Private Project

The Night Before Halloween

It's the night before Halloween and Thomas, an everyday sort of man, is on the run... being hunted down and terrorized by a masked figure looming in the shadows. All he wants to do is be there for his family, but the masked man has other plans for him.

  • Julia Dietrich
    Writer
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Santa's Little Slayer, Desperate Measures
  • Damian Rose
    Story Concept
  • Julia Dietrich
    Story Concept
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Santa's Little Slayer, Desperate Measures
  • Julia Dietrich
    Director
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Santa's Little Slayer, Desperate Measures
  • Damian Rose
    Director
    Howl at the Moon (Music Video), Wish You Were Her(e) (Music Video), Prom Night in Hell (Music Video)
  • Julia Dietrich
    Director of Photography
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Santa's Little Slayer, Amour, Untitled
  • Julia Dietrich
    Producer
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Santa's Little Slayer, Desperate Measures, Shattered
  • Damian Rose
    Producer
    Howl at the Moon (Music Video), Wish You Were Her(e) (Music Video) , Prom Night in Hell (Music Video)
  • Lana Haas
    Producer
  • Damian Rose
    Composer
    LST IN HLYWD (all songs)
  • Lana Haas
    Special Effects Makeup
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Desperate Measures
  • Xavier Terenzio
    Special Effects Makeup
  • Julia Dietrich
    Editors
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Santa's Little Slayer, Amour, Untitled
  • Damian Rose
    Editors
    Howl at the Moon (Music Video), Wish You Were Her(e) (Music Video), Prom Night in Hell (Music Video)
  • Tommy Titan
    Key Cast
    "Thomas"
    Making a Friend, Legal, Vignette
  • Nelson Cheng
    Key Cast
    "Regret"
    Just Pull the Trigger, Helping Hand, Velocity
  • Acacia Sproule
    Key Cast
    "Martha"
    Lich Cat
  • Kole Parks
    Key Cast
    "Max"
  • Lillia Parks
    Key Cast
    "Alex"
  • Clair Mooney
    Key Cast
    "Radio Woman"
    Joe & The Rainbow Warriors of New Atlantis, Yesterday Will Hurt, Your Student Government
  • Julia Dietrich
    Gaffer
    Hunted, Ugly Habits, Santa's Little Slayer, Amour, Untitled
  • Jia Chan
    Stunts Supervisor & Coordinator
    Silent and Unseeing, Battle of the Masters, Wandering Dreams
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Horror, Thriller, Nightmare
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 26, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    650 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Queen's University
  • TIFF Bell Lightbox
    Toronto
    Canada
    October 27, 2023
    Premiere
  • Toronto Indie Horror Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    April 9, 2024
    Festival Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Julia Dietrich, Damian Rose

DAMIAN:
I have worked extensively in the entertainment industry starting my career as a professional musician at the age of 14. In the past I have worked alongside members of New Years Day and The Haunt on musical projects with my band LST IN HLYWD.

I have always loved horror and halloween which can also be seen through my band's works. I have directed many music videos and have been the main visionary in the band. This will be my first ever short film and I am really looking forward to releasing it and sharing this story with the world.

JULIA:
I fell in love with movies as a child and have carried that passion for storytelling with me into every project I take on. I am an award-winning filmmaker, ranging from thrillers/horrors to dramas to comedies. This movie will mark my 7th short film, and 4th horror/crime film.

My dream is to tell profound stories with complex characters and original ideas. I love taking risks in my projects and I am constantly looking for new ways to tell stories.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Who doesn't love a good ol' Halloween movie? WE DO! But this is more than a scary movie... this is a love letter to the classic horror films we grew up watching, and our goal is to push the boundaries of horror (within reason of course)!

As kids, we loved Halloween and spooky and scary movies. We are mesmerized by how filmmakers like Tim Burton and Rob Zombie create entire immersive experiences through the worlds they design.

As Damian is also a musician, along with this short film we will be shooting and releasing a music video to go along with it since horror movies are always better with a main theme song.

Through all of these influences and inspirations from the horror movies we grew up watching, our aim is to make this film as a tribute to the these filmmakers. We strive to create an immersive world inspired by Tim Burton, pushing the boundaries of horror inspired by Rob Zombie, and creating the soundtrack along with a music video inspired by Charles Russell’s A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.