Maverick filmmaker and Yellow Ape President Jim Haggerty is embarking on a new horror anthology set for a 2025 release.
UNNATURAL CAUSES will feature many veterans of Haggerty’s previous films, most notably at this point Tina Krause who has already finished shooting her lead role in one of the film’s darker segments. More casting announcements are forthcoming, and some big surprises are planned.
This will be the first release from Yellow Ape Productions since the 2021 short film Blu-ray compilation MOVIES FOR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
“I was very pleased with how MOVIES FOR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR came out, and the reception it received,” Haggerty says. “It was the culmination of many years of making short films and a lot of them had not been seen previously by a lot of people and it was great to have them out there and it almost felt like a nice career finale.”
Along with MOVIES FOR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, 2021 saw the release of Haggerty’s horror-themed punk rock band Drunken Frankenstein’s debut EP Phantom Creeps, which took Haggerty in another direction away from making movies.
“It was one of those things that started with just a song, then grew to two, then three, then a CD, then videos, then playing shows, it just kept growing,” Haggerty explains. “I never expected it all to come together the way it did, but it was so much fun, and I got to live a lot of my rock star dreams and be creative in a new way, which was a blast and took me away from the filmmaking game.”
Now with the band on something of a hiatus, the time seemed right to get back in the game.
“We’re currently seeking a new lead guitarist for Drunken Frankenstein,” Haggerty explains. “So that puts recording our new album and shows on hold for a bit, so it freed my time up to focus on some of the many, many ideas I have floating around in my head for movies.”
No stranger to the anthology format having helmed the cult classics GRAVE DANGER and WHEN DEATH CALLS, Haggerty promises the movie will have a somewhat different feel but still plenty for the old fans to appreciate.
“I found myself watching a lot of old episodes of Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected,” Haggerty explains. “And that gave me a lot of inspiration, that vibe. But at the same time, it’s got very much my usual flair for the over the top and quirky and darkly humorous.”
Filming is already underway on the anthology and the release is set for 2025. And Haggerty is anxious and excited to see the project coming together.
“It’s great,” Haggerty smiles. “We’re making movies again and it’s fun again, and I can’t wait for the world to see what we’re doing!”
