CHEST

While filming a documentary series about Appalachian folklore and mythology, a crew of amateur filmmakers uncover the legend of a mysterious box hidden away deep in a wilderness area known as "Jeffrey's Hell" in the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee. As the mystery unfolds they soon discover that some secrets are best locked away and forgotten. Based on actual events.

  • Aaron Irons
    Director
  • Aaron Irons
    Writer
  • Aaron Irons
    Producer
  • Josh Croft
    Producer
    Generation Mixtape
  • Jasson Cring
    Key Cast
    "Mark Rogers"
  • Sarah Van Arsdal
    Key Cast
    "Isabella Frerichs"
    Black Holler
  • Marissa Kaye
    Key Cast
    "Stephanie Dobson"
    Almost Balanced Foodie, Nashville, Inside the House
  • Ted Welch
    Key Cast
    "Yancy Underwood"
    True Blood, The Help
  • Dean Shortland
    Key Cast
    "David Morgan"
    Heartstrings, Dynasty, Nashville, The Vanished
  • Josh Croft
    Key Cast
    "Jeff Granger"
    The Reflections Project: Subsequent Rumination, The Dead Center
  • Jessejames Locorriere
    Key Cast
    "Russell West"
    Walking Dead, Ozark, Holidate
  • Tamiko Robinson Steele
    Key Cast
    "Agent Kara Mills"
    Black Holler, The Dead Center
  • Steve Wedan
    Key Cast
    "Detective Harold Gardner"
    I Tonya, Trigger, My Fellow Americans
  • Henry Haggard
    Key Cast
    "Atlas Mckersie"
    Boulevard, Fogg
  • Jackson Pyle
    Key Cast
    "Stan Belcher"
    Fantastic Four, The Nocturnal Third
  • JK Gregg
    Key Cast
    "Laurie Granger"
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Horror, Found Footage, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 35 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Unnamed Footage Festival (online)
    San Fransisco
    United States
    May 7, 2022
    California Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Haunted Garage Horror Film Festival
    St. Louis, MO
    United States
    October 6, 2022
    St. Louis Premiere
    BEST OF FEST, Best Director, Best Male Actor, Best Female Lead
  • Shockfest Film Festival

    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Defy Film Festival
    Nashville
    United States
    August 20, 2022
    Tennessee Premiere
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Bloody Horror International Film Festival

    FINALIST: Best Horror Film
  • The Foreman Empire Productions TV & Movie Awards
    Atlanta
    United States
    NOMINEE: Best Horror Feature
  • Hallucinea Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    February 6, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Hollywood International Golden Age Festival
    New York City, NY
    United States
    March 1, 2022
    Semi-finalist
  • Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    March 11, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Screen Power Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 28, 2022
    Best Screenplay, Best First Time Filmmaker
  • Medusa Film Festival (Eleventh Season )

    March 30, 2022
    Winner: Best Feature
  • Vesuvius International Film Fest
    Campania
    Italy
    Best Director
  • First-Time Filmmaker Sessions By Lift-Off Global Network
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    March 28, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Cult Movies International Film Festival (5th Season)

    Official Selection
  • Beyond the Curve International Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    Best Horror Feature Nominee
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    Official Selection
  • Hamburg Film Awards
    Hamburg
    Germany
    April 9, 2022
    Germany Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 4th Dimension Independent Film Festival
    Bali
    Indonesia
    April 25, 2022
    Indonesian Premiere
    Best Horror Feature Nominee
  • Bright International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Finalist - Best Horror, Winner - Best Actress
  • Rome International Movie Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    May 4, 2022
    WINNER: Best Ensemble Cast, Best Director, Best Horror
  • London International Monthly Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Special Mention
  • Montreal Independent Film Festival
  • Cannes Independent Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    WINNER: Best Horror Film
  • Seoul International Monthly Film Festival
    Seoul
    Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
    Official Selection
  • San Francisco Indie Short Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • Austin International Art Festival
    Austin
    United States
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • Hollywood Blood Horror Festival

    WINNER: Best Crime, Best First Time Director, Actor, Acting Ensemble
  • Lily Indie Film Fest

    Ukraine
    WINNER: Best Horror, Best First Time Director
  • Swedish International Film Festival

    Sweden
    NOMINEE: Best Horror
  • Lit Scares International Horror Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    August 6, 2022
    London Premier
    WINNER: Best Horror Feature
  • Thrills And Chills Film Awards

    WINNER: Best First Time Director
  • MonsterFlix Awards

    FINALIST: Best Horror Feature
  • New Creators Film Awards

    WINNER: Best Horror Film
  • Foreman Empire Film & Television Awards
    Atlanta, GA
    United States
    WINNER: Best Horror Feature, Best Original Score
  • Tietê International Film Awards
    Tietê
    Brazil
    September 10, 2022
    South American Premiere
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • South America Awards
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    July 15, 2022
    WINNER: Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress
Distribution Information
  • Tubi
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand, Free TV
Director Biography - Aaron Irons

Aaron is a filmmaker, musician, programmer and avid cave explorer living in Nashville, TN. CHEST is his first feature horror film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I wanted to make a movie, and I wanted to make a horror movie and nothing is scarier than the stories from where I grew up--so we have CHEST and it damn near killed me, but we did it and now you can watch it. The story of the chest is an actual story from where I grew up and after years of trying to find the chest myself--making a film about it was the best option.