E. Elias Merhige

American film director celebrated for boundary-pushing surrealist and horror cinema, from underground cult classic Begotten to mainstream breakthrough Shadow of the Vampire.

What do we know about E. Elias Merhige?

Here are the key biographical details about E. Elias Merhige:

  • Name: E. Elias Merhige
  • Also Known As: Edmund Elias Merhige, Edmund E. Merhige
  • Date of Birth: June 14, 1964
  • Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Gender: Male
  • Job Title: Director
  • Crew Jobs: Director, Producer, Writer, Screenplay, Thanks

Who is E. Elias Merhige?

Edmund Elias Merhige (born June 14, 1964) is an American film director best known to mainstream audiences for the black comedy horror film "Shadow of the Vampire" (2000), and to underground audiences for the surrealist horror cult classic "Begotten" (1989).

As he says in his audio commentary to the Shadow of the Vampire DVD, Merhige views cinema as the only meaningful art form of the present era. He regards literature and drama as once-needed forms which are past their time and which have been superseded by film. He is also very interested in the occult and the paranormal, and images and themes derived from these traditions suffuse his films.

Born in Brooklyn, Merhige currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

What is E. Elias Merhige known for?

E. Elias Merhige is an American director whose work spans underground surrealist cinema and mainstream genre filmmaking. His most recognized projects include:

  • Shadow of the Vampire (2000, Movie)
  • Begotten (1991, Movie)
  • Suspect Zero (2004, Movie)
  • Din of Celestial Birds (2006, Movie)
  • Marilyn Manson: Lest We Forget (2004, Movie)
  • Marilyn Manson: God Is In the TV (1999, Movie)
  • Polia & Blastema (2022, Movie)
  • The Begotten Cycle (2023, Movie)
  • Howl (Movie)
  • Parallax Of The Liminal Void (2025, Movie)

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