Directing

John Harrison

Born 1948-01-01

John Harrison began his career directing rock videos and working as 1st Asst. Director for famed horror director,George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead (1968)/Creepshow (1982)). Harrison wrote and directed multiple episodes of Romero's classic TV series,Tales from the Darkside (1983)m], before helming Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990), for Paramount Pictures, which won Harrison the Grand Prix du Festival at Avoriaz, France. Harrison co-wrote the animated feature,Dinosaur (2000), for Disney. He also wrote the adaptation of Clive Barker's fantasy novels, "Abarat", also for Disney. In the Fall of '06, Harrison reunited with mentor George Romero to produce Romero's film, Diary of the Dead (2007). His action suspense thriller, Blank Slate (2008), for producer Dean Devlin, which Harrison wrote and directed, aired as a twenty-episode micro-series on TNT in the Fall of 2008. Clive Barker's Book of Blood (2009), which he wrote and directed, was released in the Fall 2009. His 6-hour miniseries adaptation of Frank Herbert's monumental bestseller, Dune (2000), which he directed, was an Emmy Award-winning success in the U.S., then internationally, both in its broadcast premieres and subsequently in home video. Harrison's Children of Dune (2003), another 6-hour miniseries encompassing the next two novels of Frank Herbert's mythic adventure series which he wrote and co-produced, was also an Emmy winner for the Sci-Fi Channel.

Acting credits

Dawn of the Dead poster
7.5

During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.

Dawn of the Dead

1978

Blank Slate poster
6.9

An amnesiac, sentenced to Death Row for a murder she can't remember committing, is given a second chance at freedom by the FBI: recruited as part of the secret experimental unit of the FBI's unsolved crimes division, she's implanted with the final memories of murder victims. But while she pursues the leads of other peoples' memories, she is haunted by the distant echoes of her own life... a life she can't remember.

Blank Slate

2008

Knightriders poster
6.2

A medieval reenactment troupe struggles to maintain its family-like dynamic amid pressure from local authorities, interest from talent agents, and their so-called king's delusions of grandeur.

Knightriders

1981

King on Screen poster
7.0

1976, Brian de Palma directs Carrie, the first novel by Stephen King. Since, more than 50 directors adapted the master of horror's books, in more than 80 films and series, making him now, the most adapted author still alive in the world.

King on Screen

2023

Jack's Back poster
5.4

A young doctor is suspected when a series of Jack the Ripper copycat killings is committed. However, when the doctor himself is murdered, his identical twin brother claims to have seen visions of the true killer.

Jack's Back

1988

The World's End: The Legacy of 'Day of the Dead' poster
7.5

A new, feature-length documentary, filmed for the Special Edition Scream Factory Blu-Ray Release of George Romero's 1985 film, Day of the Dead A small group of scientists and soldiers have taken refuge in an underground missile silo where they struggle to control the flesh-eating horror that walks the earth above. But will the final battle for the future of the human race be fought among the living or have they forever unleashed the hunger of the dead? Lori Cardille (Tales from the Darkside), Joe Pilato (Night of the Living Dead: Origins 3D) and Richard Liberty (The Crazies) star in this controversial classic with groundbreaking gore effects by Tom Savini.”

The World's End: The Legacy of 'Day of the Dead'

2013

Just Desserts: The Making of 'Creepshow' poster
6.2

Details the making of Stephen King & George A. Romero's 1982 horror anthology classic, from conception through to completion.

Just Desserts: The Making of 'Creepshow'

2007

Effects poster
5.0

Some crew members of a company shooting a horror film begin to suspect that the "killings" in the movie are real, and that they are actually making a "snuff" film.

Effects

1979

After Effects: Memories of Pittsburgh Filmmaking poster
7.5

A documentary that looks back at the making of a "lost" movie made by an enterprising group of Pittsburgh filmmakers.

After Effects: Memories of Pittsburgh Filmmaking

2005

No artwork available
NR

A detailed look into the making of Tales from the Darkside: The Movie.

Tales Behind The Darkside: The Making Of Four Ghoulish Fables

2020

Behind the camera

Dinosaur poster
6.6

An orphaned dinosaur raised by lemurs joins an arduous trek to a sancturary after a meteorite shower destroys his family home.

Dinosaur

2000

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie poster
6.2

A young boy tells three stories of horror to distract a witch who plans to eat him.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie

1990

Blank Slate poster
6.9

An amnesiac, sentenced to Death Row for a murder she can't remember committing, is given a second chance at freedom by the FBI: recruited as part of the secret experimental unit of the FBI's unsolved crimes division, she's implanted with the final memories of murder victims. But while she pursues the leads of other peoples' memories, she is haunted by the distant echoes of her own life... a life she can't remember.

Blank Slate

2008

Blank Slate poster
6.9

An amnesiac, sentenced to Death Row for a murder she can't remember committing, is given a second chance at freedom by the FBI: recruited as part of the secret experimental unit of the FBI's unsolved crimes division, she's implanted with the final memories of murder victims. But while she pursues the leads of other peoples' memories, she is haunted by the distant echoes of her own life... a life she can't remember.

Blank Slate

2008

Book of Blood poster
5.4

Based on the wraparound story penned by Clive Barker in the author's "Books of Blood" collection, the story centers on a paranormal expert who, while investigating a gruesome slaying, finds a house that is at the intersection of "highways" transporting souls to the afterlife.

Book of Blood

2009

Tales from the Darkside poster
5.9

A compilation of episodes from the classic '80s horror anthology TV series "Tales From The Darkside" for the VHS market.

Tales from the Darkside

1990

Tales from the Darkside poster
5.9

A compilation of episodes from the classic '80s horror anthology TV series "Tales From The Darkside" for the VHS market.

Tales from the Darkside

1990

Painkiller Jane poster
5.1

Jane, a young soldier, is exposed to a biochemical weapon that endows her with self-healing powers. She uses her abilities to fight crime while eluding the military.

Painkiller Jane

2005

Memories of Murder poster
6.7

A woman who had been suffering from amnesia suddenly gets her memory back. However, she finds that she's now married to a man who she doesn't think she really loves, and she keeps having visions of a young woman who she believes is out to kill her--but she can't get anyone to listen.

Memories of Murder

1990

Supernova poster
4.3

A international science conference is held in Australia when Dr. Austin Shepard mysteriously disappears. Dr. Shepard's colleague, Christopher Richardson and other people are soon faced with the reality of an impending crisis and an attempt to keep the information from the public. While a full-blown supernova does not occur, explosions on the sun cause massive damage in Australia, and is shown often in Sydney and in various other cities and countries of the world.

Supernova

2005

Scary Tales: Night Elevator poster
8.0

A greedy temptress double-crosses two best friends

Scary Tales: Night Elevator

1986

The Assassination File poster
5.7

An ex-FBI agent gradually uncovers the nature of a conspiracy behind the death of a black presidential candidate

The Assassination File

1996

No artwork available
9.0

A businessman falls for a client's daughter who seems icy by day, and passionate by night.

Night Rose: Akhbar's Daughter

1987

No artwork available
9.0

A businessman falls for a client's daughter who seems icy by day, and passionate by night.

Night Rose: Akhbar's Daughter

1987

Effects poster
5.0

Some crew members of a company shooting a horror film begin to suspect that the "killings" in the movie are real, and that they are actually making a "snuff" film.

Effects

1979

No artwork available
7.5

Type A insurance fraud investigator Nick Stillman has his life extended by a heart transplant, only to be dismayed to discover that his donor was murdered so Nick could live.

Donor Unknown

1995

Residue poster
5.2

The government cover-up of the causes behind a massive explosion in a futuristic UK metropolis spur photo journalist Jennifer Preston on to search for the truth and in the process blow open a paranormal phenomenon haunting the city.

Residue

2015

Ubu poster
NR

A short film adaption of an absurdist French play. Basically plotless, adapts three seemingly random scenes.

Ubu

1973

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Book of Evil: Solid Tales From the Darkside

1996

No artwork available
NR

Early short film by John Harrison

Ubu

1973