The Weird Kidz, a horror-inflected creature feature and an ode to ’80s coming-of-age films and favorite late-night cinema tales, is among the official selections at this year’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF), presented by Shudder. The animated feature film will make its world premiere debut on Friday, October 14 at 9:30 pm.
But it’s a little bit of an unusual film. It’s not only written and directed by Zach Passero, but he also single-handedly animated it. In fact, The Weird Kidz is a labor of love eight years in the making.
Let’s take a bit of a closer look.
The Weird Kidz Synopsis
When three pre-teen boys and an older brother and his girlfriend take off for a weekend campout, none of them could imagine the horrors (and laughs) awaiting them in a remote desert inhabited by a legendary night creature and crazed townfolk. Puberty and adventure await…along with terror, amputations and midnight cult rituals!
On its BHFF page, Matt Barone elaborates a little more on the plot:
Three 12-year-old boys, including the precocious Dug, excitedly tag along with Dug’s older brother and his new girlfriend for a night of fireside camping. Their good times are rudely interrupted, though, when a local monster legend known as the “Night Child” turns out to be all too real. Painstakingly hand-drawn over eight years, veteran editor Zach Passero’s animated horror-comedy nails every fun-loving beat you could possibly want from a raucous yet heartfelt ode to ’80s coming-of-age genre films.
The Weird Kidz Cast
Voices include the talents of Ellar Coltrane as “Wyatt,” Angela Bettis as “Duana,” Sean Bridgers as “The Sheriff,” Tess Passero as “Dug,” Glenn Bolton as “Mel,” Brian Creely as “Fatt,” and Sydney Wharton as “Mary.”
Check-In
What do you think the “Night Child” is…and does? Sounds scary, right?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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Because of the desert setting, my guess is the Night Child is a cupacabra.
Oh! That’s a smart deduction, Priscilla. Love it!