Private Project

COW

In “Cow,” Sam and Kyle embark on their dream adventure: hitting the road in a van to climb. They plan to travel and climb in the American Southwest, where it is clear the effects of climate change are changing the world they live in. One night, they are attacked by a mysterious killer wearing a cow skull mask and have to fight to survive.

  • Carlos R. Tkacz
    Director
  • Carlos R. Tkacz
    Writer
  • Carlos R. Tkacz
    Producer
  • Emma Coonrad
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
  • Daniel Bateman
    Key Cast
    "Kyle"
  • Brad Stein
    Key Cast
    "Gas Station Man"
  • Victor Capili
    Key Cast
    "Cow's Voice"
  • Jean Michael Auffant
    Cinematographer
  • Jean Michael Auffant
    Editor
  • Travis A. J. Olson
    Sound Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 29, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - UNLV
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Carlos R. Tkacz

Multidisciplinary filmmaker and writer working at the intersection of ecological collapse, psychological horror, and visual poetry. With over a decade of teaching and storytelling experience, I specialize in genre-blending narratives that explore violence, memory, and meaning in times of crisis. My work spans traditional narrative, experimental film, and fiction, and has received institutional support from organizations including the Black Mountain Institute.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Cow" began as a personal reflection on the romanticization of van life and the "escape" from modern society. My academic work in eco-horror and my own experiences as a climber led me to question the sustainability of this popular fantasy. The film explores the idea that you cannot truly escape the world's problems, particularly those tied to the environment, and that a reckoning with these issues is inevitable. I wanted to create a horror film that not only terrifies but also makes the audience consider their own relationship with the natural world. By blending the conventions of the slasher genre with a deep-seated ecological anxiety, "Cow" seeks to blur the line between a personal nightmare and a shared, societal one.