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Pizza, horror films, and the 1980s, yes, please! All intertwine in a uniquely nostalgic and entertaining blend of cultural elements. The 1980s was a decade defined by its vibrant pop culture, including the rise of iconic horror films that became synonymous with the era. Movies like Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Evil Dead captured the imaginations of audiences with their blend of suspense, gore, and supernatural thrills. These films often featured young protagonists, suburban settings, and a distinctive visual style that embraced practical effects and atmospheric storytelling – the new horror short film Pizza Panic Party does just that. Check out the press release below and our exclusive to the short film. Let us know what you think in the comments.
Acclaimed FX artists Mark Villalobos and Heather Mages, along with producer Austin Reading, have launched the new horror lifestyle brand GORGAZMA with their flagship film Pizza Panic Party. The film is an 80s-inspired, practical, FX-heavy short horror film helmed by Greenlight director Graham Denman.
Villalobos says of the film, which premiered at Monsterpalooza in Pasadena, CA on May 31, 2024, and makes its exclusive digital premiere on iHorror, “Pizza Panic Party is the first of our GORGAZMA Master-pieces, which are a series of meticulously crafted horror shorts that showcase the pinnacle of monsters and mayhem.”
The horror-comedy, which stars Kyra Wisely, Chayah Mathews, Sydney McCarthy and Avery Potemri was directed by Denman from an original screenplay by Villalobos and Mages and features a score by horror maestro Joseph Bishara (Insidious), with practical effects provided by Pothmolita Dou “Apple” and creature sculpts by Mikey Rotella. Annaleah Fiachi produced.
Reads the film’s synopsis, “In the summer of 1986, four teenage girls enjoy a pizza night that turns into a nightmare. After ordering from a new pizza place, one of them begins to exhibit strange and horrifying symptoms. As her condition rapidly deteriorates, her friends realize they are facing a deadly force they cannot comprehend.”
Says Denman of directing Pizza Panic Party, “I wanted to hit that sweet spot of nostalgia with the spirit of the 1980s in practical effects, setting, tone, and sound, and I feel like we accomplished that because of our cast and crew’s hard work and passion. GORGAZMA were so supportive during the entire process, and I’m grateful for their existence as a company because they’re not afraid to lean into the more over-the-top horror stylings of the past, and I think that’s fantastic for horror fans everywhere.”
“Horror is supposed to be visceral, exciting, and most importantly- fun,” states Reading. “Pizza Panic Party is our warm-up for a full-on sensory assault across all the platforms available to humanity.”
Offers Villalobos of GORGAZMA as a horror lifestyle brand and future plans for the company, “As hardcore fans ourselves of horror films, art, music, books, and culture, we are passionate about redefining how we experience horror in the digital age, by crafting accessible, shareable, and intense horror content that packs a thrilling punch- delivering all the best scares, creatures and excitement in a short, roller-coaster ride of an experience.”
Adds Mages, “We aim to elevate the standard of horror content on social media, paired with merch that’s as cool and collectible as the stories themselves, through designing and creating items that excite us as fans – things we’d love to own and share with other like-minded dark souls. Our goal is to build a horror community, where everyone is welcome, through special projects which allow our followers to directly participate in creating and shaping the future of horror entertainment.”
ABOUT GORGAZMA
Created by FX artists Mark Villalobos and Heather Mages along with producer Austin Reading, GORGAZMA is a horror, film, art, merch, and fashion lifestyle brand specializing in original horror content and original horror merchandise, with a mission of original collabs with artists, creators, musicians, and companies in the horror space.
“We are filmmakers, artists, influencers, storytellers, weirdos – we’re a dark art collective.”
GORGAZMA Website – GORGAZMA Instagram – Graham Denman Instagram (Pizza Panic Party Director)
Follow our new YouTube channel “Mysteries and Movies” here.