Ernie Barbarash

A writer and director who primarily works in the horror, sci-fi and action genres, Enie Barbarash first entered show business as a producer, contributing to such thrillers as the 1998 effort "The First 9 1⁄2 Weeks" and 1999's "Prisoner of Love." His more notable early efforts as a producer include filmmaker Mary Harron's controversial "American Psycho" with Christian Bale, its subsequent sequel, "American Psycho II: All American Girl" with Mila Kunis, and "Cube2: Hypercube." The latter film, a follow-up to the low-budget cult favorite "Cube," also served as Barbarash's screenwriting debut. He then revisited the "Cube" franchise, executive producing and directing "Cube Zero" in 2004. Following that work of psychological terror, Barbarash would shift his focus from producing to directing, and in 2007 he helmed "Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming," a sequel to the supernatural, Kevin Bacon-led affair "Stir of Echoes." He also handled "They Wait" that year, yet another eerie horror thriller. The filmmaker then began to turn his attention to actioners, starting with the science fiction-infused "Hardwired," a 2009 movie that paired stars Val Kilmer and Cuba Gooding Jr. Reteaming with Oscar winner Gooding again in 2011, he directed "Ticking Clock," a tense, violent mystery. That same year came "Assassination Games ," which found the director working with action veteran Jean-Claude Van Damme.