Our mission is to spotlight the visionary womxn shaping the future of horror cinema. Through Fearless Frame, we celebrate the artistry, innovation, and diverse perspectives of womxn filmmakers who craft chilling tales, push boundaries, and redefine the genre. By amplifying their voices, we aim to inspire audiences and empower creators to continue forging their paths in the shadowy corners of storytelling. Through the month of December, we will be showcasing a womxn filmmaker in the horror genre each day!

ANGELA GULNER

WORK: THE BELDHAM – Psychological Drama/Emotional Horror – 2024 (85 min.) Writer/Director: Angela Gulner

SYNOPSIS: A struggling new mother fights a generations-old presence lurking within her family home, threatening her safety, her sanity, and the life of her infant child.

Themes: Postpartum depression, mother-daughter relationships, the generational changing of the guard, the fine line between care v. control, emotional gaslighting within families.

BIO: Angela Gulner is an award-winning Dallas-based filmmaker and theater artist. Her work tends towards genre — horror, surrealism, black comedy — and often centers women’s stories. Gulner launched her filmmaking career with the viral dark comedy BINGE inspired by her experience with bulimia. She is the co-founder of Wicked Myth Films, an independent production company specializing in high-concept, elevated genre work. Her feature film directorial debut THE BELDHAM — starring Patricia Heaton and Corbin Bernsen — had its World Premiere at Sitges Film Festival, its North American Premiere at Austin Film Festival in Fall 2024, and played FilmQuest, Ramaskrik, and Blodig Weekend. Gulner won Best Director at FilmQuest 2024 for THE BELDHAM.

STORY STATEMENT: With stunning photography, killer performances, and a knock-the-wind-out-of-you third act twist, THE BELDHAM is a very feminine take on a monster movie, exploring the horrors that bookend life.

Writing and creating the film was a cathartic experience, and it is their goal to deliver a similarly visceral and impactful experience to the audience.

WRITER/DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT: Throughout my life, as a woman, I’ve experienced horror a bit differently than I typically see it represented on screen. Subtler. More relationally driven. Implicit. Less of a mountain and more of a maze, where pain is bared silently until it eats us, and often our loved ones, alive. The scariest moments of my life haven’t been soaked in blood and gore (though I love a good slasher), but have been seared with gaslighting, self-doubt, isolation, and quiet grief. Like Jane in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, I was born of the Cult of The Good Girl and, like my mothers before me, would rather rip myself apart than cause a fuss. This film is deeply personal to me, and to my family. It is a thoughtful film, designed to start conversations and reframe our perceptions around care.

PRODUCTION CONTENT:

• PRODUCERS: Wicked Myth Films + Rebellium Films
• CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ksusha Genenfeld
• EDITOR: Dashiell Reinhardt
• CAST: Patricia Heaton, Katie Parker, Emma Fitzpatrick, Corbin Bernsen
• LOCATION: Bartlesville, OK SALES AGENT: The Coven

EXPLORING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: Predominantly female cast, female writer/director, female DP, exploring traditionally female experiences.

MARGINALIZED VOICES INVOLVED:

• Women and Non-Binary Creators: Amplifying voices historically underrepresented in filmmaking.

AWARDS AND FILM FESTIVAL APPEARANCES:

• Sitges Film Festival
• Austin Film Festival
• FilmQuest (Winner: Best Director – Angela Gulner, Best Supporting Actress – Patricia Heaton)
• Ramaskrik
• Blodig Weekend

*THE BELDHAM is a chilling psychological horror film that unravels the harrowing complexities of motherhood, generational conflict, and deeply buried family secrets. A struggling new mother (Katie Parker), overwhelmed by postpartum depression, returns to her family home to care for her infant. Under the watchful eye of her controlling mother (Patricia Heaton), she begins to feel trapped in a suffocating cycle of care and criticism. As strange and terrifying events escalate, she discovers a generations-old malevolence tied to the house—an entity that preys on her fragile state and endangers her child’s life.

With its focus on emotional manipulation, the evolving dynamics of mother-daughter relationships, and the fine line between protection and control, THE BELDHAM weaves psychological tension with supernatural menace. Corbin Bernsen delivers a gripping performance as a mysterious figure connected to the home’s sinister history. This haunting tale immerses audiences in a world where the boundaries between reality and terror blur, leaving them to wonder if the true horror lies within the walls—or within the family itself.

Learn more about THE BELDHAM here!