“Slotherhouse” a film by Austin Peay State University’s Theatre & Dance Department Victoria Matlock Fowler, will have a special showing on August 30. (Graphic provided)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Visiting professor of Austin Peay State University’s Theatre & Dance Department Victoria Matlock Fowler, has her own theatre accolades as her upcoming horror-comedy film “Slotherhouse” prepares to head to theaters on August 30.

According to its official synopsis, “Slotherhouse” will tell the story of Senior Emily Young, who wants to be elected sorority president and adopts a cute sloth to help her do so, until the sloth is implicated in a series of campus deaths.

Fowler described the film as “A fun bit of horror escapism” with “the potential to be an iconic horror franchise for a new generation,” according to a press release.

The film will be produced through Renegade Studios Chicago and distributed by Gravitas Ventures, who currently boast other Indie productions including “1 Mile to You (2017),” “Almost Friends (2016)” and “The Assassin’s Code (2018).”

“Slotherhouse” will be the distributor’s first major foray into the horror-comedy genre, with an impressive cast attached to the film.

Lisa Ambalavanar, Sydney Craven, Andrew Horton and Stefan Kapičić all having starring roles, with Matthew Goodhue directing, Bradley Fowler and Cady Lanigan writing and APSU’s own Victoria Matlock Folwer producing.

Fowler is excited about the film’s upcoming release, saying, “‘Slotherhouse’ has been a labor of love for our family over the last seven years, and we’re so thrilled to see it finally get out into the world.”

The cast and crew aren’t the only ones excited for “Slotherhouse,” though.

Based on the trailer alone, I will be seeing the film either in theaters or on streaming later. I’m a big fan of the horror-comedy genre, especially the “Gremlins” and “Scream” franchises. “Slotherhouse” looks to follow examples from these two franchises, as well as more recent killer-animal flicks like “Cocaine Bear.”

With touches and influences from those films, the trailer plays almost like a really good SNL skit, which is to say that it is exactly as campy as the genre calls for. Likewise, there are moments of suspense in the trailer as we see the titular sloth creep up slowly on its victims and catching them unsuspecting.

In my opinion, that’s exactly what is needed here, given the film’s premise of a murderous sloth.

If the film does justice to the trailer, “Slotherhouse” could easily become an instant cult classic in the horror-comedy showcase.

For those others out there that are interested in this production, “Slotherhouse” will play at Regal Cinemas across the country at various times on Aug. 30. The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at Regal Clarksville & RPX on Tiny Town Road. The movie will play in Nashville at 7 p.m. at Regal Green Hills, Regal Opry Mills IMAX & RPX and Regal Hollywood & RPX. The film is also at Regal Streets of Indian Lake, IMAX in Hendersonville and AMC Dine-In Thoroughbred 20 in Franklin.