A Texas-based writer, actor, and producer is taking a major career leap by stepping behind the camera for the first time on a feature-length project. Jonathan Murphy, known for his work on the camp thriller Animal Among Us and the forthcoming crime drama Drowning, has announced plans to direct the original horror-thriller Kaddie — a film that promises to weaponize the pristine world of country club golf.
Murphy’s Hollow Tree Productions has partnered with NHuS³ Media, the Dallas-based independent studio led by Jerry Joyner and Andrew White, to develop and produce the film. For Murphy, whose previous screenwriting credits include character-driven genre projects, this directorial debut marks a significant expansion of his creative role.
Murphy wrote and produced Animal Among Us, a camp thriller that helped establish his reputation in the horror space. He also penned and serves as executive producer on Drowning, a crime drama inspired by true events starring Camille Guaty, Matt Lauria, and Lou Diamond Phillips. Now, with Kaddie, he will command the director’s chair for the first time on a feature.
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The film is described as a “visceral new slasher” that delivers an unsettling twist on golf’s traditionally refined image. Set against the polished, exclusive backdrop of a country club, Kaddie combines slasher intensity with class tension, social decay, and survival horror.
Official Synopsis
On the last weekend of summer at Cherry Hill Country Club, a club employee and her pack of privileged friends break in for a twisted after-hours tradition, only to be hunted across the course by a masked Kaddie who’s been keeping score of the club’s buried sins.
“Kaddie is a project that feels deeply personal, not only as a storyteller, but as a lifelong fan of the game,” said Jonathan Murphy. “I’m drawn to the one-on-one nature of golf. Man versus the course. Unfortunately for the characters in this story, the course is armed and fighting back. This film will be tragic, beautiful, and brutal. Making my feature directorial debut with the support and belief of Jerry and Andrew at NHuS³ Media makes this an especially exciting and truly homegrown moment.”
Jerry Joyner of NHuS³ Media added, “Jonathan is a bold and disciplined storyteller with a clear creative vision for Kaddie. We’re excited to partner with Hollow Tree Productions on a film that feels both fiercely entertaining and sharply realized. What made the story of Kaddie so compelling to us is the way it fuses genre thrills with a strong point of view. It has the makings of a classic horror film that can resonate with audiences for years to come, and we’re thrilled to be part of bringing it to life.”
Additional announcements regarding casting, production timelines, and release plans for Kaddie will be made at a later date.
About NHuS³ Media
NHuS³ Media (Nothing Happens until Somebody Sees Something) is a Dallas-based media and production company dedicated to developing and producing original film and media projects. Led by Jerry Joyner and Andrew White, the company champions filmmaker-driven storytelling, distinctive creative voices, and commercially compelling content.
About Hollow Tree Productions
Hollow Tree Productions develops and produces original, character-driven entertainment with an emphasis on compelling storytelling and distinctive cinematic perspectives. The company continues to expand its slate of genre projects, delivering stories that combine suspense, style, and bold creative vision.
Jerry Joyner
W And W Digital News
+1 214-762-7101
Why it matters: This announcement signals a fresh entry into the horror genre from a Texas-based independent filmmaking team, with a concept that blends familiar slasher mechanics with a culturally specific setting. For audiences hungry for original genre fare that doesn’t rely on existing IP, Kaddie represents the kind of filmmaker-driven project that could help define the next wave of independent horror.
