John Carl Buechler

John Carl Buechler

1952-06-18 Belleville, Illinois, USA 98 Credits

Biography

John Carl Buechler (pronounced Beekler) was an American director, actor, and special effects and makeup artist. He was born in Belleville, Illinois, and is probably best known for directing Troll (1986), Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (1990) and 2006The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (200&). John Carl Buechler was born on June 1, 1952, in Belleville (Illinois), and he died on March 18, 2019, in Los Angeles (Califronia).

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Wizardream

Wizardream

2025

Director

Directing

A fantasy/science-fiction/sword'n'sorcery film from director John Carl Buechler. Shot in 2013 and still unreleased, this is a follow up to Trolls.

Cutter's Club

Cutter's Club

2025

Special Effects

A pair of young student doctors get involved in a secret society of surgery fetishists and monster makers called the "Cutters Club", overseen by the m...

Beneath the Black Veil

Beneath the Black Veil

2019

as Mr. Jensen

0.5
Acting

After losing their child in a horrific accident, Aaron and Genna's once idyllic life is turned upside down. They begin to question how a loving God co...

To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story

To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story

2017

as Self

7.9
Acting

To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story is the harrowing story of a stuntman overcoming a dehumanizing childhood filled with torment and bullying in S...

Troll Empire

2015

as Self

Acting

A "making of" the first Troll Movie

Behind the Mask: The Making of The Phantom of the Opera

Behind the Mask: The Making of The Phantom of the Opera

2015

as Self

Acting

Behind the scenes feature for 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1989). Included on the Shout! Factory blu-ray.

Catch of the Day

Catch of the Day

2014

as Detective Martin Spangler

5.5
Acting

Officer Rod Davis becomes embedded undercover when a cartel starts bringing drugs into the city through fish shipments. He soon finds himself and his ...

Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th

Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th

2013

as Self

7.9
Acting

Taking inspiration from Peter M. Bracke's definitive book of the same name, this seven-hour documentary dives into the making of all twelve Friday the...

Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever

Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever

2012

as Self

5.5
Acting

A celebration of slasher cinema - from PSYCHO to the present day, with a focus on highlighting many of the genre's forgotten cult classics, deconstruc...

Hallow Pointe

2010

as Lazlo

2.0
Acting

The film is centered around Madeline’s Closet, a quaint bed and breakfast hidden away from the world on a forgotten dirt road in the woods. Henry and ...

Hallow Pointe

2010

Creative Producer

2.0
Producing

The film is centered around Madeline’s Closet, a quaint bed and breakfast hidden away from the world on a forgotten dirt road in the woods. Henry and ...

Hatchet II

Hatchet II

2010

as Jack Cracker

5.5
Acting

Picking up right where the original ended, Marybeth escapes the clutches of the swamp-dwelling killer Victor Crowley. After learning the truth about h...

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

2010

as Self

7.8
Acting

For decades, Freddy Krueger has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters, scaring up over half a billion dollars at the box office a...

His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th

His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th

2010

as Self

6.8
Acting

A retrospective documentary about the groundbreaking horror series, Friday the 13th, featuring interviews with cast and crew from the twelve films spa...

Gingerdead Man 2: The Passion of the Crust

Gingerdead Man 2: The Passion of the Crust

2008

as Orson Biggs

4.7
Acting

The horrifying yet delicious and chewy Gingerdead Man causes murder and mayhem on the set of a horrible low budget movie set. It will take the determi...

Evil Bong

Evil Bong

2006

as Gingerdead Man Puppeteer / Voice

3.4
Acting

Straight-laced nerd Alistair moves into a college dorm with hardcore marijuana users, who order an old giant bong that proves to have strange magical ...

The Eden Formula

The Eden Formula

2006

Director, Writer

2.5
Directing Writing

When industry spies break into a top secret lab at Calgorin Industries, they accidentlally let a T-Rex loose, which wreaks havoc into the lab before b...

Hatchet

Hatchet

2006

as Jack Cracker

5.8
Acting

When a group of tourists on a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a ...

Hatchet

Hatchet

2006

Special Effects

5.8

When a group of tourists on a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a ...

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

2006

Writer, Director

3.6
Writing Directing

After successfully curing a primate's heart condition, Dr. Henry Jeckyll develops a personality-enhancing serum for himself which inadvertently create...

Saurian

Saurian

2006

Director, Writer

1.0
Directing Writing

FBI agents with the Paranormal Intelligence Team try to put a stop to the havoc being wreaked on the world by reptilian beings who have taken human fo...

The Gingerdead Man

The Gingerdead Man

2005

Special Effects

4.0

An evil yet adorable Gingerbread man comes to life with the soul of a convicted killer, and this real life cookie monster wreaks havoc on the girl who...

Mortuary

Mortuary

2005

Special Effects

4.4

A family moves to a small town in California where they plan on starting a new life while running a long-abandoned funeral home. The locals fear the p...

Friday the 13th: From Crystal Lake to Manhattan (Crystal Lake Victims Tell All - Documentary)

Friday the 13th: From Crystal Lake to Manhattan (Crystal Lake Victims Tell All - Documentary)

2004

as Self

7.0
Acting

Behind-the-scenes featurette detailing the production of the 'Friday The 13th' movies.

The Friday the 13th Chronicles

The Friday the 13th Chronicles

2004

as Self

8.2
Acting

Behind-the-scenes featurette detailing the production of the 'Friday The 13th' movies.

Secrets Galore Behind the Gore

2004

as Himself

Acting

Behind the scenes of Friday the 13th.

Vampires: Out For Blood

Vampires: Out For Blood

2004

Makeup Supervisor

4.2

In the dark, throbbing world of underground raves, people are vanishing without a trace and Detective Hank Holten is the only one who knows the terrib...

Countess Dracula's Orgy of Blood

Countess Dracula's Orgy of Blood

2004

Special Effects

5.2

Southern California 1897: While Dumas is in the parlor cleaning his gun, his sister Roxanne is in the bedroom being seduced by the lusty vampiress...

Grandpa's Place

Grandpa's Place

2004

Director

2.0
Directing

Jason and Grandpa are in Grandpa's basement where they enjoy an afternoon of imagination, fun and learning.

Dr. Moreau's House of Pain

Dr. Moreau's House of Pain

2004

Special Effects Makeup Artist

3.7

In a big mansion, a scientist has been experimenting with humans and animals, mixing their DNA together.

A Light in the Forest

A Light in the Forest

2003

Director, Writer

Directing Writing

Britta, the new girl in school Highland, has reason to be jubilant this Christmas: Her sadness has served to invoke Holly Boy, the holiday spirit, wak...

The Mummy's Kiss

The Mummy's Kiss

2003

Special Effects Makeup Artist

3.5

Eternally cursed and mummified by the pharaoh for pursuing the love of his daughter, Hat-Em-Akhet, Hor-Shep-Sut lies in quiet slumber waiting for the...

Dark Wolf

Dark Wolf

2003

Special Effects

3.1

A vicious werewolf stalks the streets of Los Angeles. Between killings, its desperate goal is to mate with unsuspecting Josie, who is unaware of her s...

Curse of the Forty-Niner

Curse of the Forty-Niner

2002

Director, Special Effects

4.2
Directing

A group of friends discover gold deep inside an old mine. But by taking the gold and think they've hit it big, they awaken a long dead miner who's Hel...

Deep Freeze

Deep Freeze

2002

Director, Producer, Special Effects

3.9
Directing Producing

A deadly creature terrorizes a team of researchers at an isolated Antarctic laboratory.

After the Storm

After the Storm

2001

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Special Effects

3.5

On the run from smugglers and the police, world-weary scavenger Arno (Benjamin Bratt) takes a job as a courier for a tycoon. But when the tycoon's yac...

Watchers Reborn

Watchers Reborn

1998

Director, Special Effects

4.7
Directing

An extra-smart dog and detective team up to stop a DNA enhanced killer.

Alien Escape

Alien Escape

1997

Makeup Designer

2.8

Cindy and her beautiful friends are on vacation when they are assaulted by a ruthless gang of aliens attempting to take control of Earth. The friends ...

Carnosaur 3: Primal Species

Carnosaur 3: Primal Species

1996

Special Effects

4.0

International terrorists get a surprise when their cargo turns out to contain living dinosaurs. The army commando team now have to think fast, if they...

Freeway

Freeway

1996

Special Effects Makeup Artist

6.4

Following the arrest of her mother, Ramona, young Vanessa Lutz decides to go in search of her estranged grandmother. On the way, she is given a ride b...

Inhumanoid

Inhumanoid

1996

Special Effects

6.0

A family of three is travelling in space, when they encounter a stranded spaceship. They manage to pull out one survivor (Grieco) who's in shock. Howe...

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

1995

Makeup Effects Designer

5.2

Six years after being kidnapped by a cult, Jamie tries to escape the clutches of her serial killer uncle, Michael Myers.

Not of This Earth

Not of This Earth

1995

as The Other

4.0
Acting

An anemic alien comes to Earth from a dying planet, in the remake of the Corman 50s classic.

Bikini Drive-In

Bikini Drive-In

1995

Special Effects

5.1

Kim Taylor inherits her grandfather's drive-in theatre. She must raise $25,000 over one weekend or the bank will take the property from her. She also...

Scanner Cop II

Scanner Cop II

1995

Makeup Designer

5.3

When other Scanners in the Los Angeles area are left drained of life, Sam is forced back into action in a desperate attempt to stop Volkin, who is det...

The Fear

The Fear

1995

Special Effects

3.9

Richard, a college student who has decided to focus his attention on the study of fear, invites a group of friends up to his family's secluded mountai...

Project: Metalbeast

Project: Metalbeast

1995

Special Effects, Makeup Designer

4.4

With the medical breakthrough of a metal-based synthetic skin called "bio-ferron" the prospect for pioneering surgeries for burn victims and cancer pa...

Tammy and the T-Rex

Tammy and the T-Rex

1994

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Makeup Effects

5.0

An evil scientist implants the brain of a murdered high school student into an animatronic Tyrannosaurus, who later wreaks vengeance on the bullies wh...

Biohazard: The Alien Force

Biohazard: The Alien Force

1994

Special Effects

1.5

Triton Indutries has created a genetically-engineered creature using DNA from human sources. During the course of the experiment, however, the host mo...

Scanner Cop

Scanner Cop

1994

Special Effects Supervisor, Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.8

Rookie cop Sam Staziak has a unique gift: he is a Scanner, which gives him the power to read the thoughts of others, and also to inflict great bodily ...

Dinosaur Island

Dinosaur Island

1994

Special Effects

4.4

Welcome to lush Dinosaur Island, where a tribe of gorgeous cavedwelling warrior women satisfy the exotic fantasies of five downed military airmen. Fea...

Necronomicon

Necronomicon

1993

Special Effects Supervisor

6.0

H.P. Lovecraft anthology is divided into four segments: "The Library" which is the wraparound segment involving Lovecraft's research into the Book of ...

Carnosaur

Carnosaur

1993

Special Effects

4.2

After being driven to extinction, great bloodthirsty dinosaurs come back to life with the assistance of a demented genetic scientist. She plans to rep...

Red Rock West

Red Rock West

1993

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Makeup Effects

6.7

When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialize in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife...

Seedpeople

Seedpeople

1992

Second Unit Director of Photography, Special Effects

4.4
Directing

The citizens of Comet Valley are being taken over by seeds from an alien plant that has taken root there. A sheriff investigates the strange goings-on...

Demonic Toys

Demonic Toys

1992

Second Unit Director

5.3
Directing

While on a stakeout, Judith Gray, a beautiful, tough cop, is trapped inside a warehouse full of toys that have been awakened to murderous life by a st...

Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College

Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College

1990

Director, Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.2
Directing

A college teacher brings the little creatures back to his campus, where they proceed to terrorize the faculty and students.

The Sleeping Car

The Sleeping Car

1990

as The Mister

4.7
Acting

Jason moves into an abandoned train car where he resurrects the vicious ghost of his landlady's dead husband... The Mister. After some near-fatal enco...

The Sleeping Car

The Sleeping Car

1990

Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.7

Jason moves into an abandoned train car where he resurrects the vicious ghost of his landlady's dead husband... The Mister. After some near-fatal enco...

Robot Jox

Robot Jox

1989

Makeup Effects

5.6

50 years after a nuclear war, the two superpowers handle territorial disputes in a different way. Each fields a giant robot to fight one-on-one battle...

Arena

Arena

1989

Creature Design

5.2

An intergalactic fighting competition between champions of various worlds has traditionally been won by a species much larger and stronger than humans...

The Laughing Dead

The Laughing Dead

1989

Special Effects Makeup Artist

3.0

A busload of travelers and their disgraced priest tour guide, on the hunt for Aztec ruins, decide to stop in a Mexican village on the eve of the Day o...

To Die For

To Die For

1988

Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.0

L.A. real estate agent Kate Wooten gets a new lease on life when she learns that her new client, a mysterious and handsome man named Vlad, is looking ...

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

1988

Makeup Effects Designer

6.2

Michael returns to Haddonfield for Jamie Lloyd – the orphaned daughter of Laurie Strode – and her babysitter Rachel. Can Dr. Loomis stop him before th...

Cellar Dweller

Cellar Dweller

1988

Makeup Effects, Creature Design, Director

4.9
Directing

In the 1950s, a horror-comic artist's creations come alive and kill him. Years later a new cartoonist revives the creatures in his house, now part of ...

Ghost Town

Ghost Town

1988

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Special Effects, Special Effects Supervisor

5.0

Deputy Langley tracks a kidnapped girl to an abandoned ghost town. However, the town is not abandoned, but haunted by the spirits of an outlaw, Devlin...

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood

1988

Director, Line Producer

5.5
Directing Producing

Tina Shepard, a telekinetic teenage girl, accidentally unchains Jason from his watery grave, allowing him to go on another killing spree in the area.

Demonwarp

Demonwarp

1988

Creature Design, Story

3.9
Writing

A man and his daughter are attacked in the woods by what they believe is a Bigfoot-type creature. However, they soon begin to suspect that they may ha...

Trancers: City of Lost Angels

Trancers: City of Lost Angels

1988

Special Effects

6.0

Jack Deth, the super cop from the future, has put away three centuries worth of time traveling criminals. But Deth's most dangerous collar, the ultra...

Pulse Pounders

Pulse Pounders

1988

Makeup Designer

4.8

In this 'sequel' anthology, the film offers a TRANCERS sequel written by original creators Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo, a new Lovecraft adaptation THE...

Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity

Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity

1987

Special Effects, Creature Design

4.8

In the future, two slaves in a distant galaxy escape prison and crash-land on a strange planet. They meet Zed, whose hospitality attempts to hide the ...

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie

1987

Makeup Artist

3.5

Seven disgusting kids but nevertheless of interesting personality are being made of the green mud coming out of garbage can. Once alive their master g...

The Caller

The Caller

1987

Special Effects Supervisor, Special Effects Makeup Artist, Special Effects

5.9

One night, an unusual stranger in need (Malcolm McDowell) asks a woman living alone in a house in the woods if he can use her phone. It soon becomes c...

Vicious Lips

Vicious Lips

1987

Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.9

Sometime in the distant future, a fledgling band gets an opportunity for a breakthrough, if they can make it in time to a faraway planet to perform in...

Dolls

Dolls

1986

Special Effects Makeup Artist

6.4

A precocious girl, her nasty parents, two punk-rock losers and a weak-kneed salesman inadvertently become the guests of two ghoulish senior citizens i...

From Beyond

From Beyond

1986

Special Effects Coordinator

6.5

The Resonator, a powerful machine that can control the sixth sense, has killed its creator and sent his associate into an insane asylum. When a beauti...

TerrorVision

TerrorVision

1986

Special Effects

5.8

Stanley Putterman installs a state-of-the-art satellite dish in his backyard, soon unleashing a strange monster that leaps off the screen and needs to...

Eliminators

Eliminators

1986

Makeup Effects, Special Effects, Makeup Designer

4.9

A former pilot rebels against his creator, teaming up with the scientist responsible for android technology, her pet robot Spot, a rough-and-tumble ri...

Troll

Troll

1986

as Sorcerer (uncredited)

5.0
Acting

When a family moves into a San Francisco apartment, an opportunistic troll decides to make his move and take possession of little Wendy, thereby pavin...

Troll

Troll

1986

Director, Story, Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.0
Directing Writing

When a family moves into a San Francisco apartment, an opportunistic troll decides to make his move and take possession of little Wendy, thereby pavin...

Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors

Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors

1986

as Self

7.0
Acting

Actors, directors and special effects technicians are interviewed at a horror-film convention.

Re-Animator

Re-Animator

1985

Special Effects Makeup Artist

7.1

Conducting clandestine experiments within the morgue at Miskatonic University, scientist Herbert West reveals to a fellow graduate student his groundb...

Fright Show

Fright Show

1985

as (segment "The Thing in the Basement")

3.7
Acting

Two obscure film critics host four SF/Horror films: The Thing in the Basement, Illegal Alien, Nightfright, and Dr. Dobermind.

Fright Show

Fright Show

1985

Makeup Artist

3.7

Two obscure film critics host four SF/Horror films: The Thing in the Basement, Illegal Alien, Nightfright, and Dr. Dobermind.

Zone Troopers

Zone Troopers

1985

Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.3

American soldiers, led by The Sarge, are stuck behind Nazi enemy lines. As they make their way across the Italian countryside, they come across an ali...

Hard Rock Zombies

Hard Rock Zombies

1985

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Second Unit Director, Special Effects Supervisor

3.7
Directing

A hard rock band travels to the tiny and remote town of Grand Guignol to perform. Peopled by hicks, rubes, werewolves, murderous dwarves, sex perverts...

Ghoulies

Ghoulies

1985

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Creature Design

4.9

A young man and his girlfriend move into the man's old mansion home, where he becomes possessed by a need to control ancient demons.

Trancers

Trancers

1984

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Special Effects

5.9

Angel City trooper Jack Deth is sent back in time from 2247 to 1985 L.A. to inhabit the body of his ancestor. Deth's assignment is to find his archene...

The Dungeonmaster

The Dungeonmaster

1984

Director, Writer, Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.9
Directing Writing

Paul, a computer whiz who spends more time with his machine than with his girlfriend, finds that he has been chosen as a worthy opponent for Mestema, ...

The Prey

The Prey

1983

Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.3

Three couples go on a camping trip in the woods of southern California during the summer, where a deformed man is stalking their camp.

Deathstalker

Deathstalker

1983

Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.7

The warrior Deathstalker is tasked by an old witch lady to obtain and unite the three powers of creation - a chalice, an amulet, and a sword - lest th...

Love Letters

Love Letters

1983

Makeup Artist

5.7

After discovering a box of old love letters sent to her mother by a mysterious stranger, Anna, a young radio deejay, begins a torrid affair with a mar...

The Horror of It All

The Horror of It All

1983

as Self

8.0
Acting

A collection of film clips from horror movies and interviews with the actors and directors who made them.

Forbidden World

Forbidden World

1982

Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.2

In the distant future, a federation marshal arrives at a research lab on a remote planet where a genetic experiment has gotten loose and begins feedin...

Sorceress

Sorceress

1982

Creature Design

4.4

To maintain his powers, the evil wizard Traigon must sacrifice his firstborn child to the god Caligara. His wife, however, has other ideas and runs aw...

Stingray

Stingray

1978

as The Flamer

5.7
Acting

Lonigan and his partner Tony, two drug dealers, shoot two cops who attempt to set them up, and run away with a million bucks and the drugs, which they...

Stingray

Stingray

1978

Makeup Artist

5.7

Lonigan and his partner Tony, two drug dealers, shoot two cops who attempt to set them up, and run away with a million bucks and the drugs, which they...

Celluloid Wizards in the Video Wasteland: The Saga of Empire Pictures

Celluloid Wizards in the Video Wasteland: The Saga of Empire Pictures

N/A

as Self

Acting

The official feature-length documentary about the rise and fall of Charles Band's legendary Empire Pictures studio.