Michael J. Epstein

Biography

Michael J. Epstein is a Los Angeles filmmaker known for social-satire-horror Clickbait (2019), 70s-Euro-vampire Blood of the Tribades (2016), psychotronic-sci-fi Magnetic (2015), and the avant-mystery Ten (2014). He often co-writes, co-directs, and co-produces with his wife, Sophia Cacciola, with their production company, Launch Over.

Career Overview

Michael J. Epstein has 254 screen credits in a career dating back to 2005. Their work is anchored in the Grindsploitation Collection universe with 2 titles. Signature works include Final Transmissions, Blender Memories, Dear Diary. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Directing

Gender

male

Known Credits

254

Known For

• 

  Final Transmissions
• Blender Memories
• 

  Dear Diary
• 

  Aerospace Engineering
• Fly Route on the Wall
• 

  Smash the Competition

Associated Universes

• Grindsploitation Collection (2 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• Backwoods Bob (1 collaborations)
• Anastasia Elfman (1 collaborations)
• Liesel Hanson (1 collaborations)
• Lianne O'Shea (1 collaborations)
• Maiya Reaves (1 collaborations)
• Trista Robinson (1 collaborations)
• A.J. Cutler (1 collaborations)
• Michael St. Michaels (1 collaborations)

Credits

• actors (74 credits)

  • The Ringing

    Jack

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Microwave Massacre 2: Undead Leftovers!

    V

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Padre Morte

    Iron Spine

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • An LA Christmas Story

    Felix Finklestein

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Wake Not the Dead

    You Guys

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Worthless

    Gary

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Robot Dracula

    Reynolds / Bobby Zombert / RoboCock

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Spandexorcist

    Rick Rockwell

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • OnlyFangs

    Monster Hunter

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • Bite School 2

    Reynolds/RoboCock/Bobby Zombert

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • Mother Goose's Scary Tales

    Burglar (segment: Sitting Duck)

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • The Pillow Fright Halloween Special

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Solvent

    Nazi

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Psycho Ape!! Part II: The Wrath of Kong

    Michael J. Epstein

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Hacking at Leaves

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Bloody Bridget

    Attacker

    actor

    actors
    2023
  • Fat Fleshy Fingers

    Young Grandfather (segment: "The King of Carrot Flowers")

    actor

    actors
    2023
  • Salomé: Do Not Dance, My Daughter

    Bill

    actor

    actors
    2022
  • The Once and Future Smash

    Repo Man

    actor

    actors
    2022
  • In the Dark

    actor

    actors
    2022
  • The Devil's Tail

    Metal Guitarist (segment 'What Metal Girls Are Into')

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • I Thought His Name Was Blarche

    Juxtapositional Orienting Dimension

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Philia

    Dave (segment: Mythophilia)

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins

    Dr. Jenkins / Dr. Jenkins / Self

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Sitting Duck

    Burglar

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Micro-Budget Marauders: Micro-Budget Mentality

    Himself

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Microbudget Marauders 3

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • The Big Steep

    Keeper of the kettle

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Micro-Budget Marauders 3: Marketing and Distribution

    Himself

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Happy Horror Days

    Mr. Keane (St. Patrick's Day)

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Brides of Satan

    Dewdrop

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Bloodhound

    Renfield

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • 7 Sins

    Pentheus (segment: Pride)

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Dinogore

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Pride

    Pentheus

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • I Am an Addict

    The Pyromaniac (Segment: "Pyromania")

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Half-Cocked

    Hooligan

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Merde

    Inmate Harvey

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Sugar Off The Button

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Clickbait

    Hollywood Juggler, Donald Trump

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Behind the Force: Making the Streets Run Red

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • 60 Seconds 2 Die: 60 Seconds to Die 2

    safe cracker (segment: "Poisoned")

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Leopard (Part I)

    Dave

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Leopard (Part II)

    Dave

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • The Shackling

    couch TV couple

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • A Taste of Phobia

    Elijah (segment "Somniphobia")

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Dept. of Reincarnation

    Urinator

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • 2 Die For

    Barista (segment: "With Whip"), Murderer (segment: "Witness")

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Glossary of Broken Dreams

    DeForest Schbeibi

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Swipe Right

    Bill

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • What Metal Girls Are Into

    Metal Guitarist

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • Hipster Ghost

    Michael

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • Grindsploitation

    Bad Guy #1 (segment "John Smith")

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Magnetostatic Systems Training Video No. 108: The Making of Magnetic

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Weekend Vampire

    Goth band drummer

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • The Blood Is the Life

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • El Loco Nihilismo

    Pierre Kubiak, Paper Connoisseur

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • PATCH POLYESTER ~ EVIL CLOWN EVIL

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Idioms Origins Volume 1

    Store Clerk

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Chainsaw Maidens from Hell

    Party Band

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Planchette

    Killer

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • Los Locos Dientes

    Patients

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • Magnetic

    Subject of painting (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • Bring Us Your Women

    King Solomon (segment "Queen of Sheba")

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • For the Love of Metamorphosis

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • A Trip to Spektor Island: Behind-the-Scenes of TEN

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Uncut

    Self - Red Team Captain

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Ten

    Subject of painting

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Fat

    Dinner party guest #1

    actor

    actors
    2013
  • The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library: Amylee

    Animated band member

    actor

    actors
    2013
  • El Loco Ojo

    Number 6 / Subject of Painting

    actor

    actors
    2013
  • Darling Pet Munkee Presents: Creature Double Feature

    Dirt Thief

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Los Locos Manos

    Subject of Painting

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Kaiju Big Battel: Shocking Truth

    Alien Horde

    actor

    actors
    2005

• directing (31 credits)

  • Final Transmissions

    director

    directing
    2026
  • Blender Memories

    director

    directing
    2024
  • Dear Diary

    director

    directing
    2024
  • Aerospace Engineering

    director

    directing
    2024
  • Fly Route on the Wall

    director

    directing
    2024
  • Smash the Competition

    director

    directing
    2024
  • Open Wide

    director

    directing
    2024
  • The Ballad of Little Jo - interview with Suzy Amis

    director

    directing
    2023
  • The Once and Future Smash

    director

    directing
    2022
  • I Thought His Name Was Blarche

    director

    directing
    2021
  • The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins

    director

    directing
    2021
  • 7 Sins

    director

    directing
    2020
  • Pride

    director

    directing
    2020
  • I Am an Addict

    director

    directing
    2019
  • The Dial Tone of Doom

    director

    directing
    2019
  • Half-Cocked

    assistant director

    directing
    2019
  • Umbilicus Desidero

    director

    directing
    2019
  • Dirty D: Jelly

    director

    directing
    2019
  • Clickbait

    director

    directing
    2019
  • 60 Seconds 2 Die: 60 Seconds to Die 2

    director

    directing
    2018
  • Conspiracy X

    director

    directing
    2018
  • A Taste of Phobia

    director

    directing
    2018
  • Trashsploitation

    director

    directing
    2018
  • 60 Seconds to Die

    director

    directing
    2017
  • Grindsploitation 2: The Lost Reels

    director

    directing
    2016
  • The Blood Is the Life

    director

    directing
    2016
  • Blood of the Tribades

    director

    directing
    2016
  • Magnetic

    director

    directing
    2015
  • Bring Us Your Women

    director

    directing
    2015
  • For the Love of Metamorphosis

    director

    directing
    2015
  • Ten

    director

    directing
    2014

• editing (28 credits)

  • Final Transmissions

    editor

    editing
    2026
  • Day of the Dad

    editor

    editing
    2025
  • Bite School 2

    editor

    editing
    2025
  • American Terror Tales 3

    editor

    editing
    2024
  • Kill Dolly Kill

    editor

    editing
    2023
  • Fat Fleshy Fingers

    editor

    editing
    2023
  • Reel Trouble

    editor

    editing
    2022
  • 13 Minutes of Horror: Sci-Fi Horror

    editor

    editing
    2022
  • Memento Mori

    editor

    editing
    2022
  • Meat Friend

    editor

    editing
    2022
  • Bloodhound

    editor

    editing
    2020
  • 7 Sins

    editor

    editing
    2020
  • Consider the Titanic

    editor

    editing
    2020
  • Disco Graveyard

    editor

    editing
    2020
  • Pride

    editor

    editing
    2020
  • The Dial Tone of Doom

    editor

    editing
    2019
  • Dirty D: Jelly

    editor

    editing
    2019
  • The Obliteration of the Chickens

    editor

    editing
    2019
  • 60 Seconds 2 Die: 60 Seconds to Die 2

    editor

    editing
    2018
  • Conspiracy X

    editor

    editing
    2018
  • Leopard (Part I)

    editor

    editing
    2018
  • Leopard (Part II)

    editor

    editing
    2018
  • A Taste of Phobia

    editor

    editing
    2018
  • Dept. of Reincarnation

    editor

    editing
    2018
  • Hipster Ghost

    editor

    editing
    2017
  • The Blood Is the Life

    editor

    editing
    2016
  • Blood of the Tribades

    editor

    editing
    2016
  • For the Love of Metamorphosis

    editor

    editing
    2015

• production (20 credits)

  • Final Transmissions

    producer

    production
    2026
  • Day of the Dad

    co-producer

    production
    2025
  • Bart & Bobbi Kill Each Other

    producer

    production
    2025
  • Psycho Ape!! Part II: The Wrath of Kong

    producer

    production
    2024
  • Fat Fleshy Fingers

    producer

    production
    2023
  • The Once and Future Smash

    producer

    production
    2022
  • Reel Trouble

    producer

    production
    2022
  • The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins

    producer

    production
    2021
  • Darling Pet Monkey

    producer

    production
    2020
  • Shiny Diamonds

    producer

    production
    2020
  • Half-Cocked

    producer

    production
    2019
  • Clickbait

    producer

    production
    2019
  • 2 Die For

    producer

    production
    2018
  • Hipster Ghost

    producer

    production
    2017
  • The Blood Is the Life

    producer

    production
    2016
  • Blood of the Tribades

    executive producer

    production
    2016
  • Magnetic

    producer

    production
    2015
  • Bring Us Your Women

    producer

    production
    2015
  • For the Love of Metamorphosis

    producer

    production
    2015
  • Ten

    producer

    production
    2014

• sound (40 credits)

  • Final Transmissions

    sound mixer

    sound
    2026
  • I Feel Really Homesick Sometimes

    boom operator

    sound
    2026
  • Wake Not the Dead

    boom operator

    sound
    2026
  • We're Not Them

    sound recordist

    sound
    2026
  • Bart & Bobbi Kill Each Other

    sound re-recording mixer

    sound
    2025
  • Return to Dark City

    sound

    sound
    2025
  • Fat Fleshy Fingers

    sound

    sound
    2023
  • Reel Trouble

    sound

    sound
    2022
  • Memento Mori

    sound designer

    sound
    2022
  • Meat Friend

    sound

    sound
    2022
  • 7 Sins

    music

    sound
    2020
  • Darling Pet Monkey

    sound re-recording mixer

    sound
    2020
  • Pride

    original music composer

    sound
    2020
  • Eagle Rock

    sound mixer

    sound
    2019
  • Direct to Video: Straight to Video Horror of the 90s

    sound

    sound
    2019
  • Half-Cocked

    sound re-recording mixer

    sound
    2019
  • Re-Home

    boom operator

    sound
    2019
  • Clickbait

    original music composer

    sound
    2019
  • 60 Seconds 2 Die: 60 Seconds to Die 2

    music

    sound
    2018
  • Conspiracy X

    music

    sound
    2018
  • Leopard (Part I)

    sound re-recording mixer

    sound
    2018
  • Leopard (Part II)

    sound

    sound
    2018
  • A Taste of Phobia

    music

    sound
    2018
  • Manos Returns

    sound re-recording mixer

    sound
    2018
  • Dept. of Reincarnation

    sound

    sound
    2018
  • 2 Die For

    music

    sound
    2018
  • Trashsploitation

    music

    sound
    2018
  • The Greatest Question Facing the Future of Science and Robotics

    sound

    sound
    2017
  • Hipster Ghost

    music

    sound
    2017
  • For a Good Time, Call...

    boom operator

    sound
    2017
  • Dyin' Ryan

    sound

    sound
    2017
  • Party Time: The Music of Return of the Living Dead

    sound

    sound
    2016
  • Blood of the Tribades

    original music composer

    sound
    2016
  • Gay Jesus

    sound mixer

    sound
    2015
  • Innsmouth

    boom operator

    sound
    2015
  • Planchette

    boom operator

    sound
    2015
  • Magnetic

    original music composer

    sound
    2015
  • For the Love of Metamorphosis

    sound

    sound
    2015
  • The Ungovernable Force

    boom operator

    sound
    2015
  • Honky Holocaust

    sound editor

    sound
    2014

• writing (22 credits)

  • Final Transmissions

    writer

    writing
    2026
  • Robot Dracula

    writer

    writing
    2026
  • Bite School 2

    writer

    writing
    2025
  • A Hard Place

    writer

    writing
    2025
  • American Terror Tales 3

    writer

    writing
    2024
  • Fat Fleshy Fingers

    writer

    writing
    2023
  • The Once and Future Smash

    writer

    writing
    2022
  • I Thought His Name Was Blarche

    writer

    writing
    2021
  • The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins

    writer

    writing
    2021
  • Bloodhound

    writer

    writing
    2020
  • 7 Sins

    writer

    writing
    2020
  • Pride

    writer

    writing
    2020
  • The Dial Tone of Doom

    writer

    writing
    2019
  • Clickbait

    writer

    writing
    2019
  • 60 Seconds 2 Die: 60 Seconds to Die 2

    writer

    writing
    2018
  • A Taste of Phobia

    writer

    writing
    2018
  • Hipster Ghost

    writer

    writing
    2017
  • The Blood Is the Life

    writer

    writing
    2016
  • Blood of the Tribades

    writer

    writing
    2016
  • Magnetic

    writer

    writing
    2015
  • For the Love of Metamorphosis

    writer

    writing
    2015
  • Ten

    writer

    writing
    2014

• crew (10 credits)

  • Hag

    thanks

    crew
    2026
  • Fatal Desires

    thanks

    crew
    2025
  • Slasher Fetish

    cinematography

    crew
    2024
  • Fat Fleshy Fingers

    post production supervisor

    crew
    2023
  • The Dial Tone of Doom

    cinematography

    crew
    2019
  • Dirty D: Jelly

    cinematography

    crew
    2019
  • 60 Seconds 2 Die: 60 Seconds to Die 2

    cinematography

    crew
    2018
  • Conspiracy X

    cinematography

    crew
    2018
  • Thirteen

    cinematography

    crew
    2016
  • Planchette

    cinematography

    crew
    2015

• lighting (6 credits)

  • I Feel Really Homesick Sometimes

    gaffer

    lighting
    2026
  • We're Not Them

    gaffer

    lighting
    2026
  • Bart & Bobbi Kill Each Other

    gaffer

    lighting
    2025
  • Craving

    gaffer

    lighting
    2023
  • Tea Time

    gaffer

    lighting
    2020
  • Re-Home

    gaffer

    lighting
    2019

• camera (20 credits)

  • Day of the Dad

    second assistant camera

    camera
    2025
  • The Mystery of Emma Thorn

    digital imaging technician

    camera
    2025
  • Bart & Bobbi Kill Each Other

    camera operator

    camera
    2025
  • American Terror Tales 3

    director of photography

    camera
    2024
  • Don't F**k with Anne Margaret

    assistant camera

    camera
    2023
  • Craving

    camera operator

    camera
    2023
  • Tea Time

    camera operator

    camera
    2020
  • Direct to Video: Straight to Video Horror of the 90s

    camera operator

    camera
    2019
  • Clickbait

    camera operator

    camera
    2019
  • Dept. of Reincarnation

    camera operator

    camera
    2018
  • 2 Die For

    director of photography

    camera
    2018
  • Glossary of Broken Dreams

    camera operator

    camera
    2018
  • Trashsploitation

    director of photography

    camera
    2018
  • The Streets Run Red

    camera operator

    camera
    2017
  • Party Time: The Music of Return of the Living Dead

    camera operator

    camera
    2016
  • The Blood Is the Life

    director of photography

    camera
    2016
  • Blood of the Tribades

    director of photography

    camera
    2016
  • Gay Jesus

    camera operator

    camera
    2015
  • For the Love of Metamorphosis

    director of photography

    camera
    2015
  • The Ungovernable Force

    assistant camera

    camera
    2015

• visual effects (3 credits)

  • Fat Fleshy Fingers

    visual effects

    visual effects
    2023
  • Meat Friend

    visual effects

    visual effects
    2022
  • Hipster Ghost

    visual effects

    visual effects
    2017