James Cullen Bressack

Bressack directed his first feature at the age of 18 and worked chiefly in low-budget horror before moving into action films in the 2020s, directing several late-career vehicles for Bruce Willis as well as films with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mel Gibson.

• Name — James Cullen Bressack • Born — c. 1992 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, United States • Mother — Ellen Gerstell • Father — Gordon Bressack • Occupation — * Film director • screenwriter • film producer • Website — http: jamescullenbressack.com/

Bressack's first feature film, My Pure Joy, was released in 2011. His 2012 film Hate Crime, the story of a Jewish family being terrorized in their home by neo-Nazis, was banned in the UK in 2015 by the BBFC due to the "unremitting manner in which [it] focuses on physical and sexual abuse, aggravated by racist invective." His 2013 film To Jennifer, a found footage feature, was filmed entirely using an iPhone. His 2014 horror film Pernicious was described as "The Ring meets Hostel". In 2015, he started the Grit Film Works production company with Zack Ward, the two co-writing the films Bethany (directed by Bressack and starring Ward, Shannen Doherty and Tom Green) and Restoration (directed by Ward). He directed the 2017 thriller Limelight. In late 2017, he was reported to be directing supernatural revenge thriller Together, and in 2018 the psychological thriller Alone. From 2019 Bressack worked mainly in direct-to-video and limited-release action films. He directed Beyond the Law with Steven Seagal, and two 2021 films starring Bruce Willis, Survive the Game and Fortress; he directed a third Willis film, Hot Seat, released in 2022. In 2022 he adapted his father's play Murder, Anyone? into a feature of the same name, which was acquired by Uncork'd Entertainment and released digitally in February 2023. He directed the 2024 noir action thriller Darkness of Man, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. His found footage revenge film The Workout premiered at Fantastic Fest and was given a limited theatrical release in August 2025 by Anchor Bay Entertainment. He also co-wrote the 2025 science-fiction action film Speed Train, directed by Ryan Francis.

Bressack is Jewish. His father, the Emmy Award-winning animation writer Gordon Bressack, died in 2019.

Films • Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Cinematographer — Editor — Notes • 2011 — My Pure Joy • Theatre of the Deranged — Co-director — Co-writer — Co-cinematographer — Co-editor — segments "Andy's Theatre of Derange", "Speak Easy" • 2013 — 13/13/13 • Hate Crime — Co-writer — banned in the United Kingdom in 2015 • To Jennifer — Executive — Co-cinematographer • 2014 — White Crack Bastard • Theatre of the Deranged II — Co-director — Co-writer — Co-editor — segment "Unmimely Demise" • 2015 — Pernicious — Co-writer • The Condo — Co-executive • 2016 — 2 Jennifer — Characters — Executive • 2017 — Limelight — Executive — featuring Paul Vandervort, Sean Kanan, Jonathan Lipnicki, Jenna Jameson, Keith Coogan • CarGo — Co-writer • Bethany — Co-writer • 2019 — Beyond the Law • 2020 — The Call — Co-producer • 2021 — Survive the Game • The Fortress • 2022 — Sally Floss: Digital Detective — Executive — featuring Vernon Wells, Tara Reid, Eric Roberts • Hot Seat • 2023 — Mike & Fred vs The Dead — Executive • Murder, Anyone? — adapted from the play by Gordon Bressack • 2024 — Darkness of Man • 2025 — The Workout — found footage; premiered at Fantastic Fest • Speed Train — Co-writer — directed by Ryan Francis

• Oh, We Review! (2010–2012, 19 episodes) • Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys (2014, TV movie)