The Weight of Terror: VHS, Video Stores, and Horror Memory w/ CJ Duke

The Weight of Terror: VHS, Video Stores, and Horror Memory w/ CJ Duke

Welcome back to Discover the Terror, hosted by Max Moenschmidt and Herbert, your ghoulish guide for the evening. In this episode, we sit down with CJ Duke — writer, visual artist, VHS box-art creator, and emerging filmmaker — for a deep dive into the strange alchemy of nostalgia, fear, and physical media. CJ traces his love of horror back to two formative childhood moments: accidentally witnessing a traumatizing scene from The Gate, and wandering through a foreboding rural Louisiana video store that felt more like a bomb shelter than a place of entertainment. There, a mysterious VHS box — The Jar — ignited a lifelong fascination with horror imagery, unanswered questions, and the power of suggestion. From there, the conversation unfolds into a rich exploration of: * The lost magic of video stores and VHS box art * Horror as intrigue rather than pure fear * Why some films belong on VHS and lose something in HD or 4K * The resurgence of physical media in a streaming-dominated world * “Moon logic,” puzzles, and the forgotten art of point-and-click horror games * FMV classics like Night Trap, The 7th Guest, and Shivers * The cultural legacy of the video nasties era * Being “the weird kid,” finding community through horror, and turning fear into creation CJ also discusses his work as a writer and artist, including his Video Nasties scripts, his love of thrift-store media ephemera, and how creating faux VHS box art unexpectedly became the centerpiece of his artistic career — leading to gallery shows, museum features, and deep roots in the horror community. The episode closes with an exciting look ahead to CJ’s upcoming debut feature, Witchcraft, a project blending horror, magic, and retro point-and-click video game aesthetics — and a heartfelt reminder to aspiring artists: stay open, follow what speaks to you, and let curiosity lead the way. A must-listen for fans of horror history, physical media, outsider art, and anyone who’s ever judged a movie by its box.

Michael J. Epstein & Sofia Casiola: Horror, DIY, Distribution

Discover the Terror host Maximilian Schmidt (and Herbert, your ghoulish co-host) welcomes indie horror power duo Michael J. Epstein and Sofia Casiola of Launchover Productions — filmmakers known for bold, DIY genre work and offbeat horror storytelling. In this episode, Michael and Sofia share how they went from Boston’s music scene to building a cult indie filmography through micro-budget features, music videos, and festival runs. We dive into the making of Blood of the Tribbids, the challenge of modernizing exploitation horror, why horror is inherently political, and what it takes to survive independent film distribution without losing your rights. They also break down the origin story of the mockumentary/slasher double feature The Once and Future Smash and End Zone 2, built from real horror convention culture — plus their new found-footage projects including Final Transmissions and an experimental feature shot using the eerie lo-fi Fisher-Price PXL 2000 camera. If you’re into indie horror, DIY filmmaking, found footage, horror comedy, festival strategy, and the real behind-the-scenes of getting films made and released, this episode is for you.

Inside the Mind of a Horror Writer: Hailey Hudson on Fear, Childhood & Creativity

Award-winning horror writer Hailey Hudson joins Maximilian Schmidt and Herbert to explore childhood fear, imagination, creative courage, and why horror is one of the last communal rituals we share. From Spirited Away nightmares to cannibalism lore, Creepypasta origins, and the psychology of terror, Haley reveals how fear shapes storytelling — and why reclaiming your inner child is the key to great art. We explore: • The first moment she ever felt fear • Why kids experience terror so intensely • How imagination becomes a survival tool • Rediscovering creativity through acting and creature work • Writing horror scripts like Everything Eater and Call of the Cougar • Creepypasta, found footage, cannibalism lore, and the internet’s impact on horror • Why you don’t need anyone to greenlight your creativity If you love horror, psychology, storytelling, or the weirdness of the human condition — this is your episode. 04:10 The First Time She Truly Felt Fear 10:20 Stuck in the In-Between: Fear, Silence & Not Asking for Help 14:30 Childhood as Cosmic Horror 19:45 Courage the Cowardly Dog, Closets & Hellmouths 24:30 Are We More Afraid as Kids or Adults? 30:10 Goosebumps, Spirited Away & Early Horror Imprints 36:00 Why Horror Grabs Us for Life 42:30 Reawakening the Inner Child: Acting, Creatures & Play 49:00 Everything Eater: Domestic Horror & Trapped Relationships 55:30 Call of the Cougar: Cannibalism, Hubris & Frontier Terror 1:02:30 Religion, Algorithms & the Internet as New God 1:09:30 Creepypasta, Let’s Plays & Horror as Community 1:16:30 Fear as Play & Why We Love Being Scared Together 1:21:30 You Don’t Need a Greenlight: Haley’s Advice to Creators

How to Break Into Horror: Filmmaking Lessons w/ Jay Goldberg

Step inside the blood-soaked world of writer/producer Jay Goldberg, the horror mind behind Stay Out of the F*ing Attic**, Glorious, and Creeping Death. In this episode of Discover the Terror, host Max Miller-Schmidt and co-host Herbert dive deep into indie horror filmmaking, practical effects, cosmic horror, and what it really takes to survive in the modern horror landscape. Jay shares how growing up in New Jersey shaped his voice, why he loves mixing horror and comedy, and how movies like Jaws, The Descent, Saw, and Donnie Darko influenced his approach to worldbuilding. From Nazi experiments in a haunted attic to a cosmic god behind a glory hole voiced by J.K. Simmons, Jay breaks down how to build bold concepts, unforgettable monsters, and emotionally grounded characters on a budget. If you’re a horror fan, screenwriter, director, producer, or film student, you’ll get real talk on festivals, script contests, financing, working with Shudder and Dark Sky, and why persistence and community matter more than connections. Jay also shares powerful advice for emerging filmmakers: how to build a script library, find your crew, and create a film that is undeniably you. In this episode, we cover: * How Stay Out of the F**ing Attic* went from wild title to fully realized horror feature * The making of Glorious and crafting a cosmic horror story in a single bathroom set * Why practical effects artists are the sculptors of our nightmares * How parenthood changes what scares you on screen * The difference between gore with purpose vs. empty shock value * Real-world advice on writing, producing, and getting your horror films made If you love indie horror, creature features, cosmic horror, and character-driven scares, this episode of Discover the Terror is for you. 01:15 – The Story Behind “Stay Out of the F*ing Attic”** 05:40 – Censorship, Shudder, and Making Nazi Monsters 10:18 – Practical Effects as Horror Artistry 14:52 – Growing Up in Jersey & Creative Influence 19:10 – Breaking Into the Industry 23:35 – The $75K Metamorphosis Short & Loving Practical FX 26:50 – Writing a Zombie Titanic & Early Contest Success 30:30 – The Art of Horror: Why Practical FX Matters 34:45 – The Gore Philosophy 38:20 – Building Glorious: Cosmic Horror in a Bathroom 42:30 – Why J.K. Simmons Said Yes 46:40 – Directing Dynamics with Rebecca McKendry 51:25 – Writing Slasher Variations & Subverting Tropes 55:00 – Survival Themes & Human Extremes 58:40 – Horror as a Parent 1:03:10 – Are Strangers or Ourselves Scarier? 1:06:45 – Experimental Horror’s Rise 1:10:20 – The State of Indie Horror & Microbudgets 1:14:40 – Building Worlds, Not Just Scares 1:19:00 – The High of Filmmaking 1:22:30 – Jay’s Writing Process & Music 1:26:55 – Using Lawsuit Money to Make His First Film 1:31:20 – Helping New Filmmakers & Paying It Forward 1:36:00 – Creeping Death and First Features 1:41:25 – The Truth About Script Libraries 1:45:40 – Finding Your Audience & Voice 1:50:28 – The Realities of Production & “Movie Gods” 1:55:10 – Final Advice for Filmmakers

Tarot, Death & the Doorway to Intuition w/ Kristin Lambert

Step inside a world where tarot cards choose themselves, pendulums spin before anyone touches them, and death is not something to fear—but a doorway into deeper intuition. In this episode of Discover the Terror, hosts Maximilian Schmitt and Herbert sit down with Kristin Lambert—a mentalist, philosopher, intuitive reader, and former Criss Angel performer who has literally escaped death more than once. Kristin reveals: * How surviving near-death experiences opened her “third eye” * Why the Wheel of Fortune and High Priestess cards appeared at the perfect time * What happens when a tarot reading goes wrong—and why that’s where truth begins * How pendulums expose the intuition we all secretly have * Why Americans fear death—and how horror gives us a safe way to face it * The hidden connection between magic, metaphysics, and the subconscious This isn’t a magic show. It’s a journey into the real meaning of fear, intuition, and why we seek answers from the unknown. If you’re drawn to tarot, fascinated by the supernatural, or curious about the psychology of fear—this episode will pull you in deeper than you expect.