Los Angeles, CA – Monday, March 9, 2009 – Critically acclaimed director J.T. Petty’s newest film, “Blood Red Earth,” is now available for viewing – absolutely free – at FEARnet.com, the world’s premiere online and on demand destination for horror, thriller and suspense. “Blood Red Earth” is the 18-minute prequel to Petty’s feature film “The Burrowers,” which launches on DVD in April. “Blood Red Earth” takes viewers on a harrowing journey of death, survival and mystery in 19th Century America.
Filmed in a rich and sweeping cinematic style, “Blood Red Earth” begins as one Native American Lakota brave, Red Earth (played by Malachi Tsoodle-Nelson), takes his younger brother, Waiting Crow (Kirwin Parsons) on the boy’s first hunt. Desperate to make a kill, yet thus far unsuccessful, the young braves discover a half-buried doe, barely clinging to life. Ignoring the ominous slash marks on the doe’s neck, the braves complete the kill and drag the carcass home. Soon, however, the tainted flesh of the animal, bewitched by the creatures who first laid claim to it, exacts a revenge worse than death as an unstoppable evil is unleashed that brings merciless doom to all who encounter it.
Writer and director J.T. Petty is a filmmaker’s filmmaker. His first film, “Soft for Digging,” was shot for only $6,000 when he was 20 years old, and was selected as an Official Entry at the Sundance Film Festival. HHHe went on to direct “Mimic: Sentinel” for Dimension/Miramax, and his documentary on the world of underground horror, “S&man” (pronounced “sandman”), was a popular entry at both the Toronto International and SXSW Film Festivals.
Petty is also an author of books and graphic novels, and is well-known in the world of videogames as well. Co-writer (along with novelist Tom Clancy) of the best-selling videogame franchise Splinter Cell, based on the best-selling novels by literary juggernaut Clancy, Petty went on to co-write two additional versions of the videogame. Most recently, he wrote and directed the videogame adaptation of Chris Nolan’s “Batman Begins,” and contributed to the videogame adaptation of Jon Favreau’s hit “Iron Man.” “The Burrowers” made its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, marking Petty’s second entry at the prestigious competition.
Launched in 2006, FEARnet offers free movie and video downloads, with high-quality original entertainment series unlike anything available for thrill seeking fans.
Earlier this year, Academy Award Winner Whoopi Goldberg debuted in FEARnet’s sixth original series, Stream, a psychological thriller about a woman who remembers the future.
The network’s partnership with Ghost House Pictures – a venture between acclaimed director Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Mandate’s Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane – has produced to date three popular web-based mini-series. “Devil’s Trade,” “30 Days of Night: Blood Trails” and its sequel “30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust” starring “Saw” franchise scream queen Shawnee Smith have combined to generate more than 16 million views online and on demand. Most recently, FEARnet partnered with legendary music video director Mary Lambert for a vampire theme series “The Dark Path Chronicles,” which merged music and narrative with up and coming bands. Additionally, its six-week daily interactive series “Buried Alive,” produced by Sony Picture Television, yielded a large loyal fan base with millions of views.