Looks Creepy Cool: Horror Stories & the People Behind the Fear

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A thrill-seeking traveler ventures deep into the giant spider caves of Costa Rica—but one step beyond the safety ropes turns his once-in-a-lifetime adventure into a nightmare.

Tonight, the Library of Shadows pulls down “Spiders… Yep, That’s Right, Big, Fat Juicy Spiders!” Written and narrated by Gary D up in Ontario, Canada, this gruesome horror story proves that some rules exist for a reason.

Follow Gary on Instagram: @gary_d_up_in_ontario_canada

Content advisory: Spiders, graphic body horror, and disturbing imagery.

Have an original horror story of your own? Visit lookscreepycool.com to learn how to submit it to the Library of Shadows.

Follow the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast for more original horror stories and conversations with the creators behind the fear.

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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What happens when something buried beneath Appalachia refuses to stay buried?

Writer and director Daniel Byers enters the Mirror Room to discuss his horror film Dark Hollow—a creature feature rooted in Appalachian darkness, family, transformation and the things that may be better left underground.

Growing up in West Virginia, Daniel was surrounded by cryptid lore, from Bigfoot to Mothman. He shares how that tradition influenced the creation of Dark Hollow's monster and takes us behind the scenes of filming inside a real coal mine, where the cast and crew experienced tight spaces, cold temperatures and moments of complete darkness.

Daniel also reveals how his team brought the creature from his imagination to the screen using practical effects layered with CGI, and we venture beyond filmmaking into his own encounters with the supernatural, cultural beliefs, fear of transformation, moral darkness and what he believes may—or may not—be waiting beyond what we can explain.

🎬 Dark Hollow is written and directed by Daniel Byers and distributed by Brainstorm Media. Available now to rent digitally. Watch Now on Prime Video
https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0G8ZCULZ45P9LKL0D0NJZDYGNR

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.

🪞 Prefer to watch? Watch the full Mirror Room conversation on the Haunted House FearFest® YouTube channel under the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast playlist.

Daniel Byers
Website: danielbyers.com
Instagram: @danielabyers

Dark Hollow
Instagram: @darkhollowfilms
TikTok: @dark.hollow.film
Distributor: @brainstormmediaofficial

Follow the Fear®

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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What happens when someone who spends her career examining horror turns the mirror on herself?

Horror author, critic, interviewer, and iHorror Senior Staff Writer Luna Gray steps inside the Mirror Room for a conversation about fear, folklore, identity, and what draws us toward the darker corners of storytelling.

Luna's work explores cult, indie, folk, queer, and streaming horror, with a particular interest in how the genre reflects identity, trauma, folklore, and the people society chooses not to believe.

She's also the author of No House Is Empty, a winter folk-horror novel about a married couple attempting to host the perfect Christmas Eve party while their life quietly falls apart. When carolers arrive, old household rules begin turning the celebration into an accounting of broken vows, buried grief, debt, and everything they've tried to hide behind a beautifully staged home.

Inside the Mirror Room, we go beyond the book and the byline to explore the person behind the fear.

🪞 Welcome to the Mirror Room.

Find Luna Gray:
Website: LunaGrayHorror.com
Instagram / Threads / Facebook / X: @lunagrayhorror
Bluesky: @lunagrayhorror.com
Substack: Luna Gray Horror
Letterboxd: Luna Gray Horror
iHorror: Luna Gray

📖 Read the article mentioned during our conversation:
https://substack.com/@lunagray/note/c-308739000?r=3fy7qf&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=chatgpt.com

📚 No House Is Empty is available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H889PTLR?utm_source=chatgpt.com

🎙️ Discover more Mirror Room conversations and original stories from the Library of Shadows on the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

Until next time... another reflection awaits. 🪞

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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What draws someone toward the darkness—and what can horror reveal about the person creating it?

Horror author K. E. Koontz steps inside the Mirror Room for a conversation about fear, storytelling, and the experiences that have shaped the way she approaches horror.

Known for blending folklore, psychological terror, supernatural horror, and dark romance, K. E.'s stories explore the monsters we encounter outside ourselves—and the ones we carry within.

In this conversation, we turn the mirror away from simply promoting the latest book and toward the person behind the fear.

We talk about her relationship with horror, the influence of the wild and unpredictable on her storytelling, what fear can teach us about ourselves, and the darker places a writer's imagination can go.

K. E. is the author of numerous horror novels, including the God Is Dead series, with more stories already waiting in the dark. Her latest novel, They Looked Like People:  A Blackwater Pines Mystery is available on Amazon. Buy your copy today!

https://www.amazon.com/They-Looked-Like-People-Blackwater-ebook/dp/B0GWY4LFW4?ref_=ast_author_mpb

🪞 Welcome to the Mirror Room.

Find K. E. Koontz:
Website: https://www.fullmoonfiction.com/
TikTok: @author.k.e.koontz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Author-K-E-Koontz/61567552766102/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/K.-E.-Koontz/author/B0CLB6SWQB

📚 Have a story of your own?

Think your story belongs on the shelves of the Library of Shadows?

Visit LooksCreepyCool.com to submit your story. If selected, your story may become a future chapter of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast—and if you'd like, you can even narrate it yourself.

Until next time... another reflection awaits. 🪞

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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The shelves are full of stories...

Tonight, we're pulling one down.

Welcome to the Library of Shadows.

Tonight, we're pulling down a story from an anonymous writer in Canada.

What begins as a touching story about the unconditional love of a grandmother slowly unravels into something far more unsettling. As memories begin to blur and reality starts to shift, one family's search for answers uncovers a secret they never expected.

If you enjoy atmospheric horror, psychological suspense, and original horror stories, welcome to the Library of Shadows.

📚 Think your story belongs on the shelves of the Library of Shadows?

Visit LooksCreepyCool.com to submit your story.

If selected, your story may become a future chapter on the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast—and if you'd like, you can even narrate it yourself.

👍 Download

💬 Comment
Until next time... another chapter awaits.

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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Jennifer Leigh Houston grew up in a haunted house... and years later found herself starring in the haunted apartment horror film Evil Sublet. Coincidence? Maybe. Creepy? Absolutely.

Jennifer joins Renee Huff in the Mirror Room to talk about paranormal experiences, acting, voiceover work, creativity, and the surprising twists that have shaped her career.

From running her own bakery to pursuing multiple creative passions, Jennifer shares why artists should never be afraid to build a life beyond one career.

Topics include:

• Growing up in a haunted house
• Starring in Evil Sublet
• Living in a haunted apartment
• Voice acting
• Horror films
• True crime
• Creativity and pursuing multiple passions

Follow Jennifer:

Instagram & TikTok:

@jensshutyercakehole

Follow Haunted House FearFest @hhfearfest

Follow Looks Creepy Cool Podcast @lookscreepycool

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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🪞 Step inside the Mirror Room.

In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast: Horror Stories & the Creators Behind the Fear, Renee sits down with award-winning audio storyteller, writer, and director Fred Greenhalgh, founder of Dagaz Media, to explore the art of creating fear through sound.

From immersive audio dramas and psychological horror to writing for iconic franchises like Star Trek, The X-Files, and Locke & Key, Fred shares how atmosphere, pacing, and imagination can be more terrifying than anything shown on screen.

Together, they discuss:

🖤 Why the best horror begins with human fears before the supernatural.

🖤 How sound design transforms audio stories into immersive experiences.

🖤 Building suspense through pacing, atmosphere, and silence.

🖤 Balancing creativity while working with beloved franchises.

🖤 The haunted Maine farmhouse that inspired his storytelling.

🖤 Why mistakes are an essential part of every creator's journey.

Before leaving the Mirror Room, Fred answers the show's signature questions:

🪞 What's the creepiest thing that's ever happened to you?

🪞 What's the coolest thing that's ever happened to you?

👤 About Fred Greenhalgh
Fred Greenhalgh is an award-winning writer, director, and audio storyteller and the founder of Dagaz Media. He is known for creating immersive horror and fiction podcasts that combine cinematic sound design with compelling storytelling. His work includes projects connected to Star Trek, The X-Files, Locke & Key, and numerous acclaimed original audio dramas.

🌐 Website

https://dagazmedia.com/

🎧 Discover Fred's audio dramas

Wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts:

• Undertow

• The Dark Tome

• Carcerem

• Dark Woods

• Familiar Haunts

• The Cleansed

• The White Vault

• The Ghost Catchers

• Star Trek: Khan

• Blood Forest

• Bad Vibes

• The X-Files: Cold Cases

• The X-Files: Stolen Lives

Or explore them all here:

https://dagazmedia.com/audio-projects/

🎙️ Looks Creepy Cool Podcast: Horror Stories & the Creators Behind the Fear

If it looks creepy, it must be cool.

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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In this episode of the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast: Horror Stories & the Creators Behind the Fear, Renee sits down with horror creator, prop builder, and multimedia artist Jamie Martin, also known as Art by JDizzle.

From custom horror props and practical effects to special effects makeup, costumes, sculptures, and immersive haunted attraction pieces, Jamie shares how she transforms imagination into physical creations that blur the line between art and nightmare.

Together, they discuss her journey from horror photography to special effects training, the influence of creators like Tim Burton, Jim Henson, and Pee-wee's Playhouse, the appeal of practical effects in modern horror, and the creative process behind building monsters, creatures, and unforgettable horror experiences.

They also explore fear, inspiration, creativity, and the stories that shape the artists behind horror.

Before leaving the Mirror Room, Jamie answers the show's signature questions:

🖤 What's the creepiest thing that's ever happened to you?

🖤 What's the coolest thing that's ever happened to you?

Connect with Jamie:

Webpage: JD Studio & Props

https://www.jdstudioandprops.com

Socials:

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@artby_jdizzle

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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artby_jdizzle

Looks Creepy Cool Podcast: Horror Stories & the Creators Behind the Fear

If it looks creepy, it must be cool.

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

Send us Fan Mail

The Witch Demon has started renovating the House again.

In Team Meeting #1, Renee and the Witch Demon discuss Haunted House FearFest, horror films, horror games, the Library of Shadows, and a series of suspicious noises coming from the basement.

This short horror-comedy audio drama is part of the Haunted House FearFest universe and introduces listeners to one of the House's most mysterious residents.

Subscribe for:
👻 Horror storytelling
🎮 Horror games
🎬 Independent horror films
📚 Folklore and legends
🏚️ Adventures inside the House

If it looks creepy, it must be cool.

#HorrorPodcast #AudioDrama #HauntedHouseFearFest #IndieHorror #HorrorGames #HorrorMovies

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.

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Deep in the Scottish Highlands, there’s a mountain where hikers claim they’ve heard footsteps following behind them… even when nobody is there.

Tonight inside the Library of Shadows, enter a cinematic horror story inspired by the Scottish legend of The Grey Man of Ben MacDhui — a mysterious entity said to haunt the fog-covered peaks of Scotland’s Cairngorm Mountains.

Fog.
Footsteps.

Breathing in the dark.
And something hidden inside the mountain.

🎙️ Storytelling, atmosphere, and horror from inside the House.

Enter the House.

Follow the Fear®.

If you’re an author with a story to tell submit it at lookscreepycool.com for consideration inside the House.

And if there’s a legend you think belongs here, leave it in the comments below. 

The House is always listening.

👉 If it looks creepy, it must be cool. Follow Haunted House FearFest & the Looks Creepy Cool Podcast.