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Writer/director Larry Brand died suddenly on Feb. 9 at his home in Hollywood. He was 69.

Brand’s first job in the film industry was as a driver and production assistant for Orson Welles. Following his debut feature film, psychological thriller “Backfire” (co-written with frequent collaborator Rebecca Reynolds), he went on to write, direct, and co-star in “The Drifter,” “Masque of the Red Death” and “Overexposed” for indie producer Roger Corman.

Over the past two-and-a-half decades, his films as writer and/or director, ranging in budget from 15,000 to $15 million, have included award-winning indies “Paranoia” (1998) and “Christina” (2010), and studio productions “Hard Luck” and “Halloween: Resurrection”.

“Resurrection” went on to become the second-most-profitable sequel in the franchise’s history.

In 2008 Brand formed 8180 Films with partners Reynolds (with whom he co-produced HBO’s “Assume the Position With Mr. Wuhl”) and James Carpenter. Their first feature, “Christina,” went on to win awards at film fests,...

Larry Brand, a writer-director whose credits include Halloween: Resurrection and several Roger Corman films, died peacefully February 9 at his home in Hollywood. He was 69.

Brand was born in New York City on December 16, 1949. He grew up in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens and attended City College in New York before making his way to Los Angeles in 1974. His first job in the film industry was as driver and production assistant to the legendary Orson Welles. Brand wrote his first feature film, the psychological thriller Backfire with frequent collaborator Rebecca Reynolds. From there, he expanded his skills in directing and acting. He collaborated with indie film producer Roger Corman on movies including The Drifter, Masque of the Red Death and Overexposed.

He continued his indie streak with award-winning films such as Paranoia and Christina. He also had a hand in studio productions such as Hard Luck starring Wesley Snipes as...