SQUELCHER: The SamHel Interview
A Brutal Zine
The Bio:
SamHel is a filmmaker based out of Los Angeles, California. He is also the innovator and founder of Bizarre Theater Releasing, a physical media company that showcases DIY filmmakers, who, like Sam, aren’t afraid to push the limits. His works include I Cut Your Flesh, Worms, Nuclear Girls, Disfigured Perception, and the upcoming film Man-O-Wolf. Last, but not least, SamHel is the curator of A Baroque Film Festival, an event involving non-mainstream filmmakers who’ve come together to create pieces not fit for human consumption.
Hopefully, you’re not human.
The Why:
None of you may be asking, why SamHel? Why does he get a SQUELCHER spotlight? The reason is that SamHel is one of those creatives who has developed something new. Something that will change you after you watch his films. My first encounter with SamHel was the documentary I Cut Your Flesh, which went viral because of its content, intricate camera work, and the charismatic lead, MissSox.
The audience follows Sox, who takes on a journey into the depths of Blood Play, a kink in which she regularly participates. We watch her willingly subject herself to penetration by needles, razor-embedded paddles, and acts such as body suspension. Seeing real blood on screen, and her lively personality, creates confusion. How can she enjoy this? Is this real? Are there really people who do this?
The more you watch, the easier it becomes. That in itself can also elicit fear. For me, there was another question that came to mind. Is this inherently wrong?
My answer would be no.
They are consenting adults who are allowing us to witness a typically private matter. Often, acts that make people uncomfortable or fall outside the presumed status quo are stigmatized and demonized.
However, wouldn’t you say that exploring your sexuality, wants, needs, and desires is more righteous than sneaking off to the bathroom to watch explicit materials while your spouse sleeps in your marital bed?
Think about it.
SamHel’s other works offer a different experience. Reminiscent of films like Burrp! (1996), the August Underground Series, Creep (2014), and the movies produced during the New French Extremity horror boom (Martyrs, High Tension, Inside). They lean heavily into the gore and depraved storytelling. Disfigured Perception is a standout for me. The concept of a head injury (trauma) leading to a release and exploration of unsavory tendencies hooked me from the get-go. Watch at your own risk; it changes you. Fun fact, SamHel is the reason I own a Blu-ray player.
This answers the why. Because why would you not want to dig inside SamHel’s brain?
The Interview:
Drew: Firstly, thank you for trusting me with this interview and taking time out of your day to let me pick your brain. That means the world to me, and I’m excited to dive in. A Baroque Film Festival Volume 002 is in the works. Can you tell us about your experience with putting together Volume 001? Was it fun to work with the other filmmakers? What were some of the highs and lows of putting the project together? Any tentative dates for Volume 002?
SamHel: Sure, anytime… I prefer written interviews to audio interviews. I can think a bit more about stuff and rewrite, so the fact that this is written is better.
To be honest, the film fest is something I always wanted to do. I just had to do it like I do everything else… which is spur of the moment. I hit up Eastwood PAC after a recommendation from the Winchester Brothers, and I truthfully set it up that day.
As the film fest got closer, it got a little stressful, but I was more so curating it myself with filmmaker friends films such as; James Bell, Kasper Juhl, Guy, I was then able to talk with Stephen Biro of Unearthed Films, to finish the latest American Guinea Pig, to screen it for the first time and I think that drove eyes to it, as it took almost 5 years to complete.
But after that setlist was locked in…it was more just asking friends if they could help. My buddy, horror reviewer and director, himself Nightmare Movies, was my partner in crime to get it set-up and he ran technical, I just had to keep everything moving… and it was almost sold out. Not many empty seats, got a lot of people asking if it will continue… and it is!
Submissions are open right now at FilmFreeway for selections for Vol. 2, which we will be doing again at Eastwood PAC this year on Nov. 21st, 2026! Enough support and ticket sales, we may do two days… but we’ll see.
Drew: You created Bizarre Theater Releasing last year. Can you run us through its inception and the goals as time goes on?
SamHel: I was kinda and am kinda over talking about myself in the capacity of “buy my films” I love odd films and underground DIY cinema and a lot of films don’t get physical or dont know how to do DVDs, Blu-rays or VHS… and a lot have issues trying to make budget back or see monetary gain from their art, and being that I have been able to do it for myself… the idea was to do it for others. Or well try too.
But Bizarre Theater Releasing is more so a way for filmmakers to have a physical media release they can point to and get people to grab a copy, despite the budget or fan base for the film.
Drew: For me, I Cut Your Flesh was the film that first introduced me to your work, and left me wanting more. What film, or films, inspired you to become a filmmaker? Was it an “Aha” sort of moment, or something that built over time?
SamHel: Glad you dug it! I sorta fell into filmmaking. I took photography classes, and wanted to be something in the line of a photo journalist or video journalist… or be the camera guy behind stuff like VICE.
However, I fell into the underground cinema community and got invited to help at a screening of Shane Ryan’s film My Name Is “A” by Anonymous. I then met Craig J. McIntyre, who asked if I could help with his film. I must stress at this point, I was aware that people could make their own film, but priorly I thought all films were made like Hollywood “Transformers” sets and you had to work your way to sit in a director’s chair and command a set.
I then walked onto a Troma set, and the mindset flipped on its head. I saw Craig, the director, holding a camera from Best Buy. Friends from growing up were in the film, FX work was done by him as he was an FX artist, and then I met James Duval, and realized “oh, so people will be in films for the sake of being in art,” and it kinda snowballed from there. Tried my hand at “directing” and then grew into more boundary-pushing art after.
Drew: Man-O-Wolf: The Axe-Wielding Werewolf from Hell is rapidly approaching its premiere. The idea of a slasher-creature-feature mash-up has me drooling. Can you tell us what inspired that film? How did you put together that concept?
SamHel: Sure, MAN-O-WOLF, was again a spur of the moment film to tackle. I wrote the guideline a bit back and wanted to do a weird cult-like film, which was different than my other ideas. A bit of my work is graphic and contains adult aspects, but I wanted to do more of a comedy, more of a WTF film, and be a nonsensical slasher with aspects I like.
Mainly, it was writing stuff I haven’t seen often. It’s less of a creature feature and more of a mentally deranged man who preaches to scam and realizes him turning into a werewolf must be a gift from God. So he kills for God.
As far as how I put the concept together, I used to sit and write out scenes, or I’d go for a run and mentally put together the scenes or how they’d roll into the next. However, I just wanted to get friends together and make something fun, use tons of blood, and make a slasher. Karl Morgan, the producer for the film, is the biggest reason it came together and probably wouldn’t have been made without him.
(Photo provided by SamHel from the set of MAN-O-WOLF)
Drew: Speaking of concepts, let’s talk about the writing and editing that goes into a film. Do you have a method when it comes to putting together a screenplay and script? Or do you take a more unorthodox approach?
SamHel: sorta answered partially on the last, but yeah, I have notebooks galore, and I write and draw everything. I then think or remember scenes or an idea or a title that’ll spark something, and I’ll focus on it. No one can really read my writing, so I’ll jot down stuff and then when it comes together, and it’s time to pitch it to actors or hopefully someone with funds to make it, I’ll flesh it out typed up, or realize there’s not much dialogue and make it a guideline that actors can follow.
I guess having notebooks and journals is odd for some, but normal for most. I don’t know. I just like physical things.
Drew: Like parents, we’re not supposed to pick a favorite child. But like all adults, parents lie. They all have a favorite. Which one of your films is your favorite? Don’t worry, we’ll tell everyone.
SamHel: There’s a variety… I Cut Your Flesh because I spent a lot of time on it, and it never swayed my interest. Usually, I shoot fast and want it done cause my mind can’t stay on topic for more than a few weeks on something. I Cut Your Flesh, I spent a year+ with Sox on doing this doc and shooting when she was ready to do another scene and was healed up, it never paused or was put to the side… So I’d say that’s one of my favorites.
Flesh Eater X, made, I guess, more people see a “cinematic” (I use that loosely) look into a horror/adult film. It was narrative, it was straightforward and gave some key to unlock doing films like that more often.
But I like a lot of them; WORMS, Nuclear Girls, Disfigured Perception, ExhumedCadaverLover. Bunch, I love.
Drew: When it comes to the actual filming of these projects, what’s one piece of equipment you can’t live without?
SamHel: Camera… well, I guess paperwork. Cause even if I have a camera, I can’t do shit with what you shoot unless people sign paperwork. But if that was a given and pushed to the side… I’d say camera. I could make something entertaining in 48 hours with a camera and some friends.
Drew: Are there any filmmakers we should have on our radar? Anyone you’d like to highlight?
SamHel: Tons; James Bell, Guy, Peter Vack, Cosmotropia de Xam, Vince Roth & Mick Nards, David M Dawson, Jay Karales, Jimmy ScreamerClauz, Brian Paulin, Victor Bonacore, Brewce Longo, Mason Heller is dropping his newest film this year! Bunch more, but I am drawing a blank.
Drew: Obviously, like all creative industries, filmmaking is cutthroat. Do you have any advice for fledgling filmmakers?
SamHel: If you wanna make it for a living, sure. It's hustling, it’s doing films or jobs you may not wanna do, to survive. Just go make something if you wanna create and make a film. Making it a business or something that is your “career” is entirely a different beast. Making a film (good or bad) isn’t difficult… well, it isn’t anymore for me.
Drew: What’s a SamHel fact that most people don’t know about you?
SamHel: I’m pretty introverted and wouldn’t be on social media if I didn’t have to. It takes a lot for me to be a presence and command. I am open and friendly, but am really a recluse. I don’t like talking to people or being around people if I don’t have to, especially if we don’t have what I like to talk about in common. I suffer from a lot of health issues, both bodily and mentally… so I’ll spend days locked away, months if I could. Kinda sucks cause I’ll get invited to places or should go to some places that would open up opportunities, but truthfully, I don’t entirely care to go.
I stay silent so often and speak only to my kids and wife. Sometimes speaking to actors, producers, or someone in person, it’s like I have re-learn how to speak, especially direct and be social. It also doesn't help that my mind moves faster than my lips, which leads to a stutter that I don’t like.
Drew: Alright, time for one of my favorite questions. What’s your desert island playlist? You only get three bands, BUT you get their entire catalogue.
SamHel: Three 6 Mafia, Lifelover, The Misfits
Drew: What does the next five years look like for SamHel? Goals? Any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re able to share with us?
SamHel: I am always working, whether it’s events, films, or shorts. I’m sure more projects will come out. If people are interested in seeing them, they’ll come out. However, I have now been known to shoot stuff, and if there's not an interest in seeing it from people, I’ll just keep it shelved… so hopefully there’s a mad interest in me or what I do in those years coming lol.
Right now, I’m “helping” my buddy’s film get done and shooting an adult series. Hoping to help push other filmmakers I’m working with to be seen and such. I have a few ideas of films I wanna do, but may be done away from the SamHel name completely. But have new films coming; MAN-O-WOLF, Dolls Behind Black Velvet Vol. 1, Stiff Kitten should be done this year... go buy some films from Bizarre Theater and SamHel
Drew: Okay, last question. Top five favorite directors in no particular order.
SamHel: Andrzej Żuławski, David Fincher, Kenneth Anger, Lars Von Trier, Dario Argento
The Submission:
A Baroque Film Festival is currently accepting submissions. Interested? Here’s the link!
The Conclusion:
Before I dive into my conclusion, I’d like to again offer a huge thank you to SamHel for participating in this interview and making this spotlight possible. Creatives supporting other creatives is the lifeblood of the industry. So, support your peers, kiss your homies, and buy their works when you can. It really is that simple.
Now let’s talk about it. SamHel is no ordinary filmmaker. His vision pushes the boundaries, combining extreme gore, storytelling, simulated and unsimulated scenes. Some argue that the boundaries are pushed too far and this is no longer art, while others advocate and say this is art in its rawest form. I tend to side with the latter.
Through his films, SamHel has freed me. He’s pushed me to explore the very edge of my literary boundaries, inspiring me to do away with censoring my ideas. No more sanitization or fear of what others might think.
This is a valuable lesson that I feel all creatives can benefit from. Life is short, be nasty and unforgiving. You’ll thank yourself in the long run.
Also, buy physical media and, when possible, directly from the creator. Supporting small developers, writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians is the only way to keep the money in the pockets that deserve the funds the most.
And when you’re ready, create something brutal and beautiful.
-Drew V.
Author’s Note: Thank you for reading the first spotlight! There will be more to come as the year goes on. Look for new issues on the last day of every month, and enjoy the in-depth spotlights in between.
Missed the first issue? Check it out below!
Feel free to support SQUELCHER here. Issues and spotlights will always be free.