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John Erick Dowdle

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John Erick Dowdle
Born (1972-12-09) December 9, 1972 (age 51)
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
Years active1996–present
Spouse
Stacy Chbosky
(m. 2005)
RelativesStephen Chbosky (brother-in-law)

John Erick Dowdle (born December 9, 1972) is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for horror films. He usually works with his brother Drew Dowdle as a producer and co-screenwriter.

Early life

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Dowdle grew up in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. After graduating from the St. Thomas Academy, an all-boys, military, Catholic high school, Dowdle moved to Iowa City, Iowa to attend the University of Iowa where he joined the fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha. He would then make the move from writing to film. Two years later, Dowdle moved to Manhattan, New York City to attend New York University's film program.[citation needed]

Career

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After graduating from NYU, Dowdle moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking. Dowdle wrote and directed his first feature, the 1996 film Full Moon Rising, when he was just out of college. For his sophomore effort, The Dry Spell, Dowdle was joined by his younger brother Drew, who produced the film as John wrote, directed and edited. They now live in Los Angeles, working together as The Brothers Dowdle.[1]

With his brother Drew Dowdle as a producer and/or co-screenwriter, John Erick Dowdle directed the horror films Quarantine,[2] Devil,[3] based on a storybook from M. Night Shyamalan,[4] and As Above, So Below, as well as the 2015 thriller film No Escape,[5] starring Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan.[6]

He was announced to direct the movie adaptation of Jack Kilburn's novel Afraid.[7]

In 2017, Dowdle co-created the miniseries Waco with his brother, which aired on Paramount Network in 2018.[8]

In March 2018, the Dowdle brothers announced they were developing a movie or basic cable presentation about newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen, who died in 1965 under circumstances they contend were never satisfactorily resolved.[9]

Personal life

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Dowdle is married to Stacy Chbosky. Her brother, and therefore Dowdle's brother-in-law, is author and director Stephen Chbosky.

Filmography

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Film

Year Title Director Writer Notes
1996 Full Moon Rising Yes Yes Also producer
2005 The Dry Spell Yes Yes Also editor;
Nominated—Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival[10]
2007 The Poughkeepsie Tapes Yes Yes Also editor
2008 Quarantine Yes Yes
2010 Devil Yes No
2014 As Above, So Below Yes Yes
2015 No Escape Yes Yes

Television

Year Title Director Writer Executive
Producer
Developer Notes
2018 Waco Yes Yes Yes Yes Directed 4 episodes
2021 Joe Pickett Yes Yes Yes No Directed 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Quarantine Director on Next Project, The Coup
  2. ^ Dowdle, John & Drew (Quarantine)
  3. ^ The Dowdle Brothers 'Afraid' of Horrible Sci-fi Apocalypse
  4. ^ Shyamalan, QUARANTINE filmmakers team for DEVIL[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Owen Wilson Returns To Action Mode In ‘The Coup’
  6. ^ Pierce Brosnan Joins The Coup
  7. ^ Dowdle Brothers to Direct an Adaptation of Jack Kilborn's Afraid
  8. ^ "WEINSTEIN TELEVISION'S EPIC SCRIPTED EVENT SERIES "WACO," LANDS ON SPIKE TV". Spike. October 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  9. ^ Variety trade paper report of Dowdle brothers' announcement of their project about Dorothy Kilgallen's career and death
  10. ^ John Erick Dowdle – Awards
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