Jeff Barker’s “Medium Rare” Horror Short Casts Dane Cook and Lesley Ann Warren

Jeff Barker, a screenwriter and former nurse practitioner, is writing and directing the psychological-horror short film Medium Rare. The story follows a man trapped inside a bar as reality unravels around him. Production is slated to begin in Los Angeles later this summer. The film stars comedian Dane Cook in the lead role and Academy-Award-nominated actress Lesley Ann Warren. Additional casting has not yet been announced.

Hollywood Reporter

Jeff Barker’s involvement follows the breakout success of Obsession, a feature horror film written and directed by his 26-year-old son Curry Barker. Jeff served as a script consultant on *Obsession* and contributed a monologue that appears in the movie. After *Obsession*’s triumph, Jeff left his full-time position as a nurse practitioner to pursue screenwriting full-time. Curry has emphasized a family-centric approach to his career, noting that “we wrote a screenplay together called *Deep Snow*, which I actually do plan on one day pursuing.”

Vulture

*Medium Rare* is produced by Jacob Yakob and Mehrodod Heydari of LD Entertainment, Alex Bretow and Kourosh Ahari of Mammoth Pictures, Lee Roy Kunz of World’s Fair Pictures, and Chuck Shaughnessy. Cook is represented by CAA, Management Production Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen. The short is expected to shoot in Los Angeles during the summer months, with post-production to follow.

Hollywood Reporter

Jeff Barker said he is “honored by the team of people helping me bring this project to life.” Cook announced the collaboration on social media, adding that the short is “just the start of it” and promising further developments.

Vulture

• “Medium Rare is a short story I wrote eight years ago. I’m honored by the team of people helping me bring this project to life,” — Jeff Barker, Screenwriter/Director

Hollywood Reporter

• “And this is just the start of it,” he wrote.” — Dane Cook, Comedian

Vulture

• “We wrote a screenplay together called Deep Snow, which I actually do plan on one day pursuing,” — Curry Barker, Director

Vulture

The project marks Jeff Barker’s transition from healthcare to horror filmmaking, extending the Barker family’s growing presence in the genre.

Hollywood Reporter