YouTube Horror Star's Viral Short Becomes Feature Film

YouTube horror phenomenon Sam Evenson is transitioning to feature films with the adaptation of his viral short, "Ignore It." The film, which Evenson will write and direct, will be produced by Temple Hill Entertainment and Anton. It follows a family’s harrowing fight for survival against a malevolent entity known only as 'The Woman,' whose existence is tied to the rule: "ignore it."

Originally a 7-minute YouTube short released in 2021, "Ignore It" is based on a popular r/NoSleep Reddit story. Evenson's short has garnered over 12 million views, fostering a dedicated fanbase across social media platforms. He is expanding the original premise with author Jeff Speziale for the feature-length version.

Evenson, also a VFX artist with credits on major productions like "Dune: Part Two," is rapidly making a name for himself, following other YouTube creators who have moved into filmmaking. "Ignore It" will go into production before another planned feature adaptation of his short "Mora."

Anton is fully financing the project and will handle worldwide sales, launching sales at the Toronto Film Festival. The production team includes Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, and John Fischer from Temple Hill Entertainment, alongside Anton's Sébastien Raybaud and Kathy Stocker. Temple Hill Entertainment praised Evenson as a "generational talent" eager to push cinematic horror boundaries with Lily Collias set to lead the cast.