A classic folk song is getting a bloody horror makeover.

Cotton Eye Joe, a new slasher inspired by the infamous “Cotton Eye Joe” song, is now in production in Illinois, with genre favorites Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and Sean Gunn (The Suicide Squad, Creature Commandos) leading the cast.

Directed by Nick Merola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Brandon Weavil (Dolly), the film follows four friends who find themselves stranded on a deserted country road. Seeking shelter in an isolated stretch of farmland, they soon awaken the brutal legend of Cotton Eye Joe.

Once night falls, the friends become prey in a deadly game of cat and mouse against a relentless serial killer.

Joining Moseley and Gunn are Cassidy Terracian, Brian Dole, Eloise Lola Gordon, and Moses Jones.

For Merola, bringing Cotton Eye Joe to life marks the realization of a lifelong dream.

“I started making horror movies in the second grade using my dad’s VHS camera, so to be stepping onto the set of my first feature with this incredible cast and crew is beyond a dream come true,” Merola said. “Cotton Eye Joe is exactly the kind of movie that made me fall in love with the horror genre as a kid – incredibly bloody, suspenseful, and most importantly, fun.”

With filming now underway, Cotton Eye Joe is shaping up to deliver a nasty new take on a familiar piece of Americana—with Bill Moseley and Sean Gunn along for the bloody ride.

Stay tuned to GoreCulture for more updates as the slasher heads toward release.