Red State is a  new film from director Kevin Smith and if you haven’t heard of it, then you’re obviously not on Twitter. Smith, best known for lighter fare like Clerks, Dogma, Mall Rats and Cop Out, has crafted a ‘horror’ movie about fundamentalism, guns and ironically enough, the dangers of the internet.

The synopsis: “Set in Middle America, a group of teens receive an online invitation for sex, though they soon encounter fundamentalists with a much more sinister agenda.”

I say, ironically, because Smith has decided to forego the usual avenues employed to promote a movie and is doing it all himself, using the internet, chiefly through Twitter, for free. Shot on a shoestring budget of just $4 million, Smith brought Red State to Sundance this past January where it was very well received and has been travelling the country ever since, hosting sold-out screenings and Q & A sessions about the film, tickets averaging $65 a piece.

I have followed Kevin Smith since I joined Twitter in 2009, mostly because he’s hilarious and says whatever the hell he wants to. Agree or disagree, he’s always entertaining. Here’s what he tweeted recently with reference to promoting his film:

“P.S.- As a big ol’ “Fuck ‘em,” the trailer used to have the line “From the director of Cop Out.” I went with “From @ThatKevinSmith” instead.”

His latest endeavor is to cohost a week-long series of screenings August 19-25 in Los Angeles at the New Beverly Cinema (a local family owned and operated theater famous for its repertory offerings, many of which offer post screening discussions with members cast &/or crew) with Q & A panels following each showing, hosted by Smith and Quentin Tarantino. Even though the film is scheduled for a US release in October, Smith has said the idea behind the screenings is to provide the opening run in LA needed to qualify for Academy Award consideration.

He had this to say in an interview with Movieline:

“To be clear: this Academy-qualifying run is STRICTLY about the ACTORS,” Smith said in an e-mail to Movieline (emphasis his). “I’m not looking for consideration (or even kevsideration) for myself; I just want to see the true talents behind our flick get at least a shot at their propers.”

Here’s a peek at the red-band (NSFW) trailer:

Red State is scheduled for release 30 September in the UK and October 19 in the US.