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I. DIY and/or Die
“To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful, freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. It’s freedom.” – Patti Smith
There’s a unique thrill in witnessing artists from diverse backgrounds venture into the horror genre and discover it as their true calling. From Jordan Peele’s socially conscious terror to Skottie Young’s darkly whimsical comics, from William Friedkin’s visceral classics to T. Kingfisher’s charmingly unsettling tales, the world of horror welcomes creatives from every corner. Even literary giants like Colson Whitehead and S.A. Barnes, and comic innovators Alex di Campi and Erica Henderson, alongside the wonderfully bizarre Chuck Tingle, have found resonance in the shadowy depths of horror. The reasons behind this allure are as varied as the artists themselves, but a significant factor is horror’s inherently inclusive and DIY spirit.
At its core, the horror scene thrives on a punk rock ethos: if you crave scares that are missing from the mainstream, go out and conjure them yourself. Embrace the DIY approach. Experiment, innovate, and materialize your vision. No gatekeepers, no permission needed. In fact, a vibrant community of talented artists eagerly awaits to champion your unique contribution to the genre.
This is precisely where the Adams Family enters the frame.
Imagine a family affair in filmmaking: dad John Adams, mom Toby Poser, and their daughters Lulu and Zelda. For about a decade, this family has been crafting movies together, self-funding their projects to maintain complete creative control. They are the writers, actors, producers, directors, sound designers – a true embodiment of DIY cinema. They share every aspect of production, fostering a collaborative environment of creative exploration and problem-solving. Successes are celebrated, failures are lessons learned, and the next project is always an opportunity to push boundaries. They answer only to their creative vision, dedicated to telling the stories they are passionate about.
Their initial films were a blend of quirky indie genres – family-centric crime thrillers with a touch of humor and heartfelt dramedies. However, several movies into their journey, they pivoted towards horror. For the benefit of all horror enthusiasts, it’s a path they should undoubtedly continue to tread.
II. Whispers from the Shadows
“We need ghost stories because we, in fact, are the ghosts.” – Stephen King
A solitary figure in a respirator mask sifts through debris in a house under renovation. Elsewhere in the same house, the melancholic strains of “After You’ve Gone” drift from tin-can speakers of a vintage Victrola, perched high on a dusty mantel. This opening scene of the Adams Family’s The Deeper You Dig instantly establishes the film’s haunting atmosphere. As the narrative unfolds, this seemingly simple scene transforms from eerie to utterly captivating.
In The Deeper You Dig, Ivy (Toby Poser) is introduced as a tarot card reader, a charmingly deceptive con artist who preys on vulnerable locals, promising connections to the departed. Any genuine psychic ability she might have once possessed has long since faded. Echo (Zelda Adams), Ivy’s teenage daughter, is a spirited and endearing girl with a love for outdoor pursuits like hunting and sledding, possessing a sharp wit and captivating charm. Ivy and Echo lead a quiet, symbiotic life in their secluded community, their days filled with work and school, finding solace in each other’s company.
Meanwhile, Kurt (John Adams) is another solitary figure in their community, immersed in renovating the house featured in the film’s unsettling opening. Kurt also battles a drinking problem. One fateful night, driving home after excessive drinks, his attention wavers as deer unexpectedly cross the icy road.
His eyes stray from the road for a mere second, but that’s all it takes. A dull thump reverberates beneath the tires. The car lurches. He stops and discovers Echo, fresh from a nighttime sledding adventure, lifeless on the roadside.
Like the finest noir narratives, The Deeper You Dig confronts the audience with a stark, penetrating question: what would you do in such a devastating situation?
What would anyone do?
Kurt, in a haze of drunken panic, makes the most catastrophic choice imaginable: a cover-up. Under the cloak of a snowy night, he drags Echo’s body into the desolate woods, attempting a shallow burial. When this fails, he returns with the corpse to the renovation site, concealing her in a grimy, forgotten bathtub, believing he has erased his crime. Foolishly, he believes this is the end.
A still from The Deeper You Dig, showing Kurt digging in the snow at night, lit by a lantern.
This is a perfect shot. No notes. Credit: Wonder Wheel Productions
With such a dark premise, one might expect The Deeper You Dig to be solely a neo-noir thriller, and it undeniably excels as a suspenseful pressure cooker that steadily escalates tension. However, as the narrative progresses (deeper you dig, indeed), the film unveils a more intricate and terrifying machinery operating beneath the surface. When Echo’s presence begins to haunt Kurt’s waking moments, initially appearing as guilt-induced hallucinations, it becomes clear that she is far more substantial than a mere figment of a troubled conscience. Even in death, Echo has her own agenda.
Ivy’s tarot card readings are not accidental window dressing. They are a deliberate misdirection, a narrative trick to disorient the audience. The film initially suggests a world where the supernatural is fraudulent, a cruel joke on those seeking meaning in apathetic universe.
But the peculiar nature of ghost stories is that disbelief persists until you find yourself ensnared within one.
Like all Wonder Wheel Productions/Adams Family projects, it’s astonishing to consider The Deeper You Dig is essentially a homemade film. This characteristic has been consistent throughout their filmography, but in this movie, the family’s dedication truly shines. There’s a cohesive artistic vision and composition that rivals many big-budget studio productions. The film is intentionally claustrophobic and unsettling, a testament to their directorial skill.
Visually, the movie is consistently striking. The Adams Family masterfully utilizes natural conditions – filming primarily with natural light in authentic weather, whether a blizzard, a bright day, or a gloomy evening. Their ability to achieve such cinematic impact with limited resources is truly remarkable.
The Deeper You Dig is exceptional on its own merits, but within the Adams Family’s horror trajectory, it serves as foundational groundwork. Their next film was poised to be their breakthrough.
III. Spring Eats Winter, Winter Eats Fall, Fall Eats Summer, Summer Eats Spring
“To me, punk is about being an individual and going against the grain and standing up and saying ‘This is who I am.'” – Joey Ramone
For their follow-up, the Adams Family aimed higher, planning a more ambitious project. They envisioned a larger cast, diverse locations, and enhanced production value. This was intended to be a significant leap forward.
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Plans had to be scaled back, the scope narrowed, and the narrative refined to its sharpest, most essential elements.
The result was Hellbender.
Again produced by their Wonder Wheel Productions, and distributed by Yellow Veil Pictures (The Long Walk, Blood Quantum, Horror Noire, La Llorona), Hellbender was filmed during a 20,000-mile cross-country road trip. This journey spanned from their New York home state to Maine, then across to Washington and the Pacific Coast. Hellbender tells the story of Izzy (Zelda Adams), a sheltered teenager, and her fiercely protective Mother (Toby Poser), living in isolated seclusion deep within the woods. Mother insists Izzy is unwell, unable to venture into the outside world, meet people, or make friends, painting the world as dangerous for her daughter.
But, as expected, Mother’s narrative is a carefully constructed lie. They are, in fact, the dangerous ones.
When Izzy defies her mother’s restrictions and encounters a friendly college girl, her meticulously controlled world shatters, blurring the lines between perceived reality and truth. Returning for another clandestine meeting, Izzy finds herself sharing tequila shots and poolside conversations with the girl and her friends. When dared to eat an earthworm in place of the traditional maguey worm in the tequila bottle, Izzy readily accepts. Raised strictly vegan, she has never consumed anything living, and she’s never experienced genuine friendship. Her curiosity and desire to impress are understandable.
This is where the turmoil begins.
Izzy and Mother are revealed to be Hellbenders, ancient, enigmatic beings described as a hybrid of witch, demon, and apex predator. They appear human but are far more complex and sinister.
The crucial aspect of Hellbenders is their sustenance: they don’t feed on flesh or blood, but on fear. They require their prey to be terrified, as fear is their lifeblood, fueling their centuries-long existence and amplifying their power. The more terror they instill and consume, the greater their strength becomes.
Much like horror creators themselves.
Whether the Adams Family intentionally designed Hellbenders as a metaphor for horror artists is debatable, but the parallel is strikingly accurate.
Mother repeatedly cautions Izzy about responsible power, echoing familiar platitudes, but Izzy remains unconvinced, increasingly indifferent to restraint as her monstrous abilities grow.
A still from Hellbender, showing Izzy standing in the woods holding a skull-topped staff or totem.
Adams Family perfect shots, part two. Credit: Wonder Wheel Productions
Hellbender is not just a film born from the Adams Family’s DIY ethos; it’s a narrative about the very essence of breaking free and forging one’s identity. The movie chronicles Izzy’s transformation from a naive, sheltered teen into a formidable, bloodthirsty predator, fearless and embodying primal human nightmares.
Themes of cycles, seasons, primal needs, mortality, legacy, and the illusion of control permeate the film. As Izzy embraces her true nature, Mother’s attempts to curb her daughter’s predatory instincts escalate, culminating in a chillingly direct warning:
“If you break my heart, I’ll devour you.”
Mother delivers this line almost casually, yet it resonates with profound truth. However, she fails to recognize her own missteps: through lies and misguided control, she has already fractured her daughter’s heart. Now, she is the one on the verge of being consumed. Hellbender life, it turns out, mirrors the cyclical nature of seasons:
Spring eats Winter, Winter eats Fall, Fall eats…
Hellbender deliberately avoids simplistic morality. While Mother adheres to a strict ethical code, Izzy is driven by instinct, hunger, and raw desire. She is a great white shark in teenage form, a direwolf in worn-out sneakers.
One of the film’s most compelling narrative choices is its refusal to take a moral stance on either character’s actions. It avoids judging right or wrong, good or evil, acknowledging these as limited, human constructs that pale in significance when confronted with beings like Hellbenders.
Is Mother justified in trying to suppress their predatory nature? Yes. Is Izzy justified in succumbing to her bloodlust? Also yes.
Hellbender eschews easy answers in pursuit of a more complex and authentic truth, which is where its true brilliance lies.
Similar to The Deeper You Dig, Hellbender’s production quality is remarkably high, especially considering its micro-budget origins. Moving beyond static tripod shots, Hellbender incorporates drone cinematography (skillfully operated by Zelda), so expertly executed that it rivals seasoned professionals.
The special effects deserve commendation. They are seamlessly integrated and incredibly effective, especially considering the film’s production constraints. While many indie films feature fun effects, they often compromise believability.
Hellbender defies this. Every effect appears natural and flawless, enhancing the film’s immersive quality, a testament to visual effects supervisor Trey Lindsay’s exceptional work.
Even the soundtrack, created by Zelda and Toby’s punk band H6llb6nd6r, is outstanding. The music is evocative and haunting, blending intimacy with epic scope, driven by Kim Deal-esque bass lines and ethereal vocals.
IV. All the Devils are Here
“Horror is the future. And you cannot be afraid. You must push everything to the absolute limit, or else life will be boring. Horror is like a serpent: always shedding its skin, always changing. And it will always come back.” – Dario Argento
That feeling of discovering an artist – a band, author, filmmaker – who has been quietly creating unique, powerful art for years, art that deeply resonates, and the fervent hope that they achieve success without compromising their vision?
That’s how I feel about the Adams Family Movies.
Their strength lies in the foundational elements of horror: authentic human stories, a robust DIY ethic, a sharp sense of humor, and ample scares and visceral thrills to satisfy even the most demanding horror fans. They possess a clear artistic vision, executing it with unwavering commitment and explosive creativity.
There’s a palpable magic in their work that deserves widespread recognition and acclaim. Hellbender has garnered significant praise since its release on Shudder last year, and rightfully so. Their upcoming project, another horror film, is rumored to be a period piece, a unique take on a Western tale.
Anticipation is high for their next creation, confident it will be another exceptional, boundary-pushing work. The Adams Family filmmaking collective has honed their craft for years, operating by their own rules, and consistently delivering impactful, original horror.
That’s the very definition of punk.
Stream Hellbender and The Deeper You Dig on Shudder.
Order Matthew Lyons’ newest novel, A Black and Endless Sky, from your favorite retailer:
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