John Carl Buechler was an American special make-up effects artist, film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He was best known for his work on horror and science-fiction films, mostly as part of Charles Band's Empire Pictures, and directed films such as Troll, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, Cellar Dweller, Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College, and Curse of the Forty-Niner.