The Movie Crypt – Details, episodes & analysis

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Austin Peters (SKINCARE - in theaters now) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss his career journey. From growing up with parents working in the industry and finding his own love for filmmaking… to making low budget music videos for friends’ bands… to where the concept for SKINCARE came from and how the project was put together… to working with an all-star cast (Elizabeth Banks, Nathan Fillion, Lewis Pullman, and more) in his debut feature film… to the challenges of shooting “Hollywood for Hollywood”… to the art of the perfect needle drop and the importance of pre-production… Austin’s debut brings a thrilling and satirical edge to manufactured beauty and the wellness industry in the City of Angels!

Filmmaker Damian Mc Carthy (ODDITY, CAVEAT) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his career journey and the making of his new feature ODDITY. From the films that scared him and inspired him to become a storyteller of his own… to writing and directing his own short films for the last 2 decades… to how he put together his terrific first feature film (CAVEAT) which had the unfortunate timing of being released right at the height of the global pandemic… to how he buckled down and wrote three new scripts while the rest of the world was shut down and learning how to bake bread or binging TV shows… to how he crafted his screenplay for ODDITY to contain so many genuine scares in a single location setting… to how storyboarding helped him achieve such evocative frames of fear on a tight timeline… to the design of the film’s signature “screaming statue”… to what it was like directing one actor playing two roles… to ODDITY’s triumphant win of the “Midnighter Award” at South By South West… to the film’s theatrical release (it’s in theaters now!)… Damian has crafted a ghastly chiller that hits all the right notes!

Also, Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a writer trying to get their screenplays in front of the right people.

PUBLIC VERSION. Producer J.D. Lifshitz (BARBARIAN, FIRESTARTER, THE VIGIL, WRATH OF BECKY) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss his career journey. From the movies that inspired him as a child and set his heart on a career in the movie business… to making his first movie in 7th grade (and putting a New Line Cinema logo on it)… to becoming a Hollywood history buff by reading, watching, and teaching himself who all of the players were and then reaching out to every filmmaker and executive he admired so that he could start learning the ropes as a teenager… to retaining his drive and ambition through thick and thin and always pressing onward and upward… to why he believes that a healthy level of delusion and ignorance served him so well… to the pivotal moment when he and his business partner made the decision to stop chasing the market and start making the movies they themselves sincerely wanted to see… to producing a string of terrific movies like THE VIGIL, BECKY, BARBARIAN, and more… to the first time seeing one of his films with the New Line Cinema logo officially on it... the fact that J.D. has already accomplished so much through sheer will and uncompromising tenacity will remind you that your dreams are attainable, too.

PUBLIC VERSION. Actor Chris McKenna (KING OF THE ANTS, THE BLACKLIST) has had skin in the Hollywood game for decades. Since he first began singing and dancing as a child, Chris has performed on the stage, on television, and in feature films… and his long career has been filled with highs, lows, ups, downs and everything in between! From having supportive parents who were willing to take him into NYC over and over again for auditions… to embarking on a long run in soap operas where he not only honed his craft but also had his very first kiss (on screen!)… to attending college at Hofstra University (around the same exact time as Adam!) and having a disappointing audition for a major film surprisingly turn into the next major step forward in his career… to working with the late Stuart Gordon on KING OF THE ANTS where he delivered one of the most raw and uncompromising roles of his career… to playing leading roles in the much heralded RE-ANIMATOR: THE MUSICAL and the controversial TASTE… to most recently working with Joe on A SUITABLE FLESH (title tentative)… this funny, inspiring, and shockingly honest conversation is one that you won’t soon forget.

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Ben Rock (ALIEN RAIDERS, CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH, 20 SECONDS TO LIVE, VIDEO PALACE) returns to THE MOVIE CRYPT in one of the most enjoyable, candid, and revealing episodes of 2022! (O.G. Crypt Keepers will remember Ben’s first appearance on the podcast way back on Episode 68 almost exactly 8 years ago to the day that this episode will premiere!) From the joys of being a new father and balancing family life with a career that tends to consume every waking moment… to the creative excitement of telling stories in different mediums including film, television, live theater, short form episodic, and scripted audio series… to the making of Ben’s new audio series CATCHERS (premiering October 27th on Audible) and the craft of creating a great creature-horror story without being able to rely on visuals… to the surprisingly affordable technical equipment that artists can use to create a professional, high quality audio series… to an in-depth conversation in the second hour of the episode about Ben’s secret contribution to the HATCHET universe and the sharing of brutally honest war stories from the swamp that have never been discussed publicly until now… this extended length (2 hour and 18 minutes for Patrons!), incredibly inspiring, and hilarious episode is one for the MOVIE CRYPT history books.

Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a patient wondering when it is OK to walk away from a production that has become a total mess, Adam reveals the secret sauce(s) to “Victor Crowley’s” voice, and the boys announce their annual FREE MOVIE CRYPT LIVE WEEKEND coming up this Sunday October 9th! Join in the fun and see what you’ve been missing by not being a Patreon member of THE MOVIE CRYPT LIVE tier! It all starts this Sunday at 8am PST/11am PST EST with “It’s The Great Halloween Pre-Show, Arwen!” - a 2 hour Halloween celebration from DJ Green and M.C. Licks-A-Lot filled with their favorite Halloween cartoons, vintage holiday TV commercials, spooky music videos, Halloween songs, and more! Then at 10am PST / 1pm EST its MOVIE CRYPT LIVE where you can enjoy the live episode and interact with Adam, Joe, Arwen, and the other audience members in the live chat! Including games like “What Won’t Shaq Sell?”, “Disgusting Statement or Cannibal Corpse Song?”, ‘Ruin an Activity” and more - you’re sure to have a great time! It’s all FREE! See www.Patreon.com/TheMovieCrypt for details!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker and actor Zach Cregger (THE WHITEST KIDS YOU KNOW, WRECKED) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his journey making the box office hit BARBARIAN - the #1 movie in America at the time of this recording! Zach details the 2+ year process of writing the kind of movie he wanted to see… to the non-stop rejection and being told it wouldn’t work… to finding the right producers to shepherd the project… to shooting in Bulgaria… to the incredible early critical response… to what it’s like seeing his film have a #1 opening weekend in theaters. It’s as current and as inspiring a story as you’re possibly going to get - and if this conversation doesn’t get you to sit down, start writing, and go for it then we’re not sure what else possibly could! The boys also discuss Adam’s upcoming 24th annual Halloween short film and the difficult tight rope between making a solid horror/comedy and “campy” cult classic.

Kick your Halloween off in style next weekend by joining us for our annual FREE MOVIE CRYPT LIVE event! Our monthly LIVE show is normally reserved for our beloved Patrons in the MOVIE CRYPT LIVE tier and above, but once a year we make it FREE for everybody to take part in and next week YOU’RE invited to come and enjoy the show! It all starts next Sunday October 9th at 8am PST/11am EST with “It’s The Great Halloween Pre-Show, Arwen!” - a 2 hour Halloween celebration from DJ Green and M.C. Licks-A-Lot filled with their favorite Halloween cartoons, vintage Halloween TV commercials, spooky music videos, Halloween songs, and more! Then at 10am PST / 1pm EST join us for MOVIE CRYPT LIVE where you can be part of the show by interacting with the boys, lending your opinion to the topics being discussed, and trying your luck at some of our favorite MOVIE CRYPT LIVE games like “What Won’t Shaq Sell?”, “Disgusting Statement or Cannibal Corpse Song?”, “Ruin an Activity” and more! Come on- it’s FREE! That means even YOU can afford it! See www.Patreon.com/TheMovieCrypt for details!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Damien Leone (TERRIFIER, TERRIFIER 2, ALL HALLOWS’ EVE) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to share his journey in one of best discussions about making a slasher film that you’ll hear this year. From being named after “Damien” in THE OMEN and being introduced to horror films at age 3… to falling in love with the art of special make-up effects and making his own short films… to quickly deciding that college wasn’t his path and putting money into a short film to serve as his calling card instead… to being recruited to direct an anthology (ALL HALLOWS’ EVE) by a producer who saw his short on YouTube… to the genesis of “Art the Clown”… to making TERRIFIER on a ridiculously low budget by wearing so many key hats on the production himself… to the film’s slow climb to success through word of mouth and the excitement of horror fans… to the long road to making the highly anticipated sequel (TERRIFIER 2 - in theaters October 6th) and everything that goes into creating a great villain that connects with genre fans… this 2 hour filmmaker on filmmaker conversation is like taking a Slasher 101 course at Horror University… if Horror University was a thing.

Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for an aspiring artist who is feeling like his chance at going pro may have passed him by, a slasher gauntlet is thrown down, and the boys announce the very first details about YORKIETHON 7 - coming this Christmas! As usual, the juiciest bits are in the second hour. (We love you, Patrons!)

Start getting the full versions of every new episode by supporting THE MOVIE CRYPT for just $1 a month at www.Patreon.com/TheMovieCrypt. Psst! The moment you sign up you’ll be able to access the full versions of every new episode from the past 2+ years! What are you waiting for?! 

PUBLIC VERSION. Celebrated filmmaker and playwright Neil LaBute (IN THE COMPANY OF MEN, NURSE BETTY, DEATH AT A FUNERAL, LAKEVIEW TERRACE, YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, THE WICKER MAN) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his craft in creating some of the most provocative and beautifully honest cinema and theater of the last 25 years. From growing up in a blue collar family with a father that didn’t initially view filmmaking as a real career… to shooting his first feature film without any prior filmmaking experiences… to welcoming the collaboration of cast and crew when blocking a scene… to the power of a master shot and using coverage sparingly… to how he approaches scenes that require intense intimacy between actors… to the creative leeway of shooting independently despite the sacrifice of resources… to the incredible value of spending quality time with cast during pre-production… to the benefits of casting fresh faces and just how much an audience can forget that they are watching a performance… to critics and audiences projecting a character’s worst behavior onto the filmmaker personally… to the making of his latest film HOUSE OF DARKNESS (in theaters September 9th and on-demand/digital September 13th)… to revealing which one of his films was actually shot to be in black and white… this conversation with one of the industry’s most daring, artistic, and important voices is one that will hopefully inspire you to create the art you truly want to create rather than conforming to whatever is currently considered en vogue and safe. 

This Christmas the biggest podcast event of the year is going to get even bigger! The first announcement for YORKIETHON 7 is coming in next week’s episode! 

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Bill Watterson (DAVE MADE A MAZE) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his career journey and take a deep dive into directing tricks and techniques. From Bill finding his way to Los Angeles through running away from things feeling stalled at home… to the pros and cons of signing with a major agency versus a smaller agency… to the storytelling benefits of using “oners” that change from wide shots to close-ups within the same shot… to shooting “oners…with coverage” and long takes at different performance speeds when time permits as a safety to have in editing… to the benefits of pulling off a simple insert shot at the very start of a shooting day to control the politics of the daily production report… to the artistic joy of shooting something as unique as DAVE MADE A MAZE and the incredibly talented crew that such a “different” project can actually attract… you’ll be itching to grab a camera and go be YOU by the end of this extremely passionate conversation! 

Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a storyteller who is suffering from a major life tragedy that seems to have disenchanted his will to write and Bill explains how sometimes it’s right when things are at their absolute worst that a light can suddenly arrive at the end of your dark tunnel.