Cinephobia Releasing has announced the release of Brute 1976, the latest feature from director Marcel Walz (That’s A Wrap, Pretty Boy) and writer Joe Knetter (George A. Romero’s Twilight of the Dead). The film is now available to stream on VOD and digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vimeo on Demand, and YouTube Movies.
Set in 1976, the film pays homage to cult horror classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes. The story follows Raquel and her girlfriend, whose car trouble leaves them stranded in the desert. Nearby, a photoshoot brings another group into the same isolated location. Both parties encounter an abandoned town inhabited by a family of masked psychopaths, setting the stage for a violent and unsettling confrontation.
Director Marcel Walz noted the physical challenges of filming in desert conditions, describing the production as “hot, dirty, and bloody,” while emphasizing the raw energy that translates onto the screen. Writer Joe Knetter expressed excitement about sharing the Birdy family with North American audiences, calling the film a modern take on 1970s horror.
The cast includes Adriane McLean (Miracles of Christmas), Sarah French (Blind), Gigi Gustin (The Retaliators), Dazelle Yvette (Garden of Eden), and Adam Bucci (NCIS Los Angeles). Produced by Neon Noir with Walz, Knetter, and French, the film also features makeup effects by Robert Kern III (Prey, Creepypasta) and cinematography by Marcus Friedlander (The Getback).
Brute 1976 is available now for fans of retro-inspired horror looking to revisit the gritty aesthetic of the genre’s most notorious decade.
