Dubbed “The Ed Wood of the 21st Century”, Des Plaines, Illinois based former marine and Golden Gloves boxer turned gonzo filmmaker David “The Rock” Nelson has been churning out his bizarre and mesmerizing brand of backyard monster movies for over 30 years. Often playing multiple onscreen roles simultaneously while utilizing local friends, his parents, and his girlfriend Janet Okulanis as his co-stars, “The Rock” has amassed a robust SOV filmography and persevered undaunted in the face of nonexistent funds, unfavorable reviews, and outdated video equipment. Nelson’s work represents a singular viewing experience like no other: landing somewhere between the earnest monster romps of Paul Naschy and the eccentric video diaries of George Kuchar; where the filmmakers’ real life day to day activities and interactions sometimes outweigh the forwarding of the narrative. Equipped with dime store rubber fright masks and his camcorder, David “The Rock” Nelson has unapologetically crafted a legacy that remains an inspirational testament to the spirit of fulfilling your cinematic dreams at any cost.

In 1994, the same year that Tim Burton unleashed his Academy Award winning Ed Wood biopic, underground filmmaker David “The Rock” Nelson traveled to Baltimore to direct one of Wood’s chief collaborators Conrad Brooks (Plan 9 from Outer Space, Glen or Glenda, The Sinister Urge) in a backyard epic for the ages. When the local graveyard’s mild-mannered caretaker (Nelson) transforms into a werewolf in broad daylight, it’s up to Conrad and his real life, geriatric brothers Henry & Ted Brooks to vanquish the beast using plastic uzis, fisticuffs, and a Hyundai Excel!