Robert Benson Jr.

Robert Benson Jr. isn’t exactly a household name—yet. But, man, the guy’s been making waves in the indie horror and thriller scene. If you’ve caught ShadowMarsh from 2022, you know what I mean. That film’s got this weirdly magnetic energy, like you’re watching something both familiar and totally off the rails at the same time. Benson Jr. totally leans into the chaos, kind of lets the plot unravel in a way that keeps you guessing. Not everyone can pull that off without losing the audience, but he does it. Fast forward to 2024 and he’s at it again with Isleen Pines. This one’s a little more polished, but still has that raw, almost gritty vibe. You can tell he likes to mess with expectations—just when you think you’ve nailed down where it’s going, bam, he throws in a left hook. The characters aren’t just cardboard cutouts, either. There’s a messiness to them, which, honestly, is refreshing in a genre that sometimes forgets people are complicated. And don’t even get me started on Joel D. Wynkoop’s 187 Times the Movie (2023). Benson Jr. pops up there, too. It’s kind of a fever dream, jumping between reality and all-out madness, but he fits right in. The dude’s definitely carving out his own lane, and it’s wild watching it happen in real time. If you’re into movies that don’t play by the rules, you should probably keep an eye on whatever he’s up to next.