Unmasking the Raw Power: How Joe Begos & Eli Roth’s DIY Horror Revolution Will Crush Your Expectations and Ignite Your Darkest Fears

Ever wonder what happens when DIY devotion meets pure blood-soaked chaos in the indie horror world? Well, buckle up, because Jimmy and Stiggs is about to flip your typical alien invasion flick on its head—and it’s doing so with a chainsaw in one hand and a whole lot of 16mm film in the other. Crafted meticulously by Joe Begos, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill CGI explosion fest; we’re talking handcrafted aliens, puppetry, and a stunt-filled nightmare brewed over four years in a tiny LA apartment. It’s like a love letter to the raw and gritty heart of exploitation cinema with a modern twist that even Eli Roth couldn’t look away from. Curious how far passion—and a mountain of practical effects—can push indie horror? Trust me, this one’s set to carve out its own cult following and make you rethink what “underground” truly means in cinema. Ready to dive into the beautifully messy, gruesome, and gloriously chaotic world of Jimmy and Stiggs?

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Indie horror chaos reigns supreme in Jimmy and Stiggs, the upcoming debut feature from Eli Roth’s The Horror Section.

Written, directed, and headlined by genre maverick Joe Begos, the alien-infested splatter flick opens nationwide on August 15, 2025, and promises fans a blood-drenched sensory overload straight from the underground.

The freshly released trailer is nothing short of mind-melting. A collision of practical alien effects, saturated color palettes, and anarchic camera movements, it’s a feverish window into a DIY nightmare built over four years within Begos’ own Los Angeles apartment. Shot entirely on 16mm, the film is a love letter to lo-fi horror and the gore-soaked glory days of exploitation cinema.

In a behind-the-scenes featurette, Begos and Roth lift the curtain on what can only be described as an unhinged production. Begos operated chainsaws on blood-slick floors and built rigging systems in his closet rafters, proving that Jimmy and Stiggs is horror built with sweat, sinew, and supreme chaos.

Roth was immediately transfixed. “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.”

Each alien and effect is created by hand using puppetry, fishing wire, and even children’s toys—like a robot hand meant for kids. This scrappy Frankenstein approach celebrates the spirit of tactile horror and stands in stark contrast to modern CGI-heavy blockbusters.

Begos didn’t go it alone. He co-created the project with longtime collaborator Josh Ethier under their Channel 83 Films banner. The result? A movie that’s already been declared an “instant cult classic” after electrifying audiences at Beyond Fest and Sitges Film Festival.

“It’s been a long, messy, goopy, explosive and backbreaking endeavor to get this handmade piece of exploitation to the finish line,” said Begos. “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 by Iconic Events and backed by Media Capital Technologies (MCT), Jimmy and Stiggs is also the first release from Roth’s new horror platform, The Horror Section, a company focused on delivering theatrical-first content for fans who crave the brutal and bizarre.

With a multi-platform focus that includes podcasts, games, live events, and a commitment to original IP, The Horror Section aims to become the definitive name in horror. Partnerships with Republic and the blockchain platform Sui offer fans unique access to future investments and experiences—connecting the gore with the digital.

But for now, all eyes are on August 15. Roth and Begos are inviting horror lovers everywhere to experience the madness the way it was meant to be experienced: with popcorn in hand, screaming in a dark theater surrounded by fellow sickos.

Watch the trailer now and prepare for the alien invasion.

Get your tickets now – in theaters August 15.