Dread Central
The 4th of July 2006 marked the birth of Dread Central. A planned horror-themed cable television channel had stalled before it could launch. The web team behind that project decided to pivot instead of waiting for a network deal. They established their own news site dedicated to horror fiction. This new platform covered films, comics, novels, and toys from its first day online. Brad Miska later became the publication's owner in early 2026. Josh Korngut joined as editorial director shortly after in 2025.
Staff members adopted horror-themed aliases rather than using real names on the site. Steve Persall wrote about the outlet in the Tampa Bay Times during 2013. He noted that if something gushed blood or desecrated flesh, Dread Central covered it. The website maintained a broad focus ranging from mainstream hits to fringe topics. It favored edgy and exploitative films according to industry observers. The demographic leaned heavily toward male readers. Celebrity supporters included John Carpenter, Gale Anne Hurd, Sid Haig, Adam Green, and Darren Lynn Bousman.
The site won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award four times over its history. These accolades recognized its contribution to horror media coverage. In 2008, AMC selected Dread Central as Site of the Week. This recognition highlighted the growing influence of independent horror news outlets. The awards validated the staff's commitment to covering niche genres. Their work stood out among general entertainment sites. The repeated wins demonstrated consistent quality in their reporting.
Dread Central launched Horror D'Oeuvres in 2007 alongside VersusMedia. This competition invited submissions for independent short films. A year later, they partnered with other prominent horror sites for an auction benefiting the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The organization raised money through these themed sales events. In 2013, they organized a ghost hunt at the William Heath Davis House with Gas Lamp Museum and San Diego Ghost Hunters. Proceeds supported upkeep for that historic location. They also began offering Box of Dread monthly subscriptions. Subscribers received random merchandise packages each month. One subscriber was randomly chosen to receive a special edition valued at $250.
Epic Pictures Group acquired Dread Central Media in 2017. The independent studio planned to launch a new distribution label specializing in horror films. These films would be released both in theaters and on demand. On the 29th of January 2019, the label officially renamed itself DREAD. Significant releases included Terrifier, Benny Loves You, Tales of Halloween, and The Lodgers. Other titles featured Satanic Hispanics, The Jester, Nina Forever, Harpoon, Beezel, Bad Candy, The Lake, and Howling Village. The label expanded the reach of indie horror cinema.
The DREAD Podcast Network launched diverse free audio series celebrating all things horror. Notable talent included The Boulet Brothers, Mick Garris, and Mark Ramsay. Their podcasts covered topics like Development Hell, Dark Sanctum, Scarred for Life, Girl That's Scary, Kim and Ket Stay Alive, Post Mortem with Mick Garris, and Creatures of the Night. This expansion allowed fans to engage with content through audio formats. The network grew the brand beyond written articles. It created new opportunities for community interaction.
DreadXP was founded in 2019 by Dread Central founder Jon Condit. Editor in chief Ted Hentschke oversaw this video gaming website division. The platform focused on editorial reviews, podcasts, and original streaming content. In 2020, DreadXP began publishing games with the release of Dread X Collection. This anthology featured horror video games from several indie developers. Hunter Bond and Brian Clarke took charge at DreadXP in early 2024. Significant releases included The Mortuary Assistant, Sucker4Love: First Date, Amanda the Adventurer, Amanda the Adventurer 2, Amanda the Adventurer 3, Heartworm, My Friendly Neighborhood, White Knuckle, and Dread Delusion.
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Common questions
When was Dread Central founded and what project led to its creation?
Dread Central launched on the 4th of July 2006 after a planned horror-themed cable television channel stalled. The web team behind that project decided to pivot instead of waiting for a network deal and established their own news site dedicated to horror fiction.
Who owns Dread Central and when did Brad Miska take over ownership?
Brad Miska became the publication's owner in early 2026 following his acquisition of the platform. Josh Korngut joined as editorial director shortly after in 2025 to oversee content direction.
What awards has Dread Central won and how many times have they received the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award?
The website won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award four times over its history. These accolades recognized its contribution to horror media coverage and validated the staff's commitment to covering niche genres.
Which films were released under the DREAD label after Epic Pictures Group acquired Dread Central Media in 2017?
Significant releases included Terrifier, Benny Loves You, Tales of Halloween, and The Lodgers. Other titles featured Satanic Hispanics, The Jester, Nina Forever, Harpoon, Beezel, Bad Candy, The Lake, and Howling Village.
When was DreadXP founded and what games were published by the division in 2024?
DreadXP was founded in 2019 by Dread Central founder Jon Condit with Ted Hentschke overseeing the video gaming website division. Significant releases included The Mortuary Assistant, Sucker4Love: First Date, Amanda the Adventurer, Amanda the Adventurer 2, Amanda the Adventurer 3, Heartworm, My Friendly Neighborhood, White Knuckle, and Dread Delusion.