Big Damn Films Wraps Production on Micro-Budget Horror Anthology “Arbor Day: The Root of Evil”
The Micro-Budget Horror Anthology, Helmed by Six Indie Directors, Introduces a New Horror Icon to the Cult Genre Ahead of its 2026 Release
MAYS LANDING, NEW JERSEY, November 3, 2025 -- Big Damn Films, the independent production and distribution company behind multiple cult-leaning genre projects, has officially wrapped principal photography on its new micro-budget horror anthology feature, “Arbor Day: The Root of Evil.” Filming took place entirely in Southern New Jersey at Winding River Campground in Mays Landing located along the Egg Harbor River.
Photographed by Kimberly Pekula Photography
Earlier this week, Big Damn Films announced that “Arbor Day” is helmed by six directors, each contributing a standalone chapter within the connected anthology framework. The directors involved include John Johnson (“Plan 9”), Joe Raffa (“Downeast”), Justin Timpane (“Ninjas vs.” trilogy), Michael Jayne (“Browncoats: Redemption”), and first-time directors Brooke Mulkins and Karrie A. Lyons Munkittrick. The film is an original horror mythology centered on a new horror icon rooted in Arbor Day, a largely untapped holiday in the horror genre. The structured seven-day shoot functioned like a creative relay. Each director stepped into the same world with the same mythos and cinematic DNA, allowing them to craft their own branch of the unfolding legend.
Crew for the film includes Director of Photography Edwin Stevens, Costume Designer Brooke Mulkins, First Assistant Director Amanda Katz, Production Mixer Sunny Liu, Gaffer Dave Hallas, Special Effects Haley Vaughn, Action and Safety Supervisor Joe Gums, Composer Johnny Wilson, and Audio Producer Tamara Johnson.
Post-production begins immediately.
“We designed this film like a proving ground,” said Michael Jayne, Big Damn Films co-founder and co-producer. “For me, personally, this project became an important piece of my stroke recovery after suffering a stroke on May 14, 2025. Making it an anthology was vital because it allowed me to keep creating during a stage of recovery where I did not have the full energy to direct an entire feature. It also allowed six distinct visions to play inside the same world, and each director worked with the same production crew to maintain visual consistency across every chapter. Our new horror icon gives all of those perspectives a single mythology to carve into. This is not just about making a movie. This is about building a cult icon from the roots up.”
The film was produced with a strategic, ultra-lean budget of below forty-five thousand dollars. This approach is a key pillar in Big Damn Films’ ongoing commitment to demonstrate sustainable and repeatable indie feature production models. This was achieved without sacrificing creative ambition, special effects, or audience engagement potential.
“Arbor Day: The Root of Evil” is slated for completion in early 2026 with a premiere date of Arbor Day, April 24, 2026. The release plan includes limited theatrical screenings, road show viewings, convention appearances, physical media, and streaming platforms.
This project is designed to anchor Big Damn Films' broader future 2026 slate, which includes the long-awaited release of John Johnson’s “RIFTERS” as well as distributing the upcoming Darkstone Entertainment features “Knight of the Blue Moon” and “Shark, You Son of a Bitch” releasing later that year.
ABOUT BIG DAMN FILMS
Big Damn Films is a fiercely independent production and distribution company focused on building cult audiences. The company empowers first-time directors and releases bold genre projects across horror, science fiction, action, and dark comedy. The studio blends sustainable budgets with ambitious creative vision, building a blueprint for the next generation of independent studio success. For more information, visit bigdamnentertainment.com.
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Big Damn Films, bigdamnfilms@gmail.com
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Photo Credit: Big Damn Entertainment LLC. Photographed by Kimberly Pekula Photography
SOURCE Big Damn Entertainment
