Draft:Dead Media

Dead Media
Dead Media
	2025 theatrical release poster
Directed by	Joseph Scrimshaw
Written by	Joseph Scrimshaw
Produced by	Vinny Rutherford; Joe Lynch; Rebecca Watson & Chris; Eve & CeeCee;
Starring	Sammi-Jack Martincak; James Urbaniak; Sam Landman; Anna Sundberg; Jessica Fenton; John Middleton; Antonio Teodoro; Natalie Rae Wass; Bill Corbett;
Cinematography	Matthias Schubert
Edited by	Joseph Scrimshaw
Music by	Tony Thaxton
Production; company	Strange Path Productions
Release date	October 20, 2025

Submission declined on 21 April 2026 by MarcGarver (talk).

This draft's references do not show that the film meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion for films. The draft requires either:

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Declined by MarcGarver 52 days ago. Last edited by IdiosyncraticLawyer 3 days ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Comment: A bit of local press and the rest of the citations are just festivals where it was screened. Doesn't look notable. MarcGarver (talk) 11:51, 21 April 2026 (UTC)

Dead Media is a 2025 horror film from writer and director Joseph Scrimshaw, inspired by the found footage horror films of the 90s and DVD special features easter eggs. The film explores themes of being trapped in time, relationships with both friends and family, and classic horror movie tropes.^[1] It was filmed entirely on location in Minneapolis, MN and funded by investors, backers, and fiscal sponsor Found North.

Plot

Dead Media follows an evening at home between friends as they explore the special features of a haunted DVD. Maggie Sloke, a physical media enthusiast, invites her friends Brenda and Dan over to watch Night of the Lurchers and they are quickly joined by her Uncle Happy, who insists that they watch it on DVD. After the film's conclusion, Maggie insists on staying up to explore the special features while looking for a hidden easter egg. When she finds it, the film comes to life, endangering everyone in the house as lurchers leak into reality. The group must work together along with Night of the Lurchers' director Greta, who has spent a decade trapped inside the DVD. While fighting the monsters, Maggie explores her relationship with her friends and her uncle, all while trying to decide her own future.

Cast

Sammi-Jack Martincak as Maggie Sloke
James Urbaniak as Dr Sven Rendall/Guy Leopold
Sam Landman as Uncle Heppy Sloke
Anna Sundberg as Rita Nast
Jessica Fenton as Brenda Nilson
John Middleton as The Prime-Lurcher
Antonio Teodoro as Daniel Cleary
Natalie Rae Wass as Ancient Norse-Lurcher
Jacob Mullan as Clown-Lurcher
Rob Ward as Eye Patch-Lurcher and Owl Man
Gael Palen as Greta The Director/Greta-Lurcher
Audrey Parker as Lucy/Lucy-Lurcher
Andrew Stecker as Bruce/Derek
Sulia Rose Altenberg as Shelly The Librarian
Rachel Buhman as Sam The Tech/Sam-Lurcher
Shanan Custer as Ava, The Casting Director
Jim Robinson as Stewart Fairfax
Bill Corbett as Jackson Billy, The Extra
Tim Uren as Kevin/Kevin-Lurcher
Joseph Scrimshaw as Phil, The Interviewer
Sara Scrimshaw as Dance-Lurcher
Nissa Nordland Morgan as Woman in Flannel

Production

Filmed on location in Minneapolis at The Crane Theater and The Scrimshaw House.^[2] Shot with Sony FX3.

Film North served as this film’s fiscal sponsor.^[3]

Release

Festivals

2026 Nevermore Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina^[4]
2026 Creature Feature Weekend in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania^[5]
2026 PanicFest (virtual program)^[6]
2026 Bloody Mirror in Tbilisi, Georgia^[7]

Theatrical

Dead Media held its first theatrical release at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis on October 20, 2025^[2].

Reception

Awarded "Best Comedy Horror Feature" by the 2026 Bloody Mirror festival in Tbilisi, Georgia.

References

↑ Hewitt, Chris (October 17, 2025). "Minnesota actors scare up gruesome horror in new movie 'Dead Media'". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
1 2 Rydberg, Ali (2025-10-23). "Joseph Scrimshaw's "Dead Media" Premieres at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
↑ "Dead Media". FilmNorth. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
↑ "Nevermore Film Festival 2026". nevermore2026.eventive.org. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
↑ "Schedule". Creature Feature Weekend. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
↑ "Panic Fest 2026". panicfest.eventive.org. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
↑ "DEAD MEDIA". LiveScreenings. Retrieved 2026-04-20.

Category:Film Category:Independent films Category:Horror films

[1] Hewitt, Chris (October 17, 2025). "Minnesota actors scare up gruesome horror in new movie 'Dead Media'". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved April 20, 2026.

[:0-2] 1 2 Rydberg, Ali (2025-10-23). "Joseph Scrimshaw's "Dead Media" Premieres at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis". Twin Cities Geek - MN Geek Culture Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-20.

[3] "Dead Media". FilmNorth. Retrieved 2026-04-20.

[4] "Nevermore Film Festival 2026". nevermore2026.eventive.org. Retrieved 2026-04-20.

[5] "Schedule". Creature Feature Weekend. Retrieved 2026-04-20.

[6] "Panic Fest 2026". panicfest.eventive.org. Retrieved 2026-04-20.

[7] "DEAD MEDIA". LiveScreenings. Retrieved 2026-04-20.

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