When “Malibu Horror Story” first hit theaters in 2023, few could have guessed that one of its actors had been part of the project since his teens — or that he’d eventually be watching it stream from his home in Kingsburg.

For Hector Gomez Jr., who plays Carlos Garcia in the supernatural thriller, the film’s release marks the end of a journey nearly 15 years in the making.

“I moved out here. I was like 16, 17, you know, finished off high school here in Kingsburg,” Gomez said. “I started acting when I was 18, 19… It (Malibu Horror Story) started in 2009 or 2010.”

Directed by Scott Slone, Malibu Horror Story follows a team of paranormal investigators uncovering the decade-old disappearance of four Malibu teens. Blending found-footage and documentary-style storytelling, the movie weaves together multiple timelines — “two movies in one,” Gomez explained.

“I play Carlos Garcia, which is one of the missing teens from Malibu. So you’ll see our footage like found footage style similar to “Paranormal Activity,” “Blair Witch Project,” “Project X” — and then it goes back to the documentary, which was shot recently with the four new cast members,” he said.

The film, which premiered in select theaters in 2023, is finding new life this fall. After a change in distributors, it became available Oct. 7 on streaming platforms including Apple TV, Prime Video, and Google Play, with international releases planned.

“Not that they weren’t happy with the distributor they had, but they just thought maybe they could get something better,” Gomez said. “Now it’s hitting streamers and it should be back in theaters as well and international.”

A Long Road to Release

The project began as a proof of concept titled “Malevolent” in 2010 and evolved through years of reshoots, technical challenges, and new footage.

Filmed across Malibu and Santa Clarita, it used everything from drones to GoPros to capture its eerie tone.

“It’s been literally a 15-year process with this… I mean, yeah, some people would have just quit already, ‘oh, let’s forget about this, it’s been too long,’ ” Gomez said. “But they didn’t quit and now it’s finally getting what it deserves. It won over 58 awards.”

Finding Success from the Central Valley

For Gomez, the project was more than a role — it was a defining moment in his career.

“This project means a lot to me. It was one of the very first projects that I auditioned for. This project actually paid me as an actor and it made me eligible to join the Screen Actors Guild,” he said.

He credits director Slone and producer Dustin Harris for believing in him.

“I don’t think I would have kept actually acting if I would have never booked this. It gave me the confidence to keep going and keep trying out,” Gomez said.

He has appeared in six feature films, made several television appearances, and dozens of commercials for brands such as Cricket, DoorDash, and Nike. Local commercials for the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Table Mountain and Tachi casinos, and Hedrick’s Chevrolet also have helped pay the bills.

Now, with the Mailbu Horror Story available to audiences worldwide, Gomez plans to celebrate close to home.

“I’m looking forward to having a watch party even if it’s with my family and friends — something locally here in the area,” he said.

A Scary Good Time

Asked to summarize the story, Gomez described it simply:

“It’s about these four teenagers from Malibu — popular kids — and I play one of them, Carlos Garcia… They end up going camping and crazy demonic stuff happens up in those Malibu mountains,” he said. “Five, six years later these new paranormal investigators go to that same cave to find out what happened to these four teenagers, and they end up fighting their own…”

Gomez also revealed that his character takes an unexpected turn that he is excited for audiences to see.

A Fresh Take on Horror

Despite the long road to release, Gomez believes the wait was worth it.

“People should give this a try — it’s a really fun, edge-of-your-seat type film. It’s fun, it’s scary, it’s funny and it’s fresh,” he said. “It’s something different than these big studios are putting out… I think Scott Slone did a great job at making something different, something fresh and new.”

For Gomez, Malibu Horror Story isn’t just a horror movie — it’s proof that persistence pays off.

“I think anybody that just wants to find a good movie right now and, you know, the Halloween season to just kick back and throw on your TV — I think this would be a great flick for them,” he said.

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