Horror Nerd and the Art of Laughing at Fear with Samantha Hale

The Lens of Fear: A Deep Dive into Bodycam with Clayton Moore

In this episode of the Dread Alert podcast, Vince welcomes cinematographer Clayton Moore to discuss his latest project, the found footage horror film Bodycam. Releasing on Shudder on March 13th, Bodycam offers a unique perspective on cosmic horror through the lens of police body cameras. Clayton shares insights into his long-term creative partnership with director Brandon Christensen and how they transitioned from traditional filmmaking techniques to the immersive, high-speed world of found footage. The conversation dives deep into the technical and creative challenges of shooting a film where the actors themselves operate the primary cameras. Clayton explains the methods used to maintain a sense of realism and verisimilitude while exploring heavy cultural themes such as police accountability and addiction. This episode also dives into the visual effects process, the night vision technology, and the subtle lighting techniques used to keep the film grounded in reality. Episode Highlights * Found Footage Innovation: How literal police body cams were used to create an intimate and intense POV experience. * Creative Collaboration: The history of Clayton Moore and Brandon Christensen's partnership, spanning four feature films. * Horror Influences: A look at the lineage of found footage, including nods to The Blair Witch Project and Grave Encounters. * Cinematographer's Role: Clayton defines the role of a cinematographer as the chief visual storyteller and the right hand to the director. * The Shudder Connection: Discussion of the film's upcoming release and why Shudder remains a premier destination for horror fans. About Clayton Moore Clayton is an accomplished cinematographer, who most recently shot the Shudder Original horror films "Night of The Reaper", "Bodycam", "The Puppetman" and "Superhost" with long time collaborator Producer/Director Brandon Christensen.  Previously, he lensed “It Stains the Sands Red" collaborating with cult horror favorites The Vicious Brothers Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz. Clayton has also lensed numerous independent short and feature length films, documentaries, episodic television, and a wide variety of commercial and music video projects.  Clayton holds a BA degree in film production, and an AA degree in graphic design.  Along with being a freelance cinematographer, he also owns and operates his production company, PointSourceProductions. [http://www.pointsourceproductions.com/] Follow Clayton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claytonmooredp/ Watch Bodycam on Shudder Bodycam premieres officially on Friday, March 13th, exclusively on Shudder.   Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/DreadAlertMedia] Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dreadalertmedia], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@dreadalertmedia], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dreadalertmedia], or Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/dreadalert.com] for more horror hot takes and reviews!

The Huntsman Is More Than a Serial Killer Thriller | Deep Dive Interview

Today we’re talking about The Huntsman (2026), an excellent serial killer thriller that will keep you guessing right up to the end credits.  We sat down with director and co-writer Kyle Kauwika Harris, actor Brent Bailey, and executive producer Frank J. Malinoski to talk about the film which hits VOD on February 10th. The conversation explores how a tightly constructed serial killer thriller evolves from novel to screen, the creative philosophy behind grounded performances, and the filmmaking choices that shape tension without relying on genre clichés. The guests dive into visual influences ranging from David Lynch to Jonathan Demme, discuss adapting complex characters for film, and break down the layered themes of guilt, suspicion, jealousy, and toxic love that drive the story. You will also hear behind the scenes insights about shooting some of the intense sequences, building a morally ambiguous character, and crafting a world where everyone feels like a suspect. If you are interested in filmmaking craft, psychological thrillers, horror adjacent cinema, or thoughtful genre analysis, this episode offers a deep look at the creative process behind an independent crime thriller. The Huntsman arrives on Video On Demand February 10: https://epic-pictures.com/film/the-huntsman [https://epic-pictures.com/film/the-huntsman]   Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/DreadAlertMedia] Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dreadalertmedia], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@dreadalertmedia], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dreadalertmedia], or Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/dreadalert.com] for more horror hot takes and reviews!

Horror Nerd and the Art of Laughing at Fear with Samantha Hale

In this episode of the Dread Alert Podcast, we sit down with comedian Samantha Hale to talk about her horror themed comedy special Horror Nerd, now available on Video On Demand. Samantha is one of the only stand up comedians building an entire hour around her lifelong love of horror. In this wide ranging conversation, we explore how horror shaped her childhood, her relationship with her parents, and ultimately her voice as a performer. From growing up across the street from the Poltergeist house to bonding with her dad over movies she probably watched too young, Samantha breaks down how fear, nostalgia, and humor are deeply connected. We also dig into the craft of horror comedy, the overlap between building a joke and building a scare, and why horror and comedy work so well together. Samantha shares her writing process, her experiences navigating fandom as a female horror fan, and her love for conventions, Halloween culture, and the strange comfort horror brings to so many of us. This episode covers:  Horror Nerd and the idea of horror as identity  Why horror and comedy are a perfect match  Growing up immersed in horror films and fandom  Female perspectives in horror culture  Convention stories and iconic horror figures  The emotional core beneath genre obsession  If you love horror movies, horror comedy, film culture, or thoughtful conversations about why we are drawn to the dark, this episode is for you.  Watch Horror Nerd: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/samantha-hale-horror-nerd/umc.cmc.1t3kldkhkkkpbks3kz8dofuv6 [https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/samantha-hale-horror-nerd/umc.cmc.1t3kldkhkkkpbks3kz8dofuv6] Follow Samantha Hale: https://www.instagram.com/thesamanthahale/ [https://www.instagram.com/thesamanthahale/] THe Horror Nerds Podcast: https://horrornerdscomedypodcast.com/ [https://horrornerdscomedypodcast.com/]    Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/DreadAlertMedia] Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dreadalertmedia], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@dreadalertmedia], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dreadalertmedia], or Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/dreadalert.com] for more horror hot takes and reviews!

Horror Beyond the Suburbs: Unpacking the Addiction, Abuse, & The Secret Slasher Cult of Heller | Dylan DeGrave Interview

Join Vince on the Dread Alert Podcast as he welcomes author Dylan DeGrave to discuss his outstanding debut novel, Heller. Dylan shares the inspiration behind his slasher story, which just hit shelves on December 1st. The conversation dives deep into the novel's unique blend of horror and heartfelt, personal themes. Dylan discusses the complex relationships in the novel, shifting the setting away from typical "white picket fence" neighborhoods to focus on less desirable areas often overlooked in the genre, and a few horror inspirations that contributed to his truly unique story.  Episode Highlights: * The origins of Heller, starting from a desire to see a slasher story set in a lower-income environment. * Dylan's focus on character relationships which makes it a truly unique slasher story. * Dylan’s writing process, and advice for young writers * Heller’s Horror Influences on the page and on the screen * The decision to self-publish Heller to keep the book's ending intact, which was crucial for setting up the sequel. * Dylan’s upcoming projects, including Heller part two, a supernatural vampire story set in his Northern California hometown, and a trippy haunted house story. Follow Dylan DeGrave: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cantkilldill TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cantkilldill Website: https://www.dylandegrave.com/   Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/DreadAlertMedia] Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dreadalertmedia], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@dreadalertmedia], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dreadalertmedia], or Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/dreadalert.com] for more horror hot takes and reviews!

Belief, Demons, and Videotape | Michael Wehunt Explains The October Film Haunt

In this episode of the Dread Alert Podcast, Vince sits down with acclaimed horror author Michael Wehunt to discuss his chilling new novel, The October Film Haunt, a haunting fusion of found footage horror, metafiction, and digital dread. Wehunt, best known for his short story collection Greener Pastures, unpacks the inspirations for the novel, how writing novels differs from short stories, the terrifying realism of analog horror and found footage, and how belief itself can become the most dangerous supernatural force of all. The October Film Haunt blends demonic possession, slasher tropes, and viral horror into one unforgettable novel. Hear Michael’s thoughts on The Blair Witch Project, the found footage genre, writing with authenticity, and how horror reflects our darkest cultural fears. Highlights include:  What The October Film Haunt is About From Short Stories to Novels Writing Found Footage Fiction Why We Love Horror Meta Horror, Analog Terror & AI’s Future Impact The Power of Belief in Modern Horror If you love found footage horror like The Blair Witch Project or Lake Mungo, metafiction novels like House of Leaves, or deep conversations about the craft of horror writing, then this episode is for you! Follow Michael Wehunt: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwehuntauthor/?hl=en Threads: https://www.threads.com/@michaelwehuntauthor Facebook: http://facebook.com/MichaelWehuntAuthor/  Website: https://michaelwehunt.com/ Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/DreadAlertMedia] Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@dreadalertmedia], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@dreadalertmedia], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dreadalertmedia], or Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/dreadalert.com] for more horror hot takes and reviews!