Jack-O’-Jungle Juice follows Max and Lexi trek to their first-ever frat party on Halloween, only to find themselves navigating the tensions in their deep yet strained relationship as the party descends into madness: a frat-boy zombie apocalypse.

This film builds a world that captures the raw, familiar emotions of a relationship in flux, while addressing deeper societal issues many queer people face today. It unearths buried emotions, tender and unsettling, bringing them to the surface in unexpected ways. It explores the emotional gravity of polarizing perspectives, the impact of internalized pressures, and how these forces can draw out the worst in people.

“As a woman, queer person, and filmmaker, I wanted to tell this story because I’ve felt this tension firsthand. The fear of being “too much”, or “not enough” in a world that still centers toxic institutions. Entering a new space and feeling a shift. Feeling a certain responsibility to reinvent, and lose parts of yourself or people you love because the environment doesn’t know how to hold you. Change isn’t all bad, but it reshapes interpersonal, physical, and outer relationships, often in ways that are hard to understand until it’s too late.”

- Paige Lynn, Director

Jack-O'-Jungle Juice is a deeply personal exploration of that experience. It’s honest, uncomfortable, and emotionally charged. Though, it remains a love letter to anyone who’s ever struggled to exist authentically in a world that demands conformity. It’s for people who’ve had to shrink themselves to survive, navigating love under pressure, and for anyone who’s felt the ache of being misunderstood. New environments act like pressure cookers. They expose insecurities, shift dynamics, and do not hesitate to provoke discomfort.

As younger filmmakers, it is our responsibility and our goal to tell our story and show our perspectives through this film; a story reflective of the current moment. Jack-O'-Jungle Juice confronts the ongoing struggle between queerness and toxic masculinity, shedding light on the discomfort, fear, and vulnerability that comes with being perceived as anything outside of society’s definition of “normal”.

To bring this film to life, we need your support. Your contribution will support the following: location, equipment, makeup & costumes, set dressing & props, transportation, and food/snacks.

We are currently exploring the option of using a frat house on Loyola’s campus or renting a nearby house for the weekend, completely redesigning the location to look like a frat house. Either way, location is incredibly important, and not cheap.

While our school provides various equipment and resources, our goal is to use top-notch, professional equipment. With support, we can utilize high-quality cameras, lenses, sound, and lighting equipment to make our film look as beautiful as it feels. We also require high-quality makeup and prosthetics to bring our disgusting zombies back to life.

Lastly, food and snacks are arguably the most important. Our shoots will last 10-12 hours, three days straight. All of our cast and crew need to eat to stay happy and healthy. Snacks will be available at all times on set and lunch provided in the middle of the day, along with a break.

Your support is crucial to achieve our dream. We are deeply passionate about this narrative and want to bring to life a story that everyone can relate to. Tell your friends, family, and anyone you know about our project. We’d love to talk to them and tell them how they can help support our film in any way!!