EXCLUSIVE: Dead Mail, an acclaimed ’80s Midwest horror thriller from writer-directors Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy, is set to make its exclusive streaming debut on Shudder as part of the streamer’s annual Halfway to Halloween celebration on April 18.
The film hits streaming following a successful festival run that began with its world premiere at SXSW 2024, also featuring stops at the Sitges Film Festival, Brooklyn Horror Fest and others. Its plot is thrust into motion on a desolate, Midwestern county road, as a bound man crawls towards a remote postal box, managing to slide a blood-stained plea-for-help message into the slot before a panicking figure closes in behind him. The note makes its way to the desk of Jasper, a seasoned ‘dead letter’ investigator at a 1980s midwestern post office. And as Jasper begins to piece together the letter’s origins, it leads him down a violent, unforeseen path to a kidnapped keyboard engineer and his eccentric business associate.
Dead Mail stars Sterling Macer Jr., John Fleck, Susan Piver, Micki Jackson, Tomas Boykin and Nick Heyman. Zachary Weil and Brett Arndt produced the film, with Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Adam Goldworm and Susan Priver exec producing.
“When we started this film, we certainly had no idea it would end up somewhere as legitimate and boundary-pushing as Shudder,” admitted DeBoer and McConaghy. “We’re beyond excited to be included alongside so many fantastic films, and as a bonus, our midwestern extended family will finally have an excuse to start their Shudder 7-day free trials.”
Emily Gotto, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Production at Shudder, said “DEAD MAIL showcases the immense talent of Kyle and Joe in what is a unique, arresting and highly entertaining, darkly comedic film with color drenched 80s nostalgia as the backdrop. It’s just the type of bloody and offbeat thriller that lives on Shudder.”
Repped by Aperture Entertainment, McConaghy and DeBoer are a Missouri filmmaking duo whose 2020 directorial debut, BAB, won Best Feature at the Nightmares Film Festival. McConaghy also last year released Sheeps Clothing, an acclaimed microbudget thriller, which he co-wrote, directed and lensed.
Gotto negotiated the Dead Mail deal on behalf of Shudder, with Bill Straus of Bridge Independent negotiating on behalf of the filmmakers.
