Jonathan Helvey

Jonathan Helvey’s filmography isn’t exactly sprawling, but what he’s got out there definitely leaves a mark. House of the Witchdoctor, dropped in 2013, is the kind of horror flick that creeps under your skin. The story messes around with a classic setup—an isolated house, a group of people, and a pile of bad decisions. There’s this twisted energy throughout, with Helvey steering things into darker, weirder territory than you’d expect. The violence doesn’t feel cheap, either—it’s raw, almost mean-spirited, but never cartoonish. You can tell Helvey’s not just going for cheap jumpscares; he’s hunting for that slow, gnawing dread that sits with you after the credits roll. Then there’s Muckrakers from 2010, which veers away from horror and dives into the gritty world of investigative journalism. It’s got this scrappy, indie vibe—nothing polished or sugarcoated. The plot follows a bunch of journalists trying to dig up the truth, and it’s messy in a way that feels real. Helvey doesn’t make his characters heroes; they’re flawed as hell, sometimes even unlikeable, but always interesting. Dialogue snaps, scenes move quick, and you get this sense that everything could fall apart at any moment. Basically, Helvey’s work isn’t about playing it safe. He’d rather make you uncomfortable than bored, and honestly, that’s what makes his films stick.