Hell in a Handbag 14th Annual Festival

Honored to have both my feature films screen April 24th 2025 at the 14th annual “Hell in a Handbag Fest” at the Handbag Factory on Grand in downtown LA.

Short Films by Various Directors 7PM

“How to Explain Laughing to Dead Flowers” 8PM

“Onslaught of the Dead” 9:45PM

Then on Day three of the festival Saturday April 26th I am performing at 7:40PM Sharp. Doors at 7PM. BYOB.

Feature Film: How to Explain Laughing to Dead Flowers

“How to Explain Laughing to Dead Flowers” Unveils a Hilarious and Retro-Futuristic Journey Through Horror and Comedy

A Double-Chapter Cinematic Experience Blending the Haunted, the Absurd, and the Unseen with a Vintage Look.

How to Explain Laughing to Dead Flowers is an innovative horror-comedy that offers a fresh take on the genre, blending surreal humor with disturbing horror across two uniquely stylized chapters.

The film opens with Chapter One, where six friends embark on a hiking trip into the woods. When one of them mysteriously vanishes, the group splits up to search, only to encounter strange and inexplicable events. As the tension builds, one by one, the friends disappear—leaving only questions, dread, and laughter behind.

Second Chapter transports the story to 2060, where two best friends, Jack and Wendy, navigate a desolate world after a mysterious global disappearance in 2023. As they explore an abandoned building on Halloween, Jack begins seeing figures that Wendy cannot. Their bond is tested, and reality begins to unravel—blurring the lines between madness and something darker.

How to Explain Laughing to Dead Flowers offers a unique blend of b-movie charm, surreal comedy, and arthouse sensibilities. Each chapter peels back layers of absurd humor and horror, providing a refreshingly original viewing experience that keeps audiences on edge and engaged.

https://tenheadedskeleton.bandcamp.com/merch/onslaught-of-the-dead

Double Feature at The Smell

I am honored to have both of my feature length films premiere at the legendary DTLA space “The Smell” run by Jim Smith.

Doors will open at 6:30PM and the first film “Arthouse Arrogance Pushing Patience Over a Cliff” will start at 7:00PM. “How to Explain Laughing to Dead Flowers” will start at 7:30PM. We’ll take a brief intermission and start “Onslaught of the Dead” at 8:45PM.

Pre-sale Tix are at https://www.thesmell.org/eventtickets/p/sunday-november-10-2024 and $10 at the door. Limited seating: There’s 20 fold out chairs, and two couches, but plenty of floor space for more.

Snacks and water will be available for purchase at the front counter.

You might initially set your expectations quite low for Onslaught of the Dead, a technically rough, micro-budget zombie horror-comedy. However, you could be pleasantly surprised by its devilishly witty dialogue, cartoonish humor, and distinctive arthouse horror style, all presented with a vintage super 8mm aesthetic. While the film prioritizes style, humor, action, and blood over logic, its fast-paced, video game-like structure—with zombies appearing out of nowhere and looking somewhat identical—creates an awkward tone that somehow balances B-movie charm with over-the-top performances. This is complemented by hilarious banter and unexpected character development from an unknown cast, mostly composed of musicians from Los Angeles’ DIY scene, frequenting places like The Smell or underground parties where you need a DM to get the address.

The film masterfully blends the contemplative pace of Bela Tarr’s arthouse cinema with a gripping intensity that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Writer/Director Ten-Headed Skeleton intentionally cast musicians over actors, influenced by David Bowie’s performance in The Man Who Fell to Earth. Except for lead actress Freda Hu, most of the cast had no prior acting experience or aspirations.

This self-aware Z-grade passion project succeeds in exactly what it sets out to do: offer a popcorn-worthy, turn-your-brain-off zombie movie with no ambitions for mainstream success. It’s a quirky collaboration of misfits that surprisingly outshines many films in its genre. In a cinematic landscape filled with high-budget blockbusters, its very existence is an achievement in itself.

Influences:

  1. Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things
  2. Godzilla (Early years)
  3. Power Rangers
  4. The State (MTV)
  5. Return of the Living Dead
  6. Skinamarink (Luminal Horror)
  7. Day of the Dead (Dark Blue Cave Scene)
  8. One Cut of the Dead (B-Movie Vibe)
  9. John Waters (B-Movie Vibe)
  10. Hershal Gordon Lewis (B-Movie Vibe)
  11. Bela Tarr (Cinematagraphy)
  12. Roy Andersson (Cinematography)
  13. Contra/Resident Evil/Run and Gun Video Games (Pacing/Indistinguishable Zombies/Adrenaline Rush)

7PM “Arthouse Arrogance Pushing Patience Over a Cliff” is a short Comedy anthology of short films I wrote and directed.

Chapter 1. The Laundry Room

Chapter 2. You’re The Reason We’re Lost

Chapter 3. Whooping Cranes

7:45PM “How To Explain Laughing To Dead Flowers” is a feature length Horror Comedy anthology of four short films I wrote and directed.

READ REVIEW http://www.searchmytrash.com/movies/onslaughtofthedead(2025).shtml

READ REVIEW http://www.searchmytrash.com/movies/howtoexplainlaughingtodeadflowers(2024).shtml