Jeffrey Reddick may be best known as the creator of the Final Destination film franchise, but before Hollywood came calling, he was just a kid growing up on a farm in Jackson, Kentucky, with big dreams and a deep love of horror movies.
This August, he returns to Eastern Kentucky as a featured speaker at The 2025 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
He’s bringing his story full circle and reminding audiences that bold creativity and powerful storytelling can take root anywhere, especially in the hills of Eastern Kentucky.
From Farm Fields to Fangoria
“Growing up… I lived on a farm,” Reddick recalls. “When we weren’t doing farm work, I just fell in love with movies, especially horror. I think the reason I fell in love with horror is because of what I went through growing up. We were poor, I was a person of color, and this was the ’70s in Eastern Kentucky. There was a lot of prejudice, and there were also a lot of stereotypes about Appalachia.”
Film became an escape and more than that, a future for Reddick.
“I just always dreamed of working in the genre. It wasn’t about getting out of Kentucky. I just wanted to be part of the movie magic,” he says.
As a teen, Reddick devoured Fangoria magazine and even reached out to New Line Cinema at age 14. One film in particular, A Nightmare on Elm Street, ignited his vision: “It was smart, layered, imaginative horror, not just blood and guts. It made me want to tell stories like that.”
A Calling from the Start
“I told my neighbor when I was 12 years old, ‘I’m going to be a movie star,’” Reddick laughs. “This was always my calling. People thought I was crazy or cute, but I just knew.”
He hid his theater major from his mom until he landed a role in a college play. But over time, she saw the spark, and so did others.
With the help of committed teachers and creative problem-solving at Berea College, Reddick pieced together a path to study acting in New York, intern at New Line, and ultimately begin a screenwriting career that would define early 2000s horror.
The Kentucky Roots of Final Destination
Reddick’s Appalachian roots didn’t just influence his voice, they showed up directly in his films.
“The log truck scene in Final Destination 2? That came to me while I was home in Kentucky,” he says. “I was driving on the Mountain Parkway and ended up behind a log truck. As I pulled into the next lane, the idea for the opening just hit me. I pulled off the road, and called the producer. I was like, ‘What about a log truck and the chains break?’ And he said, ‘That’s it…that’s the opening.’”
That scene went on to become one of the most iconic in the franchise.
“People blame me for their trauma about log trucks,” he jokes. “And I’m like, ‘Maybe I saved your life.”
Why Returning Home Matters
For Reddick, coming back to speak at the 2025 SOAR Summit is more than a speaking engagement.
It’s personal.
“I still feel like our region is overlooked and disrespected,” he says. “There are so many talented, hardworking people here who need to be seen. If I can play even a small part in bringing attention, inspiration, or resources to the area, that means everything.”
He’s especially passionate about giving young people a sense of possibility.
“I’ve been to events where someone says, ‘Your story inspired me. I think I can do what I want to do, too.’ That spark, that hope, is everything. But it needs to be paired with opportunity.”
Reddick will participate in a fireside chat on Tuesday, August 26, at the Corbin Center. He will also do a meet and greet inside the EKY Experience Expo Hall on Wednesday, August 27.
What Rural Creatives Need, and What Communities Can Do
Reddick believes the tools to start are already in most young creatives’ hands.
“Phones today are more powerful than the cameras we had growing up,” he says. “You can shoot high-quality movies with your phone. That’s where it starts, telling stories, practicing, figuring out your voice.”
But he also believes communities need to step up by:
- Funding and protecting arts programs, especially in schools
- Creating consistent programs that bring together youth with mentors
- Recognizing the arts as real work, not just a hobby
“There’s this mindset that art isn’t real work. But it is,” he says. “We need to stop treating it like an extracurricular. It’s a career path. It’s a way out, and a way in.”
He envisions a summer program that brings together talented youth from across counties to train with professionals. Something accessible, aspirational, and rooted in Eastern Kentucky.
“If they don’t get in one year, they’ll want to try again. That kind of consistent pipeline can change lives.”
Building a Film-Friendly Appalachia
With more productions eyeing Kentucky as a film destination, Reddick sees potential, but also barriers.
“Tax incentives matter. Infrastructure matters,” he says. “If you want filmmakers to come, they need skilled local crews, good locations, and an easy way to get there.”
Still, he’s encouraged by how far the state has come.
“Just a few years ago, no one was talking about Kentucky as a film location. Now I hear people in L.A. bring it up.”
Reddick at the Summit
Reddick will speak to attendees at the 2025 SOAR Summit, the region’s largest gathering of community leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers working to shape a stronger future for Eastern Kentucky.
His message is aimed at creatives, educators, and local leaders, anyone working to open new doors in rural communities.
The 2025 SOAR Summit takes place August 26–29 at the Corbin Arena. Get your ticket today at soar-ky.org/summit25.