J. R. Bookwalter Explained

J. R. Bookwalter
Other Names:Lance Randas
Birth Date:16 August 1966
Birth Place:Akron, Ohio
Years Active:1985-present

J. R. Bookwalter (born August 16, 1966) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer from Akron, Ohio.[1] [2] He is best known for directing low-budget horror, action, and science fiction films, including The Dead Next Door, Robot Ninja (both 1989), Ozone (1993), and Polymorph (1996).[3] He is the founder of Tempe Entertainment which ran from 1988 until 2019 when the company's name changed to Makeflix.[4]

Career

J. R. Bookwalter began his career at the age of 19 in 1985 with The Dead Next Door.[5] The film was an independent production shot on Super 8 film in Akron, Ohio, over the course of four years. It was executive produced by Sam Raimi, with Bruce Campbell supervising post-production sound as well as providing the overdubbed voices of two of the lead characters.[6] Bookwalter wrote, directed, edited, and composed the score for the film.[7] The Dead Next Door has gone on to amass a cult following and has been noted as being the most expensive shot on Super-8 film ever made.[8]

During post-production on The Dead Next Door, Bookwalter wrote and directed the low-budget superhero action film Robot Ninja, which was executive produced by David DeCoteau.[9] The film was released in 1989 and features cameos from Scott Spiegel, Burt Ward, and Linnea Quigley.[10] In the years since its release, Robot Ninja achieved cult status on the video collector market.[11] [12] In a review for the 30th anniversary Blu-ray release, Rue Morgue states, "Splishy gore, body horror, off-kilter performances, and a self-reflexive edge make Robot Ninja a cut above your average exploitation movie fare."[13]

Bookwalter produced Skinned Alive in 1990.[14] The film stars Scott Spiegel and Mary Jackson.[15]

Beginning in the early 1990s, Bookwalter directed a handful of low-budget shot-on-video films including Zombie Cop (1991), Maximum Impact, and Humanoids from Atlantis (both 1992), often times crediting himself under the pseudo name "Lance Randas".[16]

In 1993, Bookwalter directed Ozone starring James R. Black. In their review for the film, Film Threat called it "A dreamy descent into Cronenberg-esque madness."[17]

In 1996, Bookwalter directed Polymorph; written by and starring frequent collaborator James L. Edwards.[18]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bookwalter worked for Full Moon Pictures, producing and directing multiple projects for founder Charles Band including Witchouse 2: Blood Coven, Witchouse 3: Demon Fire, and Mega Scorpions (also known as Stingers).[19]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorWriterclass=unsortable Notesclass=unsortable
1989The Dead Next Door
Robot Ninja[20]
1991Zombie Cop[21] Credited as "Lance Randas"
Kingdom of the Vampire[22]
1992Maximum ImpactCredited as "Lance Randas"
Humanoids from AtlantisCredited as "Lance Randas"
Galaxy of the DinosaursCredited as "Lance Randas"
1993Ozone[23]
1995The Sandman
1996Polymorph
1997BloodlettingExecutive producer[24]
2000Witchouse 2: Blood Coven
2001Witchouse 3: Demon Fire
2003Mega ScorpionsAlso known as Stingers[25]
2024Side Effects May Vary

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tempe Apocalypse screening celebrating the films of J.R. Bookwalter! . 2023-03-24 . Alternative Cinema.
  2. Web site: Daily Kent Stater 17 February 1994 — Kent State University . 2023-03-29 . dks.library.kent.edu.
  3. Web site: Frank . 2019-12-19 . Every JR Bookwalter Film Ranked . 2023-03-24 . Psychotronic Review . en-US.
  4. Web site: Fitzgerald . Bryan . Tempe Entertainment, Pioneers of Indie Horror and home of The Dead Next Door is calling it quits after 33 years-Fitz of Horror – Fitz of Horror . 2023-03-24 . en-US.
  5. News: Lindsay . Cam . 2005-09-01 . The Dead Next Door J.R. Bookwalter . Exclaim! . 2023-03-24.
  6. Web site: Miska . Brad . 2017-08-04 . Zombie Classic 'Dead Next Door' Gets 2K Transfer . 2023-03-24 . Bloody Disgusting! . en-US.
  7. Web site: Galil . Leor . 2020-10-05 . The mystery punk from The Dead Next Door . 2023-03-24 . Chicago Reader . en-US.
  8. Web site: Manor . Rue Morgue . 2022-10-03 . Homemade Horrors: An Evolution . 2023-03-24 . Rue Morgue . en-US.
  9. Web site: Gingold . Michael . 2018-04-13 . Cult DTV gorefest "ROBOT NINJA" slashing back on special-edition Blu-ray/DVD . 2023-03-24 . Rue Morgue . en-US.
  10. Web site: Hamman . Cody . 2018-06-12 . Robot Ninja will kick ass on a 30th anniversary Blu-ray release . 2023-03-24 . JoBlo . en-US.
  11. Web site: Gingold . Michael . 2019-02-22 . VHS fave "ROBOT NINJA" slashes onto Blu-ray; complete specs and art . 2023-03-24 . Rue Morgue . en-US.
  12. Web site: Thompson . Rocco T. . 2019-04-08 . Blu-Ray Review: VHS-Era Shocker "Robot Ninja" Gets Back In Fighting Shape . 2023-03-24 . Rue Morgue . en-US.
  13. Web site: Thompson . Rocco . 2019-04-19 . VHS-Era Shocker "Robot Ninja" Gets Back in Fighting Shape . 2023-03-24 . Rue Morgue.
  14. Web site: Gingold . Michael . 2020-08-17 . '90s hillbilly horror "SKINNED ALIVE" coming on restored Ultimate Edition Blu-ray; full details and art . 2023-03-24 . Rue Morgue . en-US.
  15. Web site: Hamman . Cody . 2020-09-02 . Skinned Alive, starring Evil Dead II's Scott Spiegel, comes to Blu-ray . 2023-03-24 . JoBlo . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2021-01-22 . Blu Review – SOV Six-Pack (Tempe Digital) . 2023-03-24 . Horror Society . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2004-10-30 . OZONE (DVD) Film Threat . 2023-03-24 . en-US.
  18. Web site: Tinnin . Drew . 2022-06-02 . Homemade Horror: 5 Gross Out Shot-On-Video Shockers . 2023-03-24 . Dread Central . en-US.
  19. Web site: Full Moon Fever: Day 4 CHUD.com . 2023-03-24 . en.
  20. Web site: Hamman . Cody . 2018-10-19 . Clip previews the HD restoration of J.R. Bookwalter's Robot Ninja . 2023-03-24 . JoBlo . en-US.
  21. Web site: Roog . 2021-12-16 . Zombie Cop (1991) . 2023-03-24 . Moria . en-GB.
  22. Web site: 2011-09-28 . Kingdom of the Vampire (1991) - Horror Movie Review . 2023-03-24 . Scared Stiff Reviews . en-US.
  23. Web site: Hamman . Cody . 2020-07-21 . J.R. Bookwalter brings his SOV cult classic Ozone to Blu-ray . 2023-03-24 . JoBlo . en-US.
  24. Book: Lentz III, Harris M.. 2001. Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits, Volume 2: Filmography. Second. McFarland & Company. 912. 0-7864-0951-7.
  25. Web site: Barton . Steve . 2013-12-03 . Full Moon Streaming Unleashes J.R. Bookwalter's Mega Scorpions on the Web . 2023-03-24 . Dread Central . en-US.

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