2025 in Review: New Icons, Darkstone Wins, and a Massive 2026
As we close out 2025, we wanted to take a moment to look back at a year defined by resilience, collaboration, and a massive new beginning for Big Damn Entertainment.
It is no secret that this year threw some serious obstacles our way. Between losing a key filming location for Z*Con this past spring and navigating Michael’s recovery from a stroke shortly after, 2025 tested us. However, in true Big Damn fashion, we did not just survive. We pivoted, we planned, and we got back to work.
Production Wrap on Arbor Day: The Root of Evil
We are thrilled to announce that on October 28th, 2025, we officially wrapped principal photography on our latest feature, Arbor Day: The Root of Evil.
Shot right here in Southern New Jersey, this micro-budget horror anthology is more than just our next movie. It marks the start of a new era. We are introducing a brand-new supernatural killer tied to Arbor Day folklore: a true horror icon in the making. Post-production is already underway for an early 2026 release.
Fueling the Future of Z*Con
This project is about more than just scaring you; it is the engine that will allow us to finish Z*Con properly. The success of Arbor Day is directly tied to the future of our zombie epic. Every ticket sold and every screening booked generates the revenue we need to complete Z*Con without compromising the vision. We need your help to make this harvest a bounty. Please visit ArborDayMovie.com to join the "Cultivators" list. By planting your name on the list, you will be the first to get tickets and can even help bring a screening to your town. Your support here helps us cross the finish line on Z*Con.
Celebrating Our Successes with Darkstone Entertainment
This year was not just about our own productions. It was also a landmark year for our partnership with Darkstone Entertainment. Together, we secured some massive wins for independent genre fans:
Now Streaming on Relay: We officially brought three Darkstone cult classics, The Fright Before Christmas, The Fright Before Christmas 2, and The Jester, to the Relay streaming platform. It has never been easier to watch these indie legends.
Physical Media Milestones: We wrapped up a successful pre-order run for the 1080p upscaled Blu-ray of The Jester, proving that physical media is still the heartbeat of the collection.
A Stacked 2026 Slate: The collaboration is only heating up. Next year, we are helping Darkstone unleash a wave of new titles, including the sci-fi epic Rifters (Q2), the horror-comedy Shark, You Son of a Bitch (Q3), and Knight of the Blue Moon (Q4).
Go Behind the Scenes If you want the full story on how we navigated this year, check out The Big Damn Podcast:
Episode 22: "Nurturing the Rise of a Horror Icon" (A deep dive into the Arbor Day wrap).
Episode 21: Michael’s solo update on finishing the film and what this victory means for the studio.
Thank you for sticking with us through the highs and the lows of 2025. We cannot wait to show you what we have grown.
See you in the woods,
Logan & Michael
P.S. Support the studio for the price of a cup of coffee! Join our Patreon at the Big Damn High Five tier ($3/month) for exclusive live stream chats, members-only updates, and full access to the Big Damn Patreon. Visit Big Damn Films | Patreon for details.
