Adrenochrome has been deemed “too intense and disturbing” for 13 horror/genre festivals (and counting). Our online marketing has been rejected due to “disturbing imagery”. The film has received rave reviews and contains no blood, gore or violence. Read the director’s statement then dare to watch the film below!
Director’s Statement:
Adrenochrome is a short horror film from White Lion Studios, LLC that has been deemed “too intense and disturbing” for horror film festivals, despite rave reviews. The filmmakers knew that it was controversial from the start.
The chemical Adrenochrome is created when adrenaline oxidizes. The title itself is taboo, borrowed from a myth created by Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson and radicalized by the QAnon conspiracy group. According to the conspiracy theory, billionaire cannibals extract Adrenochrome from their victims (mostly children). The Adrenochrome is “cooked” up during a ritual in which cult members take turns scaring the children.
The movie and its creators do not endorse any antisemitic views or point fingers at any individual, group or organization. Instead, the film captures the zeitgeist in the same way that films about giant radioactive monsters reflect the public fear of nuclear energy in the 1950’s.
There is no blood, gore or violence in this film. It is purely psychological and never crosses the line… but the implications are there.
Our film combines elements from the Adrenochrome urban legend, secret societies (such as the Illuminati, Skull and Bones, Bohemian Grove, etc.), and the Epstein class of pedophiles with the cold and terrifying reality that child trafficking itself is not a myth.
12 year old Carter Meehan (Blue Bloods, Dexter: New Blood) plays a young boy named Logan who foolishly accepts a ride from strangers. Logan’s misfortune is a cautionary tale which one viewer called “nightmare fuel for parents”. Meehan’s stellar performance shatters the suspension of disbelief and drags viewers into the dark recesses of their mind with no way out.
The film gets harder and harder to watch as it plays out over 7 and a half minutes. The viewer experiences a feeling of powerlessness, which is an expression of how people feel relative to this administration’s inaction regarding the Epstein files. We see people in positions of power who are involved in human trafficking, and not much is done about it. The Department of Justice refuses to release millions of files from the Epstein case, which we are told contain nothing significant.
Child trafficking is not entertaining. It is absolutely horrifying, which is why we chose to shine a spotlight on something so incredibly taboo that we knew it could damage our careers. Horror is often an initiator for discussions about disturbing topics. We acknowledge that there is nothing more disturbing than human trafficking, which is why we made the film. Don’t look away, something must be done.
The film also features 89 year old artist Jonathan Rogers as “The Master”. Rogers (formerly Leach), is best known for his animated specials “Gift of Winter” and “Witch’s Night Out”; featuring the early voice talents of Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner. Rogers also created the animation for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic’s “Atomic Dog” music video.
Rejected by 13 horror/genre film festivals (and counting), we chose to release Adrenochrome ourselves on YouTube this past Halloween. Our trailer was removed by TikTok and YouTube rejected our ads due to “negative and disturbing imagery”. Meanwhile, the real villains who inspired our fictional retelling are allowed to hide in plain sight, hold public offices and positions of power/authority. The real horror is the reality staring us right in our faces.
~ Ken Cosentino
Writer, Director, Producer
