Following Films Podcast

On paper, it sounds like a classic procedural: forensic anthropologist Meg, played by Deborah Ann Woll, gets brought in to help investigate a gruesome double murder along the coast. But things get bizarre fast when they find a third body preserved at the scene, and it turns out to be her estranged father who went missing 36 years ago. Once Meg gets him on the autopsy table, she starts finding anatomy that shouldn't exist, peeling back a nightmare where her father was cursed as a werewolf. The catch here is that the curse doesn't just stop because the heart does.<...

This episode is proudly sponsored by Google Workspace. Behind the scenes at Following Films, we rely on Google Workspace for our email, calendars, and docs to keep the show organized and running smoothly. Listeners can use our link to score a special discount plus a free two-week trial.

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In today's episode, I sit down with director Ángel Gómez Hernández to talk about his fun, creepy horror film Crawlers. We discuss the inspiration behind shifting from supernatural horror to a more tangible, comic-book-style creature feature reminiscent of cla...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast! In this episode, host Chris Maynard sits down with creator, writer, and comedian Cassie Workman to dive deep into her wildly unique web series, Cassie Workman is Witchy AF.

Tune in as they explore how the series uses a chaotic, punk-rock, DIY approach—complete with puppets and dark comedy—to tackle historical storytelling, human insecurity, and cultural revolution. Cassie also shares the surprising pop culture and 90s television influences behind the show, what it's like creating something that deeply resonates with audiences on a personal level, and why embracing our shar...

In this episode of Following Films, host Chris Maynard sits down with actor Matilda Lutz to discuss her starring role in the intense new horror-thriller Crawlers. Directed by Ángel Gómez Hernández, the film traps an apartment complex under strict police quarantine amidst a terrifying infestation of venomous spiders. Matilda breaks down what it's like to tackle the grueling physical demands of a genre lead, finding the dark comedy buried within high-stakes chaos, collaborating with a wildly eccentric cast, and why experiencing this film with a packed theater crowd is an absolute must.

This episode is bro...

In this quick ten-minute chat on The Following Films Podcast, Chris Maynard sits down with actor and musician Samuel Bottomley to discuss his wild new film, California Scheemin. Based on an incredible true story, the movie follows two aspiring Scottish musicians from Dundee who, after facing rejection from the local music industry, hatch an audacious plan to reinvent themselves as American hip-hop artists from California to finally score a record deal.

Tune in as Samuel shares what it was like recording the soundtrack, transitioning from the studio to performing live in front of 2,000 screaming fans in Glasgow...

Host Chris Maynard sits down with producer and actress Lavinia Postolache to discuss her sci-fi noir thriller, April X. In this episode, Lavinia breaks down the realities of independent filmmaking—from stretching a tight budget by filming on location in Bucharest, Romania, to choosing organic, hand-crafted visual effects over AI in post-production.

She also shares insights into balancing dual roles behind and on camera (playing Rose), using her modeling background to secure high-fashion costume designs, and assembling a talented cast—including Connor Storrie—before their breakout success.

Key Takeaways & Highlights:

World-Building on an Indie...

Episode Title: Behind the Scenes of 'The Creep Tapes' Season 3 with Patrick Brice

Episode Breakdown

- Intro: Welcome to the Following Films Podcast! Host Chris introduces a brief 10-minute catch-up with director and actor Patrick Brice to discuss Season 3 of The Creep Tapes.

- Initial Greetings: Chris and Patrick connect before jumping into the interview.

- The Creep Tapes as a Dark SNL Sketch: Chris brings up his realization that the series functions like an SNL sketch, where a recurring character hosts a different celebrity guest star each week.

...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast.

Today on the show, I'm joined by Dane Cook to talk about the new documentary about his life and career,

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast.

Today on the show, I'm joined by Dane Cook to talk about the new documentary about his life and career, Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story. Directed by Brett Harvey hits digital platforms on September 29th.

Back in the mid-2000s, Dane Cook wasn't just big, he was everywhere. He was filling arenas, breaking records, and completely...

Welcome back to Following Films. Before we jump in today, do me a quick favor: if you're enjoying the show, hit that subscribe button, leave us a quick review on whatever app you're using, and share this episode with a friend. It really helps get the word out.

Today on the show, I’m talking with director Padraic McKinley about his new film, The Weight, which lands in theaters nationwide starting today.

Padraic directed the film from a screenplay by Matthew Chapman and Shelby Gaines, based on a story hatched by Matthew Booi, Leo Scherman, an...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. On this episode, I’m sitting down with director Todd Stephens to talk about Gypsy 83: The Director’s Cut, which is back in select theaters right now for its 25th anniversary.

If you grew up in the late 90s or early 2000s, there's a good chance this one has a special place on your shelf. The story centers on two Sandusky, Ohio goth misfits and massive Stevie Nicks superfans: Gypsy Vale, played by Sara Rue, and her younger, queer best friend Clive Webb, played by Birkett Turton. When they hear abou...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast.

On today’s episode, I’m talking with VFX supervisors Paul Lambert and Mag Sarnowska about their work on Project Hail Mary. The film just hit home video, so you can pick it up right now on 4K Blu-ray, DVD, or digital. Honestly, it’s easily one of the best movies to come out all year, so if you haven't seen it yet, you need to change that.

For those unfamiliar, the movie follows Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship with z...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. Before we jump in, if you enjoy the show, please take a quick second to leave us a review, hit that subscribe button, and share this episode with a friend. It really helps get the word out and keeps us doing what we do.

On today’s episode, I’m talking with Julia Sweeney and director Rowan Haber about their new documentary, We Are Pat, which is available to stream on Peacock starting August 20th.

If you were around in the 90s, you...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast.

We’ve all spent time in the healthcare system, whether it’s sitting in a sterile waiting room or trying to navigate a bureaucratic nightmare for a loved one. It’s a system run by people who are constantly expected to be flawless, even when they’re completely running on empty. That brings us to today's film, Do No Harm.

The movie follows Sam Yeong, played by Harry Shum Jr., a home health nurse who is already burnt out to the point of collapse. In his exhaustion, he makes a...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. I'm your host, and today we are talking about a show that probably sounds like a strange candidate for a modern streaming reboot, until you actually look at how they made it.

When Netflix announced a new take on "Little House on the Prairie," a lot of people reasonably expected a soft, nostalgic retread of the 1970s TV series. Instead, the 2026 reboot starring Alice Halsey, Luke Bracey, and Warren Christie dropped last month, and it is a completely different beast. It pulls much closer to the raw, gritty reality of...

On today's episode, I'm chatting with cinematographer James Kniest about his work on the upcoming Amazon original film, The Devil's Mouth. The setup is classic survival horror: a group of college friends on a Thailand trip end up trapped in submerged caves. There's a dangerous predator in the water with them, and all their ugly personal baggage and past conflicts start bubbling up while they try not to die. What makes or breaks a movie like this usually comes down to how real that claustrophobia feels, so James and I talk about what it actually takes to shoot in...

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Following Films Podcast.

Before we get into today’s show, do me a quick favor: if you’re enjoying what we're doing here, take two seconds to leave us a review, hit that subscribe button, and send this episode to a friend who loves movies. It really helps us out and keeps the lights on.

This week’s episode is brought to you by the folks at Universal Pictures Home Video to celebrate their release of Obsession. They’ve been kind enough to give us a copy to pass along to...

Before we get into things, this week’s episode is brought to you by the folks at Universal Pictures Home Video to celebrate their release of Obsession. They’ve been kind enough to give us a copy to pass along to one of you. If you want to get your hands on it, we're running a quick giveaway. Just send an email over to [email protected] with the subject line "I want Obsession" and tell us why you should win. Just make sure you include your full name and your mailing address in the body of the email so w...

Welcome back to The Following Films Podcast.

Before we get into it, if you like what we do here and want to help the show grow, please take a quick second to subscribe. And if you’re feeling extra generous, leave us a review on whatever platform you're listening on—it seriously goes a long way and helps other movie lovers find us.

Today we are talking about Above the Line, a film that hits digital and VOD today. The story follows six struggling Hollywood hopefuls who decide the ultimate way to make a comeback is t...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast! I’m your host, Chris Maynard, and today we are taking a look at the sonic landscape of the summer’s breakthrough film hit film.

Joining me on the show is Rock Burwell. He is the brilliant mind behind the dread-inducing score for the hit psychological thriller Obsession, which originally blew audiences away during the Midnight Madness program at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Working in close collaboration with director Curry Barker, Rock has crafted a soundtrack packed with smart synth work and atmospheric ambient cues. It masterfully expl...

Welcome to the Following Films Podcast. I’m Chris Maynard.

This Friday, a chilling new nightmare arrives on Shudder, and it explores the dark, complicated, and sometimes supernatural bonds of family. The film is TheVoices of our Mother, and it follows Harriet Scaflen after the death of her 95-year-old mother. When Harriet suffers an unexplainable health scare, her four estranged children return to the ancestral family home to care for her. But as old animosities and long-buried secrets come to light, they quickly realize their mother’s illness is anything but medical. There is a supernatural evil awok...

Welcome to the show! Today, we’re stepping into the high-stakes world of underground competition with a look at the upcoming Spanish-language thriller, Queen of Shock.

Written and directed by Emmy-winning documentarian and former PBS producer Robyn Symon, this feature is set to make its world premiere next month at Dances With Films in Los Angeles. Shot entirely in Mexico with a local cast and crew, the film takes a fascinating piece of Mexican culture and pushes it to a cinematic extreme.

The story centers on the real-world game that is a test of endurance wh...

Welcome to The Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard. Before we get into today’s conversation, I have a quick three-second favor to ask. If you love discovering the stories behind your favorite movies, please subscribe right now. While you're there, leave us a quick review, it helps other cinephiles find the show, and if you hear something you love today, tell a friend about us! Word of mouth is how we grow, and we appreciate every single one of you.

Today, we are exploring a gorgeous new indie road movie that just hit thea...

Welcome back to the podcast, everyone. Today, we are examining the architecture of memory, trauma, and the blurred lines of reality. Hitting theaters and VOD on June 12, 2026, is a film that I promise is going to get under your skin. It’s called This Tempting Madness, a breathtakingly tense psychological thriller that marks the feature directorial debut of Jennifer E. Montgomery.  

Now, if you think you’ve seen all sides of Bridgerton superstar Simone Ashley, think again. She delivers a raw, bold, and genuinely transformative performance as Mia, a woman who awakens from a coma with a fractu...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast, I’m your host Chris Maynard. Today, we are taking a look at one of the most talked-about, bone-chilling releases of the year. It’s sitting at a massive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics are calling it an absolute standout horror masterpiece. I am talking, of course, about Curry Barker’s hit horror-thriller, Obsession.

Joining us today is a veteran of the screen who has over two decades of experience and more than 70 television episodes under his belt—from intense dramas like Ozark and Will Trent to beloved comedies like Modern F...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. I’m Chris Maynard.

Every once in a while, a movie comes along that refuses to fit into a neat little box. It doesn’t care about genres, and it certainly doesn't care about playing it safe. That’s exactly what writer-director Tyler Cornack has delivered with Mermaid. Released by Utopia, this film is a sun-drenched, deeply surreal piece of indie cinema centered on a desperate Florida man who discovers a wounded, reptilian mermaid and decides to shield her from a ruthless world.

It’s bizarre, it’s beautiful...

Welcome to the Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, and today we are diving into a project that is a must-see for anyone interested in lost cinematic history.

One notable entry of the silent era is the loss of Lon Chaney’s 1922… classic? A Blind Bargain. For decades, it has lived only in production stills and the imaginations of horror historians. But our guest today has done something much more ambitious than a simple remake. Paul Bunnell has reimagined this macabre tale, transporting the gothic dread of the original into a stylized, 1970s landscape.

The fi...

Welcome back to another episode of the Following Films podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard.

Today on the show, we’re diving into a genre that feels like it’s been missing from the multiplex for far too long: the warm-hearted, 80s-style coming-of-age comedy. My guest is the legendary Bobby Farrelly, who is here to talk about his latest film, Drivers Ed.

In the film, a group of teens hit the road in a stolen driver’s ed car, racing against time to help a lovesick high school senior (Sam Nivola) track down his college...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. Today’s guest has captured the internet's heart by proving that being a parent doesn't mean you have to look like a suburban dad. Known to millions as the "Punk Rock Girl Dad," Sid Broderius has gone viral for his videos introducing his young daughter, Lorelai, to the high-energy world of The Riverboat Gamblers, Ramones, Against Me!, and The Clash.

Based in Spokane, Washington, Sid has been a staple of the local music scene for two decades and currently plays in the band The Emergency Exit. Whether he is letting Lo...

Welcome to another episode of the Following Films Podcast. I’m Chris Maynard.

Today, we are diving into a project that kicked off this year’s Dallas International Film Festival as the opening night selection. It’s a film that uses the backdrop of competitive youth basketball to explore much larger themes of family, grief, and the weight of expectations.

Joining me today is writer and producer Todd M. Friedman to discuss his new film, Last Shot. Starring Jaime Pressly and Michael Rapaport, the story follows a young basketball prodig...

Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard.

One of the most rewarding parts of this show is getting to highlight filmmakers who possess a truly distinct, non-formulaic voice, and today’s guest is a perfect example. Recently named one of Variety’s 2026 Directors to Watch, Chandler Levack is having a massive moment with two films hitting screens this week.

On one hand, there is her indie festival darling, Mile End Kicks, a raw and vibrant portrait of a young writer finding her footing in the...

Welcome to the Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard.

On today’s episode, we are diving into the high-stakes world of true crime and the intricate process of bringing procedural intensity to the small screen. Joining us is Executive Producer Matt Robins to discuss his work on the series FEDS, which is currently airing on Investigation Discovery.

We’re specifically looking at the upcoming episode, "Gangbuster," which premieres on April 1st. It’s a compelling look at a community in Southern Florida gripped by a wave of unsolved shootings, and the story follows...

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast. If you are anything like me, you are always searching for those rare stories that feel both intellectually sharp and deeply human, films that capture the messy, rhythmic chaos of life and relationships. Today, we are diving into a project that fits that description perfectly: the new romantic dramedy, Fantasy Life. Fresh off a triumphant run at the SXSW Film Festival—where it took home the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for its star, Amanda Peet—Fantasy Life is a smart, New York-centric story written and directed by its...

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast, your go-to source for in-depth interviews with today’s most exciting filmmakers and performers.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by the legendary Doug Jones to discuss his latest film, Operation Taco Garry’s — a wildly absurd sci-fi comedy that blends alien invasions, outrageous humor, and a taco joint at the center of a cosmic conspiracy.

Operation Taco Garry’s follows two brothers who accidentally uncover an intergalactic plot hidden inside Taco Gary’s. What starts as a wrong-turn road trip quickly turns into a fight to save...

Welcome to the Following Films Podcast! I’m your host, Chris Maynard.

Today, we are diving into a massive double-feature cinematic event. Releasing simultaneously on Digital today, February 20, 2026, are One Mile: Chapter One and One Mile: Chapter Two. This is a unique, two-part saga from director Adam Davidson that prioritizes grit and tension, designed to be experienced as a complete journey.

In Chapter One, Ryan Phillippe stars as a former special forces operative attempting to reconnect with his teenage daughter (played by Amélie Hoeferle) during a college road trip. When an unexpected detour puts the...

Welcome to another episode of the Following Films Podcast. Today, we are exploring a project that is equal parts hilarious, bizarre, and incredibly poignant: the animated feature film MARS. This film marks the final project from the legendary cult comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U’Know, serving as a bittersweet and brilliant capstone to the legacy of the late, beloved Trevor Moore. Joining me to discuss the Herculean effort required to bring this vision to the big screen is the film’s director and producer, Sevan Najarian. He has been a vital force in the alternative media landscape for year...

Welcome to the Following Films Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Maynard. Today, I’m sitting down with Matt Johnson and Jay Carroll to talk about Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie. If you’ve followed their journey from the early web series days to the cult-hit TV show, you know the drill: two guys, zero songs, and a delusional obsession with booking a gig at the Rivoli in Toronto. This time around, the stakes are hilariously high, we’re talking skydiving into the Skydome, accidental time travel fueled by a discontinued bottle of Orbitz soda, and a DIY miss...

Today’s episode is a special one. I’m joined by John Kinnane, writer, and Brendan Kinnane, executive producer—two members of the Kinnane Brothers, an eight-sibling filmmaking family who are redefining what an independent film operation can look like.

Their new feature, Solo Mio, is in theaters right now. Released by Angel Studios on 3,000 screens, the film opened in second place at the box office—an enormous achievement for a true micro-budget production. It’s the kind of story exhibitors and indie filmmakers dream about: a scrappy, family-run production going toe-to-toe with studio titles and winning over audie...

Today on the Following Films Podcast, we’re joined by Zainab Azizi, producer at Sam Raimi’s Raimi Productions and one of the key creative forces behind the upcoming film Send Help. We talk about working inside Raimi’s production company, developing elevated genre films, and what it’s really like collaborating with one of the most iconic voices in modern horror. From behind-the-scenes process to navigating the studio system, this is a conversation about making bold films and surviving the chaos that comes with them.

Send Help will be in theatres on Jan. 30th

Welcome back to the podcast. Today’s episode might challenge a few assumptions, and that’s kind of the point.

We’re talking about Heated Rivalry, a story that’s often labeled as “not for straight men.” It’s a romance written largely for women, shaped by the female gaze, and centered on an intense relationship between two men. So why are we bringing it up here? Because it opens the door to a much bigger conversation about curiosity, desire, and what it actually means to be a good partner.

This episode...

Welcome back to The Following Films Podcast, where we dive into the stories behind the films that move us, challenge us, and stay with us long after the credits roll.

Today’s episode brings us a powerful new drama that explores trauma, resilience, and the complicated journey home after war. Sheepdog, written and directed by Steven Grayhm, arrives in theaters January 16, 2026, and it’s a deeply human story about what it really takes to heal.

The film centers on Calvin Cole, a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who is c...