Director/writer/producer Jeff Burr was born in 1961 in Aurora, Ohio, a city that would later shape his creative vision. Growing up in Dalton, Georgia, Burr's fascination with low-budget independent movies led him to frequent the local drive-in theater, where he would absorb the cinematic stories that would later inspire his own filmmaking endeavors. As a young boy, Burr's creative expression took the form of Super-8 pictures, a medium that allowed him to experiment with storytelling and visual composition.
Burr's educational pursuits took him to the University of Southern California, where he spent three years honing his craft alongside fellow student and aspiring filmmaker Kevin Meyer. It was during this time that the duo dropped out of USC to collaborate on the acclaimed Civil War drama, Divided We Fall (1982),a project that would go on to win numerous awards at various film festivals worldwide.
In 1987, Burr made his directorial debut with the chilling horror anthology, From a Whisper to a Scream (1987),a film that showcased his ability to craft a sense of unease and tension. He would go on to direct a string of above-average horror sequels, including Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy (1989),Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990),Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1994),and the fourth and fifth installments of the Puppetmaster franchise (Puppet Master 4, 1993, and Puppet Master 5, 1994).
Burr's more recent output has been a mixed bag, ranging from the mediocre Phantom Town (1999) to the outright terrible The Devil's Den (2006). However, his gritty and harrowing World War II action drama, Straight Into Darkness (2004),stands out as a career highlight. In addition to directing, Burr has also appeared in small roles in films such as The Mangler Reborn (2005),Dark Asylum (2001),High Tomb (1995),and Fear of a Black Hat (1993).
