Viral Nation, Kevin Healey Join Spencer Zimmerman’s HEADCASE Ahead of Fantasia World Premiere

The team behind HEADCASE gears up for Fantasia with viral power and big plans for a feature-length nightmare.

Fantasia 2025: HEADCASE Hooks Viral Nation and Kevin Healey Ahead of World Premiere

The war for clout just got bloodier.

Spencer Zimmerman’s HEADCASE, a grotesque satire about influence, image, and internet-inflicted ego death, will make its world premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival this Saturday, July 26th—and a major brand name now backs the buzz. Viral Nation, the largest creator agency in the world, has officially boarded the short film along with Scare Tactics producer Kevin Healey, with plans to expand the twisted tale into a feature.

A pitch-black comedy of errors soaked in digital desperation, HEADCASE follows Karen (Siobhan Connors), a wannabe influencer whose brand deal dreams are threatened after a hit-and-run goes sideways. Desperate to keep her image spotless, Karen spirals into a deranged blur of murder, dismemberment, and delusion. Also starring Pat Moonie (Resident Alien) and genre favorite Gigi Saul Guerrero (The Purge), the film drips with absurdity and social horror, calling out our cultish obsession with curated perfection.

Zimmerman, who has racked up behind-the-scenes credits on genre hits like Longlegs, The Monkey, and Osgood Perkins’ upcoming Keeper, directs with a chaotic confidence that’s already catching industry attention. Viral Nation’s Head of Programming Paul Telner—once a viral YouTube comedy star himself—is serving as mentor and exec producer on the feature, while Emmy and NAACP Award-winner Healey is locked in as a key producing partner.

“It’s rare when a short film evokes such a visceral and powerful response,” Healey said. “The moment I finished watching HEADCASE, I knew I wanted to help this team take the next step.”

Produced by Pedestrian Picture Co., Toaster Productions, and Key Conspirators, the HEADCASE feature is now in active development, with Zimmerman and Moonie writing and Siobhan Connors and Jessica To (Final Destination: Bloodlines) producing.

“This film is meant to be funny, provocative, and deeply discomforting,” Zimmerman says. “It entertains, but also holds up a cracked mirror to our obsession with perception.”

The short premieres July 26th at 6:15 PM inside Concordia University’s SGW Alumni Auditorium, screening alongside Kurtis David Harder’s INFLUENCERS, which was just named closing night film at FrightFest London. Expect bloody satire, bold vision, and a lot of nervous laughter.

Want more from Fantasia? Follow @HMUNCUT and @TravisNyquill for live updates, reviews, and interviews.

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