In this episode of the Dread Alert Podcast, we sit down with comedian Samantha Hale to talk about her horror themed comedy special Horror Nerd, now available on Video On Demand.

Samantha is one of the only stand up comedians building an entire hour around her lifelong love of horror. In this wide ranging conversation, we explore how horror shaped her childhood, her relationship with her parents, and ultimately her voice as a performer. From growing up across the street from the Poltergeist house to bonding with her dad over movies she probably watched too young, Samantha breaks down how fear, nostalgia, and humor are deeply connected.

We also dig into the craft of horror comedy, the overlap between building a joke and building a scare, and why horror and comedy work so well together. Samantha shares her writing process, her experiences navigating fandom as a female horror fan, and her love for conventions, Halloween culture, and the strange comfort horror brings to so many of us.

This episode covers:
Horror Nerd and the idea of horror as identity
Why horror and comedy are a perfect match
Growing up immersed in horror films and fandom
Female perspectives in horror culture
Convention stories and iconic horror figures
The emotional core beneath genre obsession

If you love horror movies, horror comedy, film culture, or thoughtful conversations about why we are drawn to the dark, this episode is for you.

Watch Horror Nerd: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/samantha-hale-horror-nerd/umc.cmc.1t3kldkhkkkpbks3kz8dofuv6

Follow Samantha Hale: https://www.instagram.com/thesamanthahale/

THe Horror Nerds Podcast: https://horrornerdscomedypodcast.com/

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Join Vince on the Dread Alert Podcast as he welcomes author Dylan DeGrave to discuss his outstanding debut novel, Heller. Dylan shares the inspiration behind his slasher story, which just hit shelves on December 1st.

The conversation dives deep into the novel's unique blend of horror and heartfelt, personal themes. Dylan discusses the complex relationships in the novel, shifting the setting away from typical "white picket fence" neighborhoods to focus on less desirable areas often overlooked in the genre, and a few horror inspirations that contributed to his truly unique story.

Episode Highlights:

• The origins of Heller, starting from a desire to see a slasher story set in a lower-income environment.
• Dylan's focus on character relationships which makes it a truly unique slasher story.
• Dylan’s writing process, and advice for young writers
• Heller’s Horror Influences on the page and on the screen
• The decision to self-publish Heller to keep the book's ending intact, which was crucial for setting up the sequel.
• Dylan’s upcoming projects, including Heller part two, a supernatural vampire story set in his Northern California hometown, and a trippy haunted house story.

Follow Dylan DeGrave:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cantkilldill

Website: https://www.dylandegrave.com/

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Follow us on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Bluesky for more horror hot takes and reviews!

In this episode of the Dread Alert Podcast, Vince sits down with acclaimed horror author Michael Wehunt to discuss his chilling new novel, The October Film Haunt, a haunting fusion of found footage horror, metafiction, and digital dread.

Wehunt, best known for his short story collection Greener Pastures, unpacks the inspirations for the novel, how writing novels differs from short stories, the terrifying realism of analog horror and found footage, and how belief itself can become the most dangerous supernatural force of all.

The October Film Haunt blends demonic possession, slasher tropes, and viral horror into one unforgettable novel. Hear Michael’s thoughts on The Blair Witch Project, the found footage genre, writing with authenticity, and how horror reflects our darkest cultural fears.

Highlights include:
What The October Film Haunt is About
From Short Stories to Novels
Writing Found Footage Fiction
Why We Love Horror
Meta Horror, Analog Terror & AI’s Future Impact
The Power of Belief in Modern Horror

If you love found footage horror like The Blair Witch Project or Lake Mungo, metafiction novels like House of Leaves, or deep conversations about the craft of horror writing, then this episode is for you!

Follow Michael Wehunt:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwehuntauthor/?hl=en
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@michaelwehuntauthor
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MichaelWehuntAuthor/
Website: https://michaelwehunt.com/

Support the show

Follow us on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Bluesky for more horror hot takes and reviews!