[Trailer] 'Mental Health and Horror: A Documentary' Explores the Positive Impact of Our Favorite Genre

Where would some of us be without the horror genre...?

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...I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't know what I would do without horror. Its been there for me ever since I was a little monster kid. Horror lets us face our fears safely. It gives us strength. Hope. The knowledge that we can defeat our monsters. Mental Health and Horror: A Documentary looks to explore all of that, and now the film has a trailer, along with a new cast announcement!

Led by director Jonathan Barkan (The Horror Collective, DREAD, Bloody-Disgusting), producer Andrew Hawkins (Jan Švankmajer’s Insect, In Search of Darkness: Part II), and executive producer David Lawson Jr. (Synchronic, The Endless), the documentary aims to uncover the positive impact the horror genre has had on so many of us. 

The cast of horror icons, fans, film critics, historians, directors, writers, and professionals from the mental health world continues to grow, including the following: 
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• Nicholas Vince - Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Nightbreed
• Chelsea Rebecca - Host of Dead Meat, Practical Folks
• Jhonen Vasquez - JTHM, Squee, I Feel Sick, Invader Zim
• American McGee -  American McGee's Alice, Alice: Madness Returns
• Sara 'Chibi' Taylor - Lead Singer of The Birthday Massacre
• Lola Blanc - American Horror Story, Fatale Collective
• Megan Rosati - Two Sentence Horror Stories, Bleed 
• Izzy Lee - Innsmouth, My Monster
• Paddy Murphy - The Perished
• Dave Sheridan - Scary Movie, Victor Crowley
• LG White - Fine Artist, Vocalist of Caduta Massi
• Ariel Fisher - Managing Editor of FANGORIA, News Editor at /FILM
• Prince Jackson - Host of Knight Light: A Horror Movie Podcast
• Kaci Hansen- Host of The Homicidal Homemaker
• Rebecca-Lucia Wilcox - Frightfest “New Blood” Winner, Clubhouse Horror
• Jenn Adams- Host of The Losers Club, Psychoanalysis, Strong Female Antagonist
• Matt Donato - Journalist, Certified Forgotten
• Amy Beddows - Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
• Blake Novy, M.D. - Psychiatry Resident
• Sydney Resendes - M.S. in Forensic Psychology

For those that missed the opportunity to support the film, the team has launched an Indiegogo:InDemand to give fans another chance. 

Said Barkan, "Over half a year ago, we broke ground and began production on MENTAL HEALTH & HORROR: A DOCUMENTARY. Since then, we have conducted nearly 30 interviews with people around the world. From horror fans to creators in the genre to mental health professionals who recognize the validity and positive impact that horror can have, our documentary is full of diverse, knowledgeable, passionate voices who have spoken their truths so that others don’t have to feel alone. The work we’ve done so far with MENTAL HEALTH & HORROR: A DOCUMENTARY has exceeded my wildest expectations and the response to our project has been overwhelming in the most beautiful and incredible of ways. There’s still so much to do but I promise you that we’re creating something that will touch the hearts of countless people. Join us and help be a part of something truly special."

To learn more about Mental Health & Horror: A Documentary, visit the website and check out the trailer below!

By Matt Konopka