Following Films Podcast: Philip Gelatt on FIRST WORD ON HORROR

Welcome to The Following Films Podcast, where we explore the minds behind the movies we love.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Emmy and WGA-winning writer and filmmaker Philip Gelatt to discuss his latest project, FIRST WORD ON HORROR—a fifteen-part documentary series that delves into the lives, inspirations, and writing philosophies of five of the most celebrated horror authors working today.

This season, the series spotlights Stephen Graham Jones, Paul Tremblay, Elizabeth Hand, Laird Barron, and Mariana Enriquez. They take us on a journey from the icy peril of the Iditarod to the shadows of Argentina’s past, from the raw energy of the early DC punk scene to the eerie isolation of the Montana wilderness. Along the way, these authors share their stories—both real and imagined—blurring the lines between fact and fiction and offering a rare glimpse into the alchemy of storytelling.

Philip, whose work includes The Spine of Night, Europa Report, They Remain, and Love, Death + Robots, brings his unique vision to this literary love letter to horror, writing, and the sheer power of a well-told tale.

So sit back, listen in, and join me as I talk with Philip Gelatt about the making of FIRST WORD ON HORROR.

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POPULATION PURGE Trailer and Release Info

In a dystopian world where a radical government has unleashed a deadly poison to control population, only those with blood type AB positive remain unscathed. But instead of outright death, the rest of the population is left to suffer in a state of chronic illness, causing widespread chaos and panic. As the majority slowly succumbs to the effects of the poison, their only hope lies in receiving transfusions of AB positive blood from the few immune survivors, like Charlie and his granddaughter Maya. Living in the decrepit remains of an abandoned amusement park, Charlie is a renegade supplier of blood to the underground market. But their sanctuary is threatened by the iron-fisted rule of District 22's ruthless warden, Onslow, who will stop at nothing to save his own dying son. As Charlie and Maya fight to defend their haven and their own sanity, the eccentric duo must navigate through a world of danger and betrayal. POPULATION PURGE was written by Brian Johnson and Toby Osborne and di...

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