Steven R. Monroe was born in Queens, New York, and has been deeply rooted in the film industry from a young age. His entire immediate family has been or is currently involved in the entertainment industry, with his father serving as a cameraman, his mother a theatre director and producer, and his sister, Julie, a well-respected editor. Additionally, his uncle, Don Schlitten, is an iconic jazz producer.
Monroe's passion for filmmaking began early, as he started making movies with his Super 8 camera at the age of eight. By the time he was twelve, he was already receiving paychecks for his work in the film industry. After completing his education at NYU, where he was an assistant to Haig Manoogian, Martin Scorsese's mentor, Monroe began his freelance career in the camera department.
Over the next ten years, Monroe worked as an assistant cameraman and operator on a wide range of projects, including feature films, television shows, commercials, and music videos. At the age of thirty, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a director for the first time.
Since then, Monroe has directed a diverse range of projects, including music videos, commercials, documentaries, feature films, and television movies. He has worked with various networks, such as SyFy, Lifetime, and Hallmark, and has directed over three dozen television movies to date.
Monroe has also directed almost two dozen feature films, including the critically acclaimed "House of 9" starring Dennis Hopper. Two of his films were produced by the legendary Stephen J. Cannell, and he is best known for directing the controversial and critically acclaimed remake of the 1978 classic "I Spit on Your Grave" in 2010, as well as its sequel in 2012.
In addition to his work in the film industry, Monroe has also written, produced, and directed two of his own films, the ensemble drama "Complacent" and the action thriller "MoniKa". He directed the horror sequel "The Exorcism of Molly Hartley" for 20th Century Fox and the final four episodes of the UP TV original dramatic series "Ties That Bind" in 2015.
Throughout his career, Monroe has built a reputation as a director who brings a unique style to each project, elicits good performances from his cast, and is fast, efficient, and respected by both his crew and cast. He has worked in various regions around the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia, and is managed by Stan Spry at Evoke.
