Trent Haaga

Last updated
Trent Haaga
Born1971 (age 52–53)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1999–present

Trent Haaga (born 1971) is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director. He is best known for his work on independent horror films, such as Deadgirl (2008), Cheap Thrills (2013), and 68 Kill (2017).

Contents

Career

Haaga came to the attention of the horror community after co-starring in the Troma film Terror Firmer . [1] He went on to fill the role of screenwriter as well as assistant director on the fourth film in the Toxic Avenger series, Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV . [1] [2] Due to also playing the leader of the Diaper Mafia in this film, he was forced to direct many scenes in the film while wearing a baby bonnet and an adult diaper. [2] He relates many of these experiences as co-author of the book Make Your Own Damn Movie! written with Lloyd Kaufman of Troma. [3]

He has worked in many aspects of filmmaking (writing, producing, acting) and enjoys them all.

"As a writer or actor you're important to the project, but not indispensable. If you're producing there are fewer battles to fight creatively. But, honestly, I like to make films and am happy to do anything on a film set. I'm happy and flattered that people want me to be in their movies or have shot scripts that I've written." [4]

Haaga works in independent film and has stated that he likes the advances made in digital cinematography. [1]

"Let's make as many as we can right now! History will determine which ones live on, but I can't get enough low budget horror films no matter what." [1]

Haaga has praised the speed of digital filmmaking.

"We shot Killjoy 2, Hell Asylum, and Dead and Rotting in 8 days (each, not all three in 8 days!). The Ghouls shot in 12 days. Suburban Nightmare in 9." [1]

Haaga directorial debut Chop, which stars Will Keenan, Tanishaa Mukherji and Billy Bakshi, [5] was released in 2011. He wrote the script for the independent thriller alongside Adam Minarovich. [6] The movie is a revenge thriller within the tradition of Fargo and Oldboy . [7] Haaga narrated the Indie thriller flick Fetch. [8]

Haaga has also written for video games; he worked on the DLC for the survival horror game The Evil Within and was the lead writer on the game's sequel. The story for The Evil Within 2 was created by the Japanese developers and Haaga was tasked with fleshing out the characters in the game. [9]

Filmography

Acting credits

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 Terror Firmer Jerry
Troma's Edge TVTroma Superstar Trent Haaga
2000 Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV Tex Diaper
2001Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker!James 'the Cock God' Vanbrunt
2002 Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil Killjoy
2003 The Ghouls Clift
2004Suburban NightmareCharles Rosenblad
Tales from the Crapper Party Goer
2005Knight of the Living DeadJustin's Dad
2006 Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! Bum/Donald
2007Gimme SkelterLuther
Black Dahlia Movie: The Elizabeth Short StoryRed/Bobby Manley
Splatter DiscoKent Chubb
2008Bonnie & Clyde vs. DraculaClyde
2010 Killjoy 3 Killjoy
2012 Where the Dead Go to Die Ralph's Dad
Killjoy Goes to Hell Killjoy
2014 The Pact 2 Pink Room Receptionist
2016Killjoy's Psycho CircusKilljoy
2017Bad MatchDetective Dean
2019Bunker of Blood 07: Killjoys Carnage CaravanKilljoy
2019The Creative SlumpTrent HaagaShort
2022An American MasqueradeBronson

Directing credits

Writing credits

Producer credits

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Interview with Haaga for horror-asylum.com
  2. 1 2 Kaufman, Lloyd (2003). Make Your Own Damn Movie. L.A. Weekly Books. pp. 33–34. ISBN   0-312-28864-6.
  3. ↑ "The Dude's Got 'Chop'(s): A Visit to the Set of Trent 'What the Fuck' Haaga's Directorial Debut". BloodyDisgusting. 11 December 2009.
  4. ↑ Interview with Haaga for Skullring.org
  5. ↑ "Deadgirl Writer Now Set to Show Us How to Chop". DreadCentral. 30 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Troma Vet, 'Deadgirl' Writer Trent Haaga to Direct 'Chop'". BloodyDisgusting. 26 October 2009.
  7. ↑ "First Look: Trent Haaga's Bloody 'Chop'". BloodyDisgusting. 4 December 2009.
  8. ↑ "Indie Film Fetch Sets a Premiere Date". DreadCentral. 17 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Reliving the Evil within - an interview with Shinji Mikami, John Johanas, and Trent Haaga".
  10. ↑ "EXCL: Casting Update and Behind-the-Scenes Photos for Fetch". DreadCentral.
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