Looks Creepy Cool Podcast: Horror Stories & the Creators Behind the Fear
Looks Creepy Cool is the official podcast of Haunted House FearFest, the cross-media horror platform celebrating dark storytelling across folklore, film, games, and the uncanny.New episodes every other week.Step into the Mirror Room for creepy conversations with the creators behind horror—including filmmakers, game developers, writers, prop artists, makeup artists, and artists who bring nightmares to life. Explore the fears, inspirations, and creative journeys that shape their work before they leave the Mirror Room with one final reflection.Then venture into the Library of Shadows, where original horror stories inspired by folklore, fiction, and things best left unexplained aw...
S3: E12 Inside the Mirror Room with Horror Author & Critic Luna Gray
Send us Fan Mail
What happens when someone who spends her career examining horror turns the mirror on herself?
Horror author, critic, interviewer, and iHorror Senior Staff Writer Luna Gray steps inside the Mirror Room for a conversation about fear, folklore, identity, and what draws us toward the darker corners of storytelling.
Luna's work explores cult, indie, folk, queer, and streaming horror, with a particular interest in how the genre reflects identity, trauma, folklore, and the people society chooses not to believe.
She's also...
S3:E11 Inside the Mirror Room with Horror Author K. E. Koontz
Send us Fan Mail
What draws someone toward the darkness—and what can horror reveal about the person creating it?
Horror author K. E. Koontz steps inside the Mirror Room for a conversation about fear, storytelling, and the experiences that have shaped the way she approaches horror.
Known for blending folklore, psychological terror, supernatural horror, and dark romance, K. E.'s stories explore the monsters we encounter outside ourselves—and the ones we carry within.
In this conversation, we turn the mirror away from simp...
S3: E10 Library of Shadows | Just a Dirty Ol' Grandma | Horror Story
Send us Fan Mail
The shelves are full of stories...
Tonight, we're pulling one down.
Welcome to the Library of Shadows.
Tonight, we're pulling down a story from an anonymous writer in Canada.
What begins as a touching story about the unconditional love of a grandmother slowly unravels into something far more unsettling. As memories begin to blur and reality starts to shift, one family's search for answers uncovers a secret they never expected.
If...
S3: E9 She Grew Up in a Haunted House... Then Starred in Evil Sublet | Jennifer Leigh Houston
Send us Fan Mail
Jennifer Leigh Houston grew up in a haunted house... and years later found herself starring in the haunted apartment horror film Evil Sublet. Coincidence? Maybe. Creepy? Absolutely.
Jennifer joins Renee Huff in the Mirror Room to talk about paranormal experiences, acting, voiceover work, creativity, and the surprising twists that have shaped her career.
From running her own bakery to pursuing multiple creative passions, Jennifer shares why artists should never be afraid to build a life beyond one career.
<...S3: E8 How Horror Audio Brings Nightmares to Life with Fred Greenhalgh | Undertow, Star Trek, The X-Files & More
Send us Fan Mail
🪞 Step inside the Mirror Room.
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast: Horror Stories & the Creators Behind the Fear, Renee sits down with award-winning audio storyteller, writer, and director Fred Greenhalgh, founder of Dagaz Media, to explore the art of creating fear through sound.
From immersive audio dramas and psychological horror to writing for iconic franchises like Star Trek, The X-Files, and Locke & Key, Fred shares how atmosphere, pacing, and imagination can be more terrifying than anything shown on screen.
<...
S3: Ep7 How Horror Props Bring Nightmares to Life with Jamie Martin (Art by JDizzle)
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast: Horror Stories & the Creators Behind the Fear, Renee sits down with horror creator, prop builder, and multimedia artist Jamie Martin, also known as Art by JDizzle.
From custom horror props and practical effects to special effects makeup, costumes, sculptures, and immersive haunted attraction pieces, Jamie shares how she transforms imagination into physical creations that blur the line between art and nightmare.
Together, they discuss her journey from horror photography to special effects training, the influence...
S3: E6 Team Meeting #1: The Witch Demon Is Renovating Again | Horror Comedy Audio Drama
Send us Fan Mail
The Witch Demon has started renovating the House again.
In Team Meeting #1, Renee and the Witch Demon discuss Haunted House FearFest, horror films, horror games, the Library of Shadows, and a series of suspicious noises coming from the basement.
This short horror-comedy audio drama is part of the Haunted House FearFest universe and introduces listeners to one of the House's most mysterious residents.
Subscribe for:
👻 Horror storytelling
🎮 Horror games
🎬 Independent horror films
📚 Folklore and legends
🏚️ Adventures inside the House
If it looks creepy...
S3: E5 The Footsteps Behind You | Inspired by Scottish Folklore
Send us Fan Mail
Deep in the Scottish Highlands, there’s a mountain where hikers claim they’ve heard footsteps following behind them… even when nobody is there.
Tonight inside the Library of Shadows, enter a cinematic horror story inspired by the Scottish legend of The Grey Man of Ben MacDhui — a mysterious entity said to haunt the fog-covered peaks of Scotland’s Cairngorm Mountains.
Fog.
Footsteps.
Breathing in the dark.
And something hidden inside the mountain.
🎙️ Story...
S3: E4 Horror Was My Escape… So I Built a Festival From It
Send us Fan Mail
This is the story behind Haunted House FearFest.
In this episode, I’m sharing how my love for horror started—from watching films like The People Under the Stairs to finding comfort in fear during difficult moments growing up—and how that eventually led me to build an immersive horror festival from the ground up.
I talk about:
Why horror has always felt like a form of escape and controlWhat I learned working in corporate media and why I deci...S3:E3 She Asks Twice… | The Terrifying Japanese Urban Legend of Kuchisake-onna
Send us Fan Mail
Step inside the House… if you dare.
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast, we enter the Library of Shadows to uncover one of Japan’s most unsettling urban legends — Kuchisake-onna, the woman who asks a simple question… twice.
A masked figure approaches you in the dark.
“Am I beautiful?”
What happens next depends on your answer.
Blending atmospheric storytelling with cinematic horror, this episode brings the legend of Kuchisake-onna to life — a spirit said to haunt quiet streets, hiding something far more terri...
S3: Ep2 Psychological Horror Story: Elaine (by Ruby Aguilar Ortega)
Send us Fan Mail
Elaine — a psychological horror story by emerging horror storyteller Ruby Aguilar Ortega
After her husband’s death, Elaine returns to a secluded estate where she has long lived as a ghost within her own family.
But something has changed.
Her memories feel fractured.
Her presence feels distant.
As those around her try to understand what’s happening, a deeper question begins to surface:
was Elaine ever truly who they believ...
S3:E1 What Scared You First? With Jay Rowlings | Beneath the Light and the Fears That Stay
Send us Fan Mail
Horror podcast host Jay Rowlings joins me inside the House to talk about Beneath the Light, the first horror films that stayed with us, and why some fears never really leave.
👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.
S2:E17 Deep Sea Terror & Survival: Inside the Making of “Hell Dive”
Send us Fan Mail
Hell Dive — 2025 winner of Best Video Game of the Year and the Grim Reaper Award at Haunted House FearFest — is a claustrophobic deep-sea horror experience from developer Thomas-Bo Huusmann of Teacup Games. In this episode, host Renee Huff steps into the depths with Thomas-Bo to explore how the game was created, the emotional cost of game development, and the lessons learned from high-stakes industry challenges.
Hell Dive places players aboard an abandoned deep-sea colony where oxygen is scarce, horrors lurk in t...
S2E16: When Faith Turns Frightening — Inside the Folk Horror Short Film “The Angel”
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast, host Renee welcomes filmmakers Jessica and Barrett Burgin, the creative duo behind the folk-horror short The Angel, featured at the 2025 Haunted House FearFest and now winners of Best Cinematography and Best Paranormal Short for The Angel
Set against the blood-red stone of Southern Utah, The Angel follows two plural wives who receive a mysterious and unsettling visitation — blurring the boundaries between faith, folklore, and fear. With haunting performances and an otherworldly atm...
S2E15: Sucks To Be In The Sticks — Vampire Hunger, Human Pain | Interview with Developer Uki Eiri
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast, host Renee sits down with Finnish game developer Uki Eiri (CoAction) to explore her atmospheric vampire story Sucks To Be In The Sticks, featured in this year’s Creepy Cool Showcase at the 2025 Haunted House FearFest Film & Video Game Festival
In the game, you play as 19-year-old Ilo, whose life is thrown into chaos after becoming a vampire. While others survive on human energy, Ilo can only live on blood — and drinking it pulls you into...
S2E14: LOOKER – The Horror of Being Seen | Director Max Kaplan (Best Editing Winner)
Send us Fan Mail
Director Max Kaplan steps inside the Haunted House to talk about his horror short film LOOKER, winner of Best Editing at the 2025 Haunted House FearFest Festival.
LOOKER follows Anna — a young woman cursed to melt away whenever no one is looking at her. As she fights to stay seen, the film blends body horror, psychological terror, and emotional vulnerability into one unforgettable short.
Max shares the inspiration behind LOOKER, the editing choices that became the film’s secret weapon, and his journey as a risi...
S2E13: Deadly Footprints | When Fear Starts to Chase You
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee speaks with Dan Lester, creator of the survival-horror game Deadly Footprints and founder of Monkeys Might Puke.
They explore the psychology of fear in gaming — what makes players panic, why chase scenes get your heart racing, and how sound and pacing transform tension into terror. Dan shares his creative process, the challenges of indie game development, and the delicate balance between fear, fun, and player control.
Listeners will di...
S2E12: Bathroom Spider | When Horror Gets Too Real
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee talks with Christine Weatherup (Director) and CJ Hoke (Writer) about their short film Bathroom Spider.
They reveal the behind-the-scenes story of working with real spiders on set, the creative challenges that came with it, and why they ultimately chose to use visual effects instead. The conversation dives into the risks, logistics, and artistry behind making horror that feels real — without putting anyone (or anything) in danger.
From consulting anim...
S2E11: The Blessing of Airon | Technology, Supernatural Horror & Indie Game Development with Andrew Baker (Interview)
Send us Fan Mail
Host Renee talks with Andrew Baker, creator of the horror game The Blessing of Airon. They discuss technology, supernatural horror, and the art of indie game development — plus Andrew’s creative inspirations and how he builds fear through storytelling.
Website - https://www.artstation.com/bakerthegamemaker
👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.
S2E10: Cabernet: Vampire Lore, Player Choices & Indie Game Development w/Arseni Kishkin & Laura Gray
Send us Fan Mail
Host Renee sits down with Arseni Kishkin and Laura Gray, developers of the vampire-themed horror game Cabernet. They discuss vampire lore, emotional storytelling, and the creative challenges of indie game development — plus insights on collaboration, player choice, and their future projects.
Website: https://partyforintroverts.com/
👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.
S2E9: The Bell Witch Returns | Folklore Horror & Indie Filmmaking with Charles F. Davis (Where Were You When?)
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee interviews filmmaker Charles F. Davis, writer and director of the chilling short film Where Were You When?, inspired by the infamous Bell Witch haunting.
Together, they explore the film’s eerie folklore origins, the creative process behind adapting a real haunting for the screen, and the challenges of independent horror production. Charles also shares his lifelong passion for horror, memorable moments from set, and teases his next project — a film that dives into...
S2E8: Stimulant: Psychological Horror & the Art of Addiction in Film with Nicholas Laughlin
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee interviews filmmaker Nicholas Laughlin, director of the psychological horror short Stimulant, featured at Haunted House Fear Fest.
Together, they explore the film’s unique approach to addiction, obsession, and fear, and how Nicholas weaves psychological tension into his storytelling. He shares his journey in filmmaking, the creative process behind crafting horror narratives, and the challenges of translating real human struggles into cinematic dread.
The conversation also delves into ind...
S2 Ep.7 - The Ghost: Fear, Creativity & Female Voices in Horror with Allyson Morgan
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee sits down with Allyson Morgan, the writer and director of the short film The Ghost, nominated for Best Horror Short at Haunted House Fear Fest.
Together, they explore the themes of fear, inspiration, and the creative process behind horror filmmaking. Allyson opens up about her personal experiences with ghosting, the importance of female representation in film, and her creative journey from acting to directing.
The conversation dives deep i...
S2:Ep6 La Croix: French Horror Myths & Surreal Cinema with Director Joris Fleurot
Send us Fan Mail
Step into the eerie world of La Croix, a chilling short film that blends suspense, poetic horror, and French myth. In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee speaks with director Joris Fleurot about the inspirations behind the film — from haunting folklore to the surreal works of Hieronymus Bosch.
La Croix is nominated for Best Horror Short at Haunted House Fear Fest, and Joris reveals the creative process, the challenges of crafting an evocative horror short, and how Fr...
S2: Ep 5 - KOOK: Victorian Steampunk Horror Shooter with Indie Developer Nathan Wulf
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee Huff interviews indie game developer Nathan Wulf, creator of KOOK — a fast-paced, Quake-inspired horror shooter set in a Victorian-era steampunk world filled with Lovecraftian monsters.
Nathan shares his journey from working in the gaming industry to becoming an indie developer, opening up about the challenges, motivations, and creative risks behind his development process. They explore the design elements that make KOOK stand out — from its creepy atmosphere and uniq...
S2: Ep4 - The Behemoth: Indie Horror Filmmaking with Kai Edmund Bogotsky
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool horror podcast, host Renee Huff interviews filmmaker Kai Edmund Bogotsky, director of the feature film The Behemoth — nominated for Best Horror Feature at Haunted House Fear Fest.
They explore the film’s chilling opening scene, the inspiration behind the story, and the challenges of independent horror filmmaking in Germany. Kai also shares insights on the importance of practical and special effects in horror, his journey as a horror filmmaker, and his future creative projects.
S2: Ep3 - Crabmeat — Indie Horror Game Development with Nicholas McDonnell
Send us Fan Mail
Nicholas McDonnell (ex-Samurai Punk) shares the solo journey behind Crabmeat, his eerie new indie horror. From creative risks to crafting atmosphere, this is game design in the haunted deep.
Crabmeat - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3671850/Crabmeat/
👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.
S2: Ep2 - Shop Crush — Inside the Psychological Horror Game with Bohdan Sydorenko
Send us Fan Mail
Bohdan Sydorenko takes us inside Shop Crush, a psychological horror game inspired by Poe and built during conflict. We talk suspense, design challenges, and the craft of indie horror.
Shop Crush - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2961120
👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.
S2: Ep.1 - TICTAC: Twelve O’Clock — Indie Horror Game Development with Vitalii Revchuk
Send us Fan Mail
Vitalii Revchuk of Two Cake Studios joins us to talk TICTAC: Twelve O’Clock, an indie horror game crafted in Ukraine. Hear how he blends resilience, creativity, and haunted inspiration into game design.
Publisher: Two Cakes Studio
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/twocakesstudio
Website: https://twocakesstudio.com/our-projects/
Social Media:
https://x.com/TwoCakesGames
https://www.tiktok.com/@twocakesstudio
https://www.youtube.com/@TwoCakesStudio
Games:
TIC-TAC: Twelve o'clock
Ste...
Trailer - Welcome to Looks Creepy Cool
Send us Fan Mail
Step inside Looks Creepy Cool, the official horror podcast of Haunted House FearFest, the film & video game festival where fear never sleeps. In this trailer, festival owner Renee Huff reveals what’s coming — eerie interviews with filmmakers, game developers, plus original scary stories and folklore from the Library of Shadows.
If it looks creepy, it must be cool.
👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.
Archive Episode: Stitches and Seams of Thyme Welcomes Costume Designer w/Jevyn Nelms
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
In this segment, dive into the fascinating world of costume design with Jevyn Nelms, the creative force behind the costumes in 'Summoning Sylvia' and 'Bloodbound.' Jevyn shares her meticulous process of designing for diverse characters such as drag queens, witches, and military officers. She opens up about the challenges of...
Archive Episode: Unraveling Horror: Elephants, Decay, and the Making of 'Pattern Recognition'
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
Sit down with Sue-Ming Frauenhofer, Producer and Production Designer, and Matthew Stoeski, the Director of the horror film 'Pattern Recognition'.
In this episode, they dive into the creative inspiration behind the film, from the haunting imagery of elephants to the symbolic use of rotten food to po...
Archive Episode: Behind the Veil: Crafting Terror with Horror Filmmaker Marciel Delgado and Actress Erica Jackson for their horror short film Twilight Time
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
Sit down with Marciel Delgado, the mastermind behind the award-winning horror short film "Twilight Time," winner of Best Paranormal Short and SFX at the 2023 Haunted House FearFest. Listen in as we dive into Marciel's multifaceted role as filmmaker, writer, and producer, and star of the film, actress Erica Jackson's journey fro...
Archive Episode: Unraveling Psychological Horror: A Chat with Filmmaker Mahee Merica
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
We are celebrating Women’s History Month with Horror Female Filmmaker Mahee Merica.
In this episode, sit down with filmmaker Mahee Merica about her journey in filmmaking and her award-winning short film, Ariana's Baby. Mahee shares her background in political science and how she discovered her passion for cinema. She dis...
Archive Episode: SCAM: A Spooky Blend of Horror and Humor - Chatting with Filmmaker Julie Sharbutt
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
We are celebrating Women’s History Month with Horror Female Filmmaker Julie Sharbutt.
In this episode, we interview Julie Sharbutt, a horror comedy filmmaker. They discuss Julie's upbringing, her passion for horror, and the inspiration behind her award-winning film 'Scam', which won the 2023 Best Horror Comed...
Archive Episode: Unveiling the Tapestry: Exploring the Cinematic Journey of the Deka Brothers and Cinematographer Geoff George
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
In this episode, we're diving deep into the remarkable journey of two visionary filmmakers, the Deka Brothers, along with cinematographer Geoff George, as they intricately intertwined the diverse influences of their multicultural upbringing into the fabric of their craft. Join us as we explore their horror short film, "My Blood," an...
Archive Episode: Web of Frights: A Conversation with Horror Author Danielle DeVor
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
In this gripping episode, Renee delves into the dark world of horror with acclaimed author Danielle DeVor. Known for her spine-chilling possession and exorcism novels, Danielle unveils the haunting inspiration behind her acclaimed work, "Sorrow’s Point" (The Maker Chronicles Book 1), and the meticulous research that brings her tales of terr...
Archive Episode: Jenny Allen on Blood Lily: What Sets Her Work Apart
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is part of our early archive before the official relaunch of Looks Creepy Cool, the podcast of Haunted House FearFest. The format has since evolved, but we’ve kept these conversations available for fans and horror history.
Step into a mesmerizing world where the supernatural collides with science in the captivating works of award-winning author and artist, Jenny Allen. Join me in an intriguing interview as we explore the depths of her supernatural masterpiece, Blood Lily, the first book in The Lilith Adams Series. Brace yourself for a...
