Steven C. Miller

{{short description|American film director, screenwriter and film editor}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Steven C. Miller

| image = Steven C Miller.jpg

| caption = Miller on set of his feature film First Kill

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1981|3|08}}

| birth_place = Decatur, Georgia, US

| nationality = American

| occupation = Film director, screenwriter, editor

| alma_mater = Full Sail University

| years_active = 2005–present

}}

Steven C. Miller is an American screenwriter, editor, and director. His feature film debut, Automaton Transfusion, became an instant cult classic and catapulted his career into Hollywood. He directed the remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night titled Silent Night in 2012 and then shifted from horror to action. He has directed films starring notable actors such as Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Aaron Eckhart, Giancarlo Esposito, and Dave Bautista.{{cite web|title=Steven C. Miller - Film Director, Writer, and Editor|url=https://www.fullsail.edu/hall-of-fame/inductees/steven-miller|website=FullSail.edu|publisher=Full Sail University|accessdate=4 January 2018}}

Education

Miller attended Full Sail University where he majored in film and television production.{{cite web|last1=Rizzo|first1=Stephanie|title=Energy and Motion: The Kinetics of Steven C. Miller|url=http://www.fullsailblog.com/energy-and-motion-the-kinetics-of-steven-c-miller|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116092743/http://www.fullsailblog.com/energy-and-motion-the-kinetics-of-steven-c-miller|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2017|website=FullSailBlog.com|publisher=Full Sail University|accessdate=4 February 2018}}

Career

His feature film debut, Automaton Transfusion (2006), was made for under $15,000; it was purchased and released worldwide by Dimension Films after premiering at the 2007 Screamfest Horror Film Festival. After signing with Aperture Entertainment and United Talent Agency, Miller was attached to direct several studio films, including a cancelled MGM remake of Motel Hell (1980).{{cite web|title=Who I Am|url=http://www.thestevencmiller.com/whoiam/|website=TheStevenCMiller.com|accessdate=4 February 2018}}{{Self-published source|date=May 2024}}{{cite web|last1=Gencarelli|first1=Mike|title=Interview with Steven C. Miller|url=http://moviemikes.com/2010/04/interview-with-steven-c-miller|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714123406/http://moviemikes.com/2010/04/interview-with-steven-c-miller/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2011|website=MovieMikes.com|accessdate=4 February 2018}}

In 2011, Miller embarked on directing three more independent features. The first was the thriller The Aggression Scale (2012), described by IndieWire as "Home Alone with more death".{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/sxsw-12-review-the-aggression-scale-is-like-home-alone-with-more-death-but-not-as-fun-as-that-sounds|title=SXSW '12 Review: 'The Aggression Scale' Is Like 'Home Alone' With More Death (But Not As Fun As That Sounds)|last=Willmore|first=Alison|work=Indiewire|date=March 11, 2012|accessdate=February 26, 2015}} After premiering at South by Southwest, the film was purchased by Anchor Bay Entertainment for worldwide distribution.{{cite web|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Anchor Bay Preemptively Picks Up 'Aggression Scale' (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/anchor-bay-aggression-scale-sxsw-film-festival-289344|work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=10 February 2012 |publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group|accessdate=4 February 2018}} His second project was Under the Bed (2012), referred to by JoBlo.com as "a blood-soaked horror extravaganza"; the film premiered at Fantasia Festival[https://web.archive.org/web/20120801001636/http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/fantasia-2012-review-under-the-bed-directed-by-steven-c-miller UNDER THE BED is an all-out assault on the senses] and was acquired for release by XLrator Media. Miller's next film was the Christmas slasher film Silent Night (2012), a remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984).{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=2012-04-24 |title=Exclusive: Filming Begins on Silent Night; Director Steven C. Miller Speaks! |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33139/exclusive-filming-begins-on-silent-night-director-steven-c-miller-speaks/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Dread Central |language=en-US}} Fearnet stated "this straightforward and scrappy little remake is somehow more entertaining than half of what passes for 'wide release' horror movies these days."{{cite web |url = http://www.fearnet.com/news/review/fearnet-movie-review-silent-night|title = FEARnet Movie Review: Silent Night|author = Scott Weinberg|publisher = Fearnet|date = November 30, 2012|work = Silent Night|accessdate = December 10, 2012}} Silent Night, like The Aggression Scale, was released by Anchor Bay.

In 2015, Miller made a shift to mainstream filmmaking with four films produced by Emmett/Furla/Oasis and released by Lionsgate Premiere: Extraction (2015), Marauders (2016), Arsenal (2017) and First Kill (2017). Miller had his fifth collaboration with EFO and Lionsgate through the sequel Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018).{{cite web |last=Zinski |first=Dan |date=February 8, 2017 |title=Sylvester Stallone's Escape Plan 2 Finds a Director |url=http://screenrant.com/escape-plan-2-stallone-director/ |accessdate=February 10, 2017 |website=Screen Rant}}{{cite web|last1=Evry|first1=Max|title=Escape Plan 2 Director Confirmed as Steven C. Miller|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/812145-escape-plan-2-director-confirmed-as-steven-c-miller|website=ComingSoon.net|date=8 February 2017 |accessdate=30 October 2017}} Through these titles, Miller has collaborated several times with Bruce Willis, Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Dave Bautista, Adrian Grenier and Johnathan Schaech. In 2019 his most well received action-thriller, Line of Duty (2019) starring Aaron Eckhart, Courtney Eaton, Ben McKenzie, and Giancarlo Esposito.{{cite web|last1=Varner|first1=Brandon|title=Movie starring Aaron Eckhart filming in Birmingham, looking for extras|url=http://www.cbs42.com/news/local/movie-starring-aaron-eckhart-filming-in-birmingham-looking-for-extras/1160580144|website=CBS42.com|date=5 May 2018 |publisher=WIAT|accessdate=15 May 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Colurso|first1=Mary|title=Streets, places closed for 'Live' movie filming in Birmingham|url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/05/streets_places_closed_for_live.html|website=AL.com|date=14 May 2018 |accessdate=15 May 2018}} The film was released with a limited theatrical run by Saban Films.

In 2022, Miller returned to horror with the smart home thriller Margaux (2022) from Paramount Pictures. Rob Hunter of Film School Rejects gave the film a positive review and wrote, "You’ll laugh, you’ll chortle, you’ll wonder why characters aren’t simply leaving out a broken window, and you won’t regret your stay."{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Rob|title=‘Margaux’ Has Silly Fun with the Terrors of Technology|date=September 8, 2022|website=Film School Rejects|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/margaux-review/|accessdate=March 6, 2024}}

Millers latest is the action-horror film, Werewolves, starring Frank Grillo, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Katrina Law. The film hits theaters December 6, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/frank-grillo-werewolves-movie-us-release-date-theaters-1235970015/ |title=Frank Grillo Horror-Thriller ‘Werewolves’ Set For December U.S. Release Via Briarcliff & The Solution |website=deadline.com |date=2024-06-11}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:99%;"
rowspan="2" \| Year ! rowspan="2" \| Film ! colspan="7" \| Details
Distributor(s) ! Budget(s) ! Gross ! RT ! Details
2004 ! Suffer or Sacrifice \| \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| Short film
2006 ! Automaton Transfusion \| Dimension Extreme \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| $30,000 \| 50%{{cite web\|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/automaton_transfusion/\|title=Automaton Transfusion (2006)\|work=Rotten Tomatoes\|date=4 March 2008 \|accessdate=2015-02-26}} \| Directorial debut; also writer and actor
2011 ! Scream of the Banshee \| After Dark Films \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| \| 14%https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scream_of_the_banshee \| TV movie
rowspan="4" \| 2012 ! The Aggression Scale \| Anchor Bay Films \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| Also editor
Granny \| \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| Short film
Under the Bed \| XLrator Media \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| 40%{{cite web\|title=Under the Bed (2013)\|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/under_the_bed_2012/\|website=Rotten Tomatoes\|access-date=22 September 2020}} \| Also editor
Silent Night \| Anchor Bay Films \| rowspan="2" {{NA\|TBA}} \| $114,633 \| 64%{{cite web\|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/771319615/\|title=Silent Night\|last=\|first=\|date=\|work=Rotten Tomatoes\|publisher=Flixster\|accessdate=December 4, 2018}} \| Remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night
2015 ! Extraction \| Lionsgate Premiere \| $988,548 \| 6%{{cite web \|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/extraction_2015/ \|title=Extraction \|date=18 December 2015 \|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes/Flixster \|accessdate=2015-12-22}} \|
rowspan="2" \| 2016 ! Submerged \| IFC Films \| colspan="2" {{NA\|TBA}} \| 29%{{cite web\|title=Submerged\|work=Rotten Tomatoes\|date=27 November 2015 \|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/submerged_2015/\|accessdate=9 July 2017}} \|
Marauders \| rowspan="3" \| Lionsgate Premiere \| rowspan="3" {{NA\|TBA}} \| $1 million \| 25%{{cite web \|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/marauders_2016/?search=Marau \|title= Marauders (2016) \|website=Rotten Tomatoes \|date= July 2016 \|accessdate=July 10, 2016}} \|
rowspan="2" \| 2017 ! Arsenal \| $41,037 \| 3%{{cite web\|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/arsenal_2017 \|title=Arsenal (2017) \|website=Rotten Tomatoes \|date=2017-01-08 \|accessdate=December 27, 2018}} \|
First Kill \| $347,343 \| 13%{{cite web\|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/first_kill_2017\|work=Rotten Tomatoes\|title=First Kill (2017)\|date=21 July 2017 \|publisher=Fandango Media\|accessdate=July 18, 2018}} \|
2018 ! Escape Plan 2: Hades \| Summit Entertainment \| $20 million \| $16.7 million \| 9%{{cite web\|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/escape_plan_2_hades\|work=Rotten Tomatoes\|title=Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018)\|date=29 June 2018 \|publisher=Fandango Media\|accessdate=July 18, 2018}} \| Sequel to Escape Plan (2013)
2019 ! Line of Duty \| Saban Films, Lionsgate \| {{NA\|TBA}} \| $640,363{{cite web\|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Line-of-Duty#tab=summary\|title=Line of Duty (2019)\|work=The Numbers\|access-date=November 30, 2024}} \| 59%{{cite web\|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/line_of_duty_2019\|title=Line of Duty (2019)\|website=Rotten Tomatoes\|publisher=Fandango\|access-date=November 30, 2024}} \|
2022 ! Margaux \| Paramount Pictures \| colspan=2 {{NA\|TBA}} \| 59%{{cite web\|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Margaux\|title=Margaux (2022)\|website=Rotten Tomatoes\|publisher=Fandango\|access-date=November 30, 2024}} \|
2024 ! Werewolves \| Briarcliff Entertainment \| colspan=2 {{NA\|TBA}} \| \|

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:99%;"

rowspan="2" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Film

! colspan="7" | Details

Distributor(s)

! Budget(s)

! Gross

! RT

! Details

2004

! Suffer or Sacrifice

| {{NA|TBA}}

| Short film

2006

! Automaton Transfusion

| Dimension Extreme

| {{NA|TBA}}

| $30,000

| 50%{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/automaton_transfusion/|title=Automaton Transfusion (2006)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|date=4 March 2008 |accessdate=2015-02-26}}

| Directorial debut; also writer and actor

2011

! Scream of the Banshee

| After Dark Films

| {{NA|TBA}}

| 14%https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/scream_of_the_banshee

| TV movie

rowspan="4" | 2012

! The Aggression Scale

| Anchor Bay Films

| {{NA|TBA}}

| Also editor

Granny

| {{NA|TBA}}

| Short film

Under the Bed

| XLrator Media

| {{NA|TBA}}

| 40%{{cite web|title=Under the Bed (2013)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/under_the_bed_2012/|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=22 September 2020}}

| Also editor

Silent Night

| Anchor Bay Films

| rowspan="2" {{NA|TBA}}

| $114,633

| 64%{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/771319615/|title=Silent Night|last=|first=|date=|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Flixster|accessdate=December 4, 2018}}

| Remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night

2015

! Extraction

| Lionsgate Premiere

| $988,548

| 6%{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/extraction_2015/ |title=Extraction |date=18 December 2015 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes/Flixster |accessdate=2015-12-22}}

rowspan="2" | 2016

! Submerged

| IFC Films

| colspan="2" {{NA|TBA}}

| 29%{{cite web|title=Submerged|work=Rotten Tomatoes|date=27 November 2015 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/submerged_2015/|accessdate=9 July 2017}}

Marauders

| rowspan="3" | Lionsgate Premiere

| rowspan="3" {{NA|TBA}}

| $1 million

| 25%{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/marauders_2016/?search=Marau |title= Marauders (2016) |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date= July 2016 |accessdate=July 10, 2016}}

rowspan="2" | 2017

! Arsenal

| $41,037

| 3%{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/arsenal_2017 |title=Arsenal (2017) |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=2017-01-08 |accessdate=December 27, 2018}}

First Kill

| $347,343

| 13%{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/first_kill_2017|work=Rotten Tomatoes|title=First Kill (2017)|date=21 July 2017 |publisher=Fandango Media|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}

2018

! Escape Plan 2: Hades

| Summit Entertainment

| $20 million

| $16.7 million

| 9%{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/escape_plan_2_hades|work=Rotten Tomatoes|title=Escape Plan 2: Hades (2018)|date=29 June 2018 |publisher=Fandango Media|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}

| Sequel to Escape Plan (2013)

2019

! Line of Duty

| Saban Films, Lionsgate

| {{NA|TBA}}

| $640,363{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Line-of-Duty#tab=summary|title=Line of Duty (2019)|work=The Numbers|access-date=November 30, 2024}}

| 59%{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/line_of_duty_2019|title=Line of Duty (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date=November 30, 2024}}

2022

! Margaux

| Paramount Pictures

| colspan=2 {{NA|TBA}}

| 59%{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Margaux|title=Margaux (2022)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date=November 30, 2024}}

2024

! Werewolves

| Briarcliff Entertainment

| colspan=2 {{NA|TBA}}

Other credits

H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005) – art department: second unit; direct-to-video
Penance (2009) – special thanks
Pernicious (2014) – thanks

Music videos

Miller has directed music videos for the bands Blinded Black and Tokyo Rose.[http://www.moviethunder.com/n1268.html Interview at MovieThunder.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011170411/http://www.moviethunder.com/n1268.html |date=2007-10-11 }}

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.thestevencmiller.com/landing/}}
{{IMDb name|1921345}}

Category:1981 births

Category:American action film directors

Category:Film directors from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:American film editors

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:Full Sail University alumni

Category:American horror film directors

Category:Living people