Anthony Cousins has become a force in the found-footage world with his instant cult classic hits, Frogman and Frogman Returns. Cousins introduced us to the iconic cryptid Frogman and the phrase that took over the online community, “Frogman Fucks.” Now he’s decided to expand the Frogman universe and bring forth a new cryptid found-footage film called The Kentucky Goblins. Pre-production is already underway, and a Kickstarter campaign has been launched. Horror Movie Blog got the chance to talk to Cousins about Frogman’s success and The Kentucky Goblins.
Horror Movie Blog: You are the director of two iconic cryptid found-footage films, Frogman and Frogman Returns. You are also currently crowdfunding for your next feature film, The Kentucky Goblins, which is in that very niche subgenre. Where does your fascination with cryptids come from?
Anthony Cousins: I think I was as fascinated with cryptids as any monster kid generally is, but I certainly entered a whole other level of fascination and understanding when we started conceiving the first Frogman movie. The other side of it that really appeals to me is how most of these stories weave into folklore. These are our modern legends. And the conspiracy/ paranormal aspect. I guess my fascination has a lot of layers and goes pretty deep!
HMB: Frogman has quickly become a cult classic in the found-footage community. Why do you think the community is so drawn to it? And do you think The Kentucky Goblins will capture that same magic?
AC: I have a genuine love and appreciation for found footage, so I think that has something to do with it. We also tried to make something we hadn’t seen attempted in the genre before, even though we pulled a lot of inspiration from movies we love. I know for most people, what really works is the characters, and that you get a proper creature feature with lots of practical FX on display. If that’s what fans want, they’ll be very happy with The Kentucky Goblins.
HMB: You introduced more creatures into the Frogman Universe in Frogman Returns. What made you decide on The Kentucky Goblins for the next feature film? What stood out about that specific cryptid?
AC: It’s one of the more interesting firsthand accounts of a cryptid encounter. Even if you haven’t heard of the Kelly/Hopkinsville Goblins Incident, you’ve likely read or seen something inspired by the story. When revisiting the story earlier this year, the appeal for me was that it was an isolated, action-packed, highly detailed encounter. It lends itself well to found footage and, better yet, a new approach to found footage than we have taken so far with Frogman and Frogman Returns. As we continue expanding this world, I’m constantly looking for fresh ways to justify an in-world camera perspective.
HMB: The Kentucky Goblins Kickstarter campaign was funded within 24 hours, and you are now moving on to stretch goals. How did it make you feel to see The Kentucky Goblins funded so quickly? Were you surprised?
AC: I was very surprised, and my heart was full! I always looked at crowdfunding The Kentucky Goblins as a test to see how strong our fandom really was. If they’d show up to help us keep the Frogman story going. I’m very thankful they proved they will, because funding a movie can take a long time and comes with many challenges. If this works out, we could have a new Frogman [Universe] film every year or so!
HMB: Shock Treatment Productions and Womp Stomp Films are joining forces to make The Kentucky Goblins. How did this partnership come about?
AC: Vincente [DiSanti] and I have been chatting about the potential for this collaboration for the last couple of years whenever we’d see each other at film festivals and conventions. There is a mutual appreciation and understanding of the grassroots approach we are individually taking to build our own franchises. When it came to running a Kickstarter, I couldn’t think of a better partner to join forces with!
HMB: What is your favorite part of the filmmaking process, and what do you find the most challenging?
AC: I truly love it all (besides the business stuff). Your imagination is the limit when you’re writing, which is so much fun. Seeing it all take shape and really become a movie in post-production is satisfying. But my favorite part is always being on set. There’s no high on earth like surrounding yourself with talented friends and creatively bouncing off each other to bring the story to life.
On The Kentucky Goblins, I’ve invited the actors into the writing process in a more intimate way than ever before. They’ve been helping shape their characters and relationships with each other. Instead of holding auditions, I just went straight to actors I already knew personally, so the story was really built around the cast rather than the other way around. That’s been a rewarding and unique experience!
HMB: We know from the Kickstarter campaign that The Kentucky Goblins comes from the same universe as Frogman; could that lead to even more cryptid spin-offs and eventually a cryptid showdown? Similar to a Freddy vs. Jason situation?
AC: Oh, definitely. We have so many more stories to tell and cryptids to introduce. I can’t wait to bring them all together!
The Kentucky Goblins Kickstarter runs until October 10, 2026, so there’s still time to back the campaign and claim some cool rewards.
Michael Medrano (He/ Him)
Michael Medrano, under the moniker MikeAndSerial, is an online horror critic. He has a passion for all things horror, but you will see him champion for found footage horror, international horror, and indie horror. He will always guide the willing through the questionable trenches of Tubi, too.
