Ninja Killface
James C. Franken, aka "Ninja Killface," (Hollis L, Edwards III) is a deadly assassin working off a debt to ruthless crime boss Mr. Revolver (Ray Revello). When tasked with rescuing Revolver's daughter, what begins as a mission of loyalty twists into a web of betrayal.
What People Are Saying
“Shatters the boundaries of what we know as a short film”
“Daryl Della‘s latest film, Ninja Killface, shatters the boundaries of what we know as a short film, elevating itself to a thrilling spectacle that demands the big screen. To label it merely a short film feels almost disrespectful.
Ninja Killface is a credit to what short action films can achieve. It’s a film drenched in blood, sweat, and tears, showcasing the dedication of Della and his team. If there is justice in the world, Ninja Killface will be remembered as a game-changer – a shining example of craftsmanship and storytelling.
— short films matter
“A Shining Example of Craftsmanship and Storytelling”
Written, Directed, & Edited by DARYL DELLA
Produced by SASHA BOGGS
Based on Characters Created by DARYL DELLA, RAY REVELLO, NATHAN BLONKENFELD, and BRANDON J. SNYDER
STARRING
HOLLIS L. EDWARDS III as James C. Franken / Ninja Killface
TARA ERICKSON as Aries Lansing
SASHA BOGGS as Nancy Revolver
BECKER VON FELSBURG as Enrico Antonio
MAX ISAACSON as Agent Jason Foster
KAYLA EMERSON as Shania
KELSEY LEIGH JOHNSON as Caitlin
RYAN CASTRO as Philo
RICH CASTROMAYOR as Shockley
DARYL DELLA as Hemlock
TAYLOR FREDRICKS as Gant
Introducing
KEIRA OLIVIA DELLA as Lily Revolver
Special Appearances by
NATHAN BLONKENFELD and KRISTIN ROSE
with a Special Appearance by
TOM ARNOLD as Strawhorn
and
RAY REVELLO as Mr. Ray Revolver
Location Sound Mixer
MAX FRANKO
Original Score by
THOMAS VAN OOSTINGThe 2003 Original
Shot on a camcorder with no script and a whole lot of ambition, Ninja Killface is raw, ridiculous, and the reason we couldn’t stop making movies. Because the next one is always going to be better.
Original trailer
20 years ago, a creative spark ignited when Dollars & Donuts Productions created their first film, Ninja Killface. Now, the team returns to their origins for the rebirth of a legend.
Characters
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James C. Franken / Ninja Killface
HOLLIS L. EDWARDS III
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Agent Aries Lansing
TARA ERICKSON
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Agent Jason Foster
MAX ISAACSON
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Mr. Ray Revolver
RAY REVELLO
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Nancy Revolver
SASHA BOGGS
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Lily Revolver
KEIRA OLIVIA DELLA
Behind the Scenes
What started as a casual conversation between Daryl Della and producer Sasha Boggs in June 2023, quickly snowballed into a 40-minute epic that rekindled the origins of Dollars & Donuts Productions. Initially, Daryl floated the idea of remaking parts of his first high school film from 2003. Sasha suggested starting small — shooting just one scene to see where it led — and within a week, the team was filming in Round Rock, TX, beneath an under-construction overpass they had discovered on a walk.
Hollis L. Edwards III was cast as Ninja Killface, and Tara Erickson as Aries Lansing, with Chris Ross signing on for fight choreography. Little did the team know, Hollis wasn’t just a great actor—he was also a trained stuntman and stunt driver. This led to the addition of high-octane action sequences, including a car chase and an unforgettable moment where Hollis leapt from the overpass in a daring stunt. Hollis and Tara’s fight scene was filmed in the relentless Texas heat and humidity, with Tara’s performance adding gravitas to a character that was originally one-note. Her powerful death scene elevated the emotional stakes, while Hollis’s expert fighting skills set a new benchmark for intensity in a Dollars & Donuts film.
The action kicks off with a thrilling new opening sequence featuring armed guards played by Daryl Della, cameo mainstay Rich Castromayor, and newcomers to Dollars & Donuts from the Austin film scene, Taylor Fredricks and Ryan Castro. Named after Clint Eastwood characters, the guards are picked off one-by-one by Killface leading to a brutal two-on-one fight choreographed by Hollis. In a cheeky nod to stunt casting, Hollywood big shot Tom Arnold shows up just in time to get killed — right before his credit title card flashes onscreen. It’s a wink at the absurdity of him being there at all and a playful flex for Dollars & Donuts.
Next, Killface infiltrates the enemy boss’s compound where Becker Von Felsburg makes a splash as Enrico Antonio, a suave new character not in the original film. Fllanked by the sexy Kayla Emerson and Kelsey Leigh Johnson, this 80s-inspired pool sequence fulfilled a long-held dream of Daryl’s – to shoot an underwater scene straight out of a classic action flick. Originally conceived in 2008 by Daryl and Nathan Blonkenfeld for a planned Ninja Killface series of expansion novels that never came to fruition, Enrico Antonio’s cinematic debut stands as a testament to Daryl’s philosophy of never letting good ideas — or any ideas, for that matter — go to waste.
The project evolved into a full-blown reunion for Dollars & Donuts alumni. Nathan Blonkenfeld, the original Ninja Killface from the 2003 film, returned for a cameo, marking his first appearance in a Dollars & Donuts project since 2011. This was particularly meaningful for Daryl, as the two had not spoken since a falling out eight years prior. Meanwhile, Ray Revello reprised his role as the infamous Ray Revolver, making him the only cast member to return to his original character. Ray’s commanding presence cemented his status as the most powerful actor in the Dollars & Donuts universe, dominating the screen with his iconic swagger.
Among other contributors, Max Isaacson brings a touch of humor to the film as Agent Jason Foster. The ill-fated partner of Aries Lansing hilariously belts out an absurd McDonald’s jingle set to the tune of Will Smith’s Miami, an inside joke penned by Ray Revello in high school. Behind the scenes, Max Franko’s excellent sound work ensured the film’s dialogue hit perfectly.
Another standout sequence takes place in the lavishly reimagined Revolver family home, shot at a stunning property in Dallas transformed into an opulent mansion. Sasha Boggs brought depth to the new character of Nancy Revolver, the sophisticated yet disillusioned wife of Mr. Ray Revolver, while Daryl’s daughter, Keira Olivia Della, made an adorable acting debut as their precocious 3-year-old daughter, Lily. The family dynamics added a rich layer of drama, culminating in a gripping scene where Nancy’s mounting frustration reached its breaking point in a shocking confrontation.
Part of the excitement in remaking Ninja Killface was reimagining and recontextualizing elements of the original. In the 2003 version, the soundtrack featured a mix of Linkin Park’s Faint and Easier to Run, Dean Martin’s Ain’t That a Kick in the Head, and Rage Against the Machine’s Calm Like a Bomb. For the 2024 film, the team reinvented these tracks to reflect the story’s evolution. Robert Ruby reconstructed Easier to Run into a vibrant 70s-style sing-along and Lori Carsillo delivered a haunting jazz rendition of Faint, transforming the angsty original into a sultry ballad that captured Nancy Revolver’s inner turmoil. A fitting accompaniment to her climactic moment of defiance.
With Taylor Fredricks already showcased in the opening fight sequence, his role as the frontman of The Battle of ATX brought an another unexpected musical twist to the film. Collaborating with the band's guitarist, Reiland Ingram, Taylor helped reimagine the romantic Ain’t That a Kick in the Head into a rebellious rock anthem. This explosive end-credits track left the audience cheering, seamlessly blending two artists from the original Killface soundtrack.
The nostalgia deepened with a secretive post-credits sequence introducing P. Michael Hayes II as Frank Barnett, rebooting yet another classic character. Emboldened by the seemingly-impossible cast they had assembled thus far, the team set out to bring even more beloved characters back to life. Bruce Cummings, librarian extraordinaire, returned for the first time since 2010, and Tommy Lazzari stepped back into the role of Jack Knife after a 15-year absence.
The freedom in storytelling was liberating for Daryl. For years, he had viewed the pre-2011 characters with a mix of embarrassment and disdain, dismissing them as relics of a less experienced era. With Ninja Killface, he cast off the shackles of shame and reimagined those creations with more mature, nuanced storylines, while keeping the ridiculous charm that made them special.
Ninja Killface became more than a remake; it was a declaration of creative evolution. By blending nostalgia with newfound confidence, the film united the Dollars & Donuts legacy under one explosive, heartfelt, and gloriously ridiculous banner.
On April 11, 2024, Ninja Killface premiered at the AFS Cinema in Austin, TX, as part of Dollars & Donuts Rides Again. This sold-out show marked the first Dollars & Donuts premiere held in Texas and provided the only time the original 2003 Killface was shown to an audience. Watching the crowd laugh along with the raw charm of the original made the debut of the 2024 version all the more exhilarating. Seeing the evolution from high school project to a polished, action-packed spectacle wowed the audience. It was a particularly special night for Daryl, as friends from San Francisco, new connections from the Austin film community, and his children were all there to witness the culmination of 20 years of growth and creativity.
