J. R. Bookwalter
American filmmaker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
J. R. Bookwalter (born August 16, 1966) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer from Akron, Ohio.[1][2] He is best known for directing low-budget horror, action, and science fiction films, including The Dead Next Door, Robot Ninja (both 1989), Ozone (1993), and Polymorph (1996).[3] He is the founder of Tempe Entertainment which ran from 1988 until 2019 when the company's name changed to Makeflix.[4]
- Director
- writer
- producer
J. R. Bookwalter | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 16, 1966 Akron, Ohio |
| Other name | Lance Randas |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1985-present |
Career
J. R. Bookwalter began his career at the age of 19 in 1985 with The Dead Next Door.[5] 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.[6] Bookwalter wrote, directed, edited, and composed the score for the film.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] The film was released in 1989 and features cameos from Scott Spiegel, Burt Ward, and Linnea Quigley.[10] In the years since its release, Robot Ninja achieved cult status on the video collector market.[11][12] 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."[13]
Bookwalter produced Skinned Alive in 1990.[14] The film stars Scott Spiegel and Mary Jackson.[15]
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".[16]
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."[17]
In 1996, Bookwalter directed Polymorph; written by and starring frequent collaborator James L. Edwards.[18]
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).[19]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Dead Next Door | Yes | Yes | [20] | |
| Robot Ninja | Yes | Yes | [21] | ||
| 1991 | Zombie Cop[22] | Yes | Yes | Credited as "Lance Randas" | |
| Kingdom of the Vampire | Yes | Yes | [23] | ||
| 1992 | Maximum Impact | Yes | Yes | Credited as "Lance Randas" | |
| Humanoids from Atlantis | Yes | Yes | Credited as "Lance Randas" | ||
| Galaxy of the Dinosaurs | Yes | No | Credited as "Lance Randas" | ||
| 1993 | Ozone | Yes | Yes | [24] | |
| 1995 | The Sandman | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1996 | Polymorph | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1997 | Bloodletting | No | No | Executive producer | [25] |
| 2000 | Witchouse 2: Blood Coven | Yes | No | ||
| 2001 | Witchouse 3: Demon Fire | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2003 | Mega Scorpions | Yes | Yes | Also known as Stingers | [26] |
| 2024 | Side Effects May Vary | Yes | No |