Don't touch that dial.

You're tuned in to the Dread Podcast Network.

You are now listening to Postmortem with Mick Garrus,

where the most influential voices in horror cinema

will spill their guts to the renowned horror director, writer, and producer.

Now here's your host, Mick Garrus.

From Nice Guy Productions World Headquarters

overlooking the glamorous San Fernando Valley,

I'm Mick Garrus and this is Postmortem.

Filmmakers are usually obscured behind the camera.

It is the on-screen talent, the actors who are the name brands that drive the box office.

But in the world of horror cinema, in many cases,

it's the filmmaker who becomes the brand name.

Horror films don't require a star on the screen to become successful,

but they do need a captain behind the ship to steer the audience through their on-screen nightmares.

A handful of directors have earned their name brand status

as their involvement increases the likelihood of a film's success.

Who among us wasn't excited to see the new John Carpenter,

or Toby Hooper, or West Craven movie,

or today Mike Flanagan, or Jordan Peel, Ariaster, or our guest on this episode, James Wan.

Their films often are cast with excellent actors,

most of whom were unfamiliar before appearing in the films

...