The Movie Crypt

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Jeff Wadlow (IMAGINARY, CRY WOLF, KICK-ASS 2, NEVER BACK DOWN, TRUTH OR DARE) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss his career. From his amazing story working on Michael Bay’s PEARL HARBOR… to winning the 2002 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Festival and getting his first feature (CRY WOLF) made… to how he got the gig directing NEVER BACK DOWN against all odds… to his long career writing and directing for both features and television… to his experience making KICK-ASS and the making of his latest film IMAGINARY (in theaters now)… Jeff’s career journey is as exciting to hear about as it has been to watch over the last two decades!

Meet Adam and Joe at ASTRONOMICON in Livonia, MI April 12th - 14th! Adam will also be appearing at HORRORHOUND WEEKEND in Cincinnati, OH (March 22- 24), NEW JERSEY HORROR CON in Edison, NJ (April 19 - 21), and TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND in Irving, TX (May 17 - 19)! More appearances for 2024 to be announced soon!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmakers Eshom and Ian Nelms (RED RIGHT HAND, SMALL TOWN CRIME, FATMAN) join Adam, Joe, and Arwen to share their career journey. From a fateful car accident that lead to the purchase of their first camera… to making the move to LA and working at Arclight Hollywood… to their detailed writing and directing process working together as brothers… to the making of their very first short film SQUIRREL TRAP and their triumphant first festival screening (for only 20 people)… to learning early on how to deal with criticism and public opinion… to how they navigate the casting process… to their bold decision to cast Mel Gibson as “Chris Cringle” in their brilliant 2020 action/comedy FATMAN… and a deep dive into the making of their latest film RED RIGHT HAND (in theaters now)… Eshom and Ian will inspire any aspiring filmmaker out there to stop waiting for permission and just go for it!

Meet Adam and Joe at ASTRONOMICON in Livonia, MI April 12th - 14th! Adam will also be appearing at HORRORHOUND WEEKEND in Cincinnati, OH (March 22- 24), NEW JERSEY HORROR CON in Edison, NJ (April 19 - 21), and TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND in Irving, TX (May 17 - 19)! More appearances for 2024 to be announced soon!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Andrew Cumming joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss the journey to making his debut feature film OUT OF DARKNESS (in theaters now). From starting out with commercials and shorts… to moving into directing episodic television series (RIVER CITY, CLIQUE, COLD FEET)… to getting the inspiration to make a horror/adventure set 45,000 years in the past… to working with his co-writers to create a new language for his characters to speak… to how he pulled off such an ambitious, gorgeously lensed film with limited time and resources… to how he managed to shoot in so many remote locations across Scotland… Andrew is full of great advice for other filmmakers on knowing what your “trailer moments” will be and the art of creating the proper creature shriek!

Meet Adam and Joe at ASTRONOMICON in Livonia, MI April 12th - 14th! Adam will also be appearing at HORRORHOUND WEEKEND in Cincinnati, OH (March 22- 24), NEW JERSEY HORROR CON in Edison, NJ (April 19 - 21), and TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND in Irving, TX (May 17 - 19)! More appearances for 2024 to be announced soon!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Ted Geoghegan (WE ARE STILL HERE, MOHAWK) returns to discuss his latest feature, the Saturn Award nominated BROOKLYN 45 with Adam, Joe, and Arwen. From trying something completely different on the heels of his successful 2015 horror film WE ARE STILL HERE with his 2017 historical action drama MOHAWK… to the pride he takes in hearing from an indigenous elderly Mohawk man that his film was “the first time he ever saw a film in his native language”… to making his triumphant return to the horror genre with BROOKLYN 45 and working closely with his father (a US Air Force veteran) on the screenplay’s authenticity… to the benefits of shooting a contained story on a built set with fly away walls… to the incredible reception BROOKLYN 45 received after it’s world premiere at the South By South West film festival (it is currently available on SHUDDER and available to rent digital)… Ted returns 300 episodes later with a seasoned perspective and lots of great new stories!

Also, Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” to a listener who is growing tired of gratuitous cursing in so many modern TV series and films, Joe’s SUITABLE FLESH premieres on SHUDDER, and Adam announces 3 more conventions scheduled for March and April in his ever growing list of 2024 appearances.

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker and musician Richard Elfman (FORBIDDEN ZONE, SHRUNKEN HEADS, MODERN VAMPIRES) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss his career journey. From his humble upbringing in the most unlikely of towns… to how his love for the weird and wild took him around the world… to his part in the creation of THE KNIGHTS OF OINGO BOINGO (which then morphed into the famed 80’s rock band OINGO BOINGO)… to making his 1980 surreal classic FORBIDDEN ZONE… to jumping back into filmmaking after a long stint performing live music and writing for magazines… to working closely with his brother Danny Elfman as a composer on his films… to working with challenging budgets and winning over temperamental actors… to the making of his latest feature, the “Valentine Vampire” opus BLOODY BRIDGET (currently on the festival circuit)… to how he met his muse and BLOODY BRIDGET star Anastasia… Richard brings us on his fascinating 4+ decade ride through stage and screen!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Barnaby Clay (THE SEEDING) joins Joe Lynch for an interview recorded in front of a LIVE audience at USC. From his years working in the commercial and music video world working with artists such as Rhianna, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Gnarls Barkley… to the 8 years that he spent developing the story that ultimately blossomed into his first feature narrative THE SEEDING (currently in theaters and available on VOD)… to the difficulties of shooting out in the desert… to what inspired the already notorious opening scene and the film’s world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival… Barnaby details the long journey behind his feature film debut and even takes a few questions from the USC audience!

PUBLIC VERSION. Musician and actor Lee Ving (lead singer for FEAR, actor in FLASHDANCE, STREETS OF FIRE, CLUE, DUDES, NIGHTMARES) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his incredible career. From growing up in a working class family in Philadelphia, PA… to his many decades fronting L.A.’s seminal hardcore punk band FEAR… to the band’s legendary performance on Saturday Night Live in 1981 (arranged by the great John Belushi) that resulted in absolute mayhem… to what it was like making the transition to acting in feature films with FLASHDANCE (1983)… to his preferred approach to acting and what he feels makes a character feel real and not just like an actor playing a role… to his experience riding Harley’s and shooting Walter Hill’s STREETS OF FIRE… to working with director Penelope Spheeris - first as one of the subjects of her 1981 documentary THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION and then as an actor in her 1987 film DUDES… to working with the all-star cast of Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Leslie Ann Warren, and Eileen Brennan in 1985’s CLUE… Lee shares his journey living and performing under the lights of both the stage and screen for 50 years (so far)!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Josh Forbes (DESTROY ALL NEIGHBORS, CONTRACTED: PHASE 2) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss his career journey. From honing his craft and making his mark as a music video and commercial director… to making the jump into feature films… to the difference between subversive bloody fun and b-movie shlock… to working with the great Jonah Ray (MST3K, VICTOR CROWLEY) in a leading man role and the amazing Alex Winter (THE LOST BOYS, BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE) as an absolutely unrecognizable character under incredible make-up in DESTROY ALL NEIGHBORS… to how Josh made his creative choices on such a quirky film as a director who truly enjoys considering and trying the numerous ideas that such a talented cast excitedly comes to the project with… to why the decision was made to change “William Brown’s” artistic journey from that of a struggling cartoonist to that of a struggling prog rock musician… to how Josh and his make-up FX team pulled off such fantastical characters and elaborate effects sequences with the extremely limited time and resources of an indie budget and what it was like working with a diva swine… Josh pulls back the blood soaked and intestine splattered curtain on his latest feature opus! DESTROY ALL NEIGHBORS is currently playing in select theaters and streaming on SHUDDER.

Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a fellow podcaster facing a creative crossroads, Joe gets certified fresh, Adam gets clean as a whistle, and Chuckwagon returns in this fun and informative conversation.

PUBLIC VERSION. Screenwriter Nick Shafir (I.S.S.) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss his journey to becoming a working screenwriter with a film that’s currently playing in theaters all across the country. From a dyslexic aspiring writer living in New York City who discovered THE MOVIE CRYPT podcast back in 2014 and drew his own personal inspiration from it… to paying his dues at various jobs including being the writer’s assistant to the staff of a major network TV series where he was expected to fix toilets and once reprimanded for “walking too loud”… to selling his sci-fi screenplay I.S.S. during the pandemic and what it was like handing his baby off to a creative team and a production process that he wouldn’t be directly involved with from day to day… to why he believes it would be a disservice for an aspiring filmmaker to NOT go through both the wonderful highs and the soul crushing lows that accompany most every artist’s journey… to what it’s really like surviving for 6 months or more without a paycheck in sight yet not throwing in the towel and giving up on your dream… to how exactly Nick took his brilliant single location concept and crafted a complex character driven sci-fi thriller… to the research that he needed to do to believably write a story about scientists living on the space station… to the nonstop anxiety and constant self-doubt that an artist endures while hoping and praying that somehow someone somewhere will discover and recognize your talent… to the triumphant moment of having I.S.S. world premiere at the prestigious Tribeca film festival only to not even be allowed to step foot on the red carpet or talk about the movie due to the WGA strike… we’ve been waiting and waiting (and waiting) to share Nick’s story with you all and the time has finally come!

Also, Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a writer in search of tips on how to improve the dialogue in their screenplays which turns into a super in-depth 20 minute discussion on writing character’s with unique voices.

After a decade of watching his journey and rooting for him every step of the way… on January 5, 2024 Nick Shafir walked into the ArieScope Studio as an accomplished union screenwriter with a film on the eve of opening in theaters nationwide. He is a friend, a colleague, and now… a GUEST on THE MOVIE CRYPT podcast.  We couldn’t possibly ask for a more inspiring way to be starting off 2024 than with this amazing 2-hour conversation!

Will YOU be the next Nick Shafir? Strap in, get to work, and hopefully we’ll see you here in our studio soon!

During THE MOVIE CRYPT’s 8th annual “Yorkiethon” last month, actress and filmmaker Heather Graham (BOOGIE NIGHTS, THE HANGOVER, SWINGERS, AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME, BOWFINGER) joined Adam, Joe, and Arwen LIVE to discuss working on her latest film- Joe Lynch’s SUITABLE FLESH (now available on digital and Blu-ray). From growing up as an insecure, brainy, drama geek who never thought of herself as pretty… to becoming an internationally famous actress and considered one of the most beautiful women in the world… to the films and actors that inspired her and made her fall in love with cinema… to playing the iconic role of “Rollergirl” in Paul Thomas Anderson’s BOOGIE NIGHTS and the lasting impact that the film has had on our culture… to what it was like working with Joe and playing multiple characters inhabiting the same body in SUITABLE FLESH… this conversation with Heather was an absolute blast and we were so lucky to have her join us for our annual benefit for Save A Yorkie Rescue!

PUBLIC VERSION. Happy New Year! Hosts Adam Green, Joe Lynch, and Arwen look back on the past year of MOVIE CRYPT episodes and highlight some of the films, TV shows, and books that they loved in 2023.

Need a New Year's resolution? Start enjoying the FULL version of every week's new episode by supporting this program for just $1 a month at www.Patreon.com/TheMovieCrypt! 

PUBLIC VERSION. Merry Christmas and happy belated Thanksgiving! Recorded LIVE during YORKIETHON 8 on December 10, 2023, filmmaker Eli Roth (CABIN FEVER, HOSTEL, THE GREEN INFERNO, THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his craft and career journey. From the long gestating impetus for THANKSGIVING which started way back in his childhood… to the constant fear that all filmmakers share over someone else beating you to an idea… to the difficulties of making violent horror films while navigating the MPAA… to which gory gags Eli had to scale back on with his holiday slasher… to how the demise of physical media and the rise of streaming has drastically changed the business model of film financing… to the fun of creating a great misdirect and keeping your audience guessing on a killer’s identity… Eli candidly discusses how he creates his unique brand of fun and crowd pleasing horror.  

Adam and Joe recap the enormous success that was YORKIETHON 8, Adam has a heart to heart about CABIN FEVER 2 with Eli that was 20 years in the making, the boys’ moms stop by to humiliate them, and Mrs. Green drops a major truth bomb about Adam’s personal life in this special 2.5 hour “Santa-size” holiday episode!

PUBLIC VERSION. Documentary filmmakers Eastwood Allen and Chris Griffiths join Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss their epic 4-part documentary series ROBODOC: THE CREATION OF ROBOCOP. From how they got their start working on non-fiction documentaries about other films like HELLRAISER, FRIGHT NIGHT, and the IT mini-series… to why they felt the need to tell the story of how ROBOCOP was made… to how they didn’t get “RoboCop" himself (Peter Weller) to sit down for an interview until the very last minute and how his incredibly candid words brought ROBODOC to a whole different level… to what it’s like walking into Paul Verhoeven’s Malibu house for the first time… to the dying art of special features on physical media… to the trials and tribulations of funding a project like this through Kickstarter and what film they MAY do next (which made Joe VERY happy)… this super-sized episode will make you wish had 3 more parts to listen to! 

PUBLIC VERSION. The Adams Family of filmmakers - John Adams, Zelda Adams, and Toby Poser (HELLBENDER, WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS, THE DEEPER YOU DIG) join Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss their journey as a filmmaking family! From making the decision to stop waiting for permission and start making films on their own… to the importance of practice and why trial and error is crucial if you’re going to learn how to do it yourself… to how they create their films in a way that makes the production possible to pull off WELL within their limited resources… to how they have been able to create professional, theatrical quality films with extremely low budgets (fancy sausage is the key!)… to the making of their latest feature WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS… this conversation puts the value in family values! 

Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a filmmaker having trouble letting go of a finished project and moving on to the next, the Adams Family shares why they are proud to be longtime MOVIE CRYPT Patreon members (we didn’t pay them to say it- really!), and the boys gear up for YORKIETHON 8 next weekend (12/8 - 12/10) on www.ArieScope.com!

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Andrew Bowser (WORM, JIMMY TUPPER VS THE GOATMAN OF BOWIE) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss has his career journey and the making of his latest film ONYX THE FORTUITOUS AND THE TALISMAN OF SOULS. From learning and developing his filmmaking craft while working at companies like Nerdist (where he briefly worked with Adam and Joe on the SABER 3 short film) and while working on indies and other web content… to the decade he spent forming his (in)famous “Onyx” viral character on YouTube and other online platforms… to bringing ONYX THE FORTUITOUS AND THE TALISMAN OF SOULS (now available on Screambox) to life on the big screen with the help of friends and fans who contributed to the project’s kickstarter campaign… to creating a RE-ANIMATOR reunion (of sorts) by casting Barbara Crampton and Jeffrey Combs in the film… to ONYX’s triumphant Sundance world premiere and the arrival of one of 2023’s most celebrated genre efforts… this is a fun, inspiring and highly nerd-tactic dive into the mind of a true indie artist who isn’t afraid of making something a little more niche.

YORKIETHON 8 is less than 2 weeks away! Join Adam, Joe, and DOZENS of Arwen’s celebrity friends Friday December 8th through Sunday December 12th as they bring you live comedy, live music, live film commentaries, live interviews, Arwen’s Silent Auction, a live script reading of a never before seen/heard un-produced screenplay for a HUGE film franchise that you all know and love dearly, and much, much more! Watch the entire LIVE marathon FREE on ArieScope.com. THE MOVIE CRYPT’s 8th annual LIVE 3-day variety show to benefit Save A Yorkie Rescue is always THE podcast event of the year! Trust us… you’re not gonna want to miss a single amazing minute of YORKIETHON 8! 

While part of the fun of YORKIETHON is not knowing who will be appearing next or what will be happening on the show from hour to hour, if you want spoilers just follow @Arwen_Fn_Green on Twitter/X where she always gives loads of “bad hints” in the weeks leading up to the event!

PUBLIC VERSION. Screenwriter and Producer Michael Kennedy (FREAKY, IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss his career journey. From working as an animation assistant and IT support on FAMILY GUY for 10 years and what it was like when his writing career took off and he was able to head out on his own… to the making of FREAKY and its release during the pandemic.. to defining his voice as a writer and finding his lane… to the comical tribulations of being a writer where others get credit for a writer’s wins while the writer takes the blame for aspects that were beyond their control… to the making of his latest film IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE and his love for holiday movies… to the look of the villains he has created and the design of their masks… to how heartbreaking it is that so few will ever hear a film’s actual sound mix in the modern era of streaming films on tablets, phones, and poorly set up home theater systems… to why “old” can always be “new” again if a story is told with a fresh and original voice… Michael’s amazing success story is candidly laid out in this truly honest conversation about the filmmaking process.

The group also discusses how unfortunate it is that the original BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) doesn’t get more of the respect it deserves, when it may be better to write a script on spec instead of pitching the idea first, and how even the most well intended decisions by executives to make a film more inclusive can backfire when the audience can tell that they’re being pandered to.

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Franck Khalfoun (NIGHT OF THE HUNTED, P2, MANIAC) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope studio to discuss his career journey and the making of his latest film NIGHT OF THE HUNTED (available now in theaters and on VOD). From growing up in Miami and moving to California on a water polo scholarship where he studied theater and film… to making music videos in New York in the 90’s before moving back to Miami Beach, FL where he got a job on a feature film as a director’s assistant tasked with driving around and looking after a 12 year old Alexander Aja (HIGH TENSION, THE HILLS HAVE EYES remake)… to why horror films are the most universal and “international”… to his attraction to telling stories about the horrors of human nature more so than stories about fantastical creatures and ghouls… to the brilliant casting of Elijah Wood in his 2012 remake of MANIAC… to the craft of telling a compelling and gripping story in a single location… to the trials of being ghosted by producers and never paid for years of development work… to the reactions that his latest film (NIGHT OF THE HUNTED) received just off of the trailer and concept (a lone shooter targeting a gas station) in today’s mass shooting fatigued society… this is an amazing conversation that will surely make you think hard about the world we’re living in.

Also, Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a listener who’s thinking about popping the big question, Adam shares what happened with KILLER PIZZA, and the ArieScope “fluffle” of rabbits are given an extra delicious feast!

Mark your calendars! YORKIETHON 8 is happening over the weekend of December 8th - 10th! 

PUBLIC VERSION. Director of Photography David Matthews (JAKOB’S WIFE, GLORIOUS) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his career journey and the making of his latest feature SUITABLE FLESH (directed by our own Joe Lynch and out NOW in theaters and on-demand). From first getting the bug for filmmaking and photography… to shooting everything from music videos and commercials to both short and feature length films… to working with different directors and shooting films outside of the Hollywood system… to his favorite moments making SUITABLE FLESH… David explains his process behind shooting ambitious films under tight budgets and schedules. Your “Viewer Mail” questions are answered and Joe also makes a big confession to David! 

Mark your calendars! YORKIETHON 8 is coming December 8th - 10th!

PUBLIC VERSION. Screenwriter Dennis Paoli (RE-ANIMATOR, FROM BEYOND, CASTLE FREAK, DAGON, BODY SNATCHERS) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen to discuss his incredible career. From fatefully meeting the great Stuart Gordon all the way back in High School and discovering just how much their artistic sensibilities overlapped… to his theater work as part of “The Human Race” satire group touring coffee houses in Chicago… to how performing “naked theater” wound up getting Stuart Gordon thrown in jail… to how producer Charles Band helped launch his, Stuart’s, and so many other’s careers… to how 1995’s CASTLE FREAK was truly a “labor of lust”… to the method behind his madness in tackling adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft’s work and how he separates the art from such a controversial and complicated artist… to his many years teaching Gothic literature… to working with our own Joe Lynch on their latest feature SUITABLE FLESH (now in theaters and on-demand!)… Dennis pulls the curtain back on his long screenwriting career.

Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for an industry professional who’s at his breaking point with having to “give them what they want,” Joe has a wicked bad accident, and Adam goes behind the (smelly) scenes of this year’s ArieScope Halloween short HALLOWEEN SOCKS.