Terrifier director Damien Leone new studio film

Damien Leone’s next film moves from indie lanes to a major studio

Damien Leone, director behind the box-office success “Terrifier” and its franchise run, is making a significant career leap by taking his next project into a major studio setting. Leone is slated to head to a studio for his upcoming horror feature, “Tortures of the Damned,” with Sam Raimi producing.

That matters because it signals how the industry is treating proven indie horror engines: when a filmmaker builds a fanbase and delivers strong audience pull (as “Terrifier” has), larger companies increasingly want to secure that creative momentum early—before it’s too late. Horror has been one of the fastest-moving genres in that respect, since standout low-to-mid budget hits can quickly demonstrate market demand.

From a business perspective, the Raimi connection is a notable industry marker. Raimi’s producing involvement suggests the project is being positioned for broader reach than a typical genre gamble, even if it remains grounded in the kind of extreme, crowd-pleasing horror “Terrifier” audiences expect.

For fans, it also provides a rare clarity moment: the filmmaker behind the previous franchise’s identity is still driving the new one. For the studios, it reduces uncertainty by attaching a director with a track record and an established horror brand.

Overall, this is less about a change in genre and more about scale—an indie horror win translating into studio-level backing, with Raimi’s production support acting as both creative insurance and commercial signal.