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
