Adam Wingard

Adam Wingard (/ˈwɪŋɡɑːrd/ WING-gard;[1][2] born December 3, 1982) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, editor, cinematographer, and composer.[3][4] He is notable for his works in the horror genre, especially the films You're Next, The Guest, and Death Note. Wingard is the director for the upcoming film Godzilla vs. Kong (2021).

Adam Wingard
Wingard at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1982-12-03) December 3, 1982
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma materFull Sail University (BS)
Occupation
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
  • editor
  • cinematographer
  • composer
Years active2004–present

Life and career

Wingard was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and graduated from Full Sail University in 2002. His first feature, the horror comedy Home Sick, starring Bill Moseley and Tiffany Shepis, proved to be a stepping stone to his second feature, the psychotropic ghost story horror film Pop Skull. Made on a total budget of $2,000, Pop Skull had its international premiere at the Rome Film Festival and its domestic premiere at the AFI Film Festival in 2007. A Horrible Way to Die (2010) and What Fun We Were Having (2011) followed.

The serial killer love story horror film A Horrible Way to Die premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival in the ‘Vanguard’ section and was acquired by Starz/Anchor Bay at the festival for a North American theatrical and home media release. What Fun We Were Having is a 4-part anthology dealing with the subject of date rape. The anthology had its premiere at the 2011 Fantastia Film Festival in Montreal where Wingard was honored by the festival with his very own sidebar section: “Medicated Monsters – A Spotlight on Filmmaker Adam Wingard”.

In 2011, Wingard co-directed Autoerotic with mumblecore icon (and frequent actor in Wingard films) Joe Swanberg. He was selected to direct one chapter of The ABCs of Death, a 26-chapter horror comedy anthology for Drafthouse Films and Magnet. A solo directorial effort, You're Next, a home invasion slasher, premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the ‘Midnight Madness’ section.[5] The film was acquired by Lionsgate, and received a wide release in August 2013 to generally favorable reviews.

In 2014, Wingard directed The Guest starring Dan Stevens, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest, receiving wide critical acclaim upon its wider theatrical release in mid-September.[6] Wingard directed Lionsgate's horror film Blair Witch, based on a script by Simon Barrett. The film is a sequel to the 1999 found footage horror classic The Blair Witch Project and received mostly ambivalent reviews.[7]

In 2015, Wingard signed on to direct a live action American film adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's popular horror crime-thriller manga series Death Note.[8] The neo-noir dark fantasy horror-thriller was released on Netflix on August 25, 2017, to a mixed reception, with criticism aimed at the number of changes from the source material, rushed plot, shallow execution, writing and pacing- while praise was aimed at the visual style, direction, performances of the cast, soundtrack and the dark, macabre sense of humour, along with the attempted unique and distinctive take on the Death Note mythos.

In May 2017, Wingard was announced as the director for Godzilla vs. Kong, which is slated for release in March 2021.[9]

Awards and nominations

Wingard's film Pop Skull[10][11][12] won the Best Feature Film award at the Indianapolis International Film Festival[13] and the Jury award at the Boston Underground Film Festival.[14]

Wingard's A Horrible Way to Die won Best Screenplay (Simon Barrett), Best Actor (A.J. Bowen) and Best Actress (Amy Seimetz) at the 2010 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas.[15]

Wingard's You're Next won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay (Simon Barrett), and Best Actress (Sharni Vinson) at the 2011 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas.[16]

Filmography
Year Film
Director Editor Cinematographer Writer Notes
2007 Home Sick Yes No No No Directorial debut
Pop Skull Yes Yes Yes Yes Also producer with Lane Hughes, E. L. Katz and Peter Katz


Co-written with E. L. Katz and Lane Hughes

2007 An evening with P. Oswalt No Yes No No Live comedy show
2010 A Horrible Way to Die Yes Yes No No Also camera operator and music supervisor
2011 Autoerotic Yes Yes Yes Yes Co-directed with Joe Swanberg


Co-written with Joe Swanberg and Simon Barrett


Co-cinematographer with Chris Hilleke


Also camera operator

What Fun We Were Having: 4 Stories About Date Rape Yes Yes Yes Yes Co-written with Simon Barrett and E. L. Katz
Art History No No Yes No Co-cinematographer with Joe Swanberg
Caitlin Plays Herself No No Yes No
The Zone No No Yes No
You're Next Yes Yes No No Also composer
2014 The Guest Yes Yes No No
The Last Survivors No Yes No No Co-edited with Sarah Broshar
2016 Outcast Yes No No No TV series, 3 episodes
Also executive consultant
Blair Witch Yes No No No Also composer
2017 Death Note Yes No No No
2021 Godzilla vs. Kong Yes No No No Post-production

Acting roles
Year Film Role
2007 Pop Skull Raymond
2010 Autoerotic
2011 Art History Bill
2013 24 Exposures Billy
2014 The Last Survivors Compound Soldier
2020 She Dies Tomorrow Dune Buggy Man

Short films
Year Title Director Writer Producer DoP Editor Actor Notes
2004 The Little One Yes Yes Yes
2005 The Girlfriend Yes Yes Yes
2007 1000 Year Sleep Yes Yes Yes Yes
2008 Laura Panic Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Paradox Mary Yes Yes Yes Yes
Little Sister Gone Yes
2009 Her Name is Laura Panic Yes
2011 Ultra Modern Yes Segment from 60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero
2012 Tape 56 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Segment from V/H/S
Role: Brad
Also camera operator and sound designer
Q is for Quack Yes Yes Segment from The ABCs of Death
Role: Adam
2013 Phase I Clinical Trials Yes executive Yes Yes Segment from V/H/S/2
Role: Herman
Also set photographer

Special thanks

References
  1. Walters, Mark (August 23, 2013). "YOU'RE NEXT interview with director Adam Wingard at South by Southwest 2013". bigfanboy. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  2. Champane, Jimmy (July 26, 2016). "SDCC2016 - Blair Witch Interview with Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  3. "Adam Wingard". NYTimes.com Movies & TV. The New York Times (All Movie Guide and Baseline).
  4. "Home Sick Comes Home Today!". Dreadcentral.com. August 26, 2008.
  5. "'Guest' Director Adam Wingard Goes Back to Horror with 'The Woods' (Exclusive)".
  6. "Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett Take a Trip into The Woods - Dread Central". www.dreadcentral.com.
  7. "Adam Wingard Heads Into 'The Woods' - Bloody Disgusting". bloody-disgusting.com.
  8. Adam Wingard to Direct ‘Death Note’. /Film, April 28, 2015.
  9. Kit, Borys (June 12, 2020). "'Godzilla vs. Kong' Shifts to 2021; 'Matrix 4' Moves Nearly a Year to 2022". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  10. "Review of Adam Wingard's brilliant POP SKULL". Quietearth.com. September 15, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  11. Brown, Todd (December 9, 2007). "News: Adam Wingard Convinces Me I've Wasted My Life. Trailer And Stills From POP SKULL". Twitchfilm.com. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  12. Koehler, Robert (November 21, 2007). "Variety Reviews – Pop Skull – Film Reviews – AFI". Variety. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  13. "indyfilmfest". Indianapolis International Film Festival. Archived from the original on October 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  14. Everleth, Mike (March 28, 2008). "2008 Boston Underground Film Festival: Award Winners". Underground Film Journal. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  15. "FANTASTIC FEST 2010 ANNOUNCES THE FANTASTIC FEST AWARDS". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  16. "FANTASTIC FEST 2011 ANNOUNCES THE FANTASTIC FEST AWARDS". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
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