Daryl Schmidt is a writer and director based out of Detroit, MI. Working predominantly in short-films and commercials, Daryl is most notable for the exploitation action films
Black Licorice (2015), and
Black Licorice Returns (2019) as well as the 2021 horror film
Strangers in the Night (2021) which received unanimous praise on the 2022 festival circuit.
A lifelong fan of exploitation cinema thanks to his father, Daryl's earliest memories include attending several grindhouse features such as
Spawn of the Slithis (1978) and
The Last Shark (1981) which made a lasting impression on his future as an independent filmmaker.