Adapted from a script written 25 years ago that was based on Robert Rodriguez’s experiences in a Medical Research Facility, RED 11 is a Horror/Thriller set in a dark, twisted version of the Legal Drug Research world. At these Facilities, young guys become Lab Rats to make quick money, but our hero RED 11 is here to buy his way out of a huge debt to the tune of $7,000. This story shows the quirks, characters, and comedy of Robert’s experiences of being a human Lab Rat, but with a sci fi and horror twist, because while under the influence of experimental drugs, Red 11 doesn’t know if what’s in front of him is fact or fiction.

We at Collider have an exclusive poster debut to share with you today. It’s the one-sheet for Sin City and Alita: Battle Angel filmmaker Robert Rodriguez’s new film Red 11, which was made for just $7,000. That’s in stark contrast to his previous feature, the effects-heavy blockbuster Alita: Battle Angel, but is right in line with Rodriguez’s career thus far. He first burst onto the scene with his low-budget indie El Mariachi, and has since taken a “DIY” approach to his diverse range of films regardless of scale, from Desperado to the Spy Kids franchise.

Red 11 is a horror-thriller set in a dark, twisted version of the Legal Drug Research world and is inspired by Rodriguez’s experiences at a research lab where he earned the money to make El Mariachi. He co-wrote the script with his son Racer Max, who also appears in the film alongside Rodriguez’s other son Rebel.

Rodriguez challenged himself to make a movie for $7,000 at the same time he was working on Battle Angel, and the experience was documented in a docu-series called Rebel without a Crew: The Robert Rodriguez Film School, which consists of six 30-minute episodes. Clips from the docu-series will be showcased at a SXSW Masterclass led by Rodriguez on March 12th.

The film will have its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 12th.

EXCLUSIVE: Tubi has scored the exclusive streaming rights to Robert Rodriguez’s sci-fi horror pic Red 11 as well as his docuseries The Robert Rodriguez Film School.

Red 11 is based on Rodriguez’s experiences in a medical research facility to finance his first feature El Mariachi. Pic, which made its world premiere at SXSW and went on to play in the Directors Fortnight section at Cannes, is set in the dark, twisted world of legal drug research. College kids turn lab rats to make quick money. The pic’s protagonist Rob (who is assigned the color and number Red 11), is trying to buy his way out of a huge debt to the tune of $7K. But things get surreal when he’s not sure if the hospital is really trying to kill him, or if it’s side effects from the experimental drugs.

Red 11 will hit the free ad-supported streaming service in the U.S., Canada and Mexico this summer.

Robert Rodriguez Film School is the companion piece to Red 11 that explains the director’s guerrilla filmmaking process, while speaking to filmmakers and entrepreneurs alike on overcoming the perceived limitations of time, budget and other variables.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Tubi to deliver Red 11 and its accompanying Film School docuseries free of charge and easily accessible to all audiences,” said Rodriguez. “I made both Red 11 and the Film School series to celebrate the 25th anniversary of El Mariachi, and this project shows truly actionable methods using my no crew, micro budget filmmaking style that will inspire others to make their own films and have their voices be heard. These are both dream projects of mine, an entertaining culmination of ideas and ruminations on the creative process that also highlight the heightened sense of spirituality that comes from dancing with creativity when there is an absence of the usual financial resources. In other words, ‘low budget fun.’”

“Red 11 and the story of how Robert made this movie is inspirational to up-and-coming filmmakers,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “We are thrilled to amplify Robert’s message to the next generation of filmmakers as a part of our commitment to helping independent films find a wide audience.”