“Would you like to try some boiled wine?”
Larger-than-life horror director, Alfred Costella (a very funny and wild Vinny Curran), wants everyone to get off when they see his movies. Literally. His latest offering, an all practical-effects film, might just be his meal ticket into dining within the halls of horror. He’s even reaching out to Calvin (Ian Tripp), a documentary filmmaker, to document the making of his final feature with just one other person, Mark (Joshua Wyble) who is running the audible for Calvin.
But, gauging by how this found footage satire starts (with an old interview), the movie he’s going to make is anything but a classic. In the interview, he’s hilariously pushed to the edge by interviewer Willy Wilson (Bill Oberst Jr.), who wants him to take responsibility for his murderous art, and eventually storms off the set with a shower of profanities.
And, years later, he is ready to make something to blow people’s minds. His final film, though, will do just that . . . for all the wrong reasons. While it starts out with humor as its heist, mania gives way to a super dark tone and, when the lights go up, you’ll be surprised at who remains standing.
As described by this cult filmmaker, Everybody Dies By The End chronicles his final cinematic offering, a chamber piece, and it is the result of his desire to rock it one last time. Good character pieces and cool kill sequences. It’s a no-brainer, right?
Well, it should be. Yet, in Costella’s hands, his final film becomes an epic nightmare. He manipulates the cast, pushes them to the edge, and damn-near destroys everything in his path to finish the film.
And we get to see it all unfold.
To be clear, Everybody Dies By The End is very funny. The dark tones in the humorous moments dare to capsize it at times, which is where the found footage formula comes into play. But the balancing act in the beginning works to settle its audience into this film’s territory. 
Everybody Dies By The End is also achingly on point with its topics and themes. Movie making is not an easy process and the pressures quickly get to Costella. From the reading of the script to his “coaching” of his actors and actresses, the director is cracking. Spoofing what we read about when it comes to behind the scenes antics of directors and their actors, the found footage aspect of the movie allows for some rather interesting moments.
Written by Ian Tripp and co-directed by Tripp and Ryan Schafer, the film documents the shadier side of filmmaking and why it’s probably best not to idolize anyone in the business. They are not worship material, this is next exemplified by the documentary crew who get to see Costella’s really, really, REALLY bad side during the shoot. And then, because they are the ones documenting this wild ride, they are seen attempting to cover their own tracks.
Co-starring Brendan Cahalan (Clown Time) and Ryan Schafer (Bag-Head) and Iliyana Apostolova, Everybody Dies By The End is out Sep 22 worldwide on digital from Terror Films.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Ian Tripp; Ryan Schafer
Writer: Ian Tripp
Cast: Vinny Curran; Bill Oberst Jr.; Brendan Cahalan
Genre: Comedy | Horror
Tagline: His Final Film Has to be a Killer.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Terror Films
Official Site:
Release Date: worldwide on September 22, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis:A documentary crew is hired by larger than life horror Director, Alfred Costella, to chronicle him as he finishes his final film, an all-practical masterpiece with some dark twists.
