James Kondelik on Directing the Slasher Hit “Pitfall” & More

The summer movie season of 2026 is bringing serious heat to the slasher-horror genre. Opened last month in AMC theaters nationwide as of May 29th, the brutal new horror thriller Pitfall has already proven to be a massive draw. After dropping exclusively via Bloody Disgusting, the film’s intense trailer immediately racked up over three million views across platforms, signaling a huge appetite for this new nightmare.

The film boasts a fantastic, hard-hitting cast led by Richard Harmon (*Final Destination: Bloodlines, The 100) and UFC champion and action-movie veteran Randy Couture (The Expendables*).

At the helm of the carnage is director **James Kondelik*. A seasoned filmmaker in the action and thriller spaces, Kondelik’s previous credits include serving as the editor for the gritty action-thriller [Lights Out](https://paltrocast.com/f/jaime-king-on-new-film-lights-out-blue-october-lp-more) (which was featured previously on the Paltrocast*), alongside numerous other indie genre standouts.

During a recent June 2026 Zoom interview for the Paltrocast, I had the pleasure of speaking with James about bringing Pitfall to life. We discussed the process of directing a physical powerhouse like Randy Couture, the practical effects and intense kills required for a proper slasher, and his continuing evolution as a genre filmmaker.

Watch the full Paltrocast interview with James Kondelik below:

[embed]

Watch the official trailer for Pitfall:

[embed]