Birthdate: Mar 18, 1987
Birthplace: Bath, Ohio
Parker Finn (birthname: Parker J. Finn) is a writer-director specializing in the horror genre. After finishing filmmaking studies at Chapman University, Finn gained considerable acclaim on the indie horror festival circuit for his debut short film, The Hidebehind (2018). Finn soon followed with a second short film, Laura Hasn’t Slept (2020), which won a Special Jury Recognition Award in the South by Southwest Film Festival’s Midnight Short section.
Finn fashioned a feature-length version of Laura Hasn’t Slept, the psychological horror feature, Smile (originally titled Something’s Wrong with Rose) (2022), released by Paramount Pictures (and produced via Paramount Players and Temple Hill Entertainment) and starring Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kal Penn, and Rob Morgan.
Parker Finn was born and raised in northern Ohio. He attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing. His studies continued at Chapman University in Orange, California, where he earned an MFA degree. Finn currently lives in Los Angeles.
Nominee, Gold Hugo, Chicago International Film Festival (2020); Winner, Special Jury Award, SXSW Film Festival (2020).
Influences: Parker Finn has noted that his main influences are Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, and Stephen King.