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LEAD BELLY

Horror writer and director ‘Stephen King Simmons’ of the critically acclaimed and award winning feature THE PARKER SESSIONS returns with his sophomore nightmare, LEAD BELLY.

Flashback to 1997. LEAD BELLY is a coming of age horror film about two younger brothers visiting their recently divorced and estranged father during summer vacation. With plenty of bumps, twists and terrifying turns along the way. LEAD BELLY will keep the audience guessing until the final frame and leave them shattered.

"The message hiding within Lead Belly is brutal, and an unexpected series of rug pulls distort everything, leaving the audience wracked with a burning sadness." - The Hollywood New

"For in this jagged, piecemeal narrative whose different parts slowly come together like a jigsaw puzzle to show a bigger picture – indeed, a (broken) family portrait – everything will ultimately make an awful sense" - Anton Bitel, Projected Figures

  • Stephen King Simmons
    Director
  • stephen king simmons
    Writer
  • Mario DeAngelis
    Producer
  • Danny James
    Producer
  • stephen king simmons
    Producer
  • Danny James
    Key Cast
    "Michael"
  • Emily Ashby
    Key Cast
    "Sara"
  • Bastian Jesus Carrasco Betemps
    Key Cast
    "Kyle"
  • Liam Foehl
    Key Cast
    "Marcus"
  • Tara Berrett
    Key Cast
    "Detective #1"
  • Derek Boone
    Key Cast
    "Detective #2"
  • Trevor Turpin
    Cinematographer
  • Stephen King Simmons
    Original Music and Sound Design
  • Genres:
    Coming of Age, Horror, Dark Comedy
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 26 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 19, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    60,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • A Night of Horror International Film Festival
    Wisconsin
    United States
    March 6, 2025
    World Premiere
    Independent Spirit Award
  • PanicFest
    Kansas City
    United States
    March 27, 2025
    Official selection
Director Biography - Stephen King Simmons

41 years young. Born and raised in SLC, Utah. At age 12, instead of lemonade stands, he was creating haunted houses out of his parent's basement. In 2005, founded a local cult hit multi-art horror show titled "An October Evening". He has gained a cult following on Youtube with his adaptations of “SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK”. His favorite hobbies are ghost hunting, collecting macabre memorabilia and watching old black/white silent films. "THE PARKER SESSIONS" (Bayview Entertainment) is his first feature film which had it's world premiere at HorrorHound and International premiere at FrightFest. "THE PARKER SESSIONS" won several awards in the film festival circuit. Including Best Feature, Writing and Sound Design.

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Director Statement

LEAD BELLY is my love letter to the 90's.
Dedicated to my late brother Justin Michael Simmons.