New Fears Eve is the latest twisted horror comedy from P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson, whose past credits include the horror anthologies Volumes of Blood and 13 Slays Till X-Mas. It follows Leslie, Brian, Moses, and their unsuspecting colleagues as they confront a deranged killer intent on making New Year’s Eve unforgettable—for all the wrong reasons.
I recently received the chance to interview not only Starks & Huskisson, but also one of the producers of New Fears Eve, Jeffrey Reddick, who is best known for creating the Final Destination franchise. In addition to producing, Reddick appears onscreen in New Fears Eve in the role of Norman Perkins.
(The below interview was conducted over email and has been edited for length and clarity.)
How did you first meet Eric and P.J., and get involved with New Fears Eve?
I met P.J. Starks in the most indie-horror way possible: he reached out on social media because we shared Kentucky roots. We jumped on the phone, hit it off fast, and stayed in touch. He asked me to do a cameo (the way to my heart) in 13 Slays Till X-Mas. I was impressed by how that movie came out. Then he and Eric Huskisson sent me the script for New Fears Eve. I thought it was great: really funny, great gory kills, and a relatable love story at the center. I was like “Count me in.”
Did your experience from working on the Final Destination series affect the way the story was told or executed? If so, how?
Working on Final Destination taught me to balance what the artists want to do with what the studio is financing — precision, escalation, and making every beat count, especially when you’re building suspense and paying off a kill or a scare. But with New Fears Eve, the bigger influence was less “studio machinery” and movie mindset.
What I loved about New Fears Eve was how fun the set was, but still professional. Everybody was giving it their all and having a blast doing it. That’s the magic of indie films. You don’t have all the toys of a big budget, but you also don’t have twelve people in suits standing around telling you what to do. So much freer and fun.
What is your favorite kill in New Fears Eve?
Can I say dildo? Because I want to say dildo. It’s also my favorite kill. There’s a ton that were amazing, but that one is just so out of left field. And it’s filmed so well…in one shot…it’s glorious.
What are you working on next?
I’m working on several projects. We’re packaging my latest supernatural script and have a great director and cast attached. I’m hoping to share some information about that in the near future. And I’ve got a handful of projects we’re hustling to get off the ground this year. So, keep an eye out…
New Fears Eve is available to stream on Screambox. It’s also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Plex, YouTube TV, Hoopla, Fandango at Home, and The Roku Channel.