Tim Ritter

True addicts of contemporary B-Movies will genuflect at the mention of Tim Ritter's name. As the creative force behind contemporary horror cult classics including the "Truth or Dare?" quintet or the grisly features "Creep" and "Killing Spree" and "Hi-8", Ritter has been terrifying and entertaining audiences with his intense, envelope-pushing approach to filmmaking that liberally mixes pulse-banging suspense with unapologetic violence. If Alfred Hitchcock and Herschell Gordon Lewis had their genes spliced together, the result would easily be Tim Ritter.

Born on a Friday the 13th in October, Ritter was still in high school when he scripted, directed and edited his first feature, a 1984 Super 8mm production called "Day of the Reaper." Shrewdly recognizing the potential of the then-nascent direct-to-video market, Ritter self-distributed his production to video wholesalers and, in the process, helped lay the groundwork for what is now one of the most important facets of the home video market. He followed up "Day of the Reaper" by co-directing the video anthology "Twisted Illusions" (1985) and wrote and directed the first installment of the "Truth or Dare?" series that introduced one of the most indefatigable serial killers to slash his away across the screen, The Coppermasked Madman.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Ritter helmed his own productions (including "Wicked Games" and "Screaming For Sanity" and all the way through Twisted Illusions 2) and also served a variety of functions on other works including stints as writer, editor, videographer second unit director, narrator, and even "creative consultant." In 1995, he directed "Creep," a horrifying adventure following the crime trail of sibling serial killers. Even in the no-holds-barred world of B-Movie filmmaking, "Creep" cut more than a few nerves and remains a popular cult film to this day.

In the twenty-first century, Ritter has turned his attention to creating a variety of new projects, including books and new movies. His novels include THE HAMMER WILL FALL (2000) and UNREEL (2004). His latest productions are HI FEAR (Dealers Of Death segment) and SHARKS OF THE CORN, both produced by his Twisted Illusions Entertainment company, which has been around for 36 years now!

Interview recorded on 2021-03-06.

Below are some of the more fun excerpts from our episode with this guest. If you want to hear the real thought-provoking stuff you'll just have to check out the full interview!