Mike Kuciak
mikekuciak.bsky.social
Mike Kuciak
@mikekuciak.bsky.social
I make horror movies.

Like DEATH METAL: http://tubitv.com/movies/1000070…

And KNIFE: https://youtu.be/CAq9pz

Main site: http://deathmetalhorrormovie.com
Amazing news! Knife was just selected by Illinois Horror Movie Festival via FilmFreeway.com!
Film Festivals, Screenplay Contests, Submissions
Enter the world's best film festivals and screenplay contests. FilmFreeway makes it easy to discover, submit and get tickets to thousands of events.
FilmFreeway.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Our script Subject 51 made it to the top-10 of Big Break. Just found out it's also a Semi-Finalist in the Filmmatic Sci-Fi/Fantasy awards.

Between this and the nominations Knife got from the Ethereal Horror Fest, my projects have picked up three laurels in the past five days.
November 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
New Substack article up: The Three Acts in Horror Storytelling – Act Two.

mikekuciakcinematicwriting.substack.com/p/the-three-...
The Three Acts in Horror Storytelling – Act Two
This is the second in series about the three acts that are specifically inherent to horror storytelling.
mikekuciakcinematicwriting.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Hey, remember when KNIFE was nominated for Best Micro Short by the Ethereal Horror Film Fest? Well, turns out they have also nominated KNIFE for Best Score.
November 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
KNIFE has been nominated for the Best Micro Short of the Ethereal Horror Fest.
November 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
KNIFE is playing the Ethereal Film Festival on 11/14 @ 8:45pm - Austin time!

www.etherealhorrorfest.com/film-schedule
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
KNIFE has another screening coming up. Tomorrow, Weds 10/28 @ 2pm we'll be rocking KNIFE at the Dark Matter Film Festival, playing the big screen at the Culver Theater.
October 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
October 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
KNIFE is an official selection of this year's Ethereal Horror Fest. This will be our second screening Austin. Texans love haunted knives.
www.etherealhorrorfest.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
KNIFE is playing the Austin Horror Film Festival tonight @ 8pm Texas time!
October 10, 2025 at 9:16 PM
SUBJECT 51 is a Finalist in this year's Final Draft Big Break competition. Top-10, baby!
October 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
KNIFE is playing the Austin Horror Film Festival tomorrow, Friday 10/10 @ 8pm.
October 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
October 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
KNIFE plays tomorrow @ 10 am at the Port of Fear Film Festival! Grab the kids, load up the station wagon, head up to Kenosha... and see our slasher movie!
October 3, 2025 at 10:44 PM
First in a three-part series of articles about the "acts" that are specific to horror stories.

mikekuciakcinematicwriting.substack.com/p/the-three-...
The Three Acts in Horror Storytelling – Act One
When the major characters do not yet know they are being haunted
mikekuciakcinematicwriting.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New-new-new KNIFE one-sheet with the latest laurels.
October 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
KNIFE is an Official Selection and Finalist for Best Horror Short for this year's Dark Matter Film Festival. It's playing in Culver City this coming October 28-30, so if you're in town it's another opportunity to see KNIFE on the big screen.

darkmatterfilmfestival.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:44 PM
September 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
It's been a minute since I've done a Substack article. This one is about themes.

mikekuciakcinematicwriting.substack.com/p/expressing...
Expressing Themes in Cinematic Storytelling
The theme is the “what the story is about besides the plot.” The plot can and should be in service to the theme, but it isn’t 100% necessary.
mikekuciakcinematicwriting.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 10:12 PM
KNIFE is among the Horror Press Top Five of the Night Frights film festival.

The full article is here: horrorpress.com/movies/11521...
September 26, 2025 at 10:39 PM
New KNIFE one-sheet to include our most recent placements, screenings, and wins.
September 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
September 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Pix from the screening of KNIFE at the Night Frights Film Festival.
September 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
SUBJECT 51 just made the semi-finals of the Final Draft Big Break screenwriting competition.

www.finaldraft.com/big-break-sc...
September 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM