Patricia Beckmann Wells’ Mombomb, Part 1, a modern AI-driven fairytale, has been officially selected for the 31st Slamdance Film Festival in the Shorts Episodes category.
Created using over a dozen AI tools in a unique production pipeline, Mombomb is based on Beckmann Wells’ real-life childhood experience with two serial killers and the deep-seated regret that followed. This feminist comedy horror series delves into intergenerational trauma and memory, told through the lens of the daughter of WWII immigrants. The 12-part series is currently being developed into a feature film.
Set in 1970s Toledo, Ohio, a breeding ground for serial killers, Mombomb follows Girl Scout Pez, whose life resembles a twisted fairy tale—one inspired more by The Brothers Grimm than by happily-ever-afters. When a killer troll emerges from beneath the bridge to prey on young girls, Pez must weaponize her Girl Scout cookies to survive.
Growing up in an era before the internet, Pez struggles to navigate a world where the American Dream hides a darker reality. Her mother, a WWII survivor, refuses to believe the world could still be dangerous, leaving Pez to uncover her own strengths—and her mother’s weaknesses. Through her journey, Pez learns why squirrels run into speeding cars, how to stop it, and why teaching the girl power of domestic duties and revenge is more powerful than anyone realizes. Watch the trailer below:
A Story Rooted in Reality
Beckmann Wells reveals that Mombomb was inspired by her own childhood survival story, shaped by growing up in a small Ohio town stalked by serial killers. She explains:
“I was followed by serial killers who murdered multiple people in my neighborhood, yet these stories were never shared with us as children. Instead, we learned about them as campfire tales—urban legends we didn’t believe were real. Growing up before the internet, I never knew the men following me were serial killers until after my parents were gone. My mother, a WWII survivor, had raised me on Grimm’s fairy tales, training me to expect the ‘boogeyman.’ Other kids were raised on Sesame Street. They knew their ABCs—I knew how to take out a predator. When my mother refused to believe me, the neighbors started disappearing.”
The story is grounded in a true crime history that shocked Ohio. Brothers Anthony and Nathaniel Cook were convicted of at least nine rape-murders between 1973 and 1981 in Toledo. One of the brothers was released in 2018, while the other is up for parole in March 2025.
“Mombomb is our survival story through fantasy,” says Beckmann Wells. “It’s about keeping the monsters out of your head, finding strength, and ultimately, discovering joy in the face of horror.”
Beyond Slamdance, Mombomb has received global recognition, winning:
🏆 Best in Creative AI – Qld XR (Brisbane, Australia)
🏆 Best Animated Short Film – STUFF MX (Mexico City)
🏆 Runner-Up Best Story – Metamorph Film Award (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
🏆 Best Visual Effects – AI Artist (Peking, China)
🏆 AI Program 1.0 Selection – Tirana International Film Festival (Albania)
🏆 Grand Prix – Courant3D (Angoulême, France)
Mombomb, Part 1 will screen at Slamdance Film Festival on: Friday, February 21st, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM. Slamdance runs from February 20 – 26, 2025, with screenings and events at the Director’s Guild of America and Quixote West Hollywood, kicking off at The Egyptian Theatre on opening night. The film will also be available for streaming on the Slamdance Channel from February 24 – March 7, 2025.
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