This is J. Horton — a prolific indie filmmaker who loves what he does and he doesn’t plan on slowing down!
J. Horton. is a filmmaker based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana who has been working in the world of indie film since 2005. In recent years, he has been focusing on writing and directing creature features, but has a wide array of true crime and niche documentaries on his resume as well.
Horton, who considers himself a lifelong learner, has also started a YouTube channel to share his journey and experiences with other filmmakers. His YouTube channel focuses on the business side of indie filmmaking, with a focus on distribution, marketing, and how to make a profit while working outside the commercial studio system. Horton says, “It’s the stuff no one talks about when you’re starting out, and the stuff that’ll sink your movie if you don’t learn it fast. So I break it down in a way that’s honest, sometimes blunt, and hopefully useful.”
Throughout his journey there have been successes and failures. Horton uses each experience to learn and continues moving forward, adding, “And I’m still doing it. Because somehow, after all this time, I still love it.”
INFLUX: What are you currently working on that you can share with us?
J. HORTON: Right now, I’m wrapping up A Hard Place, this gritty, creature-heavy horror flick about a group of criminals on the run who hole up in a remote farmhouse—only to find out they’ve landed smack in the middle of a centuries-old feud between the creatures that walk in daylight and the monsters that rule the night. It’s tense, bloody, and surprisingly emotional… right before the monster tears through somebody’s spine.
It’s easily one of the most ambitious things I’ve done on an indie budget. We pushed hard with practical effects, creature designs, and a pretty intense ensemble cast—Felissa Rose, Lynn Lowry, Rachel A. Bryant, Ashley Undercuffler. I mean, we’re doing things most people assume you need studio backing for—but we pulled it off with a scrappy team and a whole lot of creative problem solving.
It drops on Apple TV and Amazon May 27th, with DVD and Blu-ray to follow this summer. If you like your horror fast, mean, and full of monsters—you’re in for something cool.
INFLUX: What are your hopes for your current project?
J. HORTON: Well yeah, of course I want it to be well received and make a crap ton—that’s a scientific term—of money. But more than that, I just want as many people as possible to see it and enjoy it. That’s the real goal. It’s why I took A Hard Place on the road before the streaming release—hit up drive-ins and indie theaters all over the country. There’s something about watching a monster movie with a live audience that just hits different.
So yeah, I’d love for it to blow up on Apple TV and Amazon when it drops on the 27th. But at the end of the day, if people have fun watching it—even just a handful—I call that a win.
INFLUX: What sets A Hard Place apart from your previous films?
J. HORTON: It’s bigger, meaner, and way more ambitious. We packed a full-on creature war into a single-location thriller—on an indie budget—and somehow made it work. It’s got real tension, brutal effects, and characters you’re not sure you’re supposed to root for.
INFLUX: What kind of monsters are we dealing with in A Hard Place?
J. HORTON: Think ancient, primal forces—monsters that literally can’t exist in the same time of day. It’s not just “good vs evil,” it’s survival vs. extinction. And no, I’m not giving away who wins.
INFLUX: How can people watch A Hard Place?
J. HORTON: It hits Apple TV and Amazon on May 27th. Physical copies—DVD and Blu-ray—are coming this summer. If you like blood, monsters, and watching bad people make worse decisions, you’ll probably dig it.
INFLUX: What was the hardest part of making A Hard Place?
J. HORTON: The scale. Pulling off multiple monsters, practical effects, and high-stakes action in a rural farmhouse with indie resources—it’s like trying to shoot aliens in your backyard. But somehow… it worked.
INFLUX: What have been your greatest challenges as an indie filmmaker?
J. HORTON: Honestly? All of it. But if I had to narrow it down, I’d say the biggest challenge as an indie filmmaker is doing everything—and doing it well enough that people don’t immediately see the duct tape holding it all together. You’re the writer, director, producer, marketing team, part-time therapist, and occasional caterer. And oh yeah—somehow, you still have to make a good movie.
Raising money is hard. Getting people to watch what you made is even harder. But I think the hardest part is staying in the game. Keeping your head straight when the views are low, the sales are slower than expected, or you’re wondering if the internet needs another monster movie. (Spoiler: it does.)
It’s a marathon made out of sprints, and no one’s handing out water. But if you love it—and I mean really love it—you find ways to keep going. Even if you’re bleeding out behind the camera. Metaphorically. Usually.
INFLUX: What has been your most significant accomplishment as a filmmaker?
J. HORTON: Honestly, it might sound a little self-important, but for me, the most meaningful accomplishment is that I’ve been able to make a living—like a real, decent living—just from the movies I make. Not from side gigs, not from client work, not from chasing industry approval. Just from getting my films out into the world and having people watch them.
I don’t have a boss. I don’t have to wait for someone to greenlight my ideas. I just make the stuff I want to make, put it out there, and somehow—through a mix of stubbornness, luck, and trial-by-fire—it works. That kind of freedom is rare, and I don’t take it for granted for a second.
INFLUX: Tell us about some of your past projects and where we can watch them if they’re available?
J. HORTON: I’ve been fortunate to produce close to 100 films over the years—everything from gritty horror to offbeat documentaries. If you look up my name on IMDb, you’ll find a little bit of everything: blood-soaked creature features, true crime docs, even a few projects that probably defy categorization.
But right now, I’m most excited about what’s coming next: The Apex Predators Club. It’s a brutal, monster-packed twist on The Most Dangerous Game, set on a remote island where the ultra-rich hunt deadly creatures for sport—until the tables turn. We’re going all-in on practical effects, original creature designs, and a storyline that flips the script in all the right ways. It’s the final chapter in what I’m calling my unofficial monster trilogy, following Craving and A Hard Place.
We’ve teamed up with the Mahal Empire for this one, and the support has been incredible—over $150,000 raised through crowdfunding. Filming kicks off this summer in Puerto Rico and California, and I can’t wait to bring this beast to life.
In the meantime, you can check out my previous work like Craving, Monster in the Woods, Pastor Shirley and A Hard Place on streaming platforms like Apple TV and Amazon. And for a deeper dive into the business side of indie filmmaking, my YouTube channel is packed with insights on distribution, marketing, and making a living doing what you love.
INFLUX: What goals to you have for yourself moving forward?
J. HORTON: Honestly? I just want to keep making movies on my own terms—without burning out or going broke in the process. That’s the real goal. I’m not trying to be the next big Hollywood thing. I just want to keep telling the stories I care about, work with people I actually like, and reach bigger audiences without losing the scrappy, DIY energy that got me here in the first place.
I’d love to scale up a bit—A Hard Place and The Apex Predators Club are already moving in that direction—but I still want everything I make to feel personal and handmade. I’m not interested in chasing trends. I want to build something that lasts. Keep helping other indie filmmakers figure out the business side, keep growing as a storyteller… and maybe—just maybe—get a monster into a theme park ride someday. Dream big, right?
INFLUX: What can you tell us about The Apex Predators Club?
J. HORTON: It’s like The Most Dangerous Game with monsters. Vampires, cryptids, ultra-rich psychopaths on a hunting island—it’s big, brutal, and fun as hell. It’s the next evolution after A Hard Place, and we’re going all out.
INFLUX: What advice would you give to your younger self just starting out?
J. HORTON: I’d probably tell younger me: Hey dummy, it’s gonna take way longer than you think—and that’s okay. Stop waiting around for someone to “give you a shot.” No one’s coming. Make the thing. Put it out. Learn from it. Then do it again—better, faster, cheaper.
Also: stop obsessing over gear. No one cares what camera you used if the story sucks. And for the love of all things holy, learn how distribution works before you finish the movie—not after.
Oh, and maybe chill out a little. You don’t have to prove everything with one film. You’re building a career, not taking a final exam.
Want to learn more or follow the career of J. Horton? Take a look at his socials below!
https://www.youtube.com/jhorton
https://www.facebook.com/thejhorton
IG and Threads @thejhorton
