In an era where blockbusters like Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and James Cameron's Avatar sequels are pushing the limits of cinematic technology, it's refreshing to see horror return to its gritty, low-fi roots. The genre has a long history of proving that you don't need a massive budget to scare audiences—just ask the creators of The Blair Witch Project, Lake Mungo, or Skinamarink. Now, filmmaker James Cullen Bressack is adding his name to that list with I Have Proof, a psychological horror film shot entirely on VHS that's set to world premiere at Fantastic Fest.
We're thrilled to offer an exclusive first look at the film, which stars Larsen Deane (Ford v. Ferrari) as Alex, a man who is desperate to convince anyone that the horrors he's witnessed are real. In the image, Alex holds up a sign that reads "No one believes me," his face etched with a profound sense of isolation and fear. The grainy VHS aesthetic, combined with the flickering candlelight, creates an atmosphere of dread that suggests the shadows are closing in on him.
Bressack is keeping the plot details under wraps, but what we do know is that I Have Proof is a deeply unsettling experience that isn't for the faint of heart. The film was made with a raw, analog approach, using old home videotapes that Bressack recorded over to give the footage a lived-in, haunted quality. This technique adds a layer of authenticity that digital effects simply can't replicate.
Joining Deane in the cast are Lilly Van der Meer, Augie Duke, B.J. Hendricks, Kelly Lynn Reiter, and David Josh Lawrence. The film's reliance on Alex's point of view raises questions about his reliability as a narrator, promising a narrative where "reality is never quite as it seems."
For Bressack, I Have Proof marks a return to the horror genre after a decade-long detour into other territories. His recent projects include the Dane Cook-led crime comedy Boris Is Dead and action thrillers like Hot Seat with Mel Gibson and Darkness of Man with Jean-Claude Van Damme. But a Letterboxd review from a fan who missed his early grungy horror films struck a chord with him, inspiring this analog comeback.
"This is me going back to raw, stripped-down horror," Bressack said in a statement. "I saw a review on Letterboxd from someone who liked my early work and said they missed when I used to make grungy horror films. It stuck with me. It pushed me to return to that space and make something that feels immediate and real for those that watched my films in the beginning. We're leaning fully into analog to create something AI couldn't replicate and wouldn't even know how to approach; something human and raw."
This commitment to analog filmmaking is a deliberate counter to the rise of AI in the industry, offering a visceral, human touch that technology can't mimic. For fans of folk horror gems like Starve Acre, this return to practical, gritty horror is a welcome trend.
I Have Proof will make its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, which runs from September 17 through 24 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas. The festival is celebrating its 21st year, and this film is sure to be one of the most talked-about entries. For more information on the festival and to see the full lineup, check out the official film guide.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more exclusive looks and coverage from Fantastic Fest. And if you're in the mood for more horror, you might want to check out Jensen Ackles' 2009 horror remake now streaming free on Tubi or Daniel Radcliffe's gothic horror The Woman in Black arriving on Paramount+.
