A horror film written, directed and produced by central Ohio natives hits Shudder this weekend, and the two brothers behind it say they never expected the reception it is getting — including, they believe, a nod from Stephen King himself. The Cycle, from Granville-raised filmmaker Jordan Downey and his brother, producer Michael Downey, premieres Friday on the streaming service.
The film follows a murder mystery that begins when police find the body of a man missing for 30 years at a crime scene, according to Axios. In a statement given to Axios, Jordan Downey said he and his brother were thrilled by the response from critics and horror fans at film festivals. The Guardian describes the setup in more detail: the story centers on a forensic science expert named Meg, played by The Guardian's subject Deborah Ann Woll, who discovers that DNA testing has identified one of the bodies found at the murder site as her own father, who disappeared when she was a child.
Jeffrey Donovan co-stars as Marks, one of two father-and-son police officers investigating the case alongside his son Ian, played by Will Hochman, per the same Guardian review. The Astorian reports the film was shot in Astoria, Oregon, and features several Astoria locals, while Axios notes the production itself was shot in Astoria, Oregon.
From Licking County to the Festival Circuit
Jordan Downey is no stranger to low-budget horror with local roots. The Granville native made the horror-comedy ThanksKilling, which was shot in Licking County and released in 2008, before moving to Los Angeles at 18. He has since directed multiple films and television episodes, including the 2018 feature The Head Hunter and a segment in the 2024 anthology film V/H/S/Beyond, according to Axios.
Jordan Downey has said he had not really experienced a film scene in central Ohio before relocating to Los Angeles, but he told Axios he is glad to see productions returning to the state and local festivals growing. Michael Downey, meanwhile, is moving from the West Coast to Cleveland and getting involved with the Ohio Film Commission, and he is making a separate movie in Ashtabula. “We left because there was no film business in Ohio — now there is,” he said, per Axios.
A Stephen King Co-Sign
Part of the buzz around The Cycle stems from an endorsement the brothers attribute to Stephen King. “We grew up reading his books and watching his movies,” Jordan Downey said, according to Axios. “It was wild to see that he got ahold of it,” he added.
The critical reception has been strong by multiple measures. The Astorian reports Rotten Tomatoes gives the film 100% on the Tomatometer, while Axios separately cites a 92% score — a discrepancy the available reporting does not resolve. The Austin Chronicle called the film “heartrending and flesh-ripping in equal measures,” as The Astorian reported, and a Rotten Tomatoes capsule description frames the film as a blend of serial-killer thriller and supernatural horror. The Guardian's review similarly notes the story shifts from psychological family drama into what its critic calls a proper horror flick more than halfway through.
Where and How to Watch
Streaming audiences can watch The Cycle with a subscription on AMC+, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Those near the Oregon coast have an in-person option: The Astorian reports an Astoria premiere is set for Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at the Liberty Theatre, with free, first-come-first-served admission and suggested donations benefiting the Oregon Film Museum. The film's official trailer had already drawn 329,000 views as of Thursday, per the same report.
Jordan Downey said he hopes audiences will discuss the film, develop their own theories about it and ultimately enjoy it. “I want other people to take it and make it their own thing, talk about it, come up with theories and hopefully like it,” he said, according to Axios.
Eyes on a Future Ohio Production
The brothers are already looking ahead to their next project, with Axios reporting they envision filming a future, larger-budget production in Ohio as a kind of full-circle moment. Michael Downey has pitched downtown Newark and Granville as possible locations, the outlet reported.
That ambition lines up with broader momentum in the state's film industry. Ohio's Motion Picture Tax Credit Program offers a refundable credit of 30 percent on cast and crew wages and other eligible in-state spending, according to the Ohio Department of Development. Earlier this year, the state announced more than $3 million in awards for new film projects, including four feature films, two miniseries and one documentary, per a Ohio Department of Development announcement. For two filmmakers who left the state to chase a film career, that growth may be exactly what brings them back.
