If you’re tired of great indie horror movies being thrown onto streaming services with zero fanfare, you’re not alone. Writer-directors Zack Ogle and Aaron Pagniano are officially fed up with the traditional Hollywood rollout. Instead of handing their new film, It Needs Eyes, over to a massive distributor to let it gather digital dust, they’re doing something radical: they’re packing up the van and bringing the movie to you.
Bucking the System: The Grassroots Revolution
In an industry where indie filmmakers are often told that theatrical runs “aren’t worth the money,” Ogle and Pagniano—alongside the bold team at Insurgence—are proving the suits wrong. Inspired by the DIY success of cult hits like Hundreds of Beavers, they’ve launched a direct-to-consumer theatrical tour.
Aaron Pagniano didn’t pull any punches when explaining the move:
“When a band plays a music festival, they get paid to be there. Filmmakers have to pay to play at festivals and don’t get a dime of ticket sales. Then… the predominant offer now for low-budget films is that you give a distributor your movie for free and they fart it out onto whatever streamer will take it with no advertising… We wanted to ‘go on tour’ ourselves and bring this movie directly to audiences.”
What is IT NEEDS EYES About?
This isn’t just a gimmick; the movie itself is a haunting, timely look at our digital obsessions. We follow Rowan, a teenager who falls down a rabbit hole of increasingly bizarre—and violent—online content. She stumbles upon a missing woman known only as “Fish Tooth.” She is convinced this woman is screaming for help through the screen. Rowan’s investigation spirals out of control, blurring the line between her digital fixation and very real, physical danger.
More Than Just a Movie Night
This tour isn’t just a screening; it’s an event. At every single stop, you’ll find Ogle, Pagniano, or members of the cast hanging out for Live Q&As to dish on the behind-the-scenes secrets. There will also be special events and after-parties, where you can meet them.
Catch the Tour: Dates & Locations
The tour is currently carving a path through the East Coast and beyond. Check out the confirmed dates so far:
Columbus, Ohio – May 9 – Studio 35 (TICKETS)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina – Mar 21 (venue and tickets TBA)
Cranford, New Jersey – May 7 (TICKETS)
Doylestown, Pennsylvania – May 15 (TICKETS)
Somerville, Massachusetts – May 26 (TICKETS)
Coming Soon: Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements for New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia! Stay up to date by visiting FormidableFileFilms.com.
