Private Project

Infestation

Jason, a man burdened with the care of his abusive, dementia ridden mother, takes a job as an exterminator. He steals something from his client, who turns out to be a witch, and suffers the consequences.

  • David Calbert
    Director
  • David Calbert
    Writer
    Consumed (2024)
  • Travis Sedg Bacon
    Executive Producers
    Space Oddity (2022), Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Kyle Kouri
    Executive Producers
    Keep Coming Back (2024), The Advanced Class (2025)
  • Dylan Garrett Smith
    Executive Producers
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Bill Parks
    Producer
    American Horror Story (2017), Modern Family (2019), This is Gwar (2021)
  • Kyle Kouri
    Key Cast
    "Jason"
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Sarah Voigt
    Key Cast
    "Witch/Mother"
    Terrifier 2 (2022), Shelby Oaks (2024)
  • Calvin Seabrooks
    Key Cast
    "Phil"
    Westworld (2020), Grey's Anatomy (2023)
  • Katherine Rodriguez
    Key Cast
    "Laine"
    American Gigolo (2022), Perfect (2018)
  • Travis Sedg Bacon
    Composer
    Space Oddity (2022), Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Vicente Cordero
    Cinematographer
    Room 37 (2019), Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Brady Jackson
    Editor
    Keep Coming Back (2024), The Advanced Class (2025)
  • Dylan Garrett Smith
    Art Director
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Victor P. Bouzi
    Sound Mixer
    Jimmy and Stiggs (2024), Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Terrell Johnson
    Boom Operator
  • Ian Flux
    Re-Recording Mixer
  • Angelina Sambrotto
    Makeup Department
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Arion Csihar
    1st Assistant Director
    Dungeon Call (2024-25), Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Zoe Katzen
    2nd Assistant Director
    Keep Coming Back (2024), The Advanced Class (2025)
  • Dylan Garrett Smith
    Production Designer
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Kira Von Sutra
    Art Assistants
    Slashercise (2024)
  • Amy Gambina
    Art Assistants
  • William Thornton
    SFX Supervisor
    Nope (2022), The Smashing Machine (2025), Halloween (2018)
  • Gary J. Tunnicliffe
    Special Effects
    Blade (1998), Dark Harvest (2023)
  • Clint Carney
    Visual Effects
    The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
  • Alex Zeeman
    Visual Effects
  • Peter Buck
    Gaffers
    Digging Two Graves (2023)
  • Kevin Rios
    Gaffers
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Nicholas Luna
    Gaffers
  • Dylan Garrett Smith
    Wardrobe
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Foxblood
    Witch's Wardrobe
  • Thatcher Robinson
    Script Supervisor
    Mannequin (2025), Toy Soldiers (2014)
  • Kira Von Sutra
    Production Assistant
  • Dylan Garrett Smith
    Props Coordinator
    Keep Coming Back (2024)
  • Antony Teofilo
    Props Assistants
  • Maximo Teofilo
    Props Assistants
  • Creature Effects, Inc.
    Additional Props Support
  • Ray Camacho
    BTS Photography
  • Steven Anthony Roe
    BTS Photography
  • R.J. De León Vega
    BTS Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Psychological Horror
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 4, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Dragon
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - David Calbert

David Calbert earned his MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. His contributions to the horror genre include films, podcasts, web series, and fiction. His 2024 feature film Consumed is available on most streaming platforms.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Infestation is an exploration of generational trauma and the ways it infiltrates, festers, and rots from within. How the most vulnerable and least deserving often come to bear the brunt of its toxic weight. The idea for this short was, in part, inspired by my father’s experience caring for his emotionally abusive mother as she died of dementia. Her final days took away whatever piece of youth my father still possessed.

There is a swarm of hatred in the world today. In my own life I’ve seen my friends in the LGBTQ++ community become targets of this hate, as those who are different always do. The feelings of unfairness, rage, and helplessness coalesced in my imagination into a young gay man named Jason, trying to survive a predatory plot set in motion by the one person who is supposed to love and protect him.

I hope my film captures even an ounce of these emotions. If it also manages to scare a few people, that’d be an added bonus.

Thank you for your consideration.

David Calbert