Has a scary movie night ever left you a little too jumpy? Have you been sent running to hide under the covers, convinced there were monsters creeping behind every corner? Well, after unknowingly summoning something very dark from an old horror DVD, that is exactly the situation for the characters of Minneapolis-born, Los Angeles–based writer and director Joseph Scrimshaw’s feature film debut, Dead Media. And unfortunately for them, it’s going to take a lot more than hiding under the covers to get these monsters to go away.
The premiere of Dead Media at the Parkway Theater. Courtesy of Joseph Scrimshaw
The veteran performer’s film premiered to a lively crowd at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis on October 20, 2025. Like the film itself, the evening was as much of a celebration of story as it was a recognition of the deep bench of film and stage talent that the Twin Cities has to offer. Shot on location at Scrimshaw’s father’s home in North Minneapolis and at the Crane Theater, Dead Media is an exciting homage to great horror, cult classics, and the bygone era of DVD bonus features.
Minnesota actor Sam Landman plays the eager aging hipster Uncle Heppy, trying to impress the novelty of physical media on the youth (his niece Maggie and friends Brenda and Dan). But after an old superstition about a disc’s special features is proven true, the gang is forced to fight through the night and against the same monsters they just saw on the screen.
As all great horror movies do, this film also tells a rich story of deep and complex relationships, with its characters making difficult decisions about life and moving forward while having to fight against the monsters that suddenly plague each room. I especially enjoyed Landman and Sammi-Jack Martincak, who played Maggie, and how their relationship evolved through the story. But there were also delightful performances by the film’s stacked and always entertaining supporting cast, which includes Anna Sundberg, James Urbaniak, and Bill Corbett.
Dead Media also relishes as a great technical achievement. It is filled to the brim with fun practical effects and an ever-evolving movie-in-a-movie timeline that highlights not only Scrimshaw’s breadth of talent but the kind of commitment from the crew that you can feel while watching. It was great to be able to see the hard work that went into the film be received and celebrated by the audience at the premiere and reinforce the unique talent and drive that goes into indie filmmaking.
While the premiere is over, it is just the beginning for Dead Media, which is now in the process of finding distribution and getting more eyeballs on it. If you wish to support and follow along on the film’s journey, you can join the mailing list or keep up with Scrimshaw on his website and social media.
The premiere audience at the Parkway Theater. Courtesy of Joseph Scrimshaw
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