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The Killer of Grassy Ridge

Deep in the Shenandoah backcountry, a killer stalks for prey.

  • Johnny K.
    Director
  • Johnny K.
    Writer
  • Johnny K.
    Producer
  • Heather Stone
    Key Cast
  • Michael Stumbo
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 4, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Bloody Flicks Awards

    United Kingdom
    February 23, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Moody Crab Film Festival

    India
    February 8, 2020
    Winner: Best Debut Short
  • Best Global Shorts

    India
    February 14, 2020
    Winner: Best Thriller
  • First Time Filmmaker Sessions

    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Johnny K.

A native of East Tennessee, Johnny K. currently resides in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. A lifelong fan of cinema, he grew up enjoying behind-the-scenes features on how all his favorite films were made. His favorite films include Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Halloween (1978), and John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Johnny has also worked on-screen as an actor, most recently appearing on AMC’s The Walking Dead: The World Beyond (2020), and Showtime’s The Good Lord Bird (2020), starring Ethan Hawke.

"The Killer of Grassy Ridge" is his directorial debut.

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Director Statement

The Killer of Grassy Ridge is an award-winning 2020 American horror short film by first-time director Johnny K., whose goal was to produce a film in 60 days on a micro-budget using only resources on-hand. Starring Heather Stone and Michael Stumbo, the film has won awards for Best Short Film, Best Debut Short, Best Thriller, Best Horror, and Best First-Time Director.

"Killer" was purely a personal challenge for director Johnny K. "In late 2019, I became inspired by filmmakers who were making incredible films using very minimal gear. They were out there telling amazing stories while I'd been sitting on the couch for years complaining that my gear wasn’t good enough to make my first film.

"I’d been making excuses for long enough, and I made it a point to prove myself wrong. Written, shot, and edited in 62 days, "The Killer of Grassy Ridge" is the result, and I couldn’t be more proud of how it turned out, and humbled by how well the film is doing in festivals. My hope is that "Killer" will inspire other amateur filmmakers the same way I was inspired. Stop making excuses and go make a movie!"