ABOUT OUR PROJECT

"Donahue Family Dinner" is a new romantic horror comedy short film written by Matthew Willets and Corey Howell.

The story centers around Charlotte, the well-meaning if naive and awkward 30-year-old daughter of Gina Donahue — a wealthy widow in her early 60s whose youthful energy controls the world her daughter lives in. After finding a wedding ring box in the jacket pocket of her boyfriend, David Skinner, the dorky, faux-confident but lovable heir to a renowned butcher shop, Charlotte invites David over for dinner. If he's going to be part of her family, he has to fully understand what he's getting into. Gina is dubious — she knows Charlotte's tendency to rush in could turn messy if David rejects her — but ultimately gives in, hoping no one gets hurt in the process.

What follows is an awkward but endearing romance, sweet and funny, which gives way to something darkly sinister without ever losing its comedic edge. Relatable cringe that morphs into surreal horror, "Donahue Family Dinner" is a film about dark secrets and the impossibility of escaping family — an exploration of how legacy can trap you in a cycle of abuse and transform you into something unrecognizable, as well as the hilariously ridiculous difficulties of modern dating and finding someone who matches your freak.

Our recipe for "Donahue Family Dinner" draws from the nervously kinetic blocking and uncomfortably close, lingering shots of HBO's "Barry," the extreme genre shifts of Zach Cregger's "Barbarian" — where even at its darkest, the humor continues to wriggle under the surface — and the masterful transitions in and out of genre and brilliant use of a single location in Bong Joon-Ho's "Parasite." Even when it goes pitch black, absurdity keeps building. This is a film that earns every tonal shift.

We've launched this GoFundMe to feed and pay our cast and crew, secure our location, insure the production, and cover equipment, post-production, special effects, and all of the incredibly talented artists and craftspeople we've brought together to make this twisted vision a reality.

We hope you'll accept this invitation to be part of "Donahue Family Dinner" — and help us bring audiences a main course that lingers on the palate long after the final curtain closes.

MEET OUR TEAM OF ARTISTS

[Director, Screenwriter] Matthew Willets is an award winning director originally from North Carolina. His horror short Assurance won the Parallax Best Director Award at Hollywood Horror Fest 2024. They’re no award winners but his girlfriend tells him to be proud of his shorts FAILURE and AVA too. His Writing and Directing work focus on and attempt to find humor in the difficulties of healthy human connection. When not making films or voice acting Matthew finds respite in reading comic books.

[Director of Photography] Alexander L. Dunn or just Alex Dunn when he isn't trying to be so serious is a Cinematographer based out of Los Angeles. With over 10 years as a cinematographer, Alex has had the opportunity to work on all kinds of projects. From nationally televised commercials to his friend's award winning short films, there hasn't been a project Alex has shied away from. His goal is always to create the most collaborative environment possible so that everyone can feel proud of their work. Outside of filmmaking you can catch Alex drinking coffee at some new cafe that just opened up or playing a new city pop record he might have just bought.

[Producer] Cory Pratt is a filmmaker from East Tennessee whose work has been exhibited at festivals nationally and internationally. His films have been selected at Screamfest, Nightmares Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and Dances With Films, among others. Outside of making movies Cory’s second love is cooking, and he’d be happy to make his grandmother’s chicken and dumplings for you.

[First AD, Producer] Leander Edmiston began working on indie films in the Midwest before moving to Los Angeles and beginning a career in Hollywood. He still loves to get behind the camera, whether it's directing, producing or assistant directing.

HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

Independent film runs on the generosity of people who believe in stories worth telling. Every dollar donated to "Donahue Family Dinner" goes directly toward bringing this film to life.

Here's a breakdown of where your donations dollars will go when you donate to DFD:

Beyond the budget, your support means something larger — independent artists and the crews behind them need audiences who believe that original, self-driven work is worth protecting. Projects like this one are how new voices break through, and how the kind of bold, genre-bending storytelling you love continues to exist.

We're grateful to every person who takes the time to read about our project, watch our materials, and spread the word. If you can donate, share, or simply tell a fellow horror fan that something special is coming — we'd love to have you at the table.