Scott Brown and Anthony King are the Tony-nominated writers behind Beetlejuice the Musical. Together they adapted Tim Burton’s cult classic into a Broadway hit that blends grief, special effects, and lots of laughs. I am an unabashedly huge fan of Beetlejuice the Musical, which first opened on Broadway in April 2019, closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, returned for a second run in April 2022, and wrapped again in January 2023. Now the show is set for its third Broadway engagement at the Palace Theatre, running October 8, 2025 through January 3, 2026, and I cannot wait because I have really missed this show.

Hey everyone, back with another monthly episode of The Howl, where me and my cohost Adam Cruz break down the biggest horror news, share what we’ve been watching, and talk all things horror. This month we’re joined by screenwriter, producer, and director Joe Russo (Nightmare Cinema), who brings some serious insider perspective to the conversation.

Our goal with The Howl is to catch listeners up with all of the horror news they might have missed from the past month in a fun, conversational format. If you want a quick-read version of The Howl sent straight to y...

Joshua Lastine is an entertainment attorney and the founder of Lastine Entertainment Law, representing actors, directors, writers, producers and more. A former in-house lawyer at Lionsgate and ViacomCBS, he has worked on high-profile projects such as Halloween (2018) and The Blackening, as well as massive Netflix productions, indie films, and everything in between.

Recognized by Variety as a Hollywood Deal Maker, Joshua also serves as an adjunct lecturer in Entertainment Business Law at The Los Angeles Film School.

A lifelong horror fan with a collection of VHS, DVDs, and Blu-rays, Josh brings deep genre knowledge to...

Boaz Yakin is a New York City–born filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer known for his versatile work across indie dramas, mainstream hits, genre films, and TV. He began his career young, selling his first screenplay (The Punisher) at 19, and quickly made a name for himself with gritty urban stories and emotionally resonant character work.

Boaz directed Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington, Safe starring Jason Statham, Max, Uptown Girls, A Price Above Rubies, Death in Love and his indie horror mystery Boarding School among many others.

Beyond directing, as a writer, his credits include The Ro...

We got a great one today, someone I’ve wanted to have on the show since year 1. Jim  Mickle is in the house. Jim is a director and writer, known for his bold genre-blending style. After graduating from NYU’s film program he made his directorial debut with the micro‑budget horror Mulberry Street (2006), followed by the vampire western Stake Land (2010). In 2013, he released his unsettling family cannibal remake (that legit gave me nightmares) We Are What We Are. Jim then ventured into noir-thriller territory with Cold in July (2014), starring Michael C. Hall and Don Johnson before transitioning to televisi...

Natasha Kermani is a director whose work includes Imitation Girl, Lucky, and V/H/S/85. Her latest feature, Abraham’s Boys, is an atmospheric, emotionally grounded take on Dracula and Van Helsing, adapted from Joe Hill’s short story.

The film explores the lives of Van Helsing’s sons, reframing familiar gothic mythologies through a new lens and examining the cost of obsession, legacy, and belief systems passed from parent to child. Abraham’s Boys blends Western aesthetics, intimate drama, and horror mythology to create something quietly powerful — and wholly its own. Available to rent on VOD and coming...

Jamie Harrison is a renowned illusion designer, visual effects creator, and theater artist, who, alongside collaborator Chris Fisher, is responsible for the jaw-dropping illusions in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the stage play prequel to the Stranger Things series. Both Jamie and Chris earned a Special Tony Award for Illusions & Technical Effects earlier this year.

In this conversation, Jamie walks through his background as a magician and theater artist and the deep historical roots of magic in live performance. He also shares the rigorous process of designing for large-scale theater, how ancient illusionist traditions can be used...

Josh Stolberg is a director, screenwriter, and photographer whose work spans comedy, horror, and thriller. Among the horror crowd, Josh is best known for his work as writer on movies like Sorority Row and Piranha 3D. Josh is well known for his contributions to the Saw franchise, penning scripts for Jigsaw (2017), Spiral (2021), and Saw X (2023).

His latest project is Skillhouse, which he wrote and directed. Skillhouse is a critique on influencer culture with brutal, practical-effects-driven set pieces by Steve Johnson. There was one sequence in Skillhouse that was so brutal the DP actually passed out. True story. Jo...

Chris Fisher is one of the leading minds behind the groundbreaking illusions in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the stunning stage prequel to the beloved Netflix series. As Co-Illusion and Visual Effects Designer, Fisher helped craft an unprecedented theatrical experience that combines practical magic, cutting-edge engineering, and emotional storytelling — all performed live, night after night.

With a background in stage magic and major productions like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Back to the Future: The Musical, Chris brings a magician’s eye and a director’s instinct to theatrical illusion, redefining what’s possible on stage. I...

Kate Trefry is a key creative force behind Stranger Things. Joining the show as a writer in Season 2, she’s been with the series for over seven years, and her work has helped shape the mythology, tone, and lore of the town of Hawkins — and all of its beloved (and haunted) inhabitants.

Her latest venture takes the franchise into uncharted territory: the stage. Kate wrote Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a theatrical prequel set in 1959 Hawkins that blends psychological horror with jaw-dropping effects.

The First Shadow is one of the most incredible theater experiences I’ve eve...

Marc Schölermann is an acclaimed German director who made his feature debut with Pathology, a psychological thriller produced by MGM/Lakeshore and starring Alyssa Milano. His latest film, Bark, is a horror thriller about a man who wakes up tied to a tree with no memory of how he got there. Remarkably, the entire story unfolds within a single 10-by-10-foot space—making Bark not just a gripping watch, but a masterclass in single-location filmmaking.

Marc shot the film in just nine days. In this episode, he shares how he crafted a highly effective, technically simple fil...

Today’s guests are the creative duo Shannon Eric Denton and David Hartman — two multi-hyphenate storytellers whose work spans the worlds of comics, animation, film, and beyond.

Shannon Eric Denton is a veteran writer, artist, and transmedia creator with a career that cuts across comics, animation, television, and gaming. He’s worked with major studios including Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, and Riot Games. Shannon is also the co-founder of Monster Forge Productions, alongside horror legend Steve Niles, where they specialize in developing monster-centric IP for film, TV, games, and merchandise.

Joining him is...

Intro

Robin Block is rewriting the playbook for how genre stories get made. As the founder of CreatorVC, he’s behind the wildly successful In Search of Darkness documentary series, Aliens Expanded, and In Search of the Last Action Heroes—all funded and shaped by passionate fans. Now, with his new venture ScreamSeed, Robin is building the future of horror development: a platform that brings creators and fans together to incubate new IP and make bold, independent horror without waiting for Hollywood permission. In this episode, Robin shares how to build your own lane in horror, why fan...

Kurt Sayenga is a writer, director, and showrunner who has become a leading force in horror documentary filmmaking. Kurt made a name for himself with series like Eli Roth’s History of Horror, The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time, and Horror’s Greatest, where he brings a scholar’s eye and a fan’s passion to the genre’s most iconic moments. In this episode, we delve into Kurt’s journey from punk-rock zine publisher to award-winning documentarian, his approach to keeping horror history fresh, and his insights on the past, present, and future of the horror genre. Pleas...

On this episode we dive deep into the making The Invisible Raptor with writer and star Mike Capes and producer Nic Neary. The film is a hilarious, Amblin-inspired horror-comedy that delivers big creature-feature thrills (without ever showing the creature itself).

Mike and Nic share how the movie originated as a 3 AM idea, the journey from script to screen, and how they secured funding and distribution in a competitive indie film market. They also get into guerrilla filmmaking tactics, crafting a compelling pitch package, boosting production value with amazing locations and handling on-set crises. Please enjoy this conversation...

On this episode of The Nick Taylor Horror Show, we’re joined by journalist and horror scholar David Katznelson. Known for his meticulous exploration of the horror genre’s history, David shares details behind a fascinating project where he watches and analyzes every horror movie from the 1970’s. His most recent focus has been 1974—a pivotal and hauntingly transitional year in horror.

From Texas Chainsaw Massacre to forgotten gems like Help Me, I’m Possessed, David’s work breaks down the evolution of horror, how societal chaos like the Vietnam War shaped the genre, and what makes 1974 a landmark y...

Today we’re joined by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Adam Elliot. Adam is Known for his painstakingly handcrafted stop-motion films like Mary and Max, and the shorts Harvie Krumpet, which won an Oscar, and Ernie Biscuit.

Today Adam shares the emotional and artistic journey behind his latest film, Memoir of a Snail—a deeply personal, darkly whimsical tale about a young girl named Grace and her struggles with isolation and self-discovery.

Memoir of a Snail—is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and as much as I loved Flow and The Wild Robot, I’d lo...

I’m very excited because today, we’re joined by Elric Kane—filmmaker, podcaster, household name in horror and one of the most knowledgeable voices in genre cinema. Elric is the co-host of the ‘Colors of the Dark’ Podcast which I listen to religiously as well as & The New Beverly Cinemas ‘Pure Cinema’ Podcast.

Elric’s new feature ‘The Dead Thing’ launches on Shudder today! I got to see it at an advanced screening and I urge you to check it out on Shudder because it’s excellent and beautifully crafted.

In today’s episode, Elric and I dive deep into...

Josh Ethier is a film editor who has become a household name in horror. Josh is the editing force behind such films as: Contracted, Some Kind of Hate, We are Still Here, Mayhem, Leatherface, Bliss, VFW, Orphan First Kill, Christmas Bloody Christmas, The Seventh Day, Gretel and Hansel, Don’t Breathe and most recently Companion which he edited alongside Brett Bachman.

In this episode, Josh gets into his career history, editing process, collaborations with filmmakers like Joe Begos and Osgood Perkins and the story behind the recently released Companion, which is one of my favorite horror movies in...

Today we’re joined by action-horror filmmaker Steven C. Miller to discuss his latest barn-burner of a movie, Werewolves. Werewolves is an unapologetically fun and hydraulic creature feature packed with practical effects, action, and a whole lot of Frank Grillo. Steven dives into his experiences directing Werewolves, his focus on practical effects and full creature suits crafted by Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., and his collaboration with star Frank Grillo.

Steven also shares his compelling origin story, which included living in his car in Los Angeles before going on to direct multiple action features and collaborating wi...

Today we’re joined by directing duo Adam Schindler and Brian Netto, the creative minds behind the new horror thriller Don’t Move. The guys share how they transformed the universal fear of immobility into a gripping narrative that they ultimately sold to Netflix and discuss what it was like shooting in the Bulgarian wilderness, working with legendary producer Sam Raimi, and how they developed a hauntingly charismatic serial killer played by Finn Wittrock, alongside a powerful and emotionally charged performance by lead actress Kelsey Asbille. Don’t Move is now streaming on Netflix.

Here are some key ta...

Today we’re joined by indie filmmaker and casting director David Guglielmo, who recently wrapped his latest film, Love Bomb. David shares his journey of directing a script written specifically for him by friend and screenwriter Kathy Charles. We explore the creative challenges of transforming an erotic thriller into a dark comedy with shades of Scorsese's After Hours, and how he crafted surreal, Lynchian tones to set the film apart.

David also dives into the real-world setbacks he faced on set, from revoked permits to floods, and how quick thinking and flexibility helped keep the production afloat. Wi...

Cooper Roberts is an editor and director who just released his feature debut, All You Need is Blood—a delightfully gory tribute to Amblin-esque coming-of-age movies and zombie films. Cooper’s background includes experience in advertising and music videos, and most notably, he was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016 for co-directing the music video for Jack White’s band, The Dead Weather, and their song “I Feel Love.”

All You Need is Blood is a movie I really want to shout from the rooftops for more people to see. It’s a love letter to childhood dreams of fi...

Today, we’re celebrating a special milestone—the 10th anniversary of The Babadook— with director, Jennifer Kent. The Babadook was Jennifer’s feature debut and has since become an iconic classic and one of the GOATs of horror.

Jennifer has been recognized for her ability to craft horror with heart, making audiences not only tremble but also reflect deeply on the emotional struggles at the core of her stories. Her follow-up film, The Nightingale, is a brutal yet emotionally resonant tale of revenge set in 1820s Tasmania. And Jennifer also wrote and directed The Murmuring for Guillermo del Toro...

Hey everyone, back with another monthly episode of The Howl, a new concept where me and my cohost Adam Cruz summarize and discuss the past month's horror news, share what we've watched recently, and just generally nerd out over all things horror.

Our goal with The Howl is to catch listeners up with all of the horror news they may have missed from the past month in a fun, conversational format. If you want a quick-read version of The Howl sent directly to your inbox every month, then sign up for my monthly newsletter at nicktaylor.com...

Adam Egypt Mortimer is an American filmmaker, Producer and graphic novel writer. Originally from Boston, Adam kicked off his directing career with Some Kind of Hate in 2015 and followed that up with 2019’s Daniel Isn’t Real and 2020’s Arch Enemy.

But Adam doesn't stop at films; he's also ventured into comics, co-creating series like Ballistic and Black Star Renegades. In this episode Adam opens up about his journey. We chat about facing personal fears as a director, easing the pressure when making your first film, and staying adaptable when shit goes sideways on set.

Adam s...

Joe Stephenson is a British director who made his feature directorial debut with the 2015 film Chicken. His second film was the acclaimed 2018 documentary McKellen: Playing the Part about the life and career of Sir Ian McKellen. Joe’s third film is, Doctor Jekyll, an adaptation of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring Eddie Izzard from Hammer Films.

In this episode, Joe and I delve into the process of reimagining a classic horror story with a modern twist, working with the legendary Eddie Izzard, as well as the past, present and future of Hammer Films. We also get into the...

Hey everyone, back with another monthly episode of The Howl, a new concept where me and my cohost Adam Cruz summarize and discuss the past month's horror news, share what we've watched recently, and just generally nerd out over all things horror.

Our goal with The Howl is to catch listeners up with all of the horror news they may have missed from the past month in a fun, conversational format. If you want a quick-read version of The Howl sent directly to your inbox every month, then sign up for my monthly newsletter at nicktaylor.com...

Alejandro Brugués is an Argentinian-Cuban director and writer known for directing Juan of the Dead, which is credited as Cuba's first zombie movie. He made his directorial debut with the 2006 film Personal Belongings and directed the segment The Thing in the Woods in the anthology horror film Nightmare Cinema from Mick Garris, as well as a segment for ABCs of Death 2.

Alejandro’s latest movie is The Inheritance, a horror thriller that revolves around a wealthy patriarch who devises a twisted scheme to prolong his life through a sinister game of manipulation with his own children.

Hey everyone, back with another monthly episode of The Howl, a new concept where me and my cohost Adam Cruz summarize and discuss the past month's horror news, share what we've watched recently, and just generally nerd out over all things horror.

Our goal with The Howl is to catch listeners up with all of the horror news they may have missed from the past month in a fun, conversational format. If you want a quick-read version of The Howl sent directly to your inbox every month, then sign up for my monthly newsletter at nicktaylor.com...

Joe Russo and Mark Gantt are the team behind Soul Mates, a horror romance that explores the complexities of modern relationships through a matchmaking service that spirals into darkness. Joe was the producer with Mark directing. Joe Russo is a three-time BloodList writer, producer and director known for The Au Pair Nightmare, which he directed, Hard Kill, which he was a writer on, and as a producer on Nightmare Cinema, The World’s Greatest Beer Run and the upcoming horror thriller, The Inheritance.

Mark Gantt is an actor, director, producer, and writer recognized for acting work on Th...

Hey everyone, back with another monthly episode of The Howl, a new concept where me and my cohost Adam Cruz summarize and discuss the past month's horror news, share what we've watched recently, and just generally nerd out over all things horror.

Our goal with The Howl is to catch listeners up with all of the horror news they may have missed from the past month in a fun, conversational format. If you want a quick-read version of The Howl sent directly to your inbox every month, then sign up for my monthly newsletter at nicktaylor.com...

Welcome to the Nick Taylor Horror Show!

As always, each episode of The Nick Taylor Horror Show explores how today's horror filmmakers are getting their movies made while deconstructing their methods and career strategies into practical insights that you can use on your own horror filmmaking journey. This includes their creative processes, funding resources, favorite books & tools, key life lessons, and much, much more.

Today’s guest is Charlie Saroff, a cinematographer who has quickly established himself as a powerhouse in the horror genre.

Charlie's breakout work on Natalie Erika James' Relic garnered wi...

Welcome to the Nick Taylor Horror Show!

As always, each episode of The Nick Taylor Horror Show explores how today's horror filmmakers are getting their movies made while deconstructing their methods and career strategies into practical insights that you can use on your own horror filmmaking journey. This includes their creative processes, funding resources, favorite books & tools, key life lessons, and much much more.

Francis Galluppi is the director of The Last Stop In Yuma County, a southern-fried, hard-boiled crime thriller that plays within the traditions of Tarantino, The Cohen Brothers, Taylor Sheridan, and Elmore...

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Howl, our monthly segment where my cohost Adam Cruz and I break down the latest horror news, share what we've been watching, and just generally geek out over everything horror.

The Howl is all about giving you a comprehensive yet entertaining look at what's happening in the world of horror, providing top-notch movie recommendations, and delivering a dash of humor along the way. If you want more of The Howl in your life, be sure to sign up for my newsletter at nicktaylor.com/thehowl, where you'll get a quick-read version...

Andrew Lobel is the screenwriter behind one of this year's breakout horror hits, Immaculate. His journey to bring Immaculate from script to screen is a serious story of endurance and passion—it took 10 years from Andrew’s first draft for it to emerge into theatres. In this episode, Andrew dives into his origin story, writing process, and the saga of transforming Immaculate from a script into a fully realized film. Please give it up for Andrew Lobel. 

Here are some takeaways from this conversation with Andrew Lobel:

Be patient and play the long game. Immaculate took...

Hey everyone, back with another monthly episode of The Howl, a new concept where me and my cohost Adam Cruz summarize and discuss the past month's horror news, share what we've watched recently, and just generally nerd out over all things horror.

Our goal with The Howl is to catch listeners up with all of the horror news they may have missed from the past month in a fun, conversational format. If you want a quick-read version of The Howl sent directly to your inbox every month, then sign up for my monthly newsletter at nicktaylor.com...

Today, we welcome Josh Forbes to the podcast, director of Destroy All Neighbors. This is a gleefully fun movie that feels as inventive as it is unhinged. It’s the kind of movie that I’m feeling really good about seeing more of because it’s completely original. 

This is Josh’s second feature after his debut Contracted Phase 2 and I think he’s really made a serious statement; the energy, attitude, fun and bonkers practical effects make this a very fun movie. The movie starred Jonah Ray with a very hilarious performance by Alex Winter and special eff...

Dave Clark is a filmmaker and creative force who's directed commercials for major brands along with multiple narrative films, including his 2019 feature, 'After She Wakes.'

Dave recently released a must-watch short film called ‘Another’ which is not only terrifying and beautifully made, but a great example of blending AI with live action filmmaking.

This film exemplifies Dave's significant contribution to the AI filmmaking landscape, showcasing how AI should not replace humans or any facets of the filmmaking process. Instead, it can serve as an incredible creative tool, adding unique and exciting dimensions to the work...

Today, I'm very psyched to speak with Ryan Turek, the VP of Development at Blumhouse and Producer across many titles including Imaginary, Night Swim, The Exorcist: Believer, M3GAN, The Black Phone, Halloween, Halloween Ends, Halloween Kills, Freaky, Happy Death Day and the list goes on.

In this episode, Ryan gets into his very compelling origin story from horror journalism to becoming a very pivotal figure who's shaping contemporary horror cinema.

Ryan also dives deep into the lesser known sides of producing as well as Blumhouse’s process for developing projects and nurturing directors. And we...