Trent Haaga

Haaga came to the attention of the horror community after co-starring in the Troma film Terror Firmer.[1] He went on to fill the role of screenwriter as well as assistant director on the fourth film in the Toxic Avenger series, Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.[1][2] Due to also playing the leader of the Diaper Mafia in this film, he was forced to direct many scenes in the film while wearing a baby bonnet and an adult diaper.[2] He relates many of these experiences as co-author of the book Make Your Own Damn Movie! written with Lloyd Kaufman of Troma.[3]

He has worked in many aspects of filmmaking (writing, producing, acting) and enjoys them all.

"As a writer or actor you're important to the project, but not indispensable. If you're producing there are fewer battles to fight creatively. But, honestly, I like to make films and am happy to do anything on a film set. I'm happy and flattered that people want me to be in their movies or have shot scripts that I've written."[4]

Haaga works in independent film and has stated that he likes the advances made in digital cinematography.[1]

"Let's make as many as we can right now! History will determine which ones live on, but I can't get enough low budget horror films no matter what."[1]

Haaga has praised the speed of digital filmmaking.

"We shot Killjoy 2, Hell Asylum, and Dead and Rotting in 8 days (each, not all three in 8 days!). The Ghouls shot in 12 days. Suburban Nightmare in 9."[1]

Haaga directorial debut Chop, which stars Tanishaa Mukherji and Billy Bakshi,[5] was released in 2011. He wrote the script for the independent thriller alongside Adam Minarovich.[6] The movie is a revenge thriller within the tradition of Fargo and Oldboy.[7] Haaga narrated the Indie thriller flick Fetch.[8]

Haaga has also written for video games; he worked on the DLC for the survival horror game The Evil Within and was the lead writer on the game's sequel. The story for The Evil Within 2 was created by the Japanese developers and Haaga was tasked with fleshing out the characters in the game.[9]

• Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000) (writer)
• Hell Asylum (2002) (V) (writer)
• Feeding the Masses (2004) (V) (writer)
• Damage Control (2005) TV series (unknown episodes)
• Raving Maniacs (2005) (screenplay)
• Make Your Own Damn Movie! (2005) (book)
• Deadgirl (2008) (writer)
• Poor Things (2008) (screenplay) (story)
• Fetch (2009)[10]
• Cheap Thrills (2013) (writer)
• Killing Mommy (2016) (writer) (TV Movie)
• 68 Kill (2017) (screenplay) (director)
• The Evil Within 2 (2017) (video game) (writer)
• It Came From the Desert (2017) (writer)
• Girl on the Third Floor (2019) (writer)
• Deathcember (writer) (2019) (segment "Operation Dolph)

• Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil (2002) (line producer)
• Dead & Rotting (2002) (producer)
• Hell Asylum (2002) (line producer)
• The Ghouls (2003) (associate producer)
• Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! (2006) (producer)
• Chop (2011) (producter)
• The Dead Reborn (2013) (producer)

• Official website
• Trent Haaga at IMDb
• Trent Haaga at Rotten Tomatoes