Eli Roth is betting big on blood, and Jimmy and Stiggs is his first play. The upcoming horror film from indie provocateur Joe Begos will open in theaters nationwide on August 15, 2025, as the premiere title from Roth’s new production company, The Horror Section.

A psychedelic, alien-driven gorefest shot entirely on 16mm film, Jimmy and Stiggs is more than a movie—it’s a mission statement. Written, directed by, and starring Begos, the film was painstakingly made over four years in his own Los Angeles apartment. From rigging camera pulleys in closet rafters to navigating chainsaws across blood-slicked floors, Begos lived inside the chaos he created.

In a trailer that just dropped, Begos’ vision explodes across the screen. The film’s style blends tactile effects, lo-fi cinematography, and unapologetically practical creatures crafted from puppetry, fishing wire, and even a toy robot hand for kids. The resulting experience is as visceral as it is inventive.

Roth saw the film and immediately knew it had to reach a wider audience. “Very few films stop me in my tracks and make me want to tell everyone I know about it. What better way to do that than by releasing it wide in theaters? I was so obsessed I had to speak to the madman behind it, Joe Begos, and when he told me how he committed four years, 50,000 feet of 16mm film, and did all the effects practical, I loved it even more. I haven’t seen a movie like this since the first Evil Dead or Bad Taste,” Roth said.

The film was produced under Begos’ Channel 83 Films label alongside longtime collaborator Josh Ethier and backed by Media Capital Technologies (MCT). Its buzz began on the genre festival circuit, with packed screenings at Beyond Fest and Sitges Film Festival sparking early acclaim. Audiences and critics alike hailed the film as an “instant cult classic,” propelling it to must-watch status.

“It’s been a long, messy, goopy, explosive and backbreaking endeavor to get this handmade piece of exploitation to the finish line,” Begos said. “And I can’t wait to melt brains and sear eyeballs nationwide with this 16mm, cocaine fueled alien psychedelic splatter fest, the way it was meant to be seen, on a big screen, with a packed audience.”

Distributed through Iconic Events, Jimmy and Stiggs is also the debut release from The Horror Section, Roth’s ambitious new venture to reshape horror distribution. The studio focuses on theatrical-first, original content—eschewing digital-first strategies in favor of restoring horror’s place on the big screen.

The Horror Section is not just a production company but a full-scale horror brand, spanning IP development, live events, gaming, and podcasts. Built in partnership with MCT, and powered by platforms like Republic and Sui blockchain, the company aims to foster new ways for fans to engage with and even invest in the genre.

The film industry has seen increased interest in niche-driven verticals, and The Horror Section enters the space with considerable creative firepower and a bold tone. Roth’s next feature, Ice Cream Man, is already on the horizon for 2026, hinting at a steady pipeline of genre-first content.

With Jimmy and Stiggs, Roth and Begos are not just introducing a movie they’re establishing a movement. Between its analog aesthetic, absurd effects, and raw energy, the film doubles as a rallying cry for theatrical horror that’s personal, experimental, and entirely unfiltered.

As the countdown to its theatrical debut begins, Jimmy and Stiggs is positioned to disrupt the market in the best way possible: with buckets of blood, a fearless creative team, and a screening experience audiences won’t forget.

Get your tickets now in theaters August 15.