Annabel Maclean.

Perth writer-director-producer Annabel Maclean and producer Naz Mantoo have announced the crowdfunding launch of darkly comedic horror short, Mr. Big Hands, marking Maclean’s debut in the director’s chair. 

The campaign earned $10,000 in its first week with pledges open until June 26, 2026, at 12:15am AWST.

Mr. Big Hands is a supernatural horror about a five-year-old girl terrorised by a monstrous hand emerging from her family home toilet – a story rooted in a real childhood nightmare experienced by Annabel’s sister, Gemma. 

The film explores the gap between a child’s certainty and an adult’s struggle to find their way into her fear: funny, strange, and genuinely unsettling in equal measure.

Described as a love letter to ‘90s horror, the film draws on a vivid, warm visual palette that pushes against the washed-out aesthetic typical of the genre. Production is set for a weekend shoot in Los Angeles mid-July, with post-production scheduled for August-September 2026 and festival submissions beginning late 2026. 

Target festivals include SXSW, Fantastic Fest, Final Girls Berlin, Frightfest UK, Beyond Fest, Sitges, and Screamfest LA.

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“I’m absolutely thrilled with the incredible team I’ve brought together for this little toilet trauma story,” Annabel tells Cinema Australia. 

“As a filmmaker working in the horror space, gender disparity is particularly noticeable and so Naz and I have deliberately created a team that is majority female and diverse to elevate these talented creatives and be a project that makes change in this space. I am so proud, honoured, and grateful that these folks have joined the Mr. Big Hands family. I’ve got all the warm fuzzies and can’t wait to see what we cook up!”

Annabel is a writer, actor, and director originally from Perth, Western Australia – raised in the remote South African mining town of Phalaborwa before her path wound through journalism, music writing (X-Press Magazine’s dance music & features editor in the 2010s), and a memorable stint at a Canadian private investigator firm. 

Trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York, she has worked across Australia, Canada, and the US for over 15 years, known for emotionally fierce performances and darkly human, genre-bending scripts.

Her award-winning short Death of the Party was acquired by Canadian broadcaster Super Channel; her psychological horror feature Tanami was a Second Rounder at Austin Film Festival, earning mentorship from Rob Tapert of Ghost House Pictures (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) and Shayne Armstrong (Bait).

Her work has screened at Whistler Film Festival, Flickerfest, and beyond. Mr. Big Hands is her debut as director – a deliberate creative playground ahead of Tanami, her planned debut psychological horror feature set in Western Australia, currently in development.

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“Horror is at its best when it tapes into something universal, and Mr. Big Hands does exactly that,” says Naz, previously VP of Unscripted Development at Legendary Entertainment.

“I’m excited to bring such a fresh, frightening and funny story to life with our brilliant team of horror loving creators.”

Mr. Big Hands is majority female in both cast and crew with a team of working genre filmmakers who are deeply invested in making strange, grounded, character-driven horror. 

The production also represents a notable gathering of Australian talent including writer-director Annabel and Naz, actor Matthew C. Vaughan, and composer Freya Berkhout are all Australians now based in Los Angeles, bringing a distinctly antipodean creative sensibility to an LA-set story.

“When I first read the script of Mr. Big Hands, I told Annabel I wanted to be involved somehow,” Matthew tells Cinema Australia. 

“The script reminded me of being a kid, being scared of everything that got under my skin, and now I get to fulfill my lifelong dream which is living in the toilet where I belong.”

Meet the Cast and Crew

Clayton Farris Chris (Dad)
Chris is an actor and writer based in Los Angeles. Most recently having starred as Terry in hit film, Weapons alongside Josh Brolin, Amy Madigan, and Julia Garner. Claytons other credits include American Horror Story, Scream Queens, The Morning Show, and MaXXXine.

Natasha Estrada Sally (Mom)
Natasha is a multi-award-winning performer, writer, director, and burlesque star who was born and raised in Northeast LA. Natasha has worked with Dita Von Teese who hand-picked her for her Australian tour, as well as directors John Waters, Floria Sigismondi, Paul McCarthy, and Darren Lynn Bousman. Her horror-comedy feature Jump Scare earned Best Supporting Actress nominations at FilmQuest and HorrorHound.

Matthew C. Vaughan Mr. Big Hands
Matthew is an actor and writer from rural Australia, based in Los Angeles. Best known as the Catman in cult horror feature Cat Sick Blues (2016), winner of Best Australian Feature at MonsterFest and 15 genre festival awards worldwide. Matthew will also star in the upcoming Japanese-set horror feature Listen & Repeat.

Deanna Gomez Bridget (family friend)
Deanna is a Chicana actor, writer, and director based in Los Angeles with an MFA in Screenwriting from California State University, Fullerton. Deanna is a multi-hyphenate talent with a deep love of horror.

Annabel Maclean Writer and director
Annabel is a writer and actor with credits across Canada, the US, and Australia with her work having screened and placed at Whistler Film Festival, Flickerfest, and Austin Film Festival. Mr. Big Hands is her debut as director.

Naz Mantoo Producer
Previously VP of Unscripted Development at Legendary Entertainment, Matthew has developed and sold series across the US, UK, and Australia.

Alyssa Brocato Director of Photography
Alyssa is an LA-based cinematographer having worked on Pretty Problems (SXSW 2022 Narrative Spotlight Audience Award) and series Switch which premieres at Tribeca 2026.

Freya Berkhout Composer (Sydney-born)
Sydney born Freya has composed for The Greenhouse (Netflix). She is also a 2026 SCL David Raksin Award nominee for Ride or Die (Tribeca 2025) and is also a 2024 Women in Film LA Music Fellow.

Jacqueline Miller Editor & Colourist
Jacqueline is a lead assistant editor, and has worked for NBCUniversal theatrical marketing (Oppenheimer, Wicked, Anora). She is also a 2024 Women in Film Editorial Fellow.

Gabriel P. Gonzales Production Designer
LA-based production designer with horror roots, Gabriel’s credits include Reinventing Elvis: The 68’ Comeback Special and The Smell of Sin.

Monika Dalman Casting Director
Monika is a Vancouver-based casting director and producer whose credits span Disney, Marvel, CBC, and over 100 productions globally.

Jenna Brewer Graphic Designer
Jenna is a Los Angeles-based graphic designer and art director; 2023–24 Women in Film LA Fellow and former Art Director at Jubilee Media.

The Mr. Big Hands Seed & Spark campaign is live now and open for pledges until June 26, 2026, at 12:15am AWST. Please note the campaign page is listed in USD. Full details seedandspark.com/fund/mr-big-hands. You can also follow the Mr. Big Hands on Instagram at @mrbighandsfilm