Popkin Productions Taps Acclaimed Designer Hojin Lee for Body Horror Film 'Meatballs'
Independent film studio Popkin Productions reunites with production designer Hojin Lee for an ambitious body horror feature, leveraging their previous award-winning collaboration to explore visceral themes of physical transformation and decay.
Popkin Productions is set to explore the grotesque boundaries of horror with its upcoming feature film 'Meatballs', reuniting with production designer Hojin Lee following their critically acclaimed short film 'The Monkey's Paw'.
The film centers on two roommates experiencing horrific physical mutations after exposure to a bioweapon, with Lee tasked with designing a claustrophobic apartment setting that visually mirrors the characters' psychological and physical deterioration. Her approach will involve creating a transformative environment that transitions from mundane realism to disturbing organic decay.
Lee, known for crafting stylized horror environments on limited budgets, previously collaborated with Popkin Productions on 'The Monkey's Paw', a short film that garnered an impressive 8.9/10 IMDb rating and recognition at multiple film festivals, including Follywood and Shockfest.
The project will require Lee to collaborate closely with practical effects, makeup, and cinematography teams to synchronize the set's evolution with character arcs. Her responsibilities include designing medical props, contaminated set pieces, and creating visual tension through strategic spatial and textural manipulation.
Production is scheduled to commence in January 2026, with pre-production beginning in November 2025. The film represents another bold step for Popkin Productions in pushing independent horror's creative boundaries, promising a haunting exploration of bodily transformation and psychological disintegration.