FEEL IT.STREAM
Robert Tinnell

Robert Tinnell

Directing

Biography

Robert Tinnell is an American filmmaker, writer, producer, and graphic novelist from Fairmont, West Virginia. Growing up in north-central West Virginia, Tinnell developed a passion for storytelling and classic genre films, particularly horror, which would strongly influence the direction of his career. His early interest in cinema led him to work across multiple facets of the industry, from producing music videos to directing feature films and later branching into the world of comics and graphic novels. Over time, he has become known as a versatile storyteller whose work bridges film, literature, and visual art. As a filmmaker, Tinnell is best recognized for directing projects that blend fantasy, horror, and heartfelt character drama. His feature Kids of the Round Table (1995) reimagined Arthurian legend through the eyes of children, while Frankenstein and Me (1996) paid direct homage to classic horror cinema. In Frankenstein and Me, he recreated iconic sets and sequences inspired by films such as Brides of Dracula and Night of the Living Dead, showcasing his deep reverence for horror history. The film went on to earn him the Best Director award at Fantasporto and remains a fan favorite, in part because it marked one of Ryan Gosling’s earliest feature film appearances. Tinnell later directed films such as Believe (2000) and produced music videos, including Paula Abdul’s MTV award-winning hit “Straight Up,” further establishing his reputation as a creative with a wide skill set. In addition to film, Tinnell has built a strong reputation in the world of comics and graphic novels. He co-created The Black Forest with Todd Livingston and Neil Vokes, a work that blended horror and World War I adventure, and went on to author acclaimed titles such as The Wicked West, The Living and the Dead, and Sight Unseen. His graphic novel Feast of the Seven Fishes—inspired by his Italian American heritage and family traditions—was nominated for an Eisner Award and brought his personal storytelling style to a wide audience. The work later served as the basis for a feature film adaptation, further connecting his careers in film and graphic literature. Tinnell’s style is marked by a consistent blending of genres and influences. He often uses pastiche and homage to honor the filmmakers and traditions that inspired him, while also weaving in personal elements from his own upbringing and cultural background. His works move fluidly between horror, fantasy, folklore, and family drama, making them distinctive within both the independent film and comics landscapes. He has earned recognition not only through award nominations, such as the Eisners and Harvey Awards, but also through his growing reputation within horror and graphic novel communities, where his stories continue to resonate. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Robert Tinnell remains closely connected to his roots and family. He is married to Shannon, and together they have two children, Isabella and Jack. His Italian heritage, particularly the traditions passed down through his mother’s side of the family, plays a meaningful role in his storytelling and personal life. Today, Tinnell continues to live and work in West Virginia, maintaining his dual focus on filmmaking and writing while inspiring new generations of creators with his cross-disciplinary body of work.

Known For

Kill Me Again
6.1

After Faye and her psychotic boyfriend, Vince, successfully rob a mob courier, Faye decides to abscond with the loot. She heads to Reno, where she hires feckless private investigator Jack Andrews to help fake her death. He pulls the scheme off and sets up Faye with a new identity, only to have her skip out on him without paying. Jack follows her to Vegas and learns he's not the only one after her. Vince has discovered that she's still alive.

Kill Me Again

1989
Armed Response
5.2

One of Tanaka's underlings has stolen a rare statuette that he had planned to use as a peace offering between the local Yakusa and Chinese Tong. He hires two private investigators to exchange ransom money to recover the statuette, but the trade goes down bad and Clay Roth is killed. This angers Roth's brothers and father, all combat veterans, and they go after the people responsible

Armed Response

1986
Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story
7.2

This is the TRUE STORY of how Heather Robinson grew up in a loving family in Illinois and, by the time she was a teen, had long known that she had been adopted as an infant. But in 2000, the then-15-year-old’s world was shattered when she learned that the man she knew as her uncle, John Robinson, was actually a serial killer accused of murdering multiple women in the Kansas City area, including her biological mother. Following her uncle’s arrest, Heather learns the shocking truth about her birth mother’s disappearance.

Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story

2025
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
7.5

Join foremost experts discussing true Horror Classics - Frankenstein, Dracula, The Black Cat, Wolfman, King Kong, Bride of Frankenstein, and more. Grab the popcorn and take a deep breath as we conjure up the thrills, chills and magic of Monster Madness!

Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film

2014
Feast of the Seven Fishes
6.6

A slice of life story that follows a large Italian family on Christmas Eve as they prepare for the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes, reminisce about the past and seek love in the future.

Feast of the Seven Fishes

2019
Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror
7.3

Explore the most legendary horror studio of all time with this fascinating, frightening journey hosted by terror titans Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. England's most successful independent film company, the "fear factory" of Hammer Studios, has a history filled with feuds, censorship battles and streaks of luck both good and bad. Now the legacy of horror returns, featuring interviews with such Hammer legends as Raquel Welch, Veronica Carlson, Caroline Munro, Ingrid Pitt, Jimmy Sangster, Hazel Court, Martine Beswicke, Freddie Francis, Val Guest and Ray Harryhausen. Plus you'll be treated to behind-the-scenes home movies and nonstop shock scenes from over 40 classic films, including Horror of Dracula, Curse of Frankenstein, The Devil Rides Out, Curse of the Werewolf and many more! It's the definitive study of one of the greatest names in horror!

Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror

1994
Star Slammer
3.9

Two women who have been unjustly confined to a prison planet plot their escape, all the while having to put up with unhinged guards, crazed wardens and mutant rodents.

Star Slammer

1986
Frankenstein and Me
5.4

Earl Williams is a dreamer teenager obsessed with monsters, who fantasizes his life as if he were living in the world of the monsters of Universal Studios. Although being an excellent student, his intolerant and nasty school teacher Mrs. Perdue does not like him and punishes him for any minor fault. His supportive father Les Williams is also a dreamer, who has never been successful in life. When his father dies, his mother becomes lost with two boys, and tries to change the behavior of Earl. One day, the boy finds the "true Frankenstein" lost by a Carnival, and decides to bring the monster back to life.

Frankenstein and Me

1996
Airspeed
4.3

When wealthy executive Raymond Stone sends out his private plane to pick up his spoiled teenage daughter, Nicole, and a pair of his top-ranking employees, disaster strikes. While the jet flies through an electrical storm, the pilot and other passengers are incapacitated, and Nicole is left on her own to keep the plane in the air, guided by an air traffic controller. Can the irresponsible and panic-stricken teen find a way to land the jet?

Airspeed

1998
Back Fork
5.5

When the strain of tragedy was too much for a young couple in Appalachia, prescription pills became the medicine to ease the pain.

Back Fork

2019
The Hunted
5.1

Chasing their dream of landing their own hunting show, Jake and Stevie head to the dense, secluded mountains of West Virginia. Equipped with only their bow and camera, they have just three days to kill a monster buck big enough to grab the attention of the network...and they've found him. But the sun has set, and they realize they're not alone.

The Hunted

2014
Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story
6.1

After a masked intruder assaults Morgan Metzer in her home, her estranged husband, Rodney, shows up minutes later. Questioned by the authorities, Rodney's story doesn't seem to add up, making him the prime suspect in the attack.

Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story

2024
Surf Nazis Must Die
3.9

When a Black oil well worker is killed by a band of California neo-Nazis, his gun-wielding grandmother busts out of her retirement home to avenge him.

Surf Nazis Must Die

1987
Kids of the Round Table
5.1

Set in modern times, Alex finds King Arthur's sword Excalibur and must prove himself worthy of it.

Kids of the Round Table

1995
Believe
5.5

After being continually kicked out of boarding schools, Ben is sent to live with his stern Grandfather in a small town. Almost as soon as he arrives he begins to see the ghost of a woman around his grandfather's house. He also gets to know a girl named Kathrine and the two fast become friends. They both want to help the ghost who holds a connection to both of their families. As they research the past, Ben and Katherine find out that sometimes all you need to do to help someone is to believe.

Believe

2000
The Bad Guardian
7.2

A woman tries to save her father from a corrupt and greedy court-appointed guardian.

The Bad Guardian

2024
Grindsploitation
5.1

Exploitation anthology from the twisted minds of established and up and coming directors from across the globe.

Grindsploitation

2016
Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders, and Drive-Ins
6.0

From THINGS to BODY SNATCHERS to CREATURES FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, sci-fi monsters dominated 1950s horror. Take a ride to an era of drive-ins, Red Scares, low budgets and big bugs with SPACE INVADERS AND DRIVE INS.

Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders, and Drive-Ins

2014
A Rose for Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story
6.6

Lori becomes distraught when her best friend, Cindy Roth, drowns under mysterious circumstances while on a trip with her husband, Randy. Determined to honor Cindy and learn the truth, she starts to uncover disturbing evidence from Randy's past.

A Rose for Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story

2023
No image
N/A

After being stranded in a boat on a country river, three siblings are stalked by a faceless killer.

River