Trim Season: A Horror Film Inspired by the Emerald Triangle

Trim season in Humboldt County has a reputation for wild stories, and now it’s the subject of a new horror film that captures those eerie tales in a whole new way.

Trim Season, produced by Sean E. DeMott, is a horror thriller that follows a group of young people heading to a secluded marijuana farm in Humboldt, hoping to make some quick cash. But what they find instead are dark secrets lurking in the forest. Co-writer Megan Sutherland knows this world well; she based the story on her own experiences as a trimmer in Humboldt, blending real-life stories with supernatural twists. The result? A “psychedelic fever dream” version of the isolation and intensity that can come with working in these remote environments.

The concept for the film came together when DeMott heard Sutherland’s wild stories about trimming. “Have you heard about the crazy stuff that goes on up in Humboldt?”, inspired by tales of strange disappearances, intense personalities, and isolated trim camps. Fascinated, DeMott turned “trim season” into a full-fledged horror script with Sutherland’s Humboldt knowledge at its core.

Sutherland, who was initially drawn to Humboldt’s trim scene for the adventure, recalls sketchy early days when she’d arrive with only an address, no cell service, and would often end up riding in an unmarked van to an unknown location. “I couldn’t always tell what was paranoia and what was real,” she says, describing the mix of outlandish encounters and beautiful moments that inspired the film.

In the movie, you’ll catch a reference to Southern Humboldt in one scene, where a character recruits new trimmers in Garberville.

With an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Trim Season tells the story of a group of jobless young people from Los Angeles who drive north on Highway 101, looking for purpose and a paycheck in the trim fields of Northern California. But once they’re deep in the woods and cut off from the outside world, the secrets of their host turn far darker than they expected.

While the film dives into supernatural themes, Sutherland says it stays true to the trim culture she experienced. She shares that during her early Humboldt days, she heard “witchy stories” and supernatural legends, adding an element of folklore to her memories of the region.

Interestingly, while Trim Season captures the vibe of Humboldt, most of the filming took place in Utah, where legal restrictions on cannabis required the crew to use fake plants made by a European special effects company. Still, the production team managed to keep the look authentic by filming some scenes in Humboldt, capturing the lush green forests and mystique of the region.

The movie also features insider nods to trimmer culture—like Fiskar scissors, and even a nod to volunteer fire departments that struggle as the cannabis economy shifts. Sutherland appreciated that director Ariel Vida wanted to get these details right, even taking the time to learn about trimming tools and techniques.

“Vida showed real respect for the culture,” Sutherland says. “They balanced the beauty of the area with the darker elements—those hidden dangers that make you feel just a little unsafe.”

If you’re in the mood for a spooky movie to stream this Halloween, Trim Season delivers a mix of Humboldt’s beauty, mystery, and the kinds of chills only the Emerald Triangle can inspire.