Larry Fessenden is bringing his versions of classic movie monsters together for Trauma or, Monsters All, which will unite the vampire, Frankenstein’s monster, and the werewolf from three of the independent filmmaker’s previous features. Dark Sky Films has announced that the film will open in New York on November 4, ahead of a November 24 nationwide VOD release, and the announcement comes with a new trailer. Check it out in the embed above!
Written and directed by Fessenden, Trauma or, Monsters All is the culmination of a decades-long project to reinterpret classic monsters through a contemporary, human lens. The film brings together the vampire mythology of Habit (1995), the Frankenstein-inspired story of Depraved (2019), and the werewolf horror of Blackout (2023) in one feature.
The film will receive an exclusive New York theatrical engagement at the IFC Center beginning November 4, with special cast appearances and a Q&A. It will subsequently open at the Lumiere Music Hall in Los Angeles and in additional markets before its nationwide VOD debut on November 24.
What Is Trauma or, Monsters All About?
In Trauma or, Monsters All, visiting writer Cassandra (Laëtitia Hollard) arrives in the quiet upstate town of Talbot Falls to research a book on George Washington Carver while working at the local library alongside her new friend Agnes (Aitana Doyle). After Cassandra publishes an article exposing the town’s unsettling past, buried secrets begin to surface as a werewolf, vampire, and Frankenstein creation emerge from the shadows, forcing the community to confront generations of fear, guilt, and suppressed trauma.
Larry Fessenden Brings His Classic Monsters Together
Habit introduced Fessenden’s take on vampire mythology, while Depraved offered a contemporary reinterpretation of the Frankenstein story. Blackout brought his approach to werewolf horror into the mix. Trauma or, Monsters All unites those strands in a story that places the monsters in the same world.
Fessenden has spent more than three decades exploring supernatural mythology, human frailty, and contemporary anxieties through independent horror. His other directing credits include Wendigo, The Last Winter, and Beneath. He has also supported generations of independent filmmakers through Glass Eye Pix, the New York-based production company he has operated since 1985.
The film is produced by Glass Eye Pix and marks another collaboration between Fessenden and Dark Sky Films. Their previous projects together include Ti West’s The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, as well as Stake Land, Stake Land 2, Hypothermia, Late Phases, Bitter Feast, and Blackout.
Larry Fessenden on Trauma or, Monsters All
Fessenden had this to say about the film:
“I’ve spent my career reimagining classic monsters because they reveal something deeply human about us. TRAUMA OR, MONSTERS ALL brings those stories together into one film about memory, identity, and the wounds we carry. I’m grateful to reunite with Dark Sky Films, whose support of independent horror has made them the perfect home for this project.”
Greg Newman, executive vice president of Dark Sky Films, added:
“Our partnership with Larry Fessenden and Glass Eye Pix spans many years and some of the most influential independent horror films of their era. TRAUMA OR, MONSTERS ALL is another bold, uncompromising work from one of the genre’s true visionaries, and we’re proud to bring it to audiences.”
Trauma or, Monsters All Cast and Release Details
The ensemble cast features Laëtitia Hollard, Aitana Doyle, Addison Timlin, Alex Hurt, Alex Breaux, Larry Fessenden, John Speredakos, Marc Senter, Micheál Neeson, Joshua Leonard, Barbara Crampton, and James Le Gros, with appearances by Emily Bennett and Toby Poser, alongside other returning Glass Eye Pix collaborators.
The film has a runtime of 119 minutes and is written and directed by Fessenden, with production by Larry Fessenden, Gaby Leyner, James Felix McKenney, and Tilson Allen-Merry.
Ahead of the theatrical opening, the IFC Center will also present OPTIC NERVE: A Tribute to Glass Eye Pix, beginning October 28. The seven-film retrospective celebrates the production company’s 40th anniversary and highlights Fessenden’s career.
Are you interested in Trauma or, Monsters All? Take a look at the trailer, then share your thoughts on this Larry Fessenden monster mash by leaving a comment below.
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