S. Craig Zahler

Zahler was born in Miami, Florida, to a Jewish family.{{cite web |last=Bonazelli|first=Andrew|date=March 20, 2018 |title=S. Craig Zahler Explains How Neither His Films, nor Mel Gibson, Are Horror |url=https://riotfest.org/2018/03/s-craig-zahler-interview/|work=RiotFest.org}} Zahler studied film at New York University.{{Cite web |last=Tobias |first=Scott |date=2019-03-22 |title=The Director Who Doesn't Care What You Think of His Movies |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/3/22/18276913/s-craig-zahler-dragged-across-concrete-brawl-in-cell-block-99 |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}

His debut noir western novel, A Congregation of Jackals, was nominated for The Spur Award by the Western Writers of America and The Peacemaker Award by the Western Fictioneers.{{cite web | url=http://www.westernfictioneers.com/peacemaker-awards.php | title=Western Fictioneers }} Corpus Chrome, Inc., A Congregation of Jackals and Mean Business on North Ganson Street all received starred reviews for excellence in Booklist.{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4397295.S_Craig_Zahler|title=S. Craig Zahler|author=S. Craig Zahler|work=Goodreads}}

As a drummer, lyricist and singer, Zahler, under the stage name Czar, collaborates with Jeff Herriott, as JH Halberd, to write and perform songs as the heavy metal band Realmbuilder, who have three albums on Swedish label I Hate Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Realmbuilder/3540276082|title=Realmbuilder|work=metal-archives.com}} This is following Zahler's foray into black metal with the project Charnel Valley, for which he played drums, wrote lyrics and shared songwriting duties with Worm. The two Charnel Valley albums were released by Paragon Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Charnel_Valley/46930|title=Charnel Valley|work=metal-archives.com}}

Zahler also wrote the script for a 2011 horror film Asylum Blackout (also released as The Incident at Sans Asylum and The Incident), which was directed by Alexandre Courtès.{{cite news|last=Leydon|first=Joe|title=Review: 'The Incident'|url=https://variety.com/2011/more/reviews/the-incident-1117946290/|access-date=February 1, 2014|newspaper=variety.com|date=October 2, 2011}}

In 2015, Zahler made his directorial debut, writing and directing the horror western Bone Tomahawk, which stars Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Lili Simmons, David Arquette and Richard Jenkins.{{cite magazine|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/11/03/kurt-russell-bone-tomahawk|title=Movie News – Movie Reviews |magazine=Entertainment Weekly }} The film was released on October 23, 2015, in theaters and on video on demand.

Bone Tomahawk was met with favorable reception, winning a few awards. At Rotten Tomatoes it has received positive reviews from 90% of critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bone_tomahawk/|title=Bone Tomahawk|website=Rotten Tomatoes }} The New York Times called it "[a] witty fusion of western, horror and comedy that gallops to its own beat",{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/movies/review-bone-tomahawk-is-western-horror-and-comedy.html|title=Review: 'Bone Tomahawk' Is Western, Horror and Comedy|date=October 22, 2015|work=The New York Times|first=Jeannette|last=Catsoulis}} while the LA Times said "There's a humming genre intelligence at work in the grim, witty horror-western Bone Tomahawk."{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-mn-bone-tomahawk-review-20151023-story.html|title=Pokey, wry 'Bone Tomahawk' cuts to the core of quirky horror westerns|first=Robert|last=Abele|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 23, 2015}} The Hollywood Reporter called it "[a] handsome Western with horror overtones",{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bone-tomahawk-fantastic-fest-review-828749|title='Bone Tomahawk': Fantastic Fest Review|date=October 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter}} and Variety described it as "...a most violent delight",{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/bone-tomahawk-review-1201604748/|title=Film Review: Kurt Russell in 'Bone Tomahawk'|first=Guy|last=Lodge|date=October 2, 2015|work=Variety}} while Leonard Maltin said "[T]his modest feature leaves The Hateful Eight in the dust. It's provocative, original, extremely violent and extremely good."{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/leonardmaltin/never-a-bad-time-for-a-good-western-bone-tomahawk-20160122|title=Never A Bad Time for a Good Western: Bone Tomahawk – IndieWire|first=Leonard|last=Maltin}} Twitch Film said "[Bone Tomahawk] succeeds in demonstrating the voice of its massively talented creator."{{cite web|url=http://twitchfilm.com/2015/10/fantastic-fest-2015.html|title=Fantastic Fest 2015 Review: BONE TOMAHAWK Is One Of The Most Brutal Westerns Ever Put To Film|first=Todd|last=Brown|date=October 4, 2015}} At the Sitges Film Festival Bone Tomahawk won the critic's award for "Best Picture", and Zahler was given the award for "Best Director". The Independent Spirit Awards nominated Richard Jenkins for "Best Supporting Actor" and S. Craig Zahler for "Best Screenplay". Kurt Russell won the "Best Actor" award at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

Zahler's second feature film as writer, director, and co-composer was Brawl in Cell Block 99, which stars Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, Udo Kier, and Don Johnson. This movie received its world premiere at the 74th Venice Film Festival in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/sep/02/brawl-in-cell-block-99-review-vince-vaughn-venice-film-festival|title=Brawl in Cell Block 99 review – Vince Vaughn has a riot in ultraviolent thriller|first=Xan|last=Brooks|date=September 2, 2017|website=the Guardian}} Actors Fred Melamed and Geno Segers both returned from his debut, and were joined by Marc Blucas, Mustafa Shakir, Thomas Guiry, Willie C. Carpenter, and others.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 92% based on 75 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Brawl in Cell Block 99 rides a committed Vince Vaughn performance into the brutally violent – and undeniably entertaining – depths of prison-set grindhouse genre fare."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brawl_in_cell_block_99/|title=Brawl in Cell Block 99 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 16, 2017}}

The movie made year end best of lists for Newsweek,{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/best-movies-2017-get-out-personal-shopper-757587|title=The 18 most unforgettable films of 2017, from 'Brawl in Cell Block 99' to 'The Shape of Water'|date=December 27, 2017|work=Newsweek}} (Justin Chang) L.A. Times,{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-year-end-justin-chang-top-10-20171215-htmlstory.html|title='Call Me by Your Name,' 'The Florida Project' lead Justin Chang's 12 best films of 2017|first=Justin|last=Chang|website=Los Angeles Times|date=December 15, 2017}} Collider,{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/top-films-of-2017/#brawl-in-cell-block-99|title=Brian's Top 10 Films of 2017|date=December 24, 2017|work=Collider}} JoBlo.com,{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/the-10-best-films-of-2017-jimmyo-300|title=The 10 Best Films of 2017 (JimmyO)|work=JoBlo|date=December 29, 2017}} (Mike D'Angelo) The A.V. Club,{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-of-film-2017-the-ballots-1821443147|title=The best of film 2017: The ballots|first=A.V. Club|last=Staff|website=The A.V. Club |date=December 20, 2017 }} and others. The picture was a New York Times Critics Pick{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/movies/brawl-in-cell-block-99-review-vince-vaughn.html|title=Review: 'Brawl in Cell Block 99' Features a Revelatory Vince Vaughn|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 5, 2017|last1=Catsoulis|first1=Jeannette}} and was screened at the Museum of Modern Art,{{cite web|url=https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/3700|title=Brawl in Cell Block 99. 2017. Directed by S. Craig Zahler - MoMA|website=The Museum of Modern Art}} where it was added to the permanent collection.

Zahler's third feature film as writer, director, and co-composer was Dragged Across Concrete, which stars Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, Michael Jai White, Jennifer Carpenter, Thomas Kretschmann, Laurie Holden, Fred Melamed, Udo Kier, and Don Johnson. This movie received its world premiere at the 75th Venice Film Festival in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/dragged-across-concrete-review-mel-gibson-1202924928/|work=Variety|first=Guy|last=Lodge|title='Dragged Across Concrete' Review: Mel Gibson Leads Outsize Cop Drama|date=September 3, 2018}}

In 2018, it was announced that Zahler would be joining the writing staff of the resurrected Fangoria magazine.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cinestate-buys-fangoria-expansion-movies-1202699883/|title=Cinestate Buys Fangoria Magazine, Plans Brand Expansion Into Movies|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=February 15, 2018|work=Variety}} As of 2019, he writes a column called "Malignant Growths" about microbudget horror films.

Zahler told Variety that on June 22, 2006, he began his career at NYU film school as a cinematographer.{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Matthew|title=Craig Zahler early career|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/features/craig-zahler-1200337285/|access-date=February 1, 2014|newspaper=variety.com|date=June 22, 2006}} In 2004, he wrote six scripts, including a western that topped the Black List entitled, The Brigands of Rattleborge, which Park Chan-wook was set to direct.{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title='Oldboy' helmer saddles up for 'Brigands'|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/oldboy-helmer-saddles-up-for-brigands-1118058420/|access-date=February 1, 2014|newspaper=variety.com|date=August 29, 2012}}

On September 7, 2007, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Warner Bros. had acquired the film rights to the anime Robotech with Tobey Maguire attached to star in and produce the film, while Zahler was set to write the script.{{cite news|title=Maguire, WB attack the big screen with 'Robotech'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/maguire-wb-attack-big-screen-149582|access-date=February 1, 2014|newspaper=hollywoodreporter.com|date=September 7, 2007}}

On March 25, 2011, Sony's Columbia Pictures picked up the script of the film The Big Stone Grid, written by Zahler and produced by Michael De Luca.{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Columbia Picks Up Spec Script By S. Craig Zahler|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/columbia-picks-up-spec-script-171593|access-date=February 1, 2014|newspaper=hollywoodreporter.com|date=March 25, 2011}} Michael Mann was reported to be directing in February 2012.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2012/02/michael-mann-entering-the-big-stone-grid-230500/|title= Michael Mann Entering 'The Big Stone Grid'|date= February 13, 2012|access-date= September 24, 2023|first= Mike Jr.|last= Fleming|work= Deadline}} In July 2016, Pierre Morel was announced to be replacing Mann as director.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2016/07/pierre-morel-big-stone-grid-movie-director-1201786927/|title= Pierre Morel To Direct 'Big Stone Grid' As Thriller Recharges|date= July 15, 2016|access-date= September 24, 2023|first= Patrick|last= Hipes|work= Deadline}}

On September 5, 2012, it was announced that FX was developing a martial arts drama, Downtown Dragons, with Zahler set to write and executive produce.{{cite news|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=FX Developing Martial Arts Drama Project|url=https://deadline.com/2012/09/fx-developing-martial-arts-drama-project-329437/|access-date=February 1, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 5, 2012}}

On October 30, 2012, Zahler was set to make his directorial debut with a horror western film Bone Tomahawk from his own script. Two years later, the picture went into production in California. The film stars Kurt Russell and Richard Jenkins.{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=S. Craig Zahler to direct 'Bone Tomahawk'|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/s-craig-zahler-to-direct-bone-tomahawk-1118061449/|access-date=February 1, 2014|newspaper=variety.com|date=October 30, 2012}}

On June 27, 2013, Warner Bros. acquired the film rights to his crime novel Mean Business on North Ganson Street. He will write the script of the film which is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx.{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Warner Bros Acquires Craig Zahler Crime Novel As Re-Team Of 'Django Unchained's Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx|url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/warner-bros-acquires-craig-zahler-crime-novel-as-re-team-of-django-unchaineds-leonardo-dicaprio-jamie-foxx-531264/|access-date=February 1, 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 27, 2013}}

In 2015, Zahler told Creative Screenwriting, "I've had maybe a minimum of 21 different screenplays optioned or sold, and not one of them was made in Hollywood. I had one [The Incident] made by a French company in Belgium, but the other 20 or more – and some of those have been optioned multiple times, I had a television series that was at FX that went to Starz that went to AMC – none of them have been made."{{cite web|url=http://creativescreenwriting.com/delivering-the-beats-bone-tomahawk/|title=Delivering the Beats: Bone Tomahawk|last=Zacharias|first=Ramona|date=December 14, 2015|publisher=Creative Screenwriting|access-date=May 10, 2016}}

On May 10, 2016, 20th Century Fox acquired the film rights to Zahler's western novel Wraiths of the Broken Land. The screenplay was to be written by Drew Goddard and the film directed by Ridley Scott.{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Ridley Scott, Drew Goddard, Fox & 'The Martian' Team Set 'Wraiths of the Broken Land'|url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/ridley-scott-drew-goddard-wraiths-of-the-broken-land-the-martian-fox-1201752356/|access-date=October 30, 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 10, 2016}}

On February 1, 2017, Variety confirmed that Zahler would direct Dragged Across Concrete, a film about police brutality. The film stars Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn, who previously worked together in the former's 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge.{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn to Star in Movie About Police Brutality|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/mel-gibson-vince-vaughn-police-brutality-movie-dragged-across-concrete-1201975594/|access-date=February 3, 2017|work=Variety|date=February 1, 2017}} The film premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2018,{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=Ariston|title=Venice Fest Lineup Includes Coens, Luca Guadagnino and Alfonso Cuaron|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-unveils-full-lineup-1129426|date=July 25, 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=July 28, 2018}} before receiving a release in the United States on March 22, 2019.{{cite news |last=Han |first=Karen |title=The vicious Dragged Across Concrete can't be apolitical when it stars Mel Gibson |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/22/18277304/dragged-across-concrete-review-mel-gibson-vince-vaughn |work=Polygon |date=March 22, 2019 |access-date=April 21, 2019}}

In May 2024, Variety confirmed that Zahler would write and direct The Bookie & the Bruiser, with Vince Vaughn and Adrien Brody set to star.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/vince-vaughn-adrien-brody-bookie-and-the-bruiser-s-craig-zahler-1235995631/|title=Vince Vaughn, Adrien Brody to Lead The Bookie & the Bruiser, Anton Launching S. Craig Zahler's Gangster Thriller in Cannes (Exclusive)|date=May 8, 2024|first=Alex|last=Ritman|website=Variety|access-date=July 4, 2024}}

Although he was raised Jewish, Zahler is an atheist. Zahler has stated that he is "not politically driven; I'm not very politically interested",{{Cite news |last=Schager |first=Nick |date=2019-03-18 |title=The Hollywood Filmmaker Making Movies for the MAGA Crowd |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/s-craig-zahlers-dragged-across-concrete-starring-mel-gibson-the-hollywood-filmmaker-making-movies-for-the-maga-crowd |access-date=2022-08-03}} believing in the philosophy of "art over politics."

Zahler is unmarried, stating that he has no interest in ever marrying.{{Cite web |date=2016-02-15 |title=Best western: why Bone Tomahawk became a gunslinging cult hit |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/15/craig-zahler-on-bone-tomahawk |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=The Guardian|first=Alex|last=Godfrey |language=en}}

• A Congregation of Jackals (2010){{cite web|title=Books by S. Craig Zahler|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4397295.S_Craig_Zahler|publisher=goodreads.com|access-date=February 14, 2014}}
• Wraiths of the Broken Land (2013)
• Corpus Chrome, Inc. (2014)
• Mean Business on North Ganson Street (2014)
• The Narrow Caves (2017) [audiobook]
• Hug Chickenpenny: The Panegyric of an Anomalous Child (2018)
• The Slanted Gutter (2021)
• Forbidden Surgeries of the Hideous Dr. Divinus (2021) [graphic novel]
• Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos (2022) [graphic novel]

;Short films – Cinematography by S. Craig Zahler

• August Roads (1995)
• Warsaw Story (1996)
• Lucia's Dream (1997)
• Rooster (2003)

As a metal musician, Zahler is better known by his stage name Czar. As a soundtrack composer and as one half of the synthesizer duo Binary Reptile, he uses his real name.

Charnel Valley (Czar and Worm)

• The Dark Archives (2005, Paragon Records){{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Charnel_Valley/The_Dark_Archives/92246|title=Charnel Valley – The Dark Archives – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives|work=metal-archives.com}}
• The Igneous Race (2007, Paragon Records){{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Charnel_Valley/The_Igneous_Race/162874|title=Charnel Valley – The Igneous Race – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives|work=metal-archives.com}}

Realmbuilder (Czar and JH Halberd)

• Summon the Stone Throwers (2009, I Hate Records){{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Realmbuilder/Summon_the_Stone_Throwers/229463|title=Realmbuilder – Summon the Stone Throwers – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives|work=metal-archives.com}}
• Fortifications of the Pale Architect (2011, I Hate Records){{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Realmbuilder/Fortifications_of_the_Pale_Architect/296597|title=Realmbuilder – Fortifications of the Pale Architect – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives|work=metal-archives.com}}
• Blue Flame Cavalry (2013, I Hate Records){{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Realmbuilder/Blue_Flame_Cavalry/392809|title=Realmbuilder – Blue Flame Cavalry – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives|work=metal-archives.com}}

Jeff Herriott & S. Craig Zahler / Binary Reptile

• Bone Tomahawk (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2015, Lakeshore Records)
• Crawl into the Narrow Caves (2017, Lakeshore Records) (as Binary Reptile)
• Brawl in Cell Block 99 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2017, Lakeshore Records)
• Dragged Across Concrete (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2019, Lakeshore Records)

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official website|https://www.scraigzahler.com}}
• {{IMDb name|0951975}}
• [http://www.imdb.com/user/ur28840957/ Zahler's account] on IMDb

{{Authority control}}

{{S. Craig Zahler}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zahler, S. Craig}}

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