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{{Infobox person
| name        = Brian Yuzna
| image       = Brian Yuzna Cropped Picture.jpg
| caption     = Yuzna in 2022
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1949|8|30}}
| birth_place = [[Manila]], Philippines
| occupation  = Film producer<br />film director<br />screenwriter
| spouse      = Cathy Cherry Yuzna
| children    = 4, including [[Logan Yuzna]]
}}

'''Brian Yuzna''' (born August 30, 1949) is an American film producer, director, and writer. He is best known for his work in the [[science fiction]] and [[horror film]] genres. Yuzna began his career as a producer for several films by director [[Stuart Gordon]], such as ''[[Re-Animator]]'' (1985) and ''[[From Beyond (film)|From Beyond]]'' (1986), before making his directorial debut with the satirical [[body horror]] film ''[[Society (film)|Society]]'' (1989).

He also served as a co-writer for the comedy ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids]]'' (1989). Yuzna was the first American filmmaker to adapt a [[manga]], ''[[Bio Booster Armor Guyver]]'', into a live-action feature, ''[[The Guyver]]'' (1991). He has directed several adaptations of the work of [[H. P. Lovecraft]], and has assisted many first time directors, including Stuart Gordon, [[Christophe Gans]], and Luis De La Madrid, in getting their projects made.

==Early life==
Yuzna was born in [[Manila]], [[Philippines]], to American parents.{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=187}}{{sfn|Crussells|2009|p=249}} He grew up in [[Nicaragua]], [[Puerto Rico]], and [[Panama]], before moving to the United States in the 1960s, settling in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=187}} Yuzna was raised a [[Roman Catholic]].{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=187}} Throughout the 1970s, Yuzna lived on a [[Intentional community|commune]] in [[North Carolina]] and worked jobs as a [[carpenter]] and at a restaurant.{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=187}}

==Career==
Yuzna began his career as a producer, co-producing the horror films ''[[Re-Animator]]'' (1985), ''[[From Beyond (film)|From Beyond]]'' (1986), and ''[[Dolls (1987 film)|Dolls]]'' (1987) for his friend, director [[Stuart Gordon]].{{sfn|Towlson|2014|pages=188–189}} He also co-wrote ''From Beyond''.{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=189}} The same year, Yuzna co-wrote the comedy ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids]]'' alongside Gordon. In 1989, he made his directorial debut with the [[satirical]] [[body horror]] film ''[[Society (film)|Society]]'', which focuses on a wealthy [[Beverly Hills]] community who are of a mutant species who feed on the social classes beneath them.{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=190}}

Yuzna went on to direct a series of horror sequels, including ''[[Bride of Re-Animator]]'' (1990), ''[[Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation]]'' (1990), and ''[[Return of the Living Dead 3]]'' (1993),{{sfn|Towlson|2014|pages=191–194}} before directing ''[[The Dentist]]'' (1996), a horror film about a murderous Los Angeles dentist who dentally tortures his victims.{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=194}} Yuzna also directed its sequel, ''[[The Dentist 2]]'' (1998).{{sfn|Towlson|2014|p=195}}

Having collected a large following in Europe, Yuzna started [[Fantastic Factory]], with Julio Fernández, a label under the [[Barcelona]] film company Filmax, in the early-2000s. His goal was to produce "modestly budgeted genre (horror, science fiction, fantasy) films for the international market (shot in English language) using genre talent from all around the world and to develop local talent".<ref>[http://www.comics2film.com/Faust/Yuzna3.shtml Yuzna profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051225020538/http://www.comics2film.com/Faust/Yuzna3.shtml |date=December 25, 2005}}, Comics2film.com; accessed September 25, 2015.</ref>

He was last working as the producer of the [[Wehrmacht]] zombie movie ''[[Worst Case Scenario (cancelled film)|Worst Case Scenario]]'', directed by [[Richard Raaphorst]], which takes place after a fictional [[2006 FIFA World Cup Final|World Cup 2006 finale]] between Germany and Netherlands where Germany loses and seeks revenge with a zombie invasion. In May 2009, it was announced that this project was dead.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gorehoundinc.com/index2.html |title=Welcome at Gorehound Canned Film |access-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219114353/http://www.gorehoundinc.com/index2.html |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The film eventually became ''[[Frankenstein's Army]]'' and was released in 2013. After four years, he returned to the [[director's chair]] and filmed ''[[Amphibious (2010 film)|Amphibious 3-D]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18043|title=First Creature Pics from Brian Yuzna's 'Amphibious 3-D'|date=November 9, 2009}}</ref> which stars [[Michael Paré]] and [[Francis Magee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34467/damon-lindelof-rewriting-world-war-z|title=First Photos of Yuzna's Amphibious Sea Scorpions|date=June 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36082/italy-braces-fantasy-horror-awards|title=Italy Braces for Fantasy Horror Award Event|date=August 3, 2012}}</ref>

In 2014, in Hollywood, the [[Cinefamily]] screened and celebrated the 25th anniversary of ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' with Yuzna as guest of honor.<ref>{{Cite web|title = HEAVY MIDNITES: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (25th Anniversary!)|url = http://www.cinefamily.org/heavy-midnites-honey-i-shrunk-the-kids-25th-anniversary/|website = www.cinefamily.org|access-date = 2016-01-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160205132453/http://www.cinefamily.org/heavy-midnites-honey-i-shrunk-the-kids-25th-anniversary/|archive-date = February 5, 2016|url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2015, a retrospective of his work of 30 years, ''Brian Yuzna, A Retrospective'', was presented and screened at the theater in the [[Soho House (club)|Soho House]] West Hollywood, curated by [[Diana Lado]] and produced by [[Logan Yuzna]].<ref>{{Cite web |title = BRIAN YUZNA A RETROSPECTIVE PRESENTED BY FREIXENET |url = http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/PMC-AP-A-ENT-CA-USA-PATMC-BRIAN-YUZNA-A-RETROSP-/ae0c773a1b23472794e8949686d5ffb3 |website = AP Images |access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> In 2016, a new Yuzna-directed film was announced, ''The Plastic Surgeon'', starring [[Corbin Bernsen]] and producer by Yuzna's production house, Dark Arts Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/196257/brian-yuzna-corbin-bernsen-reunite-plastic-surgeon/ |title=Brian Yuzna and Corbin Bernsen to Reunite for The Plastic Surgeon |website=Dreadcentral.com |date=27 October 2016 |author=Kieran Fisher |accessdate=1 October 2022}}</ref> By the end of 2023, he was working on a novelization of the film ''Society''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fangoria.com/original/brian-yuzna-society-sequel/ |title=Brian Yuzna On The Novelization Of His Cult Classic SOCIETY—And A Possible Sequel |website=Fangoria.com |date=20 December 2023 |author=Michael Gingold |accessdate=3 April 2024}}</ref>

== Distinctions ==
* 2014: Honorary Member of the [[Catalan Academy of Cinema]] in Barcelona<ref>{{Cite web |title = Parlament de Brian Yuzna al ser nomenat Membre d'Honor de l'Acadèmia del Cinema Català |url = http://academiadelcinema.cat/en/news-events/news-events-academy-activities/1651-parlament-de-brian-yuzna-al-ser-nomenat-membre-d-honor-de-l-academia-del-cinema-catala |website = academiadelcinema.cat |access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He is married to Cathy Cherry Yuzna. They have four children: Conan Yuzna, Zoe Yuzna, Noah Yuzna and Logan Yuzna.

==Filmography==
===Film===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Producer
! Notes
|-
| 1978
| ''Self Portrait in Brains''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Co-directed with Jimmy Dobbins
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Re-Animator]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 1986
| ''[[From Beyond (film)|From Beyond]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| ''[[Dolls (1987 film)|Dolls]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
|rowspan=2|1989
| ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes|Story}}
| {{yes|Co-producer}}
|
|-
| ''[[Society (film)|Society]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1990
| ''[[Bride of Re-Animator]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Story}}
| {{no}}
|Direct-to-video
|-
|rowspan=2| 1991
| ''[[The Guyver]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|Direct-to-video
|-
|rowspan=2|1993
| ''[[Return of the Living Dead 3]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Necronomicon (film)|Necronomicon]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Segments "The Library" and "Whispers"
|-
|1995
| ''[[Crying Freeman (film)|Crying Freeman]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
|1996
| ''[[The Dentist]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 1998
| ''[[Progeny (film)|Progeny]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| ''[[The Dentist 2]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Faust: Love of the Damned (film)|Faust: Love of the Damned]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2001
| ''[[Arachnid (film)|Arachnid]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| ''[[Dagon (film)|Dagon]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
|2002
| ''[[Darkness (2002 film)|Darkness]]''  
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| 
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Beyond Re-Animator]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Uncredited}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2004
| ''[[Rottweiler (film)|Rottweiler]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[Romasanta]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2005
| ''[[Beneath Still Waters]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| ''[[The Nun (2005 film)|The Nun]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2008
| ''Takut: Faces of Fear'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes|Story}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Amphibious (2010 film)|Amphibious]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
|}

'''Executive producer'''
* ''[[Warlock (1989 film)|Warlock]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Ticks (film)|Ticks]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Worst Case Scenario (cancelled film)|Worst Case Scenario]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Suitable Flesh]]'' (2023)

'''Associate producer'''
* ''Bloody Bridget'' (2022)

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Tarzan: The Epic Adventures]]''
| Episode "Tarzan's Return"
|-
| 1997
|  ''[[Conan the Adventurer (1997 TV series)|Conan the Adventurer]]''
| Episode "The Heart of The Elephant”
|-
|}

===Guest appearances===
* ''Stephen King's World of Horror'' (1986)
* ''[[The Incredibly Strange Film Show]]'' (1989)
* ''Fear in the Dark'' (1991)
* ''[[Clive Barker's A-Z of Horror]]'' (1997)
* ''Metrópolis'' (2001)
* ''Working with a Master: Stuart Gordon'' (2006)
* ''Re-Animator Resurrectus'' (2007)
* ''Science of Horror'' (2008)
* ''[[Nightmares in Red, White and Blue]]'' (2009)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Crussells|first=Magí|year=2009|language=ca|title=Directores de cine en Cataluña: de la A a la Z|publisher=Edicions Universitat Barcelona|location=Barcelona, Spain|isbn=9788447533169}}
* {{cite book|last=Towlson|first=Jon|title=Subversive Horror Cinema: Countercultural Messages of Films from Frankenstein to the Present|year=2014|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=9780786474691}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|0951206}}

{{Brian Yuzna}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Yuzna, Brian}}
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American film production company founders]]
[[Category:Film producers from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Film directors from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:American film directors of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:Filipino film directors]]
[[Category:Filipino emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Writers from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Atlanta]]
[[Category:1949 births]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Brian Yuzna|access_date=2026-02-27}}