By MICHAEL GINGOLD

We’ve also learned that the upcoming indie slasher has a helluva body count.

Producer P.J. Starks gave us the exclusive first look at the new poster for NEW FEARS EVE, which we last reported on here. The regional murderama was scripted by Starks, who also directed with Eric Huskisson, and the duo produced with three of the film’s stars, Felissa Rose, Dave Sheridan and FINAL DESTINATION creator Jeffrey Reddick. Also in the cast are Hannah Fierman (V/H/S), Lily Claire Harvey, Jay Woolston, Alyssa Rhoads, Roni Jonah and Turner Vaughn, with Jesse MacDonald as the movie’s slasher, The Doctor.

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.”

Starks also gave us an update: “The film is in postproduction being scored by composer Frank Dormani, whose music is already elevating the film in a very big way. We recently got our Owensboro crew and the Ohio special effects team together to film some additional material. We wanted to ramp up the gore on a few of the kills, of which there are over 40. For a slasher film, it’s very character-driven and plot-heavy, but we didn’t want to skimp on the blood and guts, and felt some of the deaths could be more gruesome. Next, we’re headed into the color-correction and sound-design portion. The finish line is in view, and everyone involved is super-excited to get this thing out into the world. Obviously that will be next year, and be determined by whoever distributes the film.” We’ll keep you posted on who that will be!