The Los Angeles special screening of DO NOT ENTER brought out the stars to celebrate the release of the new urban-exploration thriller. Director Marc Klasfeld is bringing David Morrell’s Creepers to life with a gritty, 80s-inspired lens. He spoke about the unique location in Bulgaria that served as the backbone for the film’s terrifying setting.
Journalists Josh LaCount (Temple of Geek) and Hannah Altman (Paranormal Lounge) caught up with the cast and crew at the Los Angeles premiere to discuss the making of this R-rated nightmare.
Director Marc Klasfeld discuss the unique atmosphere and production challenges of his new film, Do Not Enter. From the influence of his own children to the brutalist architecture of Bulgaria, Klasfeld shared what makes this project a standout blend of horror and adventure.
Josh LaCount: First off, what drew you to this project, initially?
Marc Klasfeld: Well, when I got the script, it was such a fun script. It wasn’t just horror, but it also had adventure in it. And as you can see back there, I have two teenagers who are taking photos of me. They love horror and entertaining things… they love Stranger Things and all these things. And they just loved it so bad, and they really wanted me to do it. And I loved it too, you know? It almost has like a 1980s spirit to it.
Rehearsals and Unexpected Setbacks
Josh LaCount: Directing the actors, was it different once you had to just focus on supernatural elements rather than things they could actually see later?
Marc Klasfeld: We have a great young cast, and we shot in Bulgaria. And as I’ve been telling people, it’s funny, when we all got over there, we did a lot of rehearsals and all kinds of Zoom calls and everything, because it was during the year after COVID. And we all got into this one small room, and we rehearsed for two weeks, and we ad-libbed and just tightened everything up, and we all got COVID, which delayed things for like two weeks. It drew us a lot closer, so it was… anyway, fun story that happens.
The Architecture as a Character
Josh LaCount: A question about the hotel. How did you build the world of the hotel, and did you think of it like a character?
Marc Klasfeld: So the whole reason we shot in Bulgaria was because Bulgaria used to be a communist country, and in the early 70s, they built this giant concrete, brutalist building. I don’t know what the purpose was for, but you can walk in this place for miles and still not see it all. I just knew it was perfect for the Paragon. And I wanted it to be a character, and that place is just a freaky place. It’s an amazing location for the movie. I hope to bring that alive. That location … it just gives a very rich experience.
The urban exploration horror-thriller DO NOT ENTER hits theaters and on digital this Friday, March 20, 2026. Based on the acclaimed novel Creepers by David Morrell, the film follows a group of thrill-seekers whose livestream from the abandoned Paragon Hotel turns into a fight for survival against supernatural forces.
