Charles Band's Full Moon Features is positioning this as a strategic expansion into the lucrative microdrama space, with ReelShort CEO Jia Zhang describing 'Dungeons of Ecstasy' as award-worthy and fan-beloved. The vertical premiere represents innovation, not desperation.
Insiders say Band has been quietly rebuilding his empire after years of struggling to compete in streaming's crowded landscape. This FMA partnership is reportedly a calculated gamble on vertical content's growth potential, with ReelShort's Asia expansion making it an attractive distribution partner.
ReelShort is owned by Silicon Valley-based Crazy Maple Studio and recently entered Southeast Asia through partnerships with AIS (Thailand's largest 5G provider) and Philippine telecom giant Globe. The film hits wider release Aug. 16 on Tubi, Vudu, Prime Video and Blu-ray.
Band trading in his beloved B-movie empire for vertical video territory is a fascinating pivot—and one that could either revitalize Full Moon or dilute its cult horror DNA beyond recognition.
Charles Band's legendary horror factory has officially entered the vertical video era. "Models vs. Werewolves," the veteran producer's latest creature-feature collaboration with FMA (Full Moon Artists), has secured its debut on microdrama platform ReelShort—a deal that marks more than just a distribution agreement, it's a statement about where low-budget genre filmmaking is headed in 2026.
The film follows five models who retreat to what the press materials describe as "a remote Airbnb" during an extremely rare full moon event occurring once every 500 years. Yes, you read that correctly: once every 500 years. Naturally, ancient werewolves immediately begin hunting them through the woods.
It's exactly the kind of gleefully absurd premise Band has built a career on, though one wonders how much of that charm survives the vertical video format originally designed for phone-scrolling audiences. Dee Wallace anchors the cast, and her involvement reads as both nostalgic fanservice and savvy branding. The genre veteran is best known for "E.T.," "Cujo," "The Howling" and "Critters"—meaning she's essentially royalty in werewolf horror circles.
Her casting transforms what could have been another anonymous streaming quick-watch into something with genuine cult appeal. Danny Draven directs from a screenplay by J.P. Talbot, with Band himself serving as producer.
This pickup represents ReelShort's second collaboration with Band, following the platform's exclusive release of "Dungeons of Ecstacy," which apparently earned award recognition and built a dedicated fanbase according to sources familiar with the matter. More significantly, "Models vs. Werewolves" serves as the first licensed property within the joint Full Moon Features/FMA universe—a milestone for FMA, co-partnered by Felix Merback, Sarah Moliski (who also stars), Eric Guilmette and Rebecca Stoughton.
The timing is notable: ReelShort, owned by Silicon Valley-based Crazy Maple Studio, has been aggressively expanding across Asia through telco partnerships. The platform recently entered Southeast Asia via a deal with AIS (Thailand's largest 5G network provider) before unveiling another partnership with Philippine telecommunications giant Globe. Securing Band's catalog and new releases gives ReelShort instant credibility with horror audiences while giving Full Moon access to millions of mobile-first viewers in underserved markets.
After its ReelShort run concludes, "Models vs. Werewolves" will receive a wider release across traditional platforms—Tubi, Vudu and Prime Video channels, plus Blu-ray physical media—beginning Aug. 16. That dual-platform strategy suggests Full Moon isn't abandoning its existing distribution relationships in favor of vertical video; instead, the company is hedging its bets on multiple revenue streams simultaneously.
