A locally produced holiday horror film will return to the big screen this Friday night as part of The Lot’s weekly art series — and the filmmakers behind it say it’s the perfect way to celebrate Friday the 13th in June. The screening of 13 Slays Till X-Mas comes as P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson continue to build national momentum, with recent work on productions such as The Barn Part III and The Last Sleepover alongside Hollywood icons.
13 Slays Till X-Mas, an anthology blending humor, gore, and Christmas cheer, will be screened outdoors at The Lot on the corner of 4th and Center streets. Directors and producers P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson of Blood Moon Pictures will be on hand to introduce the film and take questions from the audience afterward.
“They can expect laughs, a few scares, and a great time,” Starks said. “With it being Friday the 13th and nearly the halfway mark to Christmas, it just felt like the perfect time to show this film.”
Huskisson described 13 Slays Till X-Mas as a collection of short stories with “something to do with Christmas,” ranging from “whimsical to horrific.” He added, “It is a good mix of storytelling, gore, and humor.”
For Starks, bringing the movie back to a local crowd is part of its continuing journey.
“The venue has a unique and cool atmosphere, much like 13 Slays,” he said. “I haven’t watched this film in a minute, but it’s become the gift that keeps on giving. Every year, the film finds new life — like ending up on ‘Must Watch’ lists for Cosmopolitan Magazine and, for some reason, Good Housekeeping.”
Huskisson echoed that excitement.
“It is always great getting to showcase one of our films. You get people wanting to see it again and those that are just now getting to see it for the first time,” he said. “I love getting horror movie fans together to watch one of our films.”
The pair also enjoys the chance to interact with the audience during post-screening Q&As.
“It’s a great opportunity to engage with the audience and hear their thoughts directly,” Starks said. “Sometimes you get hit with a surprisingly insightful or original question that makes you rethink things.”
Huskisson said the best part is when aspiring filmmakers approach them afterward.
“I think hearing people ask how they can get involved in our next project is what I enjoy the most,” he said.
Outside of local screenings, Starks and Huskisson have been busy expanding Blood Moon Pictures’ footprint beyond Owensboro. They recently helped produce The Barn Part III in Pennsylvania and The Last Sleepover in Indiana.
The Barn Part III is the final installment in a popular indie Halloween-themed horror trilogy.
“It’s full of monster mayhem,” Starks said. “I had a cameo in The Barn Part II and worked directly with Diana Prince. She portrays Darcy the Mail Girl on The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs; I was a fan, so getting to work with her was a very cool opportunity.”
Huskisson said working on The Barn III meant long shoot days in barns and a “very chilly night in a cornfield,” but added, “I had a blast. I might even have a cameo in the film.”
Both producers said working with horror icons has been a career highlight.
“The Burbs is one of my favorite films, so getting to work with Courtney Gains was very cool,” Starks said. “Another film I recently produced is another slasher being shot in the Lexington area, titled The Boy from Below. When visiting the set, I met the legendary Dee Wallace. Standing several feet away and getting to watch her act was truly amazing.”
Huskisson said working with Gains was a standout moment.
“He nailed his role and was a very down-to-earth type of person,” he said. “He is very serious about his craft, and it was awesome getting to watch him in action.”
For The Last Sleepover — a revenge slasher in the vein of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer — Starks said his role leaned heavily into creative collaboration.
“I had the opportunity to do some rewrites on the script and completely overhaul the kill sequences,” he said. “I also helped secure financing — a new area I’ve been exploring.”
On set, Huskisson said, they took on whatever tasks were needed.
“Holding a light, fogging the set, and helping with meal prep, just to name a few,” he said. “We are pushing the Indiegogo campaign more to help with funding.”
For both filmmakers, expanding their work beyond Owensboro is an important step.
“By reaching into new regions, we’re not only expanding our own footprint but also creating opportunities for filmmakers outside the area,” Starks said. “We’ve already started laying that groundwork via our anthology projects and bringing Hollywood talent to Owensboro for our own projects.”
Huskisson agreed.
“It is great our company is starting to branch out and collaborate with other like companies,” he said. “It is a great way to network and meet other like-minded individuals.”
As for where their careers are headed next, both say the growth is intentional.
“In a word, growing,” Starks said. “In the last few years, I’ve traveled to nearly a dozen states for filmmaking. There are more projects and opportunities on the horizon, so I’m very grateful as well as excited to see what the future holds.”
Huskisson summed it up simply: “It is ever-changing. Without change, you’re just making the same film over and over.”
