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Tales From Town Z: The King in Yellow

A taciturn detective investigates a bizarre and brutal murder, with ties to the occult, among the gloomy and cryptic shadows of a place known only as Town Z. A love-letter to the anthology series greats such as Creepshow, The Twilight Zone, and Tales From The Crypt.

  • Travis Darkow
    Director
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Travis Darkow
    Writer
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, The Shape of Evil, Maladroit, Servile(?), Jakob's Cove, How Did We Get Here? Caged, Voyeur, Severance, Retail Therapy, Bunny Boy, Spilling Toward September, The Shape of Evil II, August in Remission, Elizabeth II, I Was Here, The Keeping Cost
  • Travis Darkow
    Producer
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Chris Isaacson
    Producer
  • Corum Szathmary
    Producer
  • Travis Darkow
    Key Cast
    "Detective Victor Jameson"
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Corum Szathmary
    Key Cast
    "Detective James Westin"
  • Chris Isaacson
    Key Cast
    "Hiker/Hastur"
  • Kelsey Darkow
    Key Cast
    "Sacrifice"
  • Travis Darkow
    Video Editing & Color Grading
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Travis Darkow
    Sound Editing
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Chris Isaacson
    Cinematography & Steadicam
  • Travis Darkow
    Cinematography & Steadicam
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Kelsey Darkow
    Costume Design
  • Travis Darkow
    Costume Design
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Chris Isaacson
    Costume Design
  • Corum Szathmary
    Costume Design
  • Travis Darkow
    Practical Gore Effects
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Travis Darkow
    Prop Master
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Kelsey Darkow
    Script Supervisor
  • Travis Darkow
    Script Supervisor
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Travis Darkow
    Continuity
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Kelsey Darkow
    Makeup
  • Travis Darkow
    Makeup
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Travis Darkow
    Set Decoration
    Elliot, Goodbye Tomorrow, Roadside, A Pursuit Most Putrid, REZZUREKT, Bad Blood, Deadcember, Elizabeth, Silence in the Aftermath, Snow Blind, Synapse, October Scout, The Shape of Evil, The Denier - REEL 1: Fun in the Sun, The Denier - REEL 2: Show Stopper, The Denier - REEL 3: House Call, The Denier - REEL 4: Day at the Beach, The Denier - REEL 5: Yard Work, The Denier - REEL 6: Beddy Bye, Bunny Boy, Maladroit, Elizabeth II, The Shape of Evil II, The Keeping Cost, August In Remission
  • Kelsey Darkow
    Set Decoration
  • Chris Isaacson
    Set Decoration
  • Corum Szathmary
    Set Decoration
  • Kelsey Darkow
    Robe Technicians
  • Corum Szathmary
    Robe Technicians
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Supernatural, Sci Fi, Science Fiction, Occult, Lovecraftian, Anthology
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Latin
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hollywood Blood Horror Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    June 6, 2021
    Finalist
  • Hollywood Blood Horror Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    June 6, 2021
    Award Winner - Best Sci-Fi Short
  • Honor Film Festival
    Online Event
    August 17, 2021
    Finalist
  • Reel Horror Film Festival
    Illinois
    United States
    October 30, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Honor Film Festival
    Online Event
    August 17, 2021
    Award Winner - Best Horror Short
  • Foreman Empire Productions International Film Festival - Halloween Horror Haunt 2021
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    October 9, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Foreman Empire Productions International Film Festival - Halloween Horror Haunt 2021
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    October 9, 2021
    Award Nomination - Outstanding Visual FX
  • Foreman Empire Productions International Film Festival - Halloween Horror Haunt 2021
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    October 9, 2021
    Award Nomination - Outstanding Sci-Fi Picture
  • Foreman Empire Productions International Film Festival - Halloween Horror Haunt 2021
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    October 9, 2021
    Award Nomination - Outstanding Mystery Picture
  • Foreman Empire Productions International Film Festival - Halloween Horror Haunt 2021
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    October 9, 2021
    Award Nomination - Outstanding Fantasy Picture
  • Horror Unleashed
    Porto, Portugal
    Portugal
    October 13, 2021
    Semi-Finalist
  • Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    July 15, 2022
    Honorable Mention
  • Thrills And Chills Film Awards
    Online Event
    United States
    October 31, 2021
    Award Nominee - Best Monster
  • MonsterFlix Awards
    Online Event
    March 4, 2022
    Semi-Finalist
Director Biography - Travis Darkow

My name is Travis Darkow, I was born in Bremerton, Washington, where I currently live with my wife and our two dogs, Jax and Laika. I have had a passion for writing and creating since I was very young. I was always writing stories, usually about aliens or monsters, or making my own little comic books. As I got older I never stopped writing, all through school I took as many writing courses as I could and my passion only grew over the years. I enjoy all aspects of writing. I write poetry, I love writing and playing music, and have written fifty to a hundred original songs. I have about a dozen or so children's books that I have written as well. My greatest passion though is film. I absolutely fell in love with movies when I was a kid, and found that my absolute favorite thing in the world is writing and directing films. I've written, directed and edited around two dozen short films since the seventh grade, and in June 2019 I completed my first feature length horror/sci-fi film called Goodbye Tomorrow. I am currently writing and directing short and feature length original films, as well as developing an ever expanding list of original pilots and feature length screenplays that I have been hard at work writing. Crafting stories and creating whole new worlds that didn't exist before has always brought me much joy. It is truly my favorite thing in the world and I will never stop creating.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Horror and science fiction has been my passion for as much of my life as I remember. I recall watching the original House on Haunted Hill and Humanoids From the Deep with my grandpa when I was about 7 years old, and something clicked in my young brain at that point. A feeling that I had found something that spoke to me on a different level than anything else has ever done since. Creating horror, to me, is creating a terrifying environment where you can run around this disturbing playground, and by the end of it, feel relieved. Maybe relieved to just be done with the creepy visuals and sounds of a horror film. But also relief from releasing fears you have built up inside yourself, in a safe and engaging way. My favorite horror films are the ones that straddle the line between horror/science fiction, and psychological thriller or mystery. I love nothing more than leaving a theater, or sitting through the credits of a movie at home, and not being able to get what you just saw out of your head. Movies that make you think deeply about the world, and our relationships to the horrors and tragedies that occur here I find to be absolutely fascinating. These are the types of films I hope to craft as I continue my journey of writing and directing horror based films. I put a lot of thought and energy into crafting worlds full of foreshadowing and blink and you'll miss it details, and I strive to keep growing and pushing forward in my pursuit of my true passion.