"Director Michael Rich released his award-winning short film "Viral" on YouTube this week.
"Viral," which played at Dances With Films, Panic Fest, Nightmares Film Festival and the St. Louis International Film Festival in 2022, is a horror film about an auto repairman who fights to survive the night after hitting a mutant creature in the road.
The film took home “Best Recurring Nightmare” (aka - alumni film) at Nightmares Film Festival.
“I love underdog stories and getting the audience behind a unique character,” said Rich. “Once we decided on a literal monster as the antagonist, I knew we needed to go with bad-ass, all practical effects.”
Allan B. Holt (True Blood, Westworld) designed and fabricated the creature.
Rich, a graduate of Chapman University, lives and works in Los Angeles."
After more than a decade as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industries, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror entertainment. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who work tirelessly to explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also been consulted as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering his insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, radio stations, film festivals, and fan conventions.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industries, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror entertainment. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who work tirelessly to explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also been consulted as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering his insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, radio stations, film festivals, and fan conventions.
![[Comic-Con 2025] Interview: Michael Giacchino Talks Marvel’s WEREWOLF BY NIGHT: BLOOD MOON and Why He Loves Classic Monsters](https://dailydead.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Werewolf-1000-b-326x150.jpg)
![[Editorial] ANNIHILATION (2018): The Algorithm of Natural Selection Just Unfollowed You](https://dailydead.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Annihilation-1000-180x83.jpg)
