About Brain Mutant: A Hub For Horror & Sci-Fi Fans

Identity & Origin

Brain Mutant began as a quite literal brainstorm from a young 18-year-old named Jacob Dressler around 2016. Having grown up in the aughts when the early internet was at its peak, I was exposed to quite a few memorable websites. For those who remember, and those who do not, these websites were the only outlet for horror and sci-fi fans. If you couldn’t find a specific VHS tape in the back of a dimly-lit video store or didn’t make it back in time for a specific television broadcast, you could go years without seeing certain films or shows. In fact, it was quite difficult to even see what some movies looked like. It was up to your imagination at that point. I’d have to conjure up what obscure sequels looked like or how a notorious title would actually be represented on the screen. As such, these early era websites blew my mind. Their pixelated VHS screenshots opened up doorways for me when there were no other options to explore my horror needs.

These influences, along with my own experiences as a young adult, shaped the way I created Brain Mutant. In fact, this isn’t even the first website made with this domain. Though it is the first that I coded to my own standards and liking. Now I hope you’ll be able to join me as I expand Brain Mutant into something that I can be proud of past, present, and future. All the while, I also hope to give fans a similar feeling to what I felt growing up as a kid; something split between physically real video stores and the digital reality created by horror sites on the internet.

Mission & Vision

As I grew up between my first Brain Mutant launch and now, I began a career in online journalism. With experience in news, reviews, and editorials, it only made sense to bring these together in a niche that I know very well. It’s my hope that Brain Mutant will not only offer the latest on beloved horror and sci-fi franchises, but that the platform will shed a light on places less explored in the genre. There are so many great movies that have yet to escape the depths of standard-definition. With an interest in seeking out elements related to their productions, or simply bringing underappreciated titles to the attention of fans, I hope Brain Mutant will offer a great balance of old and new. My biggest goal is to offer a place where the horror and sci-fi communities will always find something to appreciate.

The Logo

Brain Mutant is heavily defined by its logo, featuring an alien creation that especially fits the name. There have been several variations of this creature in the past. Torey Haas created our first two “Brain Mutant” puppets in support of the platform’s first iteration. However, with the launch of the new website, I knew Brain Mutant needed a definitive logo and there was one graphic designer that immediately came to mind. Jarred Hageman of Chrome & Lightning was kind enough to oblige. With his creative vision, Brain Mutant became realized as a proper label like never before, with a fierce mascot and beautiful text. It paid tribute to everything that came before while ushering the brand into a new, sleeker era. Likewise, Chrome & Lightning produced the logo for Brain Mutant Entertainment, and two video animations for both logos to boot. His work has absolutely changed the game for this label.

What We Do

The goal is to share news, dust off old gems, and create our own stories in the horror and sci-fi space. Brain Mutant is my love letter to both of these genres that have held such a strong hold on me all of my life. For a young kid who always had a VHS tape to count on when times were tough, I just want to give something back to the genres and community that helped me all of these years. Hopefully for those who have a similar dedication or love, you’ll feel the genuine care and thought that goes into every article on this site. Additionally, Brain Mutant exists on multiple social media platforms, including the likes of YouTube and Instagram. Fans can find other Brain Mutant posts and projects at those spots including video essays, obscure and never-before-seen photos, and anything to do with cult classics from the past.

Of course, Brain Mutant is also accompanied by Brain Mutant Entertainment, our film production & distribution arm that specializes in short films and micro-budget feature films. If you’re not interested in other film projects, perhaps you’ll find something to appreciate with our own. We take great dedication in capturing the same creative spark that led to so many incredible titles in decades including the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. With practical effects, memorable characters, and electronic scores, we hope to expand what those decades started rather than soullessly rehash or parody them.

Audience & Community

If you haven’t already gotten onboard the Brain Mutant train, then this might not be the website for you. However, if you’re fond of video stores, B-movies, cult classics, and anything in between, then you’ll love what we have to offer. In fact, fans even have the opportunity to support Brain Mutant in a number of ways. In addition to our Patreon platform, fans can subscribe to the Brain Mutant Newsletter, where they’ll receive updates directly to their email inbox. If that’s not enough, you can follow Brain Mutant on other social media platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. For those who simply want the latest news in the horror and sci-fi genres, we have you covered there, too.

Future & Growth

The Brain Mutant brand has always been an ambitious project of mine. As an 18-year-old it seemed unlikely to grow into anything special, but if time has proven anything to me, it’s that it really has. While I’m extremely happy with what Brain Mutant has become, I always have my eyes set on the future, and I’m hopeful that the platform can continue to grow. In addition to a high-quality blog, active social media channels, and a complete film production & distribution label, Brain Mutant still has the potential to become one of the genre’s leading platforms. With the help of you, the community, I would be happy to see Brain Mutant continue this path forward. Your support is instrumental in that journey and I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you, and as always, Obey the Brain.