John Erick Dowdle (born December 9, 1972) is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for horror films. He usually works with his brother Drew Dowdle as a producer and co-screenwriter.
John Erick Dowdle | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 9, 1972 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse |
Stacy Chbosky (m. 2005) |
| Relatives | Stephen Chbosky (brother-in-law) |
Early life
editDowdle grew up in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. After graduating from the St. Thomas Academy, an all-boys, military, Catholic high school, Dowdle moved to Iowa City, Iowa to attend the University of Iowa where he joined the fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha. He would then make the move from writing to film. Two years later, Dowdle moved to Manhattan, New York City to attend New York University's film program.[citation needed]
Career
editAfter graduating from NYU, Dowdle moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking. Dowdle wrote and directed his first feature, the 1996 film Full Moon Rising, when he was just out of college. For his sophomore effort, The Dry Spell, Dowdle was joined by his younger brother Drew, who produced the film as John wrote, directed and edited. They now live in Los Angeles, working together as The Brothers Dowdle.[1]
With his brother Drew Dowdle as a producer and/or co-screenwriter, John Erick Dowdle directed the horror films Quarantine,[2] Devil,[3] based on a storybook from M. Night Shyamalan,[4] and As Above, So Below, as well as the 2015 thriller film No Escape,[5] starring Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan.[6]
He was announced to direct the movie adaptation of Jack Kilburn's novel Afraid.[7]
In 2017, Dowdle co-created the miniseries Waco with his brother, which aired on Paramount Network in 2018.[8]
In March 2018, the Dowdle brothers announced they were developing a movie or basic cable presentation about newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen, who died in 1965 under circumstances they contend were never satisfactorily resolved.[9]
Personal life
editDowdle is married to Stacy Chbosky. Her brother, and therefore Dowdle's brother-in-law, is author and director Stephen Chbosky.
Filmography
editFilm
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Full Moon Rising | Yes | Yes | Also producer |
| 2005 | The Dry Spell | Yes | Yes | Also editor; Nominated—Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival[10] |
| 2007 | The Poughkeepsie Tapes | Yes | Yes | Also editor |
| 2008 | Quarantine | Yes | Yes | |
| 2010 | Devil | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | As Above, So Below | Yes | Yes | |
| 2015 | No Escape | Yes | Yes |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive Producer |
Developer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Waco | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directed 4 episodes |
| 2021 | Joe Pickett | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Directed 2 episodes |
References
edit- ^ Quarantine Director on Next Project, The Coup
- ^ Dowdle, John & Drew (Quarantine)
- ^ The Dowdle Brothers 'Afraid' of Horrible Sci-fi Apocalypse
- ^ Shyamalan, QUARANTINE filmmakers team for DEVIL[permanent dead link]
- ^ Owen Wilson Returns To Action Mode In ‘The Coup’
- ^ Pierce Brosnan Joins The Coup
- ^ Dowdle Brothers to Direct an Adaptation of Jack Kilborn's Afraid
- ^ "WEINSTEIN TELEVISION'S EPIC SCRIPTED EVENT SERIES "WACO," LANDS ON SPIKE TV". Spike. October 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ Variety trade paper report of Dowdle brothers' announcement of their project about Dorothy Kilgallen's career and death
- ^ John Erick Dowdle – Awards