Derek Sulek and Chris Jericho Take Us Inside DEAD OF NIGHT: True Crime, Killer Design and Heavy Metal
Dead of Night director and executive producer join More Horror's Seth Metoyer to discuss the Night Stalker inspiration, the film's mysterious masked killer, Fozzy's "I Know Evil," and the horror movies that shaped them.
By Seth Metoyer | More Horror
There's something particularly unsettling about the idea that a murderer could be living right down the street. Someone you pass at the grocery store, wave to while checking the mail, or occasionally exchange small talk with. The kind of person whose face blends into the everyday scenery until something horrific brings their darker nature to light.
That paranoia sits at the heart of DEAD OF NIGHT, the upcoming mystery slasher from director and co-writer Derek Sulek, arriving in theaters November 13, 2026.
Starring Dermot Mulroney, Scott Grimes, Jake Busey, and Kirrilee Berger, the film follows a community unraveling under the weight of a series of brutal murders. As suspicion spreads and bodies accumulate, the question of who might be responsible becomes increasingly difficult to answer.
Professional wrestler, actor, and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho serves as an executive producer, bringing another recognizable name from the horror world into the production.
I recently had the opportunity to watch DEAD OF NIGHT ahead of its theatrical release and sit down with Sulek and Jericho for INSIDE THE HORROR, our new More Horror original interview series.
We discussed everything from Richard Ramirez and the influence of 1980s slashers to the Japanese-inspired killer design, heavy metal soundtracks, and the childhood horror movies that still haunt them.
Having spent much of my life fascinated by true crime, horror films, and the strange places where the two intersect, I found plenty to dig into here. And as someone who grew up during the golden age of masked killers and metal-fueled horror soundtracks, this conversation occasionally ventured into some familiar territory. 🎟️ GET AMC THEATRES TICKETS & FIND SHOWTIMES: https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/dead-of-night-84619
Watch the Dead of Night Interview with Derek Sulek & Chris Jericho:
From the Night Stalker to DEAD OF NIGHT
When Sulek and his producing partner Oren Kamara began developing their next project through Fade to Black Films, they knew they wanted to venture into horror. Both were longtime fans of the genre, and they wanted to create something grounded in a recognizable kind of fear.
Their search eventually led them to one of Southern California's darkest chapters: the killing spree of Richard Ramirez, better known as the Night Stalker.
During the mid-1980s, Ramirez terrorized communities throughout California, invading homes and committing a series of murders and assaults that left residents questioning whether their own neighborhoods were safe.
For Sulek, that atmosphere of uncertainty provided fertile ground for a contemporary slasher.
The filmmakers also wanted to shoot locally in Los Angeles, allowing the city's history to inform the fictional world they were creating.
Rather than directly recreating the Ramirez murders, they drew from the public fear surrounding the investigation, particularly the media coverage and the unsettling knowledge that the killer could be almost anyone.
One specific detail made its way into the movie: the composite sketch.
Sulek explained that the filmmakers created a fictional news sketch of the mysterious killer as a nod to the widely circulated sketches associated with the Night Stalker investigation.
They deliberately kept the figure's identity obscured.
The news broadcasts throughout the film also reflect the relentless television coverage that surrounded Ramirez's crimes. Anyone who remembers the era, or has explored the documentaries and books about it, understands how deeply that fear worked its way into the public consciousness.
During our conversation, I brought up a question someone once asked me: How many murderers do you think you've unknowingly walked past in your life?
It's a disturbing thought, especially considering how many notorious killers managed to function in ordinary society while concealing horrific crimes.
Jericho recognized that same psychological tension in DEAD OF NIGHT.
"Killers hide in plain sight," he observed while discussing the film's many possible suspects.
That uncertainty becomes an essential ingredient in the story. Every character has the potential to harbor secrets, and the audience must continually reconsider whom to trust.
A Murder Mystery Beneath the Mask
One of the things I appreciated about DEAD OF NIGHT was its commitment to the mystery surrounding its killer.
The film delivers some genuinely brutal murders and impressive effects work, but Sulek also places considerable attention on how the mystery unfolds. It reminded me of the appeal of films such as SCREAM, where the audience participates in the investigation while the filmmakers quietly manipulate expectations.
Sulek openly acknowledges that influence. The movie even features a humorous reference to SCREAM early on, making its familiarity with the genre part of the experience.
Jericho told me that the underlying mystery played a major role in his decision to join the production.
When he first encountered the project, he appreciated its emphasis on storytelling and the uncertainty surrounding the killer's identity.
With so much horror content competing for attention, he felt DEAD OF NIGHT offered the kind of murder mystery he had been missing.
For Sulek, the trick involved giving the audience enough information to build theories while continuously introducing questions that challenge those assumptions.
He specifically discussed the importance of planting clues that viewers can recognize during repeat viewings.
"And as long as you leave reasonable doubt, you know, that's really the key to it," Sulek explained.
Jericho echoed that enthusiasm, revealing that he'd already watched the film three times and continued to find new things to appreciate.
I'll refrain from getting into the finer details here because the mystery really is one of the film's selling points. The less you know going in, the more fun you'll have sorting through the possibilities.
Designing the Dark Figure: Japanese Masks, Ninjas and Horror Iconography
The film's masked antagonist was actually one of the first things that caught my attention when the original promotional artwork landed in my inbox.
Having worked in graphic design and independent filmmaking for years, I appreciate how much a memorable image can contribute to a horror film's identity.
And DEAD OF NIGHT has a killer with a particularly striking appearance.
During one sequence, the figure stands in the street holding a knife in a manner that immediately reminded me of the ninja films I grew up watching in the 1980s. Movies like ENTER THE NINJA were a big part of my childhood, and something about the character's posture and calculated movements brought those memories rushing back.
I mentioned this observation to Sulek, curious whether the resemblance had any intentional connection to the design.
As it turns out, there was a definite Japanese influence behind the character.
Sulek revealed that Kamara originally proposed a kabuki-inspired mask, drawing from their shared appreciation for Japanese aesthetics.
Sulek also cited the animated series AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER as an influence, particularly its distinctive mask designs.
The filmmakers collaborated with Mark Villalobos of Monster Effects in Los Angeles to bring the concept to life. Villalobos sculpted the mask in clay, allowing the team to refine its appearance before fabricating the finished version.
Interestingly, Villalobos also created the promotional masks included in the film's elaborate press packages.
Sulek offered another intriguing detail about the killer's physical presence: the figure's movements and mannerisms carry significance throughout the film.
Those subtle distinctions become another layer of the mystery, rewarding observant viewers who revisit particular scenes.
Naturally, we avoided going much further into that discussion. Some secrets deserve to remain behind the mask until the audience gets its turn.
Chris Jericho, Fozzy and the Return of Heavy Metal Horror
Anyone who grew up watching horror movies during the 1980s remembers the relationship between heavy metal and the genre.
From Dokken's "Dream Warriors" in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3 to the countless rock and metal tracks accompanying horror films throughout the following decades, the combination has long felt like a natural fit.
As a musician, composer, and record label owner myself, I always appreciate hearing a strong song placement that complements a film's atmosphere.
That brings us to Fozzy's "I Know Evil," which accompanies the closing credits of DEAD OF NIGHT.
The track immediately caught my attention when I watched the film. It has that muscular, classic metal quality, with a modern edge and enough darkness to complement the material that precedes it.
During our conversation, Jericho explained how the song found its way into the production.
He had already established his involvement as executive producer when Sulek approached him about potentially including Fozzy's music.
"I Know Evil" turned out to be the ideal match, and Sulek confirmed that it was the only Fozzy song they seriously considered.
Jericho also praised how the filmmakers constructed the end credits around the track, allowing the music to complement the conclusion rather than simply play over a list of names.
The conversation inevitably drifted toward one of the great horror-metal collaborations of the 1980s.
Jericho brought up Dokken's "Dream Warriors," describing how effectively the song complemented A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3.
For those of us who grew up during that era, it's an immediately recognizable reference.
There's something satisfying about a horror movie that knows exactly when to let the guitars take over, and DEAD OF NIGHT earns that moment.
The Horror Films That Stayed With Them
Toward the end of our conversation, I wanted to step away from DEAD OF NIGHT for a moment and ask Sulek and Jericho about the films that originally frightened them as children.
Jericho recalled growing up with classic Universal monster movies and the gothic atmosphere of Hammer horror films.
But one movie left a particularly lasting impression: DAMIEN: OMEN II.
Jericho explained that a local television station seemed to air the movie constantly during his childhood. Because he was roughly the same age as Damien, the story's religious imagery and sinister implications got under his skin.
He even remembered checking himself for the infamous mark of the beast.
The film apparently still has its claws in him. Jericho told me he'd recently watched it with his daughter and found that it continued to unsettle him.
For Sulek, the defining experience came from Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO.
He vividly remembered watching the famous shower sequence as a child, peeking through his fingers while his parents encouraged him to cover his eyes.
The imagery remained so firmly lodged in his memory that years later, he had to ask family members which movie he'd seen.
Jericho also singled out the staircase murder in PSYCHO, particularly Hitchcock's unusual visual presentation of the victim falling backward down the stairs.
Their stories reminded me of my own introduction to horror.
One of my earliest unsettling movie memories involves catching TERROR TRAIN on television when I was around six or seven years old. I remember seeing that masked figure stalking people through the train and then sitting in the car on the way to school, still trying to process what I'd watched.
Those childhood encounters have a way of staying with us.
They also help explain why so many filmmakers and fans continue returning to horror. A single terrifying image can linger for decades, quietly shaping the stories we eventually want to tell ourselves.
DEAD OF NIGHT Heads to AMC Theaters November 13
DEAD OF NIGHT arrives in theaters November 13, 2026, through Level 33 Entertainment, with AMC serving as a major theatrical partner.
During the interview, Sulek also revealed that the film would participate in AMC's Thrills & Chills horror programming for November.
The announcement even caught Jericho by surprise, leading to a funny moment in which he jokingly assumed the role of interviewer and asked Sulek to explain the program.
Sulek described the promotional platform as a way for AMC to connect horror fans with new releases through its app, newsletter, and theater marketing.
Jericho compared the exposure to getting a song placed on a Spotify playlist, a fitting analogy given his music background.
For an independent horror production, that kind of visibility can make a meaningful difference.
Sulek also took a moment to acknowledge the film's ensemble cast and the people who helped bring the project to life.
As someone who has spent years working in independent film and supporting filmmakers through More Horror, I appreciate seeing productions like this earn a theatrical opportunity.
DEAD OF NIGHT blends familiar slasher traditions with a murder mystery that encourages viewers to pay attention. Its imposing killer, nasty practical effects, and atmospheric approach should give genre fans plenty to sink their teeth into.
My conversation with Derek Sulek and Chris Jericho also reinforced something I've always appreciated about horror: many of the people making these films are lifelong fans who still remember the exact moments that first frightened them.
And sometimes, those childhood nightmares eventually become somebody else's Friday night at the movies.
Behind the Bloodshed: DEAD OF NIGHT Embraces Practical Effects
Alongside our conversation with director Derek Sulek and executive producer Chris Jericho, More Horror received an additional clip highlighting the film's approach to old-school horror filmmaking.
The footage showcases the production's commitment to practical effects, bringing its onscreen carnage to life in-camera rather than relying on computer-generated imagery. For horror fans who appreciate the physical artistry behind classic slasher films, it's another intriguing look at what Dead of Night has in store.
Watch the clip below for a closer look at the film's practical-effects work.
DEAD OF NIGHT opens in theaters November 13, 2026, from Level 33 Entertainment.
Watch the complete INSIDE THE HORROR interview with director Derek Sulek and executive producer Chris Jericho above, and check out our original DEAD OF NIGHT theatrical announcement for additional information on the film.
Stay Scary.
MORE HORROR™ | Amplifying Horror Since 2008
