An art house indie horror full of monstrous bed bugs, bad husbands, and punishing sun.

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SYNOPSIS: Beneath the thin veneer of their marriage lies a rotting core of regret, frustration, and contempt. When Tad comes into possession of his stately family manor, an infestation of monstrous bed bugs eat through the home and Penelope’s psyche. She becomes increasingly desperate for any escape from the countless new bites, the constant feeling of something crawling across her skin, the punishing summer heat, her husband… It’s time for Penelope to purge herself.

If you’ve seen Biters, there’s probably one moment that stood out in your memory…and yes, it’s THAT one. How did we get that bug to crawl out of Penelope’s mouth? While Biters & Bleeders uses some practical bug effects, some of the bitey boys are animated. We were extremely fortunate to have CoSA VFX, who have worked on projects like Stranger Things, The Walking Dead, and Westworld, create the demonic bedbugs that infest Tad and Penelope’s world.

Exploring generational trauma:  Screenwriter Charlie Monroe (she/they) wrote this film for survivors of domestic abuse. She peels back the layers of generational trauma, the cycle of abuse, and what happens when a domestic situation becomes untenable. Charlie examines these cycles with nuance, compassion, and grace, creating a realistic portrayal of abuse dynamics and ending the story with much-needed catharsis for survivors.

Charlie and Raven (she/her) have been collaborating on plays, films, scripts, and all manner of art projects since they were little kids who pinky-promised to grow up and make movies together. Combining Charlie’s incredible talent for creating emotionally engaging storytelling and Raven’s abilities to translate narrative vision into captivating visuals, Biters is their greatest collaboration yet.

Representation in the film industry matters immensely because seeing individuals who resemble you thriving in the industry fosters a sense of belonging and aspiration. By showcasing diverse talents succeeding and enjoying their work in film, people from all backgrounds can begin to envision themselves breaking those stereotypes and pursuing their own cinematic dreams with confidence.

Horror has always been for survivors. Charlie wrote this movie specifically for survivors of abuse, but there is a place in this film for anyone who has overcome any type of trauma.. This is a story about reclaiming your agency when you feel you have none, about taking back your power, about clawing your way out of the horrors that surround you.

We’re tired of toxicity, of gatekeepers, of pay-your-dues culture, of low pay… so we decided to make our own way. New 32 was born out of a desire to see better conditions in indie filmmaking, as well as a deeply held belief that good working conditions would lead to good art. 

Check out Chapelboro’s Hometown Hero interview about Raven’s hiring practices here: https://chapelboro.com/town-square/hometown-her…

Not only are the cast & crew the biggest part of our budget, we consider them the most vital. Every other part of the budget is flexible–we pride ourselves on being creative problem-solvers to keep costs low–but we will never, ever compromise on paying everyone on our sets a living wage.

Why do we need more? We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we pay every single person who works on our projects a living wage. This, unfortunately, means we need money in order to make sure we’re taking care of our people. In addition to that, we want to make the best (and creepiest) movie we can, which means not skimping on things like VFX. If you’ve already seen the trailer, you’ll know these bugs are worth every dollar we pay for them.

What happens if we can’t raise the funds? One way or another, this movie is getting made. We’ve made sure to design perks that can be fulfilled even if we don’t hit our 90k goal, so no matter what you’ll get what you paid for. And eventually, you’ll get Biters & Bleeders the feature, as well; it just might take a little longer and require a few more production partners than we expected.

What happens if we go over? The film gets bigger, bloodier, and more disgusting. We’ve set what we feel is a realistic goal, but if our community wants to pitch in even more than that, we’d be ecstatic to make this movie even better and give our company the opportunity to support even more artists.

Who doesn’t love a good behind the scenes story? Biters was filled with challenges, fun and chaos, so we sat down with our cast & crew to hear their favorite stories, and draw back the curtains on some of the movie magic they used to make Biters look so beautifully disgusting. 

The behind the scenes featurette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYmh-peUBwI&amp…

Your donation will go straight into the film; paying the cast and crew a living wage, general production costs, and of course all the blood, guts, and bugs we can possibly afford. We’d love for you to come on this journey with us, and in exchange you’ll receive our eternal gratitude and some pretty awesome perks. From the soundtrack to the short film to the chance to get on set with us, we’re sure you’ll find something that speaks to you. If you’re interested in investing beyond the top tier, feel free to get in touch with us directly; we’re looking for production partners and would love to talk with you about what role you could play in the creation of this film!

Art house style horror films are a mesmerizing blend of avant-garde storytelling and spine-tingling terror, where the boundaries of reality blur and nightmares come to life. With their daring cinematography, unconventional narratives, and hauntingly atmospheric soundtracks, these films transport audiences into a surreal realm of fear and introspection. They challenge the conventional horror tropes, leaving viewers—craving both intellectual stimulation and heart-pounding suspense—on the edge of their seats, and making each frame a chilling work of art that lingers long after the credits roll.

You’ve got a taste for blood…and we’re all too happy to oblige. Wanna ramp up the fun and games? We’ve put together a series of INCREDIBLE stunts, pranks, and other amazing surprise perks, if we hit some of our stretch goals. These secret surprises will get unlocked when we hit new milestones. We promise you, we’ve absolutely made them worth it. (Come on, you’re talking to the guys who wrote the whole bug mouth thing.)

To find out more about educational opportunities and jobs with New 32, or how to apply to work on Biters & Bleeders, sign up on our registration on our website. It’s a great place to tell us about yourself, leave your resume, and stay connected when we have openings! 

Wanna work together? Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoIf0…