David A. Prior

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David A. Prior
Born(1955-10-05)October 5, 1955
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedAugust 16, 2015(2015-08-16) (aged 59)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter, producer
Years active1983–2015
RelativesTed Prior (brother)

David A. Prior (October 5, 1955 – August 16, 2015) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer.[1] Prior started his career with the horror film Sledgehammer (1983), and the action film Killzone (1985). Shortly after, he co-founded Action International Pictures (AIP),[2] his first directorial effort with this enterprise were Deadly Prey, Aerobicide, and Mankillers released in 1987. Subsequently, Prior made action films until the late1990s.

From 2000 to 2006, Prior went on a hiatus. From 2007 to his death in 2015, he continued directing films these include Lost at War (2007), Zombie Wars (2008), Night Claws (2012), Deadliest Prey (2013), and Relentless Justice (2015).

Career[]

1983-1985: Early films[]

In 1983, David A. Prior made his directorial debut with the horror film Sledgehammer.

In 1985, he directed the action film Killzone.[3]

1987-1999: Action and horror film director[]

Around this time Prior met by veteran producer, and director David Winters and with him the founded Action International Pictures also known as AIP. In 1987, Prior's directorial efforts that AIP released were the horror film Killer Workout,[4] the action films Deadly Prey, and Mankillers. The made for VHS film gained a second audience two decades later as cult film that found its way on the internet.[5][6]

In 1988, he directed Operation Warzone, an American Vietnam War film, Night Wars and Death Chase.[7]

In 1989, he directed Rapid Fire, Future Force a science-fiction film starring David Carradine,[8] and Hell on the Battleground.

In 1990, he is credited as the director of following films White Fury, Invasion Force, The Lost Platoon, Lock 'n' Load, Invasion Force, Future Zone,(Future Force's sequel) and The Final Sanction. That year, he was credited with the screenplays for Born Killer and Deadly Dancer.[9][10]

In 1991, he produced Dark Rider and The Last Ride. That year, he wrote and directed Raw Nerve.

In 1992, he wrote and directed the film Center of the Web, starring Robert Davi, Tony Curtis, Charlene Tilton, and Charles Napier.[11] He also produced Armed for Action and Blood on the Badge, both starring Joe Estevez.[12][13]

In 1993, AIP was rebranded West Side Studios, to signal that the company would work with bigger budgets and become more mainstream.[14] With the advancements of the company, Prior directed two films. One of them is Double Threat, with Sally Kirkland and Andrew Stevens.[15] The other horror-thriller film Night Trap (which won a Gold Award at the WorldFest Houston for best Fantasy/Horror), starring Robert Davi.[16][17]

In 1994, he directed the thriller Raw Justice (which won a Bronze Award at the WorldFest Charleston for best Theatrical Feature Film – Dramatic), starring Pamela Anderson, David Keith, and Robert Hays.[18][17]

In 1995, he directed Felony and Mutant Species. Also that year he wrote Codename: Silencer.

In 1997, he produced The P.A.C.K..

In 1999, he directed Hostile Environment with Brigitte Nielsen, Matthias Hues, and Darren Shahlavi.

2000 to 2015: Hiatus and final projects[]

From 2000 to 2006, Prior was on an hiatus.[19]

In 2007, Prior returned to directing with Lost at War.[19]

On March 15, 2009, Prior's Zombie Wars, a zombie apocalypse film, screened at the first Paranoia Horror Film Festival.[20][21]

He also wrote the screenplay of The One Warrior released in 2011.

In 2012, he directed the bigfoot horror film Night Claws, starring Reb Brown.[22]

In 2013, he wrote and directed Deadliest Prey, a sequel to Deadly Prey.[23][24]

In 2015, he was as writer for the screenplay of David Winters' Dancin': It's On!.[25] Also he wrote and directed Relentless Justice the film starring Leilani Sarelle.[26][27]

Death[]

Prior died on August 16, 2015 at the age of 59. His death was described by his brother Ted as "a long battle of failing health".[28]

Filmography[]

Title Year Writer Director Producer Note
Dancin': It's On! 2015 + – –
Deadliest Prey 2013 + + +
Night Claws 2012 + + +
The One Warrior 2011 + – +
Zombie Wars 2008 + + +
Lost at War 2007 + + +
Hostile Environment 2000 – + +
The P.A.C.K. 1997 + – –
Body Count 1995 + – –
Felony 1995 + + –
Mutant Species 1995 + + +
Raw Justice 1994 + + +
Night Trap 1993 + + +
Double Threat 1993 + + +
Armed for Action 1992 – – +
Center of the Web 1992 + + +
Dark Rider 1991 – – +
Raw Nerve 1991 + + -
The Lost Platoon 1991 + + +
Presumed Guilty 1991 – – + uncredited
That's Action 1991 + + + documentary
Born Killer 1990 + – +
Deadly Dancer 1990 + �� –
The Final Sanction 1990 + + –
Future Zone 1990 + + –
Invasion Force 1990 + + –
Lock 'n' Load 1990 + + –
White Fury 1990 + + –
Future Force 1989 + + –
Hell on the Battleground 1989 + + –
Rapid Fire 1989 + + +
Jungle Assault 1989 + + +
Death Chase 1988 + + –
Night Wars 1988 + + –
Operation Warzone 1988 + + –
Deadly Prey 1987 + + –
Killer Workout 1987 + + +
Mankillers 1987 + + –
Killzone 1985 + + +
Sledgehammer 1983 + + + first shot-on-tape slasher movie

References[]

  1. ^ Massaccesi, Francesco (March 31, 2011). "Intervista a David A. Prior" (in Italian). www.nocturno.it. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  2. ^ "R.I.P. David A. Prior Dies At Age 59". Bloody Disgusting. August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  3. ^ "R.I.P. David A. Prior, direct-to-video legend and director of Deadly Prey". August 18, 2015. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  4. ^ "Blu-ray Special Features Revealed for KILLER WORKOUT, SHOCK 'EM DEAD & More". Daily Dead. August 7, 2015. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  5. ^ "INTERVIEW: David A. Prior from Deadly Prey | Cinedelphia". cinedelphia.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  6. ^ Rigney, Todd (August 18, 2015). "Killer Workout Director David A. Prior Passes Away". Dread Central. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Budnik, Daniel R. (2017). "Operation Warzone". '80s Action Movies on the Cheap. North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-7864-9741-6.
  8. ^ Budnik, Daniel R. (2017). "Future Force". '80s Action Movies on the Cheap. North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-7864-9741-6.
  9. ^ Now and Then We Time Travel: Visiting Pasts and Futures in Film and Television, By Fraser A. Sherman - Page 208 Future Zone (1990)
  10. ^ Comeuppance Reviews, 5/15/2018 - Invasion Force (1990)
  11. ^ "Center Of The Web | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  12. ^ "Armed For Action | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  13. ^ "Blood On The Badge | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  14. ^ Klein, Richard (February 26, 1993). "AIP renamed West Side Studios". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "Double Threat | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  16. ^ "Mardi Gras For The Devil | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Davis Winters". Dance Mogul Magazine. July 1, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  18. ^ "Raw Justice | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Direct-to-Video Pioneer DAVID A. PRIOR - The Career Restrospective [sic]". We Are Movie Geeks. September 12, 2018. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  20. ^ Gingold, Michael (March 5, 2009). "CA's Paranoia Fest debuts with strong movie lineup". Fangoria. Archived from the original on April 5, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  21. ^ Dendle, Peter (2012). The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia: Volume 2, 2000-2010. McFarland Publishing. pp. 232–233. ISBN 9780786461639.
  22. ^ Standal, Jeanne (November 22, 2012). "First trailer & poster for Apex Predator aka Night Claws!". FilmoFilia. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  23. ^ Tal, Tim (January 28, 2014). "Director David A. Prior talks "Deadliest Prey" (exclusive)". BZFilm.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  24. ^ "THE MUSCLE OF HORROR RETURNS! An Interview with David Prior: Deadly Director". Tavern of Terror. February 9, 2014. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  25. ^ Dancin' It's On! (DVD). Hannover House. 2014. HH4468.
  26. ^ "David A Prior |". Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  27. ^ "INTERVIEW: Bristol Bad Film Club speaks to David A. Prior, director of Deadly Prey". Bristol Bad Film Club. September 16, 2014. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  28. ^ JonathanBarkan (August 17, 2015). "R.I.P. David A. Prior Dies At Age 59". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.

Works Cited[]

  • Dendle, Peter (2012). The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia: Volume 2, 2000-2010. North Carolina: McFarland Publishing. ISBN 9780786461639.
  • Budnik, Daniel R. (2017). '80s Action Movies on the Cheap. North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. ISBN 9780786497416.

External links[]

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