Cory Haynes

Cory Haynes, if you’re familiar with the indie gaming scene or the more underground side of YouTube fan films, you’ve probably stumbled across his work. The guy’s been making waves—especially after Siege: A Rainbow Six Siege Fan Film dropped in 2023. That project? It’s got this gritty, real-world vibe, nothing like those over-polished Hollywood adaptations that miss the point. It feels like it’s filmed by someone who’s actually played the game at 3 a.m. with a headset and way too much caffeine. Haynes just gets the energy—tight camera work, frantic action, and characters that feel like fleshed-out versions of your online squadmates (minus the toxic chat). Jump to 2024, and suddenly Haynes is getting props in another fan favorite: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of the Zone. This one’s got a totally different mood—it’s bleak, atmospheric, and honestly, the kind of thing that makes you want to double-check your Geiger counter. The Zone looks miserable in all the right ways: abandoned shacks, creeping fog, weirdly menacing silence. Haynes doesn’t just throw in monsters and call it a day; he actually makes you care about the people stuck in that hellhole. And hey, if you go back a bit, he’s also behind SCP: Overlord (2020). Fans of weird internet horror already know the SCP foundation, but Haynes brings that mythos to life, mixing found footage chaos with that classic “what the hell is going on” energy. There’s a sense of dread that just creeps up on you. Bottom line: Cory Haynes has a knack for taking cult properties and making them feel authentic, not like fan service, but like actual stories worth watching.