Dan Lantz was born in Schenectady, New York, and spent his childhood relocating frequently before finally settling in Philadelphia, where he currently resides with his wife and three sons. His early interests in baseball and model airplanes eventually gave way to a passion for filmmaking during his high school years.
After reading a magazine article about Industrial Light & Magic, Lantz was inspired to create his own short film, which went on to secure a featured spot on Dick Clark's TV show "Bloopers and Practical Jokes," solidifying his decision to pursue a career in the television and film industry.
In 2011, Lantz directed two low-budget feature-length horror films that garnered the attention of industry professionals, leading to his involvement in the production of "Bloodrunners," a Prohibition-era vampire thriller starring Ice-T, which was released worldwide on all major platforms.
This success allowed Lantz to pursue his dream of creating a film about a medieval knight in the modern day, which resulted in the action fantasy film "Alpha Rift." The story follows a young slacker who discovers he is next in line of a long line of guardians who protect humanity from dark forces.
Lantz adapted the screenplay from an earlier work, drawing inspiration from tabletop gaming and imbuing the film with a sense of nostalgia. As a filmmaker, Lantz is committed to sincere storytelling and believes in the inherent goodness of people, stating, "I am a dreamer, not a cynic."
Most recently, Lantz directed the horror-comedy film "Hayride to Hell," which is scheduled for release in theaters in 2023.
In addition to his directing work, Lantz has also signed on to produce a slate of genre films for distributor Breaking Glass Pictures in 2023.
