Campfire Talk: Inside the Chaos & Charm of Marshmallow with Daniel Del Purgatorio & Cast

The Marshmallow cast and director bring summer mischief and horror nostalgia to Panic Fest 2025.

If there’s one film at Panic Fest 2025 that perfectly captures the mix of summer nostalgia, scary stories, and that wild freedom you only find when the adults aren’t looking—it’s Marshmallow.

We caught up with director Daniel Del Purgatorio and the young stars of the film—Kai Cech, Kue Lawrence, and Dylan Freidman—inside Rewind Video, a space that felt eerily perfect for a movie that plays like a lost VHS tape from the weirdest camp you never attended.

The kids rolled in with energy, snacks, and the kind of stories only child actors at a horror fest can carry. Between juggling school, shooting, and building an entire world of campfire mythos, they managed to deliver one of the most entertaining, thoughtful, and fun performances of the festival.

The conversation with Daniel and the cast turned immediately to camp—real ones. Each of the kids had their own version of what camp meant to them, from staying up late with flashlights and bunkmate dares to trying (and failing) to follow the rules when no one was watching. It’s those chaotic, memory-packed experiences that helped them lock into the vibe of Marshmallow. That perfect storm of mischief, freedom, and something just a little bit sinister.

Daniel and co-writer Andy clearly tapped into that same wavelength when crafting the film’s layered narrative. Told in three parts, Marshmallow morphs constantly—what starts as a simple story about kids at a spooky camp turns into something more intense, more surreal, and definitely more grown-up. There’s confidence in how it all unravels, and it’s easy to see that every twist was stitched together with intention. This isn’t just a camp horror movie—it’s a memory box cracked open and dipped in shadow.

But don’t get it twisted—this set wasn’t all serious story threads and emotional arcs. The kids had fun. You can see it in every scene. From goofing around between takes to getting physical in the film’s more intense moments (yes, they do get a little rough with the adults), the cast made it very clear they were living their best life out there in the woods. They even got to say a few curse words—always a big moment for young actors on a project with teeth.

The biggest challenge? Time. With school obligations and child labor laws, the crew had a tight window to get the film made. But somehow, that urgency gave the movie an energy you can feel in every frame. No filler, no dragging—it just moves. Fast, funny, and full of weird, pulpy menace.

And let’s not forget—The Doctor. You’ll know exactly who that is once you see the film. There’s already an action figure on the way. Between the yellow camp shirts making their way around the festival floor and the marshmallow fights happening in the lobby, this thing already feels like it’s turning into a cult hit before it’s even hit theaters.

Marshmallow is a standout. Full stop. A film that reminds you why we love these kinds of stories—because they belong to us. The ones we told in whispers. The ones that made us sleep with the lights on. The ones that hit different when you were out of school, away from your parents, and completely unsupervised.

It hits theaters in just a few weeks. Until then, throw on your yellow camp shirt, hit the lake, and get ready. This one’s sticky in all the right ways.