J. R. Bookwalter

J. R. Bookwalter began his career at the age of 19 in 1985 with The Dead Next Door.{{Cite news |last=Lindsay |first=Cam |date=2005-09-01 |title=The Dead Next Door J.R. Bookwalter |work=Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/dead_next_door-jr_bookwalter |access-date=2023-03-24}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=2017-08-04 |title=Zombie Classic 'Dead Next Door' Gets 2K Transfer |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/home-video/3451548/zombie-classic-dead-next-door-gets-2k-transfer/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}} Bookwalter wrote, directed, edited, and composed the score for the film.{{Cite web |last=Galil |first=Leor |date=2020-10-05 |title=The mystery punk from The Dead Next Door |url=http://chicagoreader.com/music/the-mystery-punk-from-the-dead-next-door/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Manor |first=Rue Morgue |date=2022-10-03 |title=Homemade Horrors: An Evolution |url=https://rue-morgue.com/homemade-horrors-an-evolution/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Rue Morgue |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Gingold |first=Michael |date=2018-04-13 |title=Cult DTV gorefest "ROBOT NINJA" slashing back on special-edition Blu-ray/DVD |url=https://rue-morgue.com/cult-dtv-gorefest-robot-ninja-slashing-back-on-special-edition-blu-ray-dvd/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Rue Morgue |language=en-US}} The film was released in 1989 and features cameos from Scott Spiegel, Burt Ward, and Linnea Quigley.{{Cite web |last=Hamman |first=Cody |date=2018-06-12 |title=Robot Ninja will kick ass on a 30th anniversary Blu-ray release |url=https://www.joblo.com/robot-ninja-will-kick-ass-on-a-30th-anniversary-blu-ray-release-860/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=JoBlo |language=en-US}} In the years since its release, Robot Ninja achieved cult status on the video collector market.{{Cite web |last=Gingold |first=Michael |date=2019-02-22 |title=VHS fave "ROBOT NINJA" slashes onto Blu-ray; complete specs and art |url=https://rue-morgue.com/vhs-fave-robot-ninja-slashes-onto-blu-ray-complete-specs-and-art/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Rue Morgue |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Rocco T. |date=2019-04-08 |title=Blu-Ray Review: VHS-Era Shocker "Robot Ninja" Gets Back In Fighting Shape |url=https://rue-morgue.com/blu-ray-review-vhs-era-shocker-robot-ninja-gets-back-in-fighting-shape/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Rue Morgue |language=en-US}} 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."{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Rocco |date=2019-04-19 |title=VHS-Era Shocker "Robot Ninja" Gets Back in Fighting Shape |url=https://rue-morgue.com/blu-ray-review-vhs-era-shocker-robot-ninja-gets-back-in-fighting-shape/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Rue Morgue}}

Bookwalter produced Skinned Alive in 1990.{{Cite web |last=Gingold |first=Michael |date=2020-08-17 |title='90s hillbilly horror "SKINNED ALIVE" coming on restored Ultimate Edition Blu-ray; full details and art |url=https://rue-morgue.com/90s-hillbilly-horror-skinned-alive-coming-on-restored-ultimate-edition-blu-ray-full-details-and-art/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Rue Morgue |language=en-US}} The film stars Scott Spiegel and Mary Jackson.{{Cite web |last=Hamman |first=Cody |date=2020-09-02 |title=Skinned Alive, starring Evil Dead II's Scott Spiegel, comes to Blu-ray |url=https://www.joblo.com/skinned-alive-starring-evil-dead-iis-scott-spiegel-comes-to-blu-ray/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=JoBlo |language=en-US}}

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".{{Cite web |date=2021-01-22 |title=Blu Review – SOV Six-Pack (Tempe Digital) |url=https://www.horrorsociety.com/2021/01/22/blu-review-sov-six-pack-tempe-digital/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Horror Society |language=en-US}}

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."{{Cite web |date=2004-10-30 |title=OZONE (DVD) {{!}} Film Threat |url=https://filmthreat.com/uncategorized/ozone-dvd/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en-US}}

In 1996, Bookwalter directed Polymorph; written by and starring frequent collaborator James L. Edwards.{{Cite web |last=Tinnin |first=Drew |date=2022-06-02 |title=Homemade Horror: 5 Gross Out Shot-On-Video Shockers |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/430464/homemade-horror-5-gross-out-shot-on-video-shockers/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}}

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).{{Cite web |title=Full Moon Fever: Day 4 {{!}} CHUD.com |url=https://chud.com/167958/full-moon-fever-day-4/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0006931}}

{{Films directed by J. R. Bookwalter}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bookwalter, J. R.}}

Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:Filmmakers from Ohio

Category:American male screenwriters