Horror Movie Survival Guide

HMSG Interview Author Daniel Kraus - “Partially Devoured” 

We have a special bonus episode coming at ya!  A fresh conversation with author Daniel Kraus about his new book PARTIALLY DEVOURED.  The book takes a frame by frame look at one of our favorite films - George A. Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)! 

We hope you grab a copy of Daniel’s new book & enjoy this conversation about how it all came together! 

More About Our Guest!

Daniel Kraus is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. His novel, Whalefall, received a front-cover review in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more. The film adaptation, co-written by Kraus, will be released by 20th Century Studios in October 2026.

With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored The Shape of Water, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co- authored Trollhunters, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series.

He co-wrote The Living Dead and Pay the Piper with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero. Kraus’s The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both Rotters and Scowler), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more.

Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. He lives with his wife in Chicago.

Follow Daniel Kraus Here: http://www.danielkraus.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kraus_author/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/danielkraus.com

More About Partially Devoured Here: https://www.danielkraus.com/books/partially-devoured-how-night-of-the-living-dead-saved-my-life-and-changed-the-world/

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The New Kids - "You Hot Dog"

It’s Julia’s Birthday week and we are celebrating by discussing one of her favorite James Spader films THE NEW KIDS (1985). Spader leads a pack of town bullies to terrorize the new kids in town! 

Have you seen this 80’s horror cult classic? 

We hope you enjoy hearing all about the legend of DUTRA this week! And wish Julia a very Happy Birthday!

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HMSG Interview Chelsea Stardust - "Donnie Darko"

This week we cover the cult classic DONNIE DARKO (2001) with one of our best friends, Director/Producer Chelsea Stardust! A film that both Chelsea & Julia have seen an obsessive amount of times and Teri has only seen twice! 

We also discuss Chelsea’s incredible career and her new Horror Anthology GRIND (2026) that is premiering at the SXSW film festival this week -  that we all played a part in! 

We hope you enjoy this fun & fresh episode! 

More About Our Guest:

Chelsea hails from the Midwest and has been working in Hollywood for over fifteen years. After working for titans Ivan Reitman, Judd Apatow, and Jason Blum, Chelsea started pursuing directing, writing, and producing full time. Chelsea’s first feature film, the science fiction thriller All That We Destroy, is part of the Blumhouse series Into The Dark and is currently available on Hulu. 

Her second feature film, the horror comedy Satanic Panic, was written by novelist Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend’s Exorcism, How To Sell A Haunted House) and was featured in over 20 film festivals all over the world and is currently available on VOD, blu-ray and VHS. Chelsea produced the feature film anthology Grind, which was created, written and directed by Brea Grant and Ed Dougherty, and is premiering this year at SXSW! Chelsea also directed the wraparound segments of Grind.

Most recently Chelsea produced a commercial for Loungefly, the popular brand owned by Funko. She also directed the music video Bloodbather for the indie rock band, Cursive. She has also produced 3 short films, two of which are heading to the festival circuit later this year. She is also the co-host of the Sitting In The Dark podcast and last but not least she is a published writer and her work has been featured in several books and online publications. 

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Didn't Die - In Theaters March 6th!

A podcaster tries to make sense of the world as they approach their 100th episode while the zombie apocalypse takes hold in DIDN'T DIE (2026). We have never related more to a film! A fresh riff on one of our favorite classic genres.

We hope you enjoy this mini-episode and check out the film this weekend in theaters!

More about the the film:

The Sundance Midnight feature film Didn’t Die, directed by Meera Menon, has been heralded by Variety as an “enticing character-centric comedy” and by Collider as a film that "forges its own bloody path by taking the story back to the barest of bones,” Didn’t Die premiered in 2025 at the Sundance Film Festival as a Midnight feature; merely weeks after director Menon’s home was tragically consumed by the fires which ravaged Los Angeles.

Menon, who has directed episodes of “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Ms. Marvel,” and “Westworld,” describes Didn’t Die—a film about the human spirit rising from tragedy—this way: “I’m drawn to the question of what still makes life worth living when everything else has come undone. Being an indie filmmaker right now feels like podcasting in the middle of a zombie apocalypse—this film is about the grit it takes to simply keep going.”

Starring stand-up comedian and Emmy-nominated actress Kiran Deol in the lead role of “Vinita”, Didn’t Die revolves around an unfolding zombie apocalypse in rural America, as a podcast host (Deol) struggles to maintain their dwindling audience amidst the chaos.

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Battle Royale - “I don't know what any of this means!”

This week we enter the ring with a perfect & timely dystopian thriller - BATTLE ROYALE (2000). As the economy craters and teen morale crumbles in this world - as high school class is offered up as entertainment for the masses. The teens must fight to the death till there is one student left standing to be crowned the winner. 

We hope you enjoy this freshly made episode!

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Sinners - “Free for a Few Hours”

It’s TIME! This week we finally discuss our favorite film from 2025, Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS! A cinematic triumph with double Michael B. Jordan and a truckload of accolades behind it. 

A vampire film containing layers of drama, deep thoughts and a dance number for the ages! Yes, please! 

We hope you enjoy biting into this fresh episode as much as we enjoyed making it! 

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Bitch Ass - “Are You Willing to Play?”

It’s 666 Night and young group of gang recruits are about to play deadly games that could result in deadly prizes with BITCH ASS (2022). A boy obsessed with games grows up to become a masked vigilante with a diabolical house of horrors! Featuring one of Tony Todd's last performances onscreen as he tees up the film playing a late night horror TV host!

We hope you enjoy playing with us this week!

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HMSG Interview Kristin L. Wallace - "Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island"

Zoinks! We got to chat with Comedian/Writer Kristin L. Wallace about the animated gateway horror masterpiece SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND (1998). The gang is all grown up and reunites to look for proof of real monsters in the world for Daphne's TV show Coast to Coast! This entry breaks the mold of traditional Scooby gang adventures and features some legendary voice talent like Mark Hamill & Adreinne Barbeau!

Have you seen this one? 

We hope you enjoy jumping into the Mystery Machine with us this week! 

More About Our Guest!

Kristin L. Wallce is an LA-based writer (Nickelodeon's BABY SHARK'S BIG SHOW!,) comedian (local Juggalo impersonator,) and Twitch streamer originally from Washington, D.C.! After honing her funny bone at a woman-run comedy show in New Orleans, Kristin has created critically-acclaimed shows in Los Angeles including multiple runs of her whiteface minstrel production, WHITE TIME!

Kristin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verygenuine/

Kristin’s Twitch: https://m.twitch.tv/verygenuine/home

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Blade - "I'm gonna be a Naughty Vampire God"

This week we bridge the world between night and day walkers with BLADE (1998). The OG superhero vampire slayer is the key to a villain's big plan for world domination. Can Blade stop their nefarious plans? An all-star cast lead by Wesley Snipes & Stephen Dorff take us on a journey through city streets, underground clubs & bloody raves! 

Have you seen this Vampire Classic? 

We hope you enjoy biting into this fresh episode! 

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The Mephisto Waltz - "Death is Corny"

An odd couple obsessed with defying death itself ingratiates themselves with a young music journalist & his wife for purely selfish reasons in THE MEPHISTO WALTZ (1971). Bargains with Satan will be made, but who's deals will be honored? Haunting performances by Alan Alda & Jacqueline Bisset are to die for! 

We hope you enjoy this freshly reincarnated episode!

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