James Cullen Bressack (born c. 1992 in Los Angeles, California) is an American film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is the son of Emmy Award-winning writer Gordon Bressack and voice actress Ellen Gerstell.Hallam, Scott (2014) "Exclusive: Filmmaker James Cullen Bressack Talks Pernicious, Blood Lake, and Thai Translators", Dread Central, November 5, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2015Couch, Aaron (2015) "Tom Green Starring in First Horror Film: How a 22-Year-Old Director Landed the Comedian", The Hollywood Reporter, April 14, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015
Bressack directed his first feature at the age of 18 and worked chiefly in low-budget horror before moving into action films in the 2020s, directing several late-career vehicles for Bruce Willis as well as films with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mel Gibson.
Career Bressack's first feature film, My Pure Joy, was released in 2011. His 2012 film Hate Crime, the story of a Jewish family being terrorized in their home by neo-Nazis, was banned in the UK in 2015 by the BBFC due to the "unremitting manner in which [it] focuses on physical and sexual abuse, aggravated by racist invective."Sandwell, Ian (2015) "BBFC bans Hate Crime", screendaily.com, March 3, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015
His 2013 film To Jennifer, a found footage feature, was filmed entirely using an iPhone.Rigney, Todd (2015) "James Cullen Bressack and Hunter Johnson Prepping 2 Jennifer", Dread Central, May 11, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015 His 2014 horror film Pernicious was described as "The Ring meets Hostel".Scheck, Frank (2015) "'Pernicious': Film Review", The Hollywood Reporter, June 22, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2018
In 2015, he started the Grit Film Works production company with Zack Ward, the two co-writing the films Bethany (directed by Bressack and starring Ward, Shannen Doherty and Tom Green) and Restoration (directed by Ward).Couch, Aaron (2015) "Two Microbudget Horror Films First on Slate From New Production Company", The Hollywood Reporter, March 9, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015
He directed the 2017 thriller Limelight.Lincoln, Ross A. (2017) "‘Limelight’ Trailer: Fame, Social Media, And The Quest To Sell Your Own Soul", deadline.com, August 11, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2018 In late 2017, he was reported to be directing supernatural revenge thriller Together, and in 2018 the psychological thriller Alone.Couch, Aaron (2017) "Supernatural Revenge Movie 'Together' Sets Cast", The Hollywood Reporter, December 11, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2018Couch, Aaron (2018) "Indie Thriller 'Alone' Sets Cast", The Hollywood Reporter, June 18, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018
From 2019 Bressack worked mainly in direct-to-video and limited-release action films. He directed Beyond the Law with Steven Seagal, and two 2021 films starring Bruce Willis, Survive the Game and Fortress; he directed a third Willis film, Hot Seat, released in 2022.
In 2022 he adapted his father's play Murder, Anyone? into a feature of the same name, which was acquired by Uncork'd Entertainment and released digitally in February 2023.
He directed the 2024 noir action thriller Darkness of Man, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. His found footage revenge film The Workout premiered at Fantastic Fest and was given a limited theatrical release in August 2025 by Anchor Bay Entertainment. He also co-wrote the 2025 science-fiction action film Speed Train, directed by Ryan Francis.
Personal life Bressack is Jewish. His father, the Emmy Award-winning animation writer Gordon Bressack, died in 2019.
Filmography +FilmsYearTitleDirectorWriterProducerCinematographerEditorNotes2011My Pure JoyTheatre of the Derangedsegments "Andy's Theatre of Derange", "Speak Easy"201313/13/13Hate Crime banned in the United Kingdom in 2015To Jennifer2014White Crack BastardTheatre of the Deranged IIsegment "Unmimely Demise"2015PerniciousThe Condo20162 Jennifer2017Limelightfeaturing Paul Vandervort, Sean Kanan, Jonathan Lipnicki, Jenna Jameson, Keith CooganCarGoBethany2019Beyond the Law2020The Call2021Survive the GameThe Fortress2022Sally Floss: Digital Detectivefeaturing Vernon Wells, Tara Reid, Eric RobertsHot Seat2023Mike & Fred vs The DeadMurder, Anyone?adapted from the play by Gordon Bressack2024Darkness of Man2025The Workoutfound footage; premiered at Fantastic FestSpeed Traindirected by Ryan Francis
Short films The Pointless Adventure of Brad and Dylan (2004) Heroine Junky for Dummies (2005) Lunar Impossible (2006) Reflecting Love (2008) The Moving Chair (2008) CollEDGE (2008) The Music-Box Killer (2008) Unmimely Demise (2011) Dr. Suess's There's a Wocket in My Pocket (2012) Family Time (2013) Unicorn Zombie Apocalypse (2014)
Television Oh, We Review! (2010–2012, 19 episodes) Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys (2014, TV movie)
References
External links