Jason Paul Collum was born on July 15, 1973, in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and raised in Racine. As a child, he was drawn to horror films, a passion that started when he was 12 years old. Collum began making short films in his teens, with his first project, Dead Women Don’t Wear Shoes, completed in 1990. He graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in Racine in 1991 and later earned a degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 1996.
Collum moved to California after college to pursue a career in filmmaking. He quickly made a name for himself in the horror genre, writing and directing films such as October Moon (2005), which became the first gay-themed horror franchise. He also made documentaries, including Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres. Collum has written articles for magazines like Fangoria and Exploitation Nation and authored several books, such as Assault of the Killer Bs.
Despite moving to California, Collum’s ties to Racine remain significant. October Moon and its sequel were filmed in Racine and Kenosha counties, with characters based on people he knew. His work continues to be influential in the indie horror community. Jason Collum’s contributions to the genre and his connection to Racine make him an important figure in both film and local history.
