Justin A. Martell

Justin A. Martell, born March 25, 1987, out of New London, Connecticut—yeah, that’s the guy churning out some of the wildest, strangest flicks you’ve probably never seen at your local multiplex. The guy’s got a thing for boundary-pushing, gonzo cinema. If you’ve ever heard someone raving about Shakespeare’s Sh*tstorm, that’s him. Not exactly your average Shakespeare adaptation, unless your idea of the Bard includes buckets of slime and a gleeful disregard for good taste. Martell’s fingerprints are all over the Return to Nuke 'Em High saga, too. The first one dropped in 2013 and it’s pure Troma: punk rock vibes, radioactive goop everywhere, and a parade of oddball characters who seem like they escaped from a fever dream. Then, he doubled down with Return to... Return to Nuke 'Em High Aka Vol. 2 in 2017, which is just as bonkers—maybe even more. Think mutant creatures, high school melodrama on steroids, and more practical effects than you’d think possible on a shoestring budget. He’s not one of those producers hiding behind a desk in Hollywood. Nah, Martell gets right in the thick of it, making movies that are messy, loud, and totally unapologetic. If you’re into midnight movies, or you just want to see what happens when filmmakers don’t care about playing it safe, his filmography’s got you covered. The dude’s got a cult following for a reason—he’s swinging for the fences every time.