Zachary Donohue

Biography

Zachary Donohue is a filmmaker who has built his career on the cutting edge of genre cinema. He grew up in a creative environment—often citing his father, an indie filmmaker, as a primary influence—and began making films at a young age. He first broke into the mainstream with the 2013 webcam-based chiller The Den. The film was recognized as one of the smartest uses of the found-footage technique, effectively tapping into deep-seated fears regarding internet voyeurism and the deep web. Following the success of The Den, Donohue continued to experiment with narrative formats. In recent years, he has expanded into the audio-thriller space with the series Uncomfortably Numb and developed the cosmic horror YouTube series The Unknowable. By 2026, he has transitioned into large-scale studio filmmaking. His screenplay for the 2026 Paramount horror hit Passenger, co-written with T.W. Burgess, has been lauded for its "fresh" take on highway horror—a script so compelling it drew established titans like Walter Hamada and André Øvredal to the project. Donohue is known for his meticulous research into his subject matter and his ability to make audiences root for characters even in the most gruesome circumstances.

Known For

Social & Reach