Matt Palmer

Matt Palmer, straight outta Birmingham but now living it up in Edinburgh, is that rare filmmaker who actually knows how to crank up your anxiety until you’re sweating through your shirt. He’s the brain behind the gritty 2018 thriller Calibre—yeah, the one with the hunting trip that spirals into a total nightmare. Stephen King himself called it a “genuine nail-biter,” and honestly, if King’s sweating, you know you’re in for a wild ride. Palmer isn’t a one-hit wonder either. He’s also behind Fear Street: Prom Queen, a horror flick dropping in 2025 that’s already got genre fans buzzing, probably because he just gets how to tap into those primal fears. But he didn’t just spring out of nowhere. Palmer honed his skills on short films like Daylight Hole (2006), Island (2007), and Just Before Dawn (2010). These shorts aren’t your typical student-film snooze-fests either—they’re tight, atmospheric, and weirdly unsettling in all the right ways. There’s this rough-edged, almost claustrophobic energy running through his stuff, which makes sense given his fascination with everyday situations gone sideways. The guy’s style? Gritty realism mashed up with sharp tension, like he’s daring you to look away but you can’t. Palmer’s not just making movies; he’s laying down a gauntlet for anyone who thinks horror and thrillers have lost their teeth. If you’re into stories that grab you by the collar and don’t let go, keep an eye on whatever project he’s cooking up next.