From 25YL: Swinging from one of the Masters of Horror to a burgeoning young talent, Jenn Wexler has made one of 2019’s most exciting horror films: The Ranger. Taking influence from filmmakers like Alex Cox (Repo Man, Sid and Nancy) and her own background growing up in the punk scene, the throwback slasher is a journey into Hell for four young punks who go on the run from the police in the big bad city to hide out in the idyllic countryside at the female protagonist’s cabin. She hasn’t been there since her uncle’s mysterious death years ago, and they’re all in for a nightmarish surprise when they realize they’ve jumped out of the frying pan and into the fryer.
Jenn Wexler is one of those fresh young talents that has been making films for ten years as a producer with genre icon Larry Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix. She has produced gem after gem for Glass Eye like Darling (2015) and Like Me (2017). She made the transition to directing and writing her first feature after directing shorts for Fessenden in the horror anthology ABCs of Death 2 (2014). Want to talk about pedigree? Jenn Wexler’s work for Glass Eye Pix should be all that’s needed for everyone to stand up and take notice. Even mainstream magazines like Entertainment Weekly have recently named The Ranger has one of the best horror films of 2019 so far.
I had the privilege of talking to Wexler just before The Ranger‘s release for 25YL, and it became quite clear early on that she has a deep and genuine love for all her characters. This comes through so clearly in The Ranger that it’s hard not to root for these kids and pray to whatever that they make it through the night alive in their battle of survival against Jeremy Holm (House of Cards), the titular instant slasher icon of the film. It’s a fast-paced, terrifying film that announces the arrival of a filmmaker who understands the outcast and how to put them in some really intense horrific situations!
Add a comment