For many of my fellow horror fanatics, the name Dead Meat is synonymous with the genre itself. The YouTube channel, owned and operated by the power couple of James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca, launched in 2017 with the first episode of The Kill Count, a series that sets out to “tally up the victims in all our favorite horror movies.” However, this mantra has since grown to include “and show you how they were made” to reflect the brand’s evolving commitment to fostering an appreciation for both horror media and the filmmaking behind it.
In the years that followed, Dead Meat has accumulated over seven million subscribers on YouTube and launched additional outlets like the Dead Meat Podcast and Dead Meat Games. Janisse and Rebecca regularly interview horror filmmakers and host the annual Dead Meat Horror Awards. Both of them have also jumped from film commentary and criticism to creative endeavors such as acting and producing. In fact, they made cameos in Scream (2022), a fitting connection as the original Scream (1996) helped inspire Janisse’s childhood passion for the genre in the first place (an experience we have in common).
I will make no attempt to hide my appreciation for Dead Meat’s contributions to both my own life and the contemporary horror scene. Whether it’s the channel’s coverage of tentpole franchises like Friday the 13th (1980) and Saw (2004) or cult classics like Re-Animator (1985) and Basket Case (1982), Janisse and Rebecca have irreversibly altered the course of my cinephile journey ever since I was a pre-teen. And I am no outlier; many of my peers cite The Kill Count as the impetus for their fascination with horror. Even people who don’t normally enjoy scary movies find themselves clicking on Dead Meat’s videos — Janisse’s charm, behind-the-scenes clips and a jumpscare-free plot summary are big enough draws alone.
In an industry upended by the arrival of a new generation of horror filmmakers such as Curry Barker and Kane Parsons, Dead Meat has put itself right in the middle of the conversation. Not only was Janisse involved in the photobomb of the year (which serves as a perfect representation of his role in the genre — always present whether you know it or not), but his team is also actively working to platform other emerging young creatives. On Oct. 12, Dead Meat will release a feature-length film in theaters for one night only: Fresh Meat.
This isn’t the brand’s first attempt at producing a movie. In 2022, Dead Meat Productions released a proof-of-concept teaser for Pre-Game, a horror-comedy inspired by iconic sports rivalries. The goal was to secure financing in order to make the full feature. Due to a variety of market factors, the film has unfortunately not yet come to fruition, though I hope to one day witness its release. In the meantime, Fresh Meat will serve as a major milestone in Dead Meat’s trajectory.
An anthology movie with a unique development story, Fresh Meat began as a short film competition receiving over 500 submissions. That pool eventually shrank to a selection of 13 shorts put together into a feature, along with a segment tying them all together directed by Janisse himself. The chosen filmmakers each received $2,500 and will earn a share of the wide release’s box office — and a grand prize of $25,000 will be awarded to the audience’s favorite short, which will be determined by a vote via QR code at every screening.
Beyond just financial support, Dead Meat also plans to support these aspiring filmmakers’ careers with potential first-look consideration for feature development through a collaborative effort with Hades Films, a new horror company (founded by Atlas Entertainment) co-producing Fresh Meat and targeting Gen Z in particular. This means that, in addition to the cash earnings and viewership from the pre-existing Dead Meat audience, selected filmmakers may also receive substantial exposure to the industry at large.
“This is our way of finding, highlighting, and amplifying people who can do these things — who already have done them — and helping develop their ideas and make them bigger,” Janisse told IndieWire.
Hollywood is undergoing a significant shift in strategy as unexpected hits illuminate new ways forward. Assistants everywhere are undoubtedly tasked with diving to the depths of YouTube, Reddit, TikTok — anywhere that may contain the next distinct artist or the next IP that will make the studios tens or hundreds of millions. This is especially pertinent as companies are looking to capitalize on what is shaping up to be the best box office year post-pandemic.
This is why the Fresh Meat project is such an important move from Dead Meat. It is offering a tangible pipeline for young horror filmmakers to break into the industry at a time that feels like a gold rush. At the same time, it allows Janisse and Rebecca to further their own creative ambitions and hopefully expand the scope of Dead Meat Productions. And who knows? They may just introduce us to the next big voice in the genre.
I have been cheering on Dead Meat from the comfort of my home for nearly a decade. Now I look forward to supporting their inaugural effort on the big screen — where all films should be seen.
Tickets for the one-night presentation of Fresh Meat can be found here.
Colton Sears is a member of the Class of 2028 in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration. He is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at cds284@cornell.edu.
