{{Short description|American screenwriter}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2019}} '''Thomas Fenton''' is an American screenwriter, producer and director.
Fenton grew up in Rochester, New York. His 5th grade had a movie-making class, where he's made some student sci-fi, horror and martial arts films. He attended Hofstra University and took film classes there on Long Island. Fenton started as a grip and best boy in New York City. Fenton opened and operated a production company doing commercial and music video production in New York.
Fenton later moved to Hollywood switching to screenwriter and also working as a graphic novelist. Fenton's first break in Hollywood was doing a rewrite on ''Belly of the Beast'' by Stephen Seagal. Fenton wrote ''Dominion'' a graphic novel about the Angelic War and the first human drafted into the battle for eternity. Fenton worked with Twisted Pictures on a number of films including''Saw IV'', which was nominated for a 2008 Scream Awards for Best Sequel, losing to ''The Dark Knight''.<ref>{{cite web |title=2008 Scream Awards |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Scream_Awards |website=Wikipedia |access-date=May 4, 2026 }}</ref>Fenton then wrote scripts for CineTel Films, including ''I Spit On Your Grave 2''.<ref>{{cite web |title=I Spit on Your Grave: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray 5th October – Part Two |url=https://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/2020/10/i-spit-on-your-grave-the-complete-collection-on-blu-ray-5th-october-part-two/ |website=Horror Cult Films |date=October 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2026 }}</ref>
Fenton also wrote ''Jericho Hill'', a horror short adapted from his script and produced through a partnership between Eli Roth's Crypt TV and Michael Bay's 451 Media Group.<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |title=Eli Roth's CryptTV, Michael Bay's 451 Media Team on Horror Short |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/eli-roth-crypttv-michael-bay-451-media-horror-short-1201945126/ |website=Variety |date=December 19, 2016 |access-date=May 5, 2026 }}</ref> Fenton spent years working with late producer Robert Evans at Paramount Pictures, including on ''DeLorean'', the story of maverick car maker John DeLorean. In addition, Fenton does what many believe is one of the best impressions of Evans.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Another John DeLorean Film in the Works |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/another-john-delorean-film-works-21059/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=April 25, 2026 }}</ref>
In an interview with Daily Dead, he discussed his early experiences making films and his approach to writing in the horror genre.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Q&A: Screenwriter Thomas Fenton |url=https://dailydead.com/qa-screenwriter-thomas-fenton/ |website=Daily Dead |access-date=April 25, 2026 }}</ref>
In 2018, Fenton wrote The Scream Writer's Handbook that is considered one of the better books on screenwriting. While continuing to write and direct, Fenton founded Workingscreenwriter.com his online teaching portal.
In 2023, Fenton wrote the screenplay for ''WITHIN'', which was developed with producer Steven Schneider. The film is slated for a 2026 release<ref>{{cite web |title=‘The Entity Within’: AMP Teams With Steven Schneider For Cannes Market Title |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/entity-within-amp-steven-schneider-cannes-market-1236373592/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 25, 2026 }}</ref> Gizmodo reported that Heather Graham was attached to star in ''Entity Within''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Gordon |title=Heather Graham to Star in What Sure Sounds Like a Remake of 1982's The Entity |url=https://gizmodo.com/heather-graham-to-star-in-what-sure-sounds-like-a-remake-of-1982s-the-entity-2000592866 |website=Gizmodo |date=April 22, 2025 |access-date=April 29, 2026 }}</ref>
In 2024, Fenton was interviewed for the documentary ''Generation Terror'', which features filmmakers including Rob Zombie, Adam Wingard, and Neil Marshall. In the documentary, Fenton comments on his contribution to the early 2000s “torture porn” movement, stating that he does not use the term and instead prefers “karma porn.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Generation Terror [FrightFest 2024] |url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/generation-terror/ |website=Starburst Magazine |author=Martin Unsworth |access-date=April 26, 2026 }}</ref>
==Filmography== *''Lady in White'' (1988) (Video Playback Operator) *''Cheap Shots'' (1989) (Grip) *''Slaughter of the Innocents'' (1993) (Grip) *''Night Trap'' (1993) (Cast/Key Grip) *''Double Dragon'' (1994) (Grip) *''Striking Point'' (1995) (Director/Writer/Editor) *''Halloween 4: Final Cut'' (2001) (Additional Photographer) *''Seraph'' (2002) (Writer) *''Belly of the Beast'' (2004) (Draft) *''Max Payne'' (2005) (Draft) *''Saw IV'' (2007) (Story) *''Zombies Vs Robots'' (2007) (Treatment) *''Terminated'' (2009) (Writer) *''DeLorean'' (2010) (Writer) *''Chain Letter'' (2010) (Draft) *''Dominion (graphic novel)'' (2011) (Writer) *''Dominion (Fist of God)'' (2011) (Writer) *''Dominion (Resurrection of Ash )'' (2011) (Writer) *''City At Midnight'' (2012) (Writer) *''I Spit on Your Grave 2'' (2013) (Writer) *''Slay Per View'' (2016) (Writer) * ''Generation Terror'' (2024) (Self)<ref>{{cite web |title=Generation Terror Review |url=https://www.heyuguys.com/generation-terror-review/ |website=HeyUGuys |access-date=April 25, 2026 }}</ref> *''WITHIN'' (2026) (Writer)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=0272090|name=Thomas Fenton}} * [https://www.humanoids.com/author/127 Humanoids author page] * [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-Fenton/author/B005K01NTC Thomas Fenton author page] at Amazon
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenton, Thomas}} Category:American male screenwriters Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Writers from Rochester, New York