John Swab

John Swab (born September 16, 1988) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer renowned for his raw, character-driven narratives that delve into themes of crime, addiction, abuse, and redemption, frequently inspired by his own turbulent past.^[1][2] Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Swab ran away from home at the age of fifteen, spending years living on the streets alongside criminals while battling severe drug addiction to crack and heroin, which included multiple failed attempts at rehabilitation across the United States.^[1][2] After overcoming his struggles, he channeled his experiences into filmmaking, debuting with the 2016 indie drama Let Me Make You a Martyr and quickly establishing himself as a distinctive voice in independent cinema through collaborations with trusted actors and his wife, actress Sam Quartin.^[1][3] Swab's breakthrough came with Body Brokers (2021), a semi-autobiographical crime thriller exposing corruption in the U.S. addiction treatment industry, starring Frank Grillo, Melissa Leo, and Jack Kilmer, which he wrote and directed based on his time as a "body broker" recruiting addicts for fraudulent rehabs.^[2][3] This was followed by a string of neo-Western and thriller projects, including Ida Red (2021) featuring Melissa Leo and Josh Duhamel, the horror film Candy Land (2022) with Olivia Luccardi, Little Dixie (2023) starring Frank Grillo and Eric Dane, One Day as a Lion (2023) starring Scott Caan and Frank Grillo, and the crime drama King Ivory (2024).^[3][4] His most recent directorial effort, Long Gone Heroes (2024), an action film starring Frank Grillo and Andy Garcia, further showcases his versatility in genre storytelling.^[3][5] In September 2025, Swab was announced as the director for the Netflix action thriller Fast and Loose, starring Will Smith and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, marking a significant step into mainstream studio filmmaking while retaining his signature intensity.^[5] Beyond directing, Swab is also an accomplished painter, photographer, and cook, often incorporating his multifaceted talents into his creative process.^[1]

Early life

Childhood and upbringing

John Swab was born on September 16, 1988, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.^[6] He grew up in the city, attending Edison High School, from which he graduated in 2007.^[7] Details about his family background remain limited in public records, with no specific information available on his parents or siblings. His early life involved a turbulent environment marked by abuse.^[1] From a young age, Swab developed a passion for filmmaking, inspired by exposure to movies through local cinemas and home viewings in Tulsa.^[7] Lacking access to formal film education in the area, he pursued this interest independently, without structured training, which shaped his self-taught approach to storytelling. Swab's early creative pursuits extended beyond cinema to other artistic and practical hobbies, including painting, photography, cooking, and thrifting, which later influenced his distinctive visual style in filmmaking.^[1] These activities fostered his eye for aesthetics and resourcefulness during his formative years in Tulsa. During adolescence, Swab encountered personal difficulties that culminated in running away from home at age 15.^[1]

Struggles with addiction

John Swab's struggles with addiction began in his mid-teens after running away from home at age 15, leading to a life on the streets in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he became addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.^[1][8] This onset around age 15 marked the start of a prolonged period of substance abuse involving drugs and alcohol, characterized by intense personal instability and survival challenges in urban environments.^[9][10] Over the subsequent decade, Swab cycled through multiple rehabilitation and detox programs across the United States, accumulating approximately 2.5 years in residential treatment facilities.^[11] He was frequently "brokered" within the recovery industry—a practice where addicts are recruited and shuttled between facilities for financial kickbacks— and even participated in brokering others during his time in the system.^[10][12] These experiences exposed him to the exploitative underbelly of the addiction treatment sector, including insurance scams and predatory operations that prolonged his instability rather than fostering genuine recovery.^[13] The relentless cycle of relapse and treatment delayed his entry into professional filmmaking, confining him to sporadic, low-level pursuits amid ongoing chaos until his mid-20s.^[14] A pivotal turning point came in 2015, when Swab, then 26, achieved sobriety after years of futile interventions.^[13][15] This recovery motivated a deliberate career pivot, where filmmaking became his "new drug of choice," providing structure and purpose after a decade of disruption.^[14] These personal battles later influenced works like Body Brokers, drawing directly from his encounters in the recovery world.^[9]

Film career

Early works and debut

John Swab entered the filmmaking world as a self-taught director, honing his skills through practical experience rather than formal education, a approach that defined his initial projects. His debut came with the 2014 short film Judas' Chariot, a 32-minute work he co-directed, wrote, and produced alongside Corey Asraf on a modest independent budget. Funded primarily through approximately $12,000 to $13,000 raised from personal networks, including contributions from friends and early collaborator Jeremy Rosen, the film showcased Swab's raw, experimental style while serving as a proof-of-concept for larger endeavors. To build momentum, Swab and Asraf embarked on a self-organized tour, screening Judas' Chariot in 15 U.S. cities, including venues like Tulsa's Circle Cinema, to attract investors and industry attention. This grassroots effort succeeded when a viewer from one of the screenings provided crucial financial backing, allowing transition to Swab's first feature-length project. The resulting film, Let Me Make You a Martyr (2016), marked his full immersion as writer and producer, co-directed once again with Asraf under their Iscariot Films banner. Produced on a low budget amid the challenges of independent filmmaking—such as securing limited resources and navigating funding hurdles without established studio support—Let Me Make You a Martyr highlighted Swab's determination to tell ambitious stories despite constraints. Early collaborations extended to emerging actors like Sam Quartin, who starred in both Judas' Chariot and the feature, and established talents including Thomas Haden Church, laying the groundwork for Swab's ongoing ensemble relationships. These foundational works drew indirect inspiration from Swab's personal recovery from addiction, infusing his narratives with authentic grit from the outset.

Breakthrough films

John Swab's breakthrough came with a series of gritty independent films between 2019 and 2022, where he established himself as a distinctive voice in American crime and thriller cinema, drawing from personal experiences of addiction and street life to craft raw narratives.^[1] These projects marked his transition from co-directing earlier works to helming features as sole director, gaining traction through festival circuits and limited theatrical releases that highlighted his unflinching portrayal of moral ambiguity and human frailty.^[7] His directorial debut as sole director, Run with the Hunted (2019), follows a young boy who kills an abusive father to protect his friend and flees into a life of urban crime, exploring themes of innocence lost, gang induction, and the elusive pursuit of redemption over 15 years.^[16] Starring Michael Pitt and Ron Perlman, the film screened at the Rome Film Festival and received attention for its visceral depiction of corruption and survival, though critics noted its uneven pacing amid ambitious scope.^[17][18] In 2021, Swab released Body Brokers, a semi-autobiographical crime drama inspired by his own decade-long battle with addiction, centering on a recovering junkie (Jack Kilmer) who uncovers fraudulent schemes in the multibillion-dollar rehab industry exploiting vulnerable patients under the Affordable Care Act.^[2][11] The film featured a sneak-peek screening at the Woodstock Film Festival and earned praise from Variety for its shocking exposé of systemic opportunism in recovery programs, positioning Swab as a filmmaker unafraid to indict real-world failures.^[19][9] That same year, Ida Red emerged as a neo-Western crime thriller set in Oklahoma's rugged landscapes, where terminally ill prison boss Ida "Red" Walker (Melissa Leo) enlists her son (Josh Hartnett) and brother (Frank Grillo) for a final heist to secure her freedom, emphasizing fierce family loyalty amid betrayal and violence.^[20][21] Filmed partly in Tulsa, it showcased Swab's growing command of tense ensemble dynamics and received positive reviews from The Oklahoman for its strong performances and cinematic progress in gritty storytelling.^[22] Swab capped this period with Candy Land (2022), a horror-thriller delving into the perilous world of truck-stop sex workers known as "lot lizards," where naive cult escapee Remy (Olivia Luccardi) falls under the influence of seasoned worker Sadie (Sam Quartin, a frequent collaborator) amid mounting murders.^[23] Screening at the NYC Horror Film Festival, it garnered a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and acclaim for its unflinching rawness in portraying exploitation and survival, further solidifying Swab's reputation in indie circuits for bold, theme-driven genre work.^[24][25]

Recent projects

Following the success of his earlier independent features, John Swab shifted toward more action-oriented narratives with larger ensembles and increased production scales starting in 2023, often collaborating with established actors and major distributors like Paramount and Lionsgate. This evolution is evident in Little Dixie (2023), a political thriller he wrote and directed, starring Frank Grillo as a former special forces operative navigating a tense truce between an Oklahoma governor and a Mexican drug cartel.^[26] The film was produced locally in Tulsa and surrounding areas, highlighting Swab's commitment to Oklahoma-based filmmaking and leveraging the state's incentives for authentic heartland settings.^[27] In the same year, Swab directed One Day as a Lion (2023), an adaptation of a screenplay by Scott Caan, marking one of his first projects without a writing credit. The action-comedy thriller features Caan as a mobster on the run, alongside Grillo and J.K. Simmons, and emphasizes high-stakes chases and witty dialogue in a remote Oklahoma backdrop.^[28] This Lionsgate release demonstrated Swab's growing versatility in blending genre elements while maintaining his gritty, character-driven style. Swab's output continued with King Ivory (2024), a crime drama he wrote and directed that delves into the fentanyl trafficking crisis through interconnected stories of smugglers, dealers, and law enforcement in Oklahoma. Starring James Badge Dale, Ben Foster, and Melissa Leo, the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024 and was released in the United States on November 14, 2025, earning praise for its unflinching portrayal of the opioid epidemic's impact on rural America.^[29] Distributed by Saban Films and Roadside Attractions, it reflects Swab's expansion into broader thematic scope with a higher-profile ensemble.^[30] The year's final major release, Long Gone Heroes (2024), further showcases Swab's pivot to ensemble-driven action thrillers, co-written with Santiago Manes Moreno and directed by him. The Lionsgate production stars Frank Grillo as a retired operative pulled back into danger to rescue his niece, supported by Andy Garcia, Josh Hutcherson, and Melissa Leo in a narrative of international intrigue filmed partly in Colombia.^[31] Post-2022, these projects signal Swab's rising profile, including representation by CAA and multiple collaborations with producer Chad Rosen, enabling budgets that support A-list talent and global distribution.^[32] In September 2025, Swab was announced as director for the Netflix action thriller Fast and Loose, starring Will Smith and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, marking a significant entry into mainstream studio filmmaking.^[5]

Artistic influences and style

Cinematic inspirations

John Swab's filmmaking draws heavily from the 1970s New Hollywood era, particularly its embrace of graphic violence and moral ambiguity, as seen in the works of directors like Sam Peckinpah. In interviews, Swab has cited Peckinpah's films, such as Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974), alongside Charles Bronson-led action pictures like the Death Wish series, as key favorites that shaped his appreciation for gritty, unpolished storytelling. He has expressed a desire to recapture the raw intensity of these 1970s productions, which he views as a lost art form in contemporary cinema. Similarly, the moral complexities in films like The Gambler (1974), with its abrupt endings that leave audiences to interpret outcomes, have influenced Swab's approach to ambiguous character arcs. Swab's style also echoes the early 1990s indie film movement, which revived the 1970s grit through character-driven narratives and genre subversion, as exemplified by Quentin Tarantino and the Coen Brothers. He has described growing up on their films, noting how Tarantino's witty crime comedies and the Coens' blend of violence and humor naturally inform his own projects. Additional indie touchstones include Woody Allen's ensemble dynamics and Vincent Gallo's introspective works like Buffalo '66 (1998), which emphasize personal stakes amid chaotic environments. A distinctive thread in Swab's inspirations involves heartland crime dramas rooted in Oklahoma's cultural landscape, reflecting his Tulsa upbringing and fascination with regional underbelly stories. He has highlighted shooting in Oklahoma for films like Body Brokers (2021) to leverage local authenticity, drawing from the state's history of street-level crime akin to dime-store novels by Jim Thompson. This personal connection infuses his work with a sense of place, evoking the isolated tensions of Midwestern noir. In various interviews, Swab has articulated a deep affinity for action-thrillers and recovery narratives, genres that allow exploration of redemption amid high-stakes peril. He praises the adrenaline of staging shootouts and fights, while structuring stories around characters' journeys from addiction to uneasy salvation, as in his semi-autobiographical takes on relapse and resilience.

Recurring themes and techniques

John Swab's films frequently explore the theme of addiction recovery, drawing from his own experiences with substance abuse to depict the harrowing cycles of dependency and the fragile path to sobriety. In works like Body Brokers, this manifests through portrayals of the exploitative rehabilitation industry, where characters grapple with relapse amid systemic corruption. Similarly, King Ivory addresses the opioid crisis, highlighting the human cost of pharmaceutical exploitation in rural communities. These narratives often intersect with crime in rural America, portraying small-town settings in Oklahoma as breeding grounds for illicit activities, from drug trafficking to underground economies. Redemption arcs form a core motif, with protagonists seeking atonement through moral reckonings that underscore personal and communal flaws, as seen in the ensemble-driven dynamics of One Day as a Lion. Exploitation industries, such as sex work in Candy Land, further amplify these themes, critiquing societal margins where vulnerability is commodified.^[1][33] Swab's visual style is characterized by gritty cinematography that employs natural lighting to evoke raw authenticity, often capturing the desolation of American heartland locales. Collaborating closely with cinematographer Will Stone across multiple projects, including Candy Land and Little Dixie, Swab prioritizes compositional framing, transforming everyday scenes into visually arresting tableaux that blend elegance with harsh realism. This approach avoids polished aesthetics, favoring a grindhouse-inflected texture that immerses viewers in the underbelly of his stories. Fast-paced editing, reminiscent of 1970s action cinema, propels the momentum in his thrillers, using quick cuts to mirror the chaotic urgency of criminal pursuits and emotional turmoil.^[34][35][36] Narratively, Swab employs ensemble casts to emphasize character flaws, creating layered portraits of flawed individuals whose interconnected struggles drive the plot without relying on heroic archetypes. This technique fosters a sense of communal decay, where personal failings ripple outward in tales of crime and recovery. In select works, non-linear elements subtly disrupt chronology to heighten psychological tension, revealing backstories piecemeal to underscore themes of hidden trauma. Swab's use of music and sound design intensifies thriller elements, particularly in Candy Land, where pulsating scores and amplified ambient noises—crafted by composers like David Sardy—build unease in scenes of exploitation and peril, amplifying the film's horror-tinged atmosphere.^[34][1][37]

Personal life

Marriage and family

John Swab married actress and musician Sam Quartin on November 5, 2017.^[38] The couple first met in fall 2013 when Quartin auditioned for Swab's short film Judas' Chariot, sparking a professional and romantic partnership that has endured.^[39] Their marriage blends personal intimacy with creative collaboration, with Quartin frequently starring in Swab's independent films, including Let Me Make You a Martyr (2016) and Candy Land (2022). This ongoing partnership allows them to navigate the challenges of low-budget filmmaking together, fostering a shared vision that emphasizes raw, character-driven narratives. The couple has no children, prioritizing their joint artistic endeavors over expanding their family.^[39] Swab and Quartin's relationship provides crucial support for his nomadic, resource-constrained independent filmmaking lifestyle, enabling seamless integration of their professional lives.

Residence and interests

As of 2025, John Swab and his wife, actress and musician Sam Quartin, reside in Woodstock, New York, in the Hudson Valley, a creative hub that aligns with Quartin's role in the local rock band The Bobby Lees.^[40] The couple initially lived in the Woodstock area following their 2017 marriage, after time in Los Angeles. They relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma—Swab's hometown—in October 2021, seeking a quieter, more community-oriented environment that supported their creative pursuits, where Swab owned a home. They returned to Woodstock around late 2023. Woodstock now serves as their base for personal life, allowing integration of local locations and talent into projects while maintaining an independent, low-key lifestyle. Swab maintains a deep interest in visual and hands-on creative activities outside of cinema, including painting, photography, cooking, and thrifting. These hobbies reflect his appreciation for tactile, resourceful forms of expression that complement his narrative-driven work. In the Hudson Valley, Swab engages with the local arts and film community, taking advantage of the region's supportive infrastructure for independent productions and collaborating with talent there. This involvement aligns with his preference for grassroots, community-rooted endeavors over Hollywood's high-pressure scene. Swab has been sober since 2015 and balances his demanding filmmaking schedule with ongoing personal recovery by adhering to a structured daily routine that prioritizes mental clarity and stability, enabling sustained creative output.^[15]

Filmography

Feature films

John Swab's feature films demonstrate his multifaceted role in independent cinema, frequently serving as director, writer, and producer. Swab frequently collaborates with actors like Slaine, who appears in Let Me Make You a Martyr, Run with the Hunted, Body Brokers, Ida Red, and Little Dixie, and Melissa Leo in Body Brokers, Ida Red, and King Ivory.^[50]

Short films

John Swab's short film output is limited to a single work, Judas' Chariot (2014), which he co-directed, co-wrote, and produced alongside Corey Asraf.^[51][52] The 31-minute crime drama explores themes of taboo love, familial abuse, and resilience amid suffering, following adopted siblings navigating a tormented existence under a tyrannical guardian.^[53][54] Produced on a modest budget of approximately $12,000–$13,000, the film was self-funded through pooled contributions from Swab, his production partner Jeremy Rosen, and a small group of friends, marking Swab's entry into narrative filmmaking without prior experience.^[13] Shot in Oklahoma, it served as an early showcase for key collaborators, including actress Sam Quartin in the lead role of June Glass, whose performance highlighted the film's raw emotional intensity despite occasional sound inconsistencies.^[55][56] Following its completion, Judas' Chariot received screenings in theaters across 15 cities, including Circle Cinema in Tulsa and Loews Boston Common, rather than traditional film festivals, as Swab personally drove a promotional tour to build audience and industry interest.^[13][55][57] This grassroots approach proved pivotal, attracting a backer in Tulsa who financed the expansion of its narrative into Swab's debut feature, Let Me Make You a Martyr (2016), effectively positioning the short as a proof-of-concept for his gritty, character-driven style.^[13][55] The film is not currently available for streaming.^[52]