Big N Funky Productions Is Building a Wild Horror-Comedy Universe in the Smoky Mountains
Seth Metoyer | More Horror From regional legends to rogue artificial intelligence, filmmaker Vinnie “Funkmaster V” Vineyard and his crew are building a seven-film horror-comedy universe in the heart of Appalachia.
There's something wonderfully strange brewing in the Great Smoky Mountains, and Big N Funky Productions has assembled an unlikely collection of filmmakers, performers, wrestlers, musicians, and assorted oddballs to bring it to life.
At the center of it all is The Smoky Mountain Chronicles, an ambitious series of seven interconnected feature films blending Appalachian folklore, regional mythology, science fiction, horror, and comedy. The project comes from Vinnie “Funkmaster V” Vineyard and his creative collaborator, Big Luke Walker, whose shared interest in the overlooked stories of the American South has developed into an expanding cinematic universe.
Their latest release, Showdown in Secret City, takes the series in a particularly timely direction, introducing a science-fiction nightmare involving artificial intelligence, desperate filmmakers, and the increasingly bizarre collision between human creativity and technology.
And judging by the premise, things get weird in a hurry.
Showdown in Secret City: Artificial Intelligence vs. Low Intelligence
Released June 30, 2026, Showdown in Secret City follows four filmmakers who face an ultimatum from a movie executive: produce a blockbuster with the assistance of artificial intelligence or risk losing their careers.
What begins as a desperate attempt to survive the entertainment industry's demands escalates into a battle between human ingenuity and a technology that may have its own agenda.
The 95-minute sci-fi horror comedy serves as the fourth chapter of The Smoky Mountain Chronicles. Vinnie Vineyard, Luke Walker, and Travis Graves directed the film, which features Graves, Kandi Thompson, Walker, and Vineyard among its performers.
The production also has a fitting geographical connection to its title. Filmmakers shot the movie in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the historic location associated with the Manhattan Project. The production even utilized the city's historic Grove Theater, which hosted a local screening on July 25.
The premise taps into one of contemporary filmmaking's most heated conversations: artificial intelligence and its growing influence on the creative industries. Big N Funky Productions approaches that anxiety through its own brand of irreverent horror comedy, putting a group of struggling filmmakers directly in the path of their potential technological replacement.
The Smoky Mountain Chronicles: Seven Films, One Strange Universe
While Showdown in Secret City explores the dangers of technology, the larger project draws inspiration from something much older: the folklore, historical conflicts, mysterious creatures, and supernatural traditions woven into the Appalachian landscape.
For Vineyard and Walker, that regional history offers a deep reservoir of storytelling possibilities.
“I am from Baltimore, and my writing partner, Big Luke Walker, is from Chicago. We both agree that there is enough movies and shows about those areas to last a long time. The part of the county whose stories are perhaps neglected the most is the Appalachian south,” Vineyard tells More Horror.
He explains that the pair saw an opportunity to explore the cultural landscape surrounding their adopted home.
“So many legends, war stories, tribal lore, cryptids, spooks, pain, poverty and mythology exist here, it is criminally neglected. So we started making 7 feature films about the legends and lore of the Great Smoky Mountains, where we now live.”
That interest in regional folklore gives The Smoky Mountain Chronicles a common foundation, even as individual installments explore different stories and genres.
The series includes The Hike (2021), WJHC AM (2022), Camp Smokey (2023), and Showdown in Secret City (2026), alongside additional projects in development.
Each film tells its own story, allowing viewers to enter the series at different points.
Attentive horror fans, however, may discover connections lurking beneath the surface.
According to Vineyard, the movies contain hidden references and details that gradually reveal the larger narrative.
“These are all interconnected movies, but you can watch them in any order. As you go, hopefully it will become more and more clear what is actually happening in the overall story.”
He also emphasizes that beneath the absurdity, each installment carries a thematic purpose.
“All of the films have little secrets about the other movies buried in each one. These are silly little horror comedies, but they are also fables; each movie has a moral to the story.”
It's an intriguing approach to independent genre filmmaking. The creators can explore outrageous characters and supernatural situations while gradually constructing a larger mythology that rewards audiences willing to follow the breadcrumbs.
Meet the Big N Funky Family
The Big N Funky Productions creative community is nearly as unusual as the fictional world its filmmakers have developed.
Vineyard describes a sprawling family of approximately 80 to 90 personalities, drawing from comedy, professional wrestling, theater, music, burlesque, drag performance, magic, and a host of other entertainment backgrounds.
At the center of that creative operation are Vineyard, Big Luke Walker, Travis Graves, Kandi Thompson, and Amber Schultz.
The company's collaborative approach gives its productions an unmistakably independent identity, drawing on the talents and personalities of an eclectic community rather than a conventional studio system.
For anyone familiar with the history of cult horror and regional exploitation filmmaking, there's something appealing about that tradition. Independent genre cinema has long thrived on resourcefulness, strange ideas, local personalities, and filmmakers determined to make something memorable with whatever resources they can assemble.
Big N Funky Productions appears happy to carry that tradition into some decidedly peculiar territory.
Where to Watch and Follow Big N Funky Productions
Showdown in Secret City premiered on the RELAY streaming platform on June 30, 2026. According to Vineyard, the production also anticipates availability through additional streaming services, including Tubi and Amazon.
Fans interested in exploring The Smoky Mountain Chronicles, discovering the company's earlier films, or following future productions can find more information through the official Big N Funky Productions website and social media channels.
With seven interconnected films forming the backbone of its growing horror-comedy universe, Big N Funky Productions has plenty of strange territory left to explore. And considering the amount of folklore, mystery, and macabre history surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains, the filmmakers have no shortage of material to draw upon.
As Vineyard and his crew continue expanding The Smoky Mountain Chronicles, horror fans can expect additional stories, unusual characters, and plenty of Appalachian weirdness.
Explore More from Big N Funky Productions
Want to venture deeper into The Smoky Mountain Chronicles? Discover more films, behind-the-scenes content, and updates on upcoming projects through Big N Funky Productions' official website and social media channels.
Official Website: Big N Funky Productions
Instagram: @funkmaster__v
Facebook: Big N Funky Productions
YouTube: Funkmaster V
TikTok: @funkmaster_v
Slasher: Funkmaster V
