Stephen Cognetti's Supernatural Horror Feature 'A Body in the Woods' Sets Tulsa, Oklahoma Shoot for Fall 2026

Horror filmmaker Stephen Cognetti is moving into pre-production on his next feature, a supernatural thriller called 'A Body in the Woods,' with cameras expected to roll in Tulsa, Oklahoma on or about September 2026. The project is currently in active casting and early pre-production, which means crew conversations are happening right now. If you work in horror or thriller production and have been watching for your next opportunity, this one is worth pursuing immediately.

Cognetti writes and directs, which is the same setup he brought to the 'Hell House LLC' franchise, the found-footage horror series he created that became a genuine cult phenomenon on Shudder. The original 'Hell House LLC,' released in 2015, was produced on a micro-budget and went on to generate multiple sequels, including 'Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel,' 'Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire,' and the more recent 'Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor' in 2023. That last entry was produced under the Cognetti Films banner and distributed by Shudder, demonstrating that the director has an established and productive relationship with the horror streaming platform. His work is known for its atmospheric tension, practical location-driven scares, and a lean, efficient production approach. Crew who have worked on low-to-mid budget horror with a strong emphasis on performance and environment will recognize the style immediately.

The producing team brings a notable mix of independent horror credibility and broader genre experience. Liz Destro is among the more recognizable names here. She has producing credits across a range of independent genre projects and has worked within the horror and thriller space with a reputation for getting lean productions across the finish line without sacrificing quality. David Caplan and Cassidy Lunnen round out the producing trio under the Cognetti Films and Perfect Crime Inc. banners. Perfect Crime Inc. appears to be a producing entity aligned with this project, and while it is newer to the scene as a production company credit, its partnership with Cognetti Films signals a tight creative circle that values efficiency and trust over large studio bureaucracy. This is the kind of producing team that moves fast and expects department heads who can do the same.

Casting is being led by Ricki G. Maslar, CSA, with Betsy Hume serving as casting associate. Maslar is an experienced casting director with credits in both independent film and television, and her involvement here suggests the production is taking its talent search seriously despite the likely modest budget. Talent agents and managers with horror-adjacent clients should be in touch with her office now. The logline centers on a woman named Alice Lincoln who is left alone in a remote cabin and must contend with the body of a dead mine worker while increasingly unsettling events suggest she may not be as alone as she thinks. That setup points toward a contained, character-driven horror film with a small principal cast, heavy atmosphere, and likely a significant emphasis on a single lead performance.

Tulsa, Oklahoma is the confirmed filming location, and that choice carries real practical weight for crew. Oklahoma has been steadily building its production infrastructure over the past several years, supported by the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate, which offers a competitive incentive on qualified in-state expenditures. Tulsa in particular has become more active as a production destination, offering lower overall costs compared to the coasts and a growing local crew base. That said, productions of this scale and genre often import certain department heads, particularly in areas like production design, costumes, and makeup effects, which are critical in supernatural horror. Local crew in Tulsa and across Oklahoma should absolutely reach out, but experienced horror specialists based elsewhere should not assume they are out of the running. The wooded, remote aesthetic described in the logline is achievable in and around the Tulsa region, with rural Oklahoma offering genuine isolation that productions sometimes struggle to find convincingly in more developed filming corridors.

As a feature film rooted in the supernatural horror genre with a contained cabin-in-the-woods premise, this production will have specific crew needs that are worth spelling out. The art department will need to create and dress a believable, period-appropriate or at minimum rural-specific interior environment. Practical effects and makeup will almost certainly play a role given the genre and Cognetti's preference for atmosphere over heavy CGI. A strong gaffer and grip team who understand low-light horror photography will be essential. The sound department will carry significant creative weight on a film where tension is built through what characters hear rather than what they see. And given the remote location elements, a locations department with deep familiarity with rural Oklahoma and the ability to secure private land agreements efficiently will be valuable from day one of pre-production.

For the full production listing including production office contact information, crew list as it develops, and scheduling updates as September approaches, head to ProductionList.com and pull up 'A Body in the Woods.' The project is at exactly the stage where the right crew members making the right connections can land the role. Casting is active, pre-production is underway, and the clock on this one is moving.

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