Bousman was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas where he was heavily involved in the theater community. He attended Kansas University where he majored in theater and film. During his sophomore year, he left KU to attend Florida Full Sail, a film school in Orlando. It was there that Bousman began writing and directing short horror films. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles where he began his career directing music videos and commercials. During this time, he was introduced to Twisted Pictures producers Gregg Hoffman, Mark Burg and Oren Koules who had read the script Bousman had written called “The Desperate.” They then hired him to direct the “Saw II” the sequel to the smash hit “SAW”. Bousman went on to directed “Saw III” and “Saw IV.”
Darren, quickly became one of the most sought after directors in the film industry after his first three major films (“Saw II,” “Saw III” and “Saw IV”) opened at #1 at the box office three years in a row.
After the “Saw” films, Bousman went on to direct and produce a project what he calls his “passion.” He calls “REPO! The Genetic Opera” “indescribable” – but characterizes it as “’Blade Runner’ meets ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’.” The futuristic gothic opera, based on the original stage play which Bousman directed in 2002, stars Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvino, Anthony Head, Sarah Brightman & Paris Hilton. “REPO! The Genetic Opera” takes place in the year 2056 — the not so distant future – when an epidemic of organ failures devastates the planet. GeneCo, a biotech company begins to offer organ transplants — for a price. Those who miss their payments are scheduled for repossession and hunted by villainous Repo Men. There is no spoken dialogue in the film, and all the actors performed their own songs. The eclectic soundtrack features songs by artists from Filter, Jane’s Addiction, Slipknot, Guns & Roses, Bauhaus and Love & Rockets.
Upon completing production on Repo!, Bousman next helmed an episode of the new NBC horror anthology series “Fear Itself” written by Steve Niles.
In 2010 Bousman finished production on the Rebecca DeMornay home invasion thriller MOTHER’S DAY, based on the popular 1980 Troma film of the same name. Mother’s Day premiered at Fantastic Fest – and went on to play various film festivals all around the world.
Currently, Darren is in the final stages of post production on the Religious Thriller 11 11 11 due out November of this year, before heading off to Montreal to helm the psychological monster film “THE BARRENS”.
He currently resides in Los Angeles.
