and horror is cathartic. It speaks to our souls as it speaks to our bones.
My goal with THIS IS SPLATTERPUNK — both the book and the movie — is to make a personal statement about the meaning of horror that’s entertaining as hell, landing serious points while kicking ass and having a blast. As an artist known for shaking up the genre more than once, I feel uniquely qualified to pull this off. I have devoted my life to honing just these skills. And I think you’re gonna love this film.
SUPPORT THE ART
DONATIONS & INVESTMENTS
There are many ways to get involved with This is Splatterpunk. Some – like actually being on set – won’t come up until we’re closer to showtime. And we’ll conduct a serious crowdfunding campaign soon, with all manner of perks and ways to play.
In the meantime, here are the two main ways you can be part of the fun, and help bring our beautiful film to fruition.
Participation in Creation
Take a leap with us by donating to or investing in
THIS IS SPLATTERPUNK: A JOHN SKIPP FILM
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION!
Unlike most aspects of the filmmaking process, there’s no risk in donating cash or services to This is Splatterpunk. We now have fiscal sponsorship with a fantastic not-for-profit organization called From the Heart Productions. This allows any individual to donate up to $999,900 (which, incidentally, you DON’T NEED TO DO!), and then write it off on their taxes, free and clear.
The link directly to This is Splatterpunk’s account at From the Heart [coming soon]. This allows them to hold onto your donations until we need them, and provides you with the documentation you need to successfully file those invaluable end-of-year tax deductions.
All that, AND the potential for red carpet adventures and lifelong relationships in the artfully entertaining end of the film industry. (Donors can be producers, TOO, you know!)
INVEST!
Yeah, investing in film is kinda like gambling. It’s risky. That’s why it’s exciting. If the movie makes money, you make money. If the movie fails to break even, so do you.
But either way, a movie gets made. And your investment made it happen. Thereby opening up a whole world of film festivals, screenings, meeting other filmmakers and investors. Possibly even becoming a producer yourself.
If you’re interested in investing in THIS IS SPLATTERPUNK, drop us a line. We’re happy to discuss the deets, the terms, the treats, the risks, and rewards. And no money will be exchanged without experienced entertainment and commodities attorneys on board, to guarantee everything’s on the up-and-up.