Mike Tristano

Mike Tristano

CrewArtActorCostume & Make-UpDirector 1990–2025 (35 year career)
4.5 avg rating

Biography

Although he himself denies it, Mike Tristano is a nearly legendary figure in the world of independent cinema and "B" movies. His body of work as an armorer, on-set weapons handler and special makeup effects artist is truly amazing, and some of the low-budget films he has written and directed have become underground cult classics. He is the only "true" non-union supplier of movie weaponry and armorer services, historical and military props, special makeup FX and weapons-related effects. Always be…

Known For

Filmography

Crew (91)

·

Movies (90)

Ojai

Ojai

2025

Armorer

Wanted Man

Wanted Man

2024

Armorer

6.6
One Ranger

One Ranger

2023

Armorer

6.1
The Last Deal

The Last Deal

2023

Armorer

5.0
Shelter in Place

Shelter in Place

2021

Property Master

4.0
Insight

Insight

2021

Armorer

5.6
Attack of the Unknown

Attack of the Unknown

2020

Armorer

4.4
There's No Such Thing as Vampires

There's No Such Thing as Vampires

2020

Armorer

3.3
Cuck

Cuck

2019

Armorer

4.5
Rogue Warfare

Rogue Warfare

2019

Armorer

5.6
Cam

Cam

2018

Armorer

5.8
Downrange

Downrange

2018

Armorer

5.7
Gone Are the Days

Gone Are the Days

2018

Armorer

5.4
Sniper: Special Ops

Sniper: Special Ops

2016

Armorer

4.3
Adulterers

Adulterers

2016

Armorer

6.1
Adulterers

Adulterers

2016

Special Effects Coordinator

6.1
Within

Within

2016

Armorer

5.5
The Lotus Gun

The Lotus Gun

2015

Armorer

Echoes in an Empty Apartment

Echoes in an Empty Apartment

2014

Special Effects

9.0
Echoes in an Empty Apartment

Echoes in an Empty Apartment

2014

Stunt Coordinator

9.0
The Den

The Den

2013

Armorer

6.1
Dark Power

Dark Power

2013

Armorer

4.0
Hit & Run

Hit & Run

2012

Armorer

5.7
Small Apartments

Small Apartments

2012

Armorer

5.8
Megaconda

Megaconda

2010

Thanks

3.7
Life Is Hot in Cracktown

Life Is Hot in Cracktown

2009

Armorer

5.9
Charlie Valentine

Charlie Valentine

2009

Weapons Master

4.1
Angel of Death

Angel of Death

2009

Armorer

4.8
Fatal Secrets

Fatal Secrets

2009

Armorer

3.4
How to Be a Serial Killer

How to Be a Serial Killer

2009

Armorer

5.0
Alien Raiders

Alien Raiders

2008

Armorer

5.4
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder

2008

Special Effects

4.8
Necessary Evil

Necessary Evil

2008

Armorer

3.3
Depth Charge

Depth Charge

2008

Armorer

5.0
Black Widow

Black Widow

2008

Armorer

4.7
Shark Swarm

Shark Swarm

2008

Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.3
Murder 101: The Locked Room Mystery

Murder 101: The Locked Room Mystery

2008

Armorer

7.0
Drive Thru

Drive Thru

2007

Special Effects Coordinator

5.3
Cannibal Taboo

Cannibal Taboo

2006

Director

2.3
Crash Landing

Crash Landing

2006

Special Effects

4.7
Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror

Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror

2006

Special Effects

4.8
The New Neighbors

The New Neighbors

2006

Director

8.0
The New Neighbors

The New Neighbors

2006

Writer

8.0
D.E.B.S.

D.E.B.S.

2005

Armorer

6.5
D.E.B.S.

D.E.B.S.

2005

Special Effects

6.5
Komodo vs. Cobra

Komodo vs. Cobra

2005

Armorer

4.0
Target

Target

2004

Armorer

3.8
Hatchetman

Hatchetman

2003

Special Effects Technician

3.4
The Secret Cellar

The Secret Cellar

2003

Armorer

2.1
The Secret Cellar

The Secret Cellar

2003

Special Effects Coordinator

2.1
The Job

The Job

2003

Special Effects Coordinator

4.4
Project Viper

Project Viper

2002

Armorer

4.6
Slaughter Studios

Slaughter Studios

2002

Armorer

3.8
Savage Season

Savage Season

2001

Director

3.0
Savage Season

Savage Season

2001

Writer

3.0
Lost Voyage

Lost Voyage

2001

Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.7
Python

Python

2000

Weapons Master

5.0
The Ultimate Prey

The Ultimate Prey

2000

Co-Director

The Ultimate Prey

The Ultimate Prey

2000

Screenplay

Never Look Back

Never Look Back

2000

Director

2.5
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder

Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder

2000

Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.6
Dirt Merchant

Dirt Merchant

1999

Weapons Master

2.8
Dark Nova

Dark Nova

1999

Director

Blood Dolls

Blood Dolls

1999

Weapons Master

4.6
Wasteland Justice

Wasteland Justice

1999

Director

2.0
Wasteland Justice

Wasteland Justice

1999

Producer

2.0
Wasteland Justice

Wasteland Justice

1999

Writer

2.0
Love and Action in Chicago

Love and Action in Chicago

1999

Special Effects Coordinator

4.7
Trading Favors

Trading Favors

1997

Weapons Master

4.4
Demolition University

Demolition University

1997

Special Effects Makeup Artist

2.7
The First Man

The First Man

1996

Special Effects Coordinator

5.0
The Lord Protector

The Lord Protector

1996

Special Effects Makeup Artist

3.5
Silent Lies

Silent Lies

1996

Special Effects Makeup Artist

1.0
Cyberella: Forbidden Passions

Cyberella: Forbidden Passions

1996

Special Effects Makeup Artist

3.3
Warrior of Justice

Warrior of Justice

1995

Director

2.7
Body Count

Body Count

1994

Director

Snapdragon

Snapdragon

1993

Special Effects Makeup Artist

3.8
Cyber Seeker

Cyber Seeker

1993

Director

2.5
Cyber Seeker

Cyber Seeker

1993

Special Effects Makeup Artist

2.5
Things

Things

1993

Makeup Effects

3.3
Things

Things

1993

Producer

3.3
Things

Things

1993

Special Effects

3.3
Relentless 3

Relentless 3

1993

Special Effects Makeup Artist

4.5
Psycho Cop Returns

Psycho Cop Returns

1993

Special Effects Makeup Artist

5.2
The Flesh Merchant

The Flesh Merchant

1993

Director

4.0
The Flesh Merchant

The Flesh Merchant

1993

Story

4.0
Demon Lover

Demon Lover

1992

Director

3.8
Hellroller

Hellroller

1992

Makeup Effects

2.8
Feast

Feast

1992

Director

3.3
Pledge Night

Pledge Night

1990

Special Effects

4.6