Moonlight Films
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production, Film distribution |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | James Ian Mair, James Stevenson |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | James Ian Mair, James Stevenson, Benjamin Mair, Tara Bixler, Deron Morgan |
| Products | Low-budget horror films |
| Website | www |
Moonlight Films is a United States-based film production and distribution company owned by James Ian Mair and James Stevenson, focusing primarily on low-budget horror movies.
History
James Ian Mair's passion for filmmaking began at the age of nine after watching Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. He started creating short films within his local community. Alongside his childhood friend James Stevenson, the duo produced three early projects during their high school years: The Man with Two Faces, Bloodstone, and its sequel Bloodstone II. Their work centered on horror themes, employing practical effects and classic motifs such as vampires, witches, and ghosts.
Officially established in 2012, Moonlight Films launched its first commercial DVD titled After Dark. The release was met with favorable critiques, enhancing the company's reputation within the independent film sector. Benjamin Mair, James’s brother, and actress Tara Bixler joined the team to assist in production capacities.
In 2015, aiming to diversify their portfolio, Mair directed the family drama Weaver's Crossing, which critics regarded as the company’s finest production up to that point. The same year featured the debut of Night Crimes, a police drama showcasing recurring actors from previous projects. Their most ambitious endeavor during this period was the horror-thriller A Whisper in the Dark, starring Johnathan Gorman, Cassandra Schomer, and science fiction writer Ruby Moon-Houldson.
The year 2016 introduced longtime collaborator C.A. McGregor with the YouTube short film A State of Mind. Effects expert Deron Morgan played a crucial role in the sci-fi feature The Shadow Zone, noted for its emphasis on special effects. Around this time, Mair forged professional connections with b-movie icons Jim O'Rear and Lloyd Kaufman, both of whom appeared in the horror anthology Graveyard Stories. O'Rear returned for 2017’s Legend of Demoniac, which also starred frequent partner Katie Harbridge. Harbridge continued to appear in later productions including The Maker of Monsters and Blood Cove.
The Maker of Monsters represented a significant milestone by primarily filming in Baltimore, broadening Moonlight Films' geographical scope. Featuring genre veteran George Stover along with lead performances by Mair and Harbridge, this film showcased enhanced production values and signaled a new creative direction for the company. In 2019, they released the slasher film Blood Cove, inspired by 1980s horror cinema, alongside a less successful follow-up to Graveyard Stories.
In 2020, Moonlight Films distributed both Blood Cove 2: Return of the Skull and Fangs, which were well received through online platforms. This year also marked their inclusion on Roku’s FearFlix channel, further expanding their viewer base.
James Ian Mair, James Stevenson, Benjamin Mair, Deron Morgan, and Tara Bixler continue to produce micro-budget horror features at an approximate rate of two films annually.
Filmography
- After Dark (2012)
- Weaver's Crossing (2015)
- A Whisper in the Dark (2015)
- Night Crimes (2015)
- The Shadow Zone (2016)
- A State of Mind (2016)
- A Whisper in the Dark 2 (2017)
- Graveyard Stories (2017)
- Legend of Demoniac (2018)
- The Maker of Monsters (2018)
- Blood Cove (2019)
- Graveyard Stories 2 (2020)
- Blood Cove 2: Return of the Skull (2020)
- Fangs (2021)
- Grim Reaper (2021)
- Grim Reaper 2 (2022)
- Flesh Eaters (2021)