Show Notes
Adam Green is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and horror icon best known for creating the Hatchet franchise and directing cult favorites like Frozen, Digging Up the Marrow, Spiral, Chillerama, and more. He is the co-host of The Movie Crypt podcast and founder of ArieScope Pictures. In this episode, Adam opens up about the brutal reality of filmmaking — from nearly walking away during the pandemic and the collapse of his dream project, Killer Pizza, to streaming platforms dismantling independent film. He shares personal stories of building a cult audience, the real reason Scary Sleepover disappeared from YouTube, and the constant battle to keep creative control. We also discuss the aftermath of the strike, censorship by the MPAA, and the madness of navigating Hollywood as an indie horror director. We talk origins of Hatchet, casting horror legends, the convention circuit, the return of slashers, and the death of physical media. Adam reflects on directing a younger cast in his upcoming film The Ascent, and shares untold stories about working with Tony Todd, Felissa Rose, Sid Haig, and the chaos of some of his most iconic films. Also covered: Yorkiethon 2025, the potential return of Scary Sleepover, social media controversies, Terrifier, cancel culture, and how horror has evolved in the age of streaming. — Subscribe: youtube.com/@TalksFromTheCrypt Follow On Social Media – Talks From The Crypt: https://instagram.com/talksfromthecrypt / https://talksfromthecrypt.com Adam Green: https://www.instagram.com/adam_fn_green YORKIETHON JULY 25-27, 2025: https://www.ariescope.com The Movie Crypt Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/TheMovieCrypt — 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:30 - The Movie Crypt Podcast, Wanting to Quit, Killer Pizza, Streaming vs. Physical Media, Pandemic Aftermath 00:13:35 - The Reality of Filmmaking, Filming & Touring Hatchet and Frozen, Dealing With Critics 00:20:47 - Holliston, Finding DP Will Barrett, First Feature Film, and Lessons In Actually Finishing What You Start 00:29:32 - Writing, Working with Comedy, 48 Hour Live Stream, ArieScope's YouTube Channel - Halloween Shorts and Scary Sleepover 00:39:48 - The Selection of Adam's Casts, Directing Performances, Working With a New Cast on 'Ascent', Being the "Old Guy" On Set 00:53:44 - Casting Horror Icons, The Death and The Reviving of Slashers, Remakes & Reboots, Keeping Screenplays Private 01:03:45 - Relinquishing Creative Control, Censorship, Trailers Spoiling the Film, Writing 'I, Survivor,' Writing Real Names Into Scripts 01:15:11 - Vivid Detail in Writing, Digging Up The Marrow, Headaches of Distribution, Fan Letters and Theories 01:47:16 - Using Practical FX, Final Destination, Bloodlines, Using Fears for Plots 01:58:47 - Recasting Marybeth in Hatchet, Good Looking Casts, Filming Overseas in Malta, Grateful To Be a Filmmaker 02:05:57 - The Strike and Pandemic's Effect on Hollywood, Damien Leone Twitter Controversy, Cancel Culture, and Social Media 02:23:09 - Meeting Fans at Conventions, Tattoos, Being Lucky to Exist in Horror Culture, Bringing Back Scary Sleepover, Tony Todd, Sid Haig, and Making Friends With Anxiety 02:38:19 - The Last Drive-In, Getting Booked at Conventions, Adam's Growth Since Hatchet 1, and Future Projects 02:47:27 - Terrifier, MPAA's Censorship, Making Sequels 02:54:28 - Horror Stories of Getting Recognized in Public, Yorkiethon, Gratitude for Horror Community 03:03:19 - Adam Green's Social Media, Yorkiethon (JULY 25-27, 2025), and Outro — Copyright Disclaimer:Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
More from Talks From The Crypt
Harold Schechter is an author, true crime historian, and professor emeritus. He has chronicled some of America’s most infamous murderers, including Ed Gein, H.H. Holmes, Albert Fish, and Belle Gunness. His books Deviant and Deranged are definitive accounts of Ed Gein and Albert Fish, and his many other works include Depraved, Fatal, The Serial Killer Files, Hell’s Princess, and Murderabilia. He is also the editor of the Library of America’s True Crime: An American Anthology and a two-time Edgar Award finalist.
Felissa Rose is an actress best known for her role as Angela Baker in the cult horror classic Sleepaway Camp. Her career in horror includes Victor Crowley, Terrifier 2, Scary Movie 6, and over 200 more credits. She is also a producer and longtime fixture of the horror convention circuit.
Scout Taylor-Compton is an actress and director best known for her roles as Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie’s Halloween and Halloween II, as well as performances in The Runaways, April Fool’s Day, and numerous other films. She recently co-directed the upcoming horror film Last Chance Motel, and previously co-hosted Talk Scary to Me, with Danielle Harris.
Joe Begos, director of Bliss, Christmas Bloody Christmas, Jimmy and Stiggs, and more, joins us in the Crypt for a conversation about independent filmmaking, shooting on film, and carving your own path without the system behind you. Joe discusses his films, the chaos that inspires his work, his polarizing writing and visual style, and maintaining full control over his films. We get into moving to Los Angeles with nothing, skipping film school, self-funding projects, and the reality of surviving as an independent horror filmmaker. We also talk film vs digital, world-building and taking wild ideas seriously, practical effects, working with Eli Roth, and the current state of the industry. We give our thoughts on Scream 7, remakes, horror conventions, and the mindset it takes to keep making movies your way no matter what it costs.
Grimmlife Collective is a horror and true-crime travel channel hosted by Michael and Jessica Kolence, known for exploring filming locations, cemeteries, abandoned sites, and dark history locations across the world. Their work blends on-location storytelling, horror fandom, and documentary-style deep dives into the strange and macabre.