David A. Prior

Subsequently, Prior made action films until the late 1990s. Many of these films would star his bodybuilder brother Ted, and several of their collaborations became cult classics. From 2000 to 2006, Prior went on a hiatus. From 2007 to his death in 2015, he continued directing films including Lost at War (2007), Zombie Wars (2008), Night Claws (2012), Deadliest Prey (2013), and Relentless Justice (2015).

• Name — David A. Prior • Born — 24 October 1955 • Birthplace — Newark, New Jersey, U.S. • Died — 16 August 2015 • Place of death — Mobile, Alabama, U.S. • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter, producer • Years Active — 1983–2015 • Relatives — Ted Prior (brother)

In 1983, Prior made his directorial debut with the horror film Sledgehammer. Katie Rife of The A.V. Club said the film "has the distinction of being the first shot-on-video slasher movie. That film established patterns that would persist throughout Prior’s career, namely, extremely low budgets, hammy dialogue, outrageous action, and, most importantly, the presence of his brother Ted". In 1985, he directed the action film Killzone.

From 2000 to 2006, Prior was on an hiatus. In 2007, Prior returned to directing with Lost at War. On March 15, 2009, Prior's Zombie Wars, a zombie apocalypse film, screened at the first Paranoia Horror Film Festival. He also wrote the screenplay of The One Warrior released in 2011. In 2012, he directed the bigfoot horror film Night Claws, starring Reb Brown. In 2013, he wrote and directed Deadliest Prey, a sequel to Deadly Prey. On making a sequel, Ted said that he and David "decided to do a sequel based on fan mail, screenings, and all that stuff. I’ve talked to lot of fans of the movie, and after having all kinds of ideas thrown at us, Dave and I have decided to stick to the basic formula as the original. Fast pace and hard hitting." In 2015, he was credited as writer for the screenplay of David Winters's Dancin': It's On!. Also he wrote and directed Relentless Justice starring Leilani Sarelle.

Prior died on August 16, 2015, at the age of 59. His death was described by his brother Ted as "a long battle of failing health".

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Notes • 1983 — Sledgehammer — First shot-on-video slasher movie • 1985 — Killzone • 1987 — Mankillers • Killer Workout — Co-producer — Also editor • Deadly Prey • 1988 — Operation Warzone • Night Wars • Death Chase • 1989 — Jungle Assault — Executive — Also cameo role as "Drug Runner" • Rapid Fire — Also casting director • Hell on the Battleground • Future Force • 1990 — Lock 'n' Load • White Fury • Born Killer — Executive — Also second unit director • Invasion Force — Also uncredited cameo as "Director in final shot" • Future Zone — Also editor • The Final Sanction • Deadly Dancer • 1991 — That's Action — Executive — Documentary film Also editor • The Lost Platoon • Raw Nerve • 1992 — Center of the Web • 1993 — Double Threat • Night Trap • 1994 — Raw Justice • 1995 — Mutant Species • Felony • Body Count • 1997 — The P.A.C.K. — Executive • 1999 — Hostile Environment • 2007 — Lost at War — Also editor • 2008 — Zombie Wars • 2011 — The One Warrior — Executive • 2012 — Night Claws — Also editor • 2013 — Deadliest Prey — Also editor, casting director and cameo role as "Man in Van" • 2015 — Dancin': It's On! — Posthumously released • Rentless Justice — Executive — Uncredited executive producer and also editor Posthumously released • Assassin's Fury — Incomplete; Also editor Shot in 2015. Production halted by Prior's death.

• The Last Ride (1991) • Presumed Guilty (1991) (Co-executive; Uncredited) • Dark Rider (1991) • Armed for Action (1992) • Blood on the Badge (1992)

• Space Mutiny (1988) (Uncredited director: BellerIan Sequences) • The Hostage (1998)