{{Short description|American filmmaker}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = JT Mollner | image = JT Mollner by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Mollner in 2025 | birth_name = Jeffrey Tyler<!--This birth name is reliably sourced. Do not remove it.--> Mollner | birth_date = | birth_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | alma_mater = | occupation = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer|actor}} | years_active = 2005–present | spouse = | children = | relatives = | website = }}
'''Jeffrey Tyler<!--This birth name is reliably sourced. Do not remove it.--> "JT" Mollner'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Detailed Record View|url=https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/34324667|work=copyright.gov}}</ref> is an American filmmaker and former actor. He is best known for writing and directing the Western film ''Outlaws and Angels'' (2016) and the thriller film ''Strange Darling'' (2023). He also wrote the screenplay for the Stephen King film adaptation ''The Long Walk'' (2025).
==Early life== JT Mollner was born in Las Vegas, the son of former singer Ginnie and former dancer Duke Mollner. His parents met while working at the Dunes in the 1960s, where Duke later became a card dealer.<ref name="FREAKLINGSEVEN">{{cite web|url=http://vegasseven.com/2013/10/08/freakling-bros/|title=Freakling Bros. Haunted House Steps Up the Terror|date=2013-10-08|accessdate=2017-06-18|publisher=Vegas Seven|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004083846/http://vegasseven.com/2013/10/08/freakling-bros/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mollner has an older brother named Daniel. He was a cinephile from an early age, and was also interested in adult novels and writing.<ref name="SYSP"/> He credits his aunt Deanna Mollner, who lived in Los Angeles in the 1970s and "ran around with the likes of Jack Nicholson and Roman Polanski", for introducing him to the films of Polanski as well as Stanley Kubrick and Federico Fellini.<ref name="SYSP">{{cite web|url=http://www.sellingyourscreenplay.com/podcast-transcripts/sys-podcast-episode-133-writer-director-jt-mollner-talks-about-his-new-western-film-outlaws-and-angels-starring-luke-wilson-transcript/|title= SYS Podcast Episode 133: Writer / Director JT Mollner Talks About His New Western Film, Outlaws And Angels Starring Luke Wilson (transcript)|date=2015-10-22|accessdate=2017-06-26 |publisher= Sell Your Screenplay}}</ref> He has said that he always knew he wanted to be a filmmaker, though he felt it was not an option for him as his older brother had already attended the UCLA Film School.<ref name="SYSP"/>
In 1976, Mollner's father and brother began operating the Freakling Brothers haunted house company from their home in Las Vegas.<ref name="DANIEL">{{cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2001/oct/22/ah-freak-out-freakling-brothers-still-spooking-on-/|title= Ah, Freak Out! Freakling Brothers still spooking on Halloween|date=2001-10-22|accessdate=2017-06-18 |publisher= Las Vegas Sun}}</ref> Mollner had become involved with the company by the age of five, later stating in 2015 that "it was a great household to be from, because you're instantly the most popular kid in school".<ref name="DANIEL"/><ref name="JTRJ"/><ref name="FREAKLINGSUN"/> The company is now best known for its "Gates of Hell" attraction, which became Las Vegas' first R-rated haunted house.<ref name="JTRJ">{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/christopher-lawrence/jt-mollner-freaks-you-out-in-new-way-with-outlaws-and-angels/|title= JT Mollner freaks you out in new way with 'Outlaws and Angels'|date=2016-07-14|accessdate=2017-06-18 |publisher= Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref><ref name="FREAKLINGSUN">{{cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/oct/20/homegrown-freakling-brothers-mark-20-years-haunted/|title= Homegrown Freakling Brothers mark 20 years in haunted house business|date=2012-10-06|accessdate=2017-06-18 |publisher=Las Vegas Sun}}</ref><ref name="TONYANDTINA">{{cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2004/oct/28/super-freak-during-season-of-fright-freakling-brot/|title= Super Freak: During season of fright, Freakling Brothers founder is a real scream|date=2004-10-28|accessdate=2017-06-18 |publisher= Las Vegas Sun}}</ref> To this day, Mollner takes three months off from filmmaking around Halloween each year to return to Las Vegas and help his family run the business.<ref name="VEGASSEVEN">{{cite web|url=http://vegasseven.com/2015/10/21/freakling-bros-jt-mollner-horror-hollywood/|title=Freakling Bros.' JT Mollner on Horror And Hollywood|date=2015-10-21|accessdate=2017-07-16|publisher=Vegas Seven|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118061430/http://vegasseven.com/2015/10/21/freakling-bros-jt-mollner-horror-hollywood/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Career== In 2005, after ending a year-long starring role in a stage production of ''Tony n' Tina's Wedding'' at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Mollner moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry. Believing his dream to direct films was a long shot, he did not pursue it immediately, instead taking small acting jobs to pay the bills while writing screenplays in his spare time.<ref name="SYSP"/><ref name="JTRJ"/> He soon became frustrated with acting in LA, explaining in an interview that he was tired of "being a tool in someone else's vision... having to read lines from someone else's script [while] wanting to be doing what [the directors] are doing".<ref name="SYSP"/> He began looking for a director for a short film he had written, but his producing partner convinced him to direct it.<ref name="SYSP"/> He directed several commercials and music videos over the next decade, as well as writing and directing a series of short films such as ''The Red Room'' (2008) and ''Henry John and the Little Bug'' (2009). He directed his father and brother in the short film ''Sugartown'' (2011) and directed Dee Wallace in the short film ''Flowers in December'' (2015).<ref name="HOLLYWOOD">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sundance-outlaws-angels-director-signs-861841|title= Sundance: 'Outlaws and Angels' Director Signs With UTA (Exclusive)|date=2016-02-03|accessdate=2017-06-26 |publisher= Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
Mollner began writing a script for his first feature film in 2010, with the intention of making a film reminiscent of 1970s Westerns. Deciding to wait until he could cast well-known actors, while insisting on using film stock and vintage cameras rather than digital cameras, ''Outlaws and Angels'' would be in the development stage for nearly five years.<ref name="KODAK"/> When production finally began in 2015, Mollner was accompanied by cinematographer Matthew Irving, who would become instrumental in providing the classic look Mollner wanted to achieve.<ref name="KODAK"/> The duo contacted Kodak about supplying VISION3 500T Color Negative Film 5219, an uncommon film type due to the grain caused by its slower speed, which served Mollner and Irving well in emulating the 1970s look.<ref name="KODAK"/> The movie was shot entirely on Kodak film using two Panaflex Platinum cameras, a Steadicam, and a variety of vintage lenses.<ref name="KODAK"/> ''Outlaws and Angels'' premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.<ref name="JTRJ"/><ref name="VARIETY">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/outlaws-and-angels-review-sundance-1201691259/|title= Sundance Film Review: 'Outlaws & Angels'|date=2016-01-16|accessdate=2017-06-17 |publisher= Variety}}</ref><ref name="FILMINDEPENDENT">{{cite web|url=https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/shooting-the-old-west-outlaws-and-angels-filmmaker-jt-mollner-and-star-francesca-eastwood/|title= Shooting the Old West: 'Outlaws and Angels' Filmmaker JT Mollner and Star Francesca Eastwood|date=2016-07-13|accessdate=2017-06-17 |publisher= Film Independent}}</ref> It was featured as Sundance's midnight selection.<ref name="HOLLYWOOD"/> It appeared at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 14, 2016, and was released in theaters and VOD on July 15, 2016, receiving generally negative reviews from critics.<ref name="KODAK">{{cite web|url=http://www.kodak.com/us/en/motion/blog/blog_post/?contentid=4294997753|title= JT Mollner and Matthew Irving Capture Classic, 1970s Western Look in Outlaws and Angels|date=2016-06-29|accessdate=2017-07-16 |publisher= Kodak}}</ref><ref name="INDIEWIRE">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/07/outlaws-and-angels-clip-chad-michael-murray-francesa-eastwood-sundance-film-festival-1201704617/|title= 'Outlaws and Angels' Exclusive Clip: Chad Michael Murray Has a Bounty on His Head In Bloody Sundance Western|date=2016-07-11|accessdate=2017-07-16 |publisher= IndieWire}}</ref><ref name="DEADLINE">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/outlaws-and-angels-ace-the-case-gravitas-ventures-1201773095/|title= 'Outlaws And Angels' Will Ride In July; Gravitas Takes 'Ace The Case'|date=2016-06-15|accessdate=2017-07-16 |publisher= Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/outlaws_and_angels]</ref>
Mollner next wrote and directed the thriller film ''Strange Darling'' (2023), which was released to positive reviews.
In February 2026, it was reported that Mollner is attached to direct a television series based on ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'' for A24. Mollner said of the project: <blockquote>"I’m not interested in remaking perfect films, and the original ''Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' is a perfect film. Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel created something bold, transgressive and truly seminal that holds up even today as the gold standard for horror. When the opportunity for a longform exploration into this world arose, I saw it as a fresh way in, as well as a way to honor the existing folklore."<ref>https://deadline.com/2026/02/texas-chainsaw-massacre-a24-tv-series-jt-mollner-glen-powell-1236708370/</ref></blockquote>
Also in February 2026, it was reported that Mollner will write and direct a feature film called ''Skeletons'' for Sony. The film is described as a "creature feature", which will be "told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature." ''Skeletons'' will be produced by J.J. Abrams and is set to star Brie Larson. Principal photography is scheduled for summer 2026.<ref>https://deadline.com/2026/02/brie-larson-horror-skeletons-jj-abrams-sells-sony-efm-deal-1236727344/</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Feature films ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer |- | 2016 | ''Outlaws and Angels'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |- | 2023 | ''Strange Darling'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2025 | ''The Long Walk'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Short films ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer |- | 2008 | ''The Red Room'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |- | 2009 | ''Henry John and the Little Bug'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |- | 2011 | ''Sugartown'' | {{yes}} | {{partial|Story}} | {{yes}} |- | 2015 | ''Flowers in December'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |- | 2019 | ''After Emma'' | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} |}
==References== <references />
==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm2356768}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD-OXKOqPlk Mollner on Sell Your Screenplay episode 133]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mollner, JT}} Category:Living people Category:American male film actors Category:American male screenwriters Category:American male stage actors Category:Film directors from Nevada Category:Male actors from Las Vegas Category:Screenwriters from Nevada Category:Writers from Las Vegas Category:Year of birth missing (living people)