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Mario Cerrito

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Mario Cerrito
Cerrito in 2022 in Atlantic City.
Born (1984-03-01) March 1, 1984 (age 40)
South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Occupation(s)Film director, producer
Years active2013-present

Mario Cerrito (born March 1, 1984) is an American filmmaker, writer and producer most closely associated with the horror genre.[1] He is best known for his film trilogy, Human Hibachi, Human Hibachi 2: Feast in The Forest and Human Hibachi: The Beginning. Each film won a Best Film award at the New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival in Atlantic City and were released by Troma Entertainment.[2][3][4][5]

Early life

[edit]

Mario was born in South Philadelphia and raised in Audubon, New Jersey. He is Italian American.[6] He lived in Woodstown, New Jersey, and graduated from Woodstown High School in 2002.[7] He played Division II baseball at Rowan College at Burlington County from 2003 to 2004.[8][9]

Film production

[edit]

Cerrito wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, Deadly Gamble, in 2013. The movie screened at the Delsea Drive in Theatre in Vineland, New Jersey.[10][11][12] It was made on a $10,000 budget and was signed to Gregory Hatanaka's distribution company Cinema Epoch. The film was released through national cable television outlets in 2015.[13]

Cerrito also wrote, produced and directed the horror film Human Hibachi (2019). Shot solely on an iPhone, the movie was initially deemed too extreme for a release to Amazon Prime and was released to its own website instead.[14][15] At the New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival in 2021 it was nominated for Best FX and Best Feature film, winning the latter. The film was also an official selection of Philadelphia Independent Film Festival and signed to Troma Entertainment for release.[16][15] The film was later acquired by distribution company Invincible Entertainment and released to various video on demand platforms in 2022. In August of 2022 the DVD ranked in the top 100 best sellers on Amazon.[17][18] Invincible Entertainment brought the movie to Marché du Film at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in France.[19]

Cerrito directed The Listing with a $25,000 budget. It won best feature film at the 2019 HNN Film Festival.[20] The film features horror actress Jessica Cameron. The movie was represented at Marché du Film, the business counterpart to the Cannes Film Festival. The movie was acquired by distribution company SGL Entertainment. It was released in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States to Blu-ray, DVD, Amazon Prime, Google Play and iTunes.[21][22] Bloody Disgusting wrote about the movie in 2017.[23][24][25][26]

In the summer of 2021, Cerrito made Human Hibachi 2: Feast in The Forest. The movie was filmed in Mount Holly, New Jersey[27][28] and premiered in July 2022 in Philadelphia.[29] It went on to win best feature film at New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival in Atlantic City.[30] Troma Entertainment picked the movie up for worldwide release.[31][32]

Cerrito wrote and produced The House in the Pines featuring Mick Strawn as Director and Joe Nicolo from Butcher Bros. as composer.[33]

Cerrito provided the main film location for the horror film A Place in Hell. The film won best home grown horror feature film at the 2016 Garden State Film Festival.[34][35][36] The movie was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment to multiple Video On Demand platforms.[37]

He has also produced Variety (2015), Arisen I SAW (2016), The Philly Offensive (2016), Chase Street (2016), and Right Before Your Eyes (2017), among others.[38]

In 2023, Cerrito produced and directed a short film called Human Hibachi: The Beginning. The movie won best New Jersey/New York horror film at New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival. Troma Entertainment acquired it for release to Troma Now in October of the same year.[39][40][41][42][43]

Cerrito made a short film called Wall Of Souls in 2024.[44]

Human Hibachi 3: The Last Supper was announced in August of 2024 and is set to be produced in the winter of 2025. The film stars scream queen Debbie Rochon.[45][46][47]

Cerrito was listed in a top ten independent horror filmmaker list from Horrornews.net in 2024.[48]

TV appearances

[edit]

Cerrito and his family were featured on the Travel Channel's reality show Ghost Nation. Paranormal investigator Jason Hawes and his crew visited Cerrito's house and the program aired in October 2019. The episode was titled, "The Novelist's Nightmare."[49] He also had a minor role in the series Chase Street, which was featured on Amazon Prime.[50][51]

Business ventures

[edit]

Cerrito started a haunted attraction business called "Fear Village" in 2023 at the Voorhees Town Center in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. A fire occurred in the mall in April of 2024 and stalled the plans to open. [52] [53][54][55][56][57][58]

Books and other writing

[edit]

Cerrito wrote a book in 2013 called “Chasin’ Brandy: An Extraordinary Tale of Puppy Love.”[59][60]

In 2013 he co-wrote a screenplay called "Union City Streets" with Renoly Santiago.[61][62]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Film
Director Writer Producer Actor Notes
2014 The Meatball No Yes Yes Yes Short film
2015 Deadly Gamble Yes Yes Yes Yes
2015 Arisen No No Yes No
2017 The Listing Yes Yes Yes Yes
2019 Right Before Your Eyes No No Yes No
2020 Human Hibachi Yes Yes Yes No
2022 Human Hibachi 2: Feast in The Forest Yes Yes Yes No
2023 Human Hibachi: The Beginning Yes Yes Yes No Short film
2024 Wall Of Souls Yes Yes Yes No Short film
2025 Human Hibachi 3: The Last Supper Yes Yes Yes No Pre production

Television

[edit]
Year Title As Self Actor Notes
2017 Chase Street No Yes Season 1 Episode 3
2019 Ghost Nation Yes Yes As self in Season 1 Episode 3 "The Novelist's Nightmare"

Personal life

[edit]

Cerrito was invited to speak to the communication students about filmmaking at his alma mater Woodstown High School in 2014.[63]

In 2016, Cerrito visited a sick seven-year-old boy with mitochondrial disease at Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Cerrito gave the boy a signed poster of his movie.[64]

Cerrito teamed up with the school resource officer of Riverside High School in 2018 to film a PSA video titled #DrinkDriveDie for their students. The video showed the dangers of drinking and driving in dramatic fashion to help kids make better decisions. The film debuted at the school's prom assembly.[65][66]

In 2019 while at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, Cerrito was at the scene of professional volleyball player Eric Zaun's death.[67][68]

He and his wife Charmaine have been residents of Mantua Township, New Jersey since c. 2015.[69][70]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/dracula-castle-weekend-wildwood/article_b37c16e0-5736-11ef-8681-8379e05130e5.html [bare URL]
  2. ^ Garcia, Mar (2023-10-05). "Mario Cerrito's Human Hibachi". TBM Horror. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  3. ^ "South Philly director cooks up another horror film". 9 September 2021.
  4. ^ bloodyflicksblog (2023-02-22). "Human Hibachi 2 coming to Kings of Horror". Bloody Flicks. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  5. ^ https://nj.gov/njfilm/assets/images/spotlights/2022-10/Horror-Movies-Filmed-in-New-Jersey-2022.pdf
  6. ^ Cook, Jim Jr (June 21, 2013). "James Gandolfini legacy, loss felt throughout South Jersey". nj.com.
  7. ^ NJ.com, Kelly Roncace | For (2014-05-10). "Woodstown native Mario Cerrito visits high school to discuss filmmaking". nj. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  8. ^ "Rowan College at Burlington County - NJCAA Stats". NJCAA.
  9. ^ "2003-04 - NJCAA Stats". NJCAA.
  10. ^ https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2016/10/nj_filmmaker_debuts_first_feature_film_at_delsea_d.html
  11. ^ "N.J. filmmaker to release thriller 'Deadly Gamble' through national cable outlets". nj.com. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  12. ^ "'Deadly Gamble:' N.J. filmmaker's feature film now available On Demand". nj.com. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  13. ^ Roncace, Kelly (March 7, 2015). "N.J. filmmaker to release thriller 'Deadly Gamble' through national cable outlets". nj.com.
  14. ^ "Banned Film "Human Hibachi" Releasing on Its Own Website". Horror Society. October 16, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Drame, Assane (August 11, 2018). "N.J. filmmaker shooting his latest horror flick on an iPhone in South Jersey". nj.com.
  16. ^ Zimmaro, Mark (September 9, 2021). "South Philly director cooks up another horror film".
  17. ^ "Human Hibachi Breaks Tops 100 Horror Best Sellers on Amazon". Horror News | HNN. 2022-08-15. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  18. ^ Joy, Michael (2022-08-13). "Human Hibachi – Now Available Everywhere from Invincible Pictures". Horror Asylum. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  19. ^ "Cannibals at Cannes – Invincible Pictures debuts Human Hibachi". Horror News | HNN. 2023-05-20. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  20. ^ "Mario Cerrito III's "The Listing" Wins Best Feature at 2019 HNN Film Festival". May 27, 2019.
  21. ^ White, Sheri. "'The Listing' is Coming to Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD via SGL Entertainment | Horror World". Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  22. ^ Millican, Josh (2019-11-26). "Trailer: THE LISTING is Out Now on Blu-ray/DVD & VOD via SGL Entertainment". Dread Central. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  23. ^ "A Double Feature of What We Love About Indie Cinema". 16 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Movie Magic: Mantua filmmaker gets horror movie vet to direct his script". 25 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Interview: Mario Cerrito III (The Listing)". 3 June 2018.
  26. ^ Ryan, Lisa. "Horror scene". Burlington County Times.
  27. ^ https://nj.gov/njfilm/assets/images/spotlights/2022-10/Horror-Movies-Filmed-in-New-Jersey-2022.pdf
  28. ^ "Mantua resident starts making sequel to his gory cannibalism film". 29 June 2021.
  29. ^ "The World Premiere of "Human Hibachi 2, Feast in the Forest" is Mouth Watering". 28 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Mario Cerrito's "Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest" Takes Best Feature Film at New Jersey Horror Con & Film Fest". 20 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest signs with Troma Entertainment". 20 November 2022.
  32. ^ "TROMA Acquires 'HUMAN HIBACHI 2: Feast in the Forest' for TROMA NOW Streaming Service". 4 November 2020.
  33. ^ "Mick Strawn and Jeremy Brown to co-direct the House in the Pines". 25 September 2020.
  34. ^ https://www.gsff.org/wp-content/uploads/14th_Annual_Winners_2016.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  35. ^ "Exclusive pics/comments: New screen psycho finds "A PLACE IN HELL"". May 20, 2015.
  36. ^ Albrizio, Lianna. "'A Place in Hell' earns a place in state's film festival". North Jersey Media Group.
  37. ^ "A Look At The Horror Thriller A Place In Hell". HorrorFuel.com: Reviews, Ratings and Where to Watch the Best Horror Movies & TV Shows. January 20, 2016.
  38. ^ "The Philly Offensive Season 1 Full Episodes | Watch Online Guide". MSN.
  39. ^ "Mario Cerrito's Human Hibachi: The Beginning arrives on Troma Now". 4 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Human Hibachi: The Beginning filming wraps on Mario Cerrito's cannibal prequel". 15 June 2023.
  41. ^ "Human Hibachi: The Beginning filming wraps on Mario Cerrito's cannibal prequel". 19 June 2023.
  42. ^ "Human Hibachi: The Beginning".
  43. ^ "Human Hibachi: The Beginning wins Best NJ/NY Horror Film at New Jersey Horror Film Festival". 21 August 2023.
  44. ^ "Teaser Video for South Jersey's newest haunted attraction, FEAR VILLAGE". Horror Society. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  45. ^ https://horrorfuel.com/2024/10/06/scream-queen-joins-the-cast-of-human-hibachi-3-the-last-supper/
  46. ^ https://www.horrorsociety.com/2024/08/27/human-hibachi-3-the-last-supper-starts-production-this-winter/
  47. ^ https://horrorpatch.com/2024/08/28/human-hibachi-3-the-last-supper-begins-production-this-winter/
  48. ^ https://horrornews.net/180799/top-ten-horror-indie-filmmakers-you-need-to-follow/
  49. ^ "Haunted house in Mantua will be featured on Travel Channel's new 'Ghost Nation'".
  50. ^ "DVD Locker".
  51. ^ Friedman, Josh. "'Chase Street' on Amazon Prime is passion project for former Camden basketball star". Courier-Post.
  52. ^ https://www.aol.com/voorhees-town-center-repairs-april-095044737.html [bare URL]
  53. ^ https://www.yahoo.com/news/voorhees-town-center-repairs-april-095044366.html [bare URL]
  54. ^ "FEAR VILLAGE is a new haunted attraction coming to New Jersey the Fall of 2024". Horror Society. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  55. ^ Greca, Mar Della (2023-10-30). "FEAR VILLAGE is a new haunted attraction coming to New Jersey the Fall of 2024". TBM Horror. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  56. ^ "Movie News – Monstrous.com". Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  57. ^ Greca, Mar Della (2023-11-09). "FEAR VILLAGE is a new indoor haunted attraction coming to the Voorhees Town Center in Voorhees, New Jersey in 2024". TBM Horror. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  58. ^ "FEAR VILLAGE indoor haunted attraction coming to Voorhees, NJ". Horror News | HNN. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  59. ^ "Movie Filming in Audubon called "Deadly Gamble" by Mario Cerrito". Haddonfield-Haddon Township, NJ Patch. 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  60. ^ Cerrito, Mario (21 September 2013). Chasin' Brandy: an extraordinary tale of puppy love | ISBNdb. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781492828181. Retrieved 2024-06-10. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  61. ^ https://bluejeanfood.com/tag/mario-cerrito-producer
  62. ^ https://patch.com/new-jersey/haddon/movie-filming-in-audubon-called-deadly-gamble-by-mario-cerrito
  63. ^ Roncace, Kelly (May 10, 2014). "Woodstown native Mario Cerrito visits high school to discuss filmmaking". nj.com.
  64. ^ Roncace, Kelly (January 24, 2016). "7-year-old with chronic illness to appear in N.J. filmmaker's upcoming movie". nj.com.
  65. ^ "Riverside High School Drives Safe".
  66. ^ "Courier-Post". www.courierpostonline.com.
  67. ^ Alsup, Blake (12 June 2019). "25-year-old man plunges to his death from 29th floor of Atlantic City hotel". nydailynews.com.
  68. ^ Yemi, Frank (June 13, 2019). "Eric Zaun death: Pro Beach Volleyball player dead from apparent suicide at age 25".
  69. ^ LAWRENCE, RYAN (2020-09-25). "Movie Magic: Mantua filmmaker gets horror movie vet to direct his script". The Sun Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  70. ^ Berkery, Sheri. "'Ghost Nation' team determines source of paranormal activity at South Jersey home". Courier-Post.
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