Panic Fest Celebrates Low-Budget Filmmaking and Physical Media

Dead Media, a new indie horror comedy, pays loving tribute to 90s movies, Minneapolis culture, and the joys of physical media.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:35pm

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An abstract close-up photograph featuring the shattered, glittering remains of DVD cases and scattered film reels, conveying the fragile beauty of physical media formats.The vibrant textures and materials of physical media take center stage in this conceptual illustration celebrating the indie film community's love of analog formats.Minneapolis Today

Panic Fest 2026, a homegrown genre film festival in Kansas City, recently wrapped up. One of the standout films was Dead Media, a low-budget horror comedy written and directed by Joseph Scrimshaw. The film follows a grad student named Maggie who, along with her roommates and uncle, gets trapped in a cursed 1999 horror movie called Night of the Lurchers when they unlock a secret easter egg on the DVD. To survive the night, they must team up with the original film's director, Rita Nast, who has also been trapped inside the DVD since its release.

Why it matters

Dead Media is a loving ode to physical media, low-budget filmmaking, and the vibrant independent film community in Minneapolis. The film's attention to detail in recreating the look and feel of a 90s DVD release, as well as its affectionate references to local culture, showcase Scrimshaw's passion for his subject matter. While the pacing can be uneven at times, the film's heart and ambition make it a standout entry in the indie horror genre.

The details

In Dead Media, when Maggie unlocks a secret easter egg on the DVD of the 1999 horror film Night of the Lurchers, the movie comes to life in her house, releasing the soul-sucking lurchers. To survive the night, Maggie, her roommates, and her uncle must team up with the original film's director, Rita Nast, who has been trapped inside the DVD since its release. The film features impressive attention to detail, with the scenes from Night of the Lurchers having a distinct 90s video quality compared to the modern-day scenes.

  • Dead Media premiered at Panic Fest 2026 in Kansas City.
  • Night of the Lurchers, the fictional horror film at the center of the story, was released in 1999.

The players

Joseph Scrimshaw

The writer and director of Dead Media, making his feature film debut. Scrimshaw is known for his love of 90s pop culture, physical media, and the independent film scene in Minneapolis.

Sammi-Jack Martincak

The actress who plays the lead role of Maggie, a grad student trapped in the cursed 1999 horror movie.

Anna Sundberg

The actress who plays Rita Nast, the director of the fictional 1999 horror film Night of the Lurchers.

Panic Fest

An annual genre film festival held in Kansas City that showcases both upcoming releases and indie/low-budget productions.

Screenland Armour

The venue in Kansas City where Panic Fest 2026 took place.

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What they’re saying

“Dead Media isn't just a love letter but a whole volume of goofy-sweet poetic odes. Scrimshaw proclaims his love for a laundry list of topics, including physical media, 90s movies, shoestring budget filmmaking, the city of Minneapolis, and its entertainment community.”

— Olcese, Writer

“Scrimshaw's love for his subject matter is apparent in his attention to detail. It's not strictly necessary, for instance, for the parts we see of Night of the Lurchers to have a different video quality than the scenes in Maggie's house.”

— Olcese, Writer

What’s next

Dead Media is expected to receive a wider theatrical release later in 2026 after its successful premiere at Panic Fest.

The takeaway

Dead Media showcases the passion and creativity of the independent film community in Minneapolis, celebrating physical media, low-budget filmmaking, and the enduring appeal of 90s pop culture. While the pacing can be uneven, the film's heart and ambition make it a standout entry in the indie horror genre.