By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The holiday horror movie is set to begin rolling at the end of January.
Writer/producer P.J. Starks let us know that Jeffrey Reddick (pictured), the original writer of FINAL DESTINATION whose scripting credits also include TAMARA, DEAD AWAKE and DON’T LOOK BACK (the latter of which he directed as well), has joined the holiday slasher NEW FEARS EVE as a producer and actor. The project, which we first told you about here, will be directed by Eric Huskisson, and he, Starks and Reddick are producing with Felissa Rose and Dave Sheridan, who also co-star alongside Hannah Fierman (V/H/S), L.C. Holt (YOU’RE NEXT), Lily Claire Harvey, Jay Woolston, Alyssa Rhoads, Roni Jonah, Turner Vaughn and newcomer Jesse MacDonald as The Doctor, the movie’s villain. The synopsis: “As the coming year approaches, three best friends reluctantly prepare for Hooper Industries’ annual New Year’s Eve bash. The clock ticks down and the body count rises as a psychotic murderer known as The Doctor is on the loose. This sadistic surgeon of death leaves Owensboro covered in blood as local police and FBI are forced to navigate through a maze of bodies left in his wake. Unbeknownst to the three best friends, their mandatory party is about to turn deadly when the killer sets his sights on them. December 31 becomes a party to die for when Leslie, Brian, Moses and their colleagues are trapped inside an inescapable building with a bloodthirsty madman hell bent on carving his way to midnight.”
NEW FEARS EVE will shoot entirely in Owensboro, Kentucky, and Reddick tells us, “I’ve been a friend, and fan, of P.J. Starks for over a decade. Kentucky has such a great pool of talented filmmakers, and I love to champion them. When I saw what P.J., Eric Huskisson and their amazing team accomplished with 13 SLAYS TILL X-MAS, on a limited budget and during COVID, it blew me away. When P.J. told me they were doing another horror film, I asked to read the script and immediately knew I wanted to be a part of bringing it to life.”
Starks adds, “Jeffrey worked on 13 SLAYS, but in a limited capacity due to the pandemic, and we knew we wanted to work together in a more substantial way. When Eric and I started preproduction on NEW FEARS EVE, we instantly knew this was that opportunity. Jeffrey had so many incredible things to say about 13 SLAYS, so when he asked to come onboard NEW FEARS as a producer, it was very exciting. To know he respects our abilities that much is intensely humbling. Jeffrey will also have a role in the film, so I’m stoked to be working with him on set as well.
“Right now is a highly stressful time,” he adds, “as we move into scheduling, locking down all the loose ends and whatnot; we’re all just ready to be on set making magic!” Fright fans in the Owensboro area are invited to take part in a NEW FEARS EVE VIP party that takes place Friday, January 27 from 8 p.m.-midnight at the Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront (701 West 1st Street, Owensboro, KY). Reddick, Sheridan, Rose, the filmmakers and local cast and crew will be on hand; click here for more details and to order tickets. And NEW FEARS EVE’s Indiegogo campaign is currently InDemand; you can see it here.
