Chuck Russell, the legendary director behind The Mask, The Blob, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, joins us in the Crypt to talk about the wild ride of his illustrious Hollywood career – from nearly directing Child’s Play and almost turning The Mask into a horror film, to working with Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Frank Darabont – and to promote his newest film Witchboard.

Chuck opens up about UFO encounters, the paranormal, near-death experiences, and the forces that might be influencing Hollywood from behind the curtain. He breaks down practical effects, dream research, faith, simulation theory, and what it really means to create from both sides of the veil.

He also discusses his early years breaking into the industry, performing stunts, and writing screenplays in 1980s Hollywood. Chuck shares his views on the “Horror Ghetto,” why he declined Child’s Play, and how he feels about the later Nightmare on Elm Street sequels.

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Witchboard:

https://witchboardmovie2025.com

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:31 - Nightmare On Elm Street Pt. 3: Dream Warriors, Dreamscape, Frank Darabont, Hell Night, and The Blob

00:11:46 - Starting Out In Hollywood, Putting Yourself Into Screenplays, Working Stunts with Arnold Schwarzenegger

00:21:16 - Hollywood Is Changing, Movie Theaters, The Mask Was Originally A Horror Film, Working With Jim Carrey, and Chuck's Back Up Actors if Jim Said No to the Role, A Sequel to The Mask?

00:40:45 - Putting New Actors on the Map (Patricia Arquette and Cameron Diaz), How Chuck Feels About Nightmare on Elm St. Sequels, The "Horror Ghetto," Why He Declined the Offer To Direct Child's Play

00:49:12 - Bless The Child, Writing Good And Evil, Pure Despair, Mistrust for Authority

00:56:25 - Eraser with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Working With CIA Advisors, Does The Government Control Hollywood? Working With Dream Researchers for Dreamscape

01:02:21 - Secret Societies, Chuck's Real Sightings of UFOs, Is There Alien Life In The Universe? The Moon Landing

01:16:23 - God, The Paranormal, Near Death Experiences, Lucid Dreaming, The Simulation Theory, AI, We're Living In A Sci-Fi Movie

01:27:10 - Embracing The New, Chuck's Early Usage of CGI

01:32:34 - Chuck's Return to Horror with Witchboard, Filming in New Orleans, Pendulum Boards vs. Ouija Boards, Hypocrisy of the Catholic Church

01:41:11 - How Chuck's Catholic Upbringing Inspired Elements Within Witchboard, Hallucinogenics, Working with Animals

01:48:21 - Reimagining Older Films, The Cast of Witchboard, Drugs as a Metaphor for Magic

01:55:47 - Practical Effects In Witchboard, Watching Coolest Scenes from Witchboard and Bless The Child

02:09:46 - Chuck Would Never Recommend Becoming an Actor

02:20:46 - Working With Legendary DP's, Working in Thailand and India with a Tribe of Elephants, Directing a Non-English Script, Blocking Action Scenes

02:32:57 - Outro

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Copyright Disclaimer:Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Erick Wessel and Terri Rivera are the creators of The Mystic Museum and The Horror Boodega, two of LA’s most unique horror destinations.

In this episode, we trace the journey from punk rock beginnings and getting drunk in Vegas to how a small oddities shop grew into the Mystic Museum and how the Horror Boodega was built in just four months. We talk about nostalgia, wearing horror on our sleeves, and designing immersive spaces that celebrate the genre and bring fans deeper into the experience.

We get into the paranormal side of the Mystic Museum — from hauntings and séances to visitor encounters and even a true crime event tied to the building. We reflect on belief vs. skepticism, how fear of death connects to our love for horror, and why these stories resonate so deeply with fans.We also cover the state of horror film culture today: the best and worst films of the year, remakes and reboots, mean-spirited horror, critics, and the movies we defend even when everyone else hates them.

Along the way, we talk about the first horror films that shook us, casting mega-stars in horror, and the exhibits that keep the Mystic Museum evolving — from Horror High Reunion to Total Grotesque Live, their Evil Dead collaboration, and partnership with Eli Roth’s Horror Section Studios.

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Talks From The Crypt:

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https://talksfromthecrypt.com

The Mystic Museum:

https://www.instagram.com/themysticmuseum

https://themysticmuseum.com

The Horror Boodega:

https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorboodega

https://thehorrorboodega.com

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00:00:00- Intro - Getting Drunk, Punk Rock

00:03:16 - The Genesis of The Mystic Museum

00:11:28 - Creating The Horror Boodega

00:20:39 - Nostalgia, Wearing Horror On Our Sleeves

00:27:24 - Building Immersive Experiences

00:34:13 - The Mystic Museum Is Haunted? Paranormal Experiences, Believing in the Paranormal, and Addressing Skepticism of the Paranormal

00:50:41 - A "True Crime" Event Happened at The Mystic Museum? Evil Spirits and The Paranormal Experiences of Visitors.

01:07:07 - Fear of Dying and How This All Ties Into Our Love For Horror

01:12:28 - Best Horror Films This Year

01:21:10 - Don't Take Horror Too Seriously

01:26:40 - Least Favorite Horror Movies of the Last Year

01:35:09 - Horror High Reunion, Films We Want to See, Where Remakes/Reboots Go Wrong, Mean Spirited Horror

01:51:40 - Film Critics - Good or Bad? Films We Love That Everyone Hates

02:02:22 - Expectations Ruining Movies, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

02:07:53 - Films That Deserve A Remake/Reboot/Spin-Off

02:21:17 - First Horror Films That Really Shook Us

02:31:42 - Casting Mega Celebrities and Horror Icons - Does it Ruin the Movie?

02:39:42 - The Mystic Museum's Exhibits: TGL, Horror High Reunion, 90s Slasher

02:48:48 - Expanding The Mystic Museum and The Horror Boodega

02:56:07 - Total Grotesque Live, Evil Dead Experience, Partnership With Eli Roth's Horror Section Studios

03:02:51 - Outro

—

Copyright Disclaimer:Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Danielle Harris is an iconic actress, director, and horror legend known for her roles as Jamie Lloyd in Halloween 4 & 5, Annie in Rob Zombie's Halloween, Marybeth the Hatchet series, and many more. Her podcast, Talk Scary to Me, co-hosted with Scout Taylor-Compton is available on Spotify and Patreon.

In this episode, Danielle opens up about surviving childhood stardom, detailing the pressures and hidden horrors faced by young actors in Hollywood, including troubling experiences involving Corey Feldman and Drake Bell. She candidly shares her experiences with creepy fans and infamous stalkers, emphasizing the need for better convention etiquette and boundaries.

Danielle reflects her transition into directing films, and navigating the complexities of working with friends and family, the challenges of balancing creativity with personal life, missing important family events, and confronting the reality that fame is not as glamorous as we'd like to think.

She shares her casting couch experience involving Steven Seagal, views on nudity in films, and discusses the intense filming of Rob Zombie's Halloween. Danielle also reveals tensions with actress Tara Reid and and losing roles to Neve Campbell. She addresses the Jamie Lee Curtis controversy and details how it ended on a positive note. We talk about her upcoming memoir and documentary and connecting with other horror icons such as Heather Langenkamp on their film "Last Chance Motel."

We reflect on Danielle's rebellious youth, including her experience filming Halloween 4 & 5 and her relationship with the Akkad family. Danielle describes the intense environment of working on Rob Zombie's "Halloween," including studio interference and challenges behind the scenes.

Further discussed are her experiences writing and pitching films, frustrations with studio executives unaware of Jamie Lloyd’s passionate fanbase, her idea for a new Halloween sequel, and critiques of modern horror filmmaking.

Also covered: Danielle’s popular podcast "Talk Scary to Me," her approach to social media, the realities of fame in the horror community, and the evolving landscape of horror conventions and fan interactions.

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Follow On Social Media –

Talks From The Crypt:

https://instagram.com/talksfromthecrypt / https://talksfromthecrypt.com

Danielle Harris:

https://www.instagram.com/horrorgal / https://danielleharris.com

Talk Scary to Me Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/talkscarytomepodcast

https://www.patreon.com/talkscarytome

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00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:06 – Surviving Childhood Stardom: Pressures, Hidden Horrors, and Convention Etiquette

00:09:42 – Child Star Trauma (Corey Feldman, Drake Bell), Predators, & Danielle’s Stalker Stories

00:15:03 – Staying Busy Since the '80s: Acting, Directing, Working With Friends, and New Projects (Scout Taylor-Compton, Last Chance Motel)

00:25:41 – Being Selfish With Creativity, Missing Life Events, and "Fame Isn't All Sunglasses and Limousines"

00:31:20 – Danielle's Memoir & Documentary, Steven Seagal, Her Casting Couch Experience, Nudity on Film, and Social Media's Impact

00:45:18 – Moving Out of Los Angeles, Protecting Her Sons' Childhood, and Financially Supporting Her Family at Age 8

00:55:07 – Changing Perspectives With Age, Momma's Boys, Family Guilt, and Overthinking

01:02:54 – Rebellious Youth, Smoking, Moving to LA, and Filming Halloween 4 & 5 (Relationship With the Akkads)

01:10:52 – Rob Zombie's Halloween & Studio Interference, Loomis, and Being Scared on Set of Halloween 5

01:20:06 – Writing & Pitching Films, Jamie Lloyd's Legacy, Danielle's Halloween Sequel Idea, and the State of Modern Horror

01:30:07 – Fight With Tara Reid, Actress Rivalries, Losing Roles to Neve Campbell, and Transitioning From Child to Adult Actor

01:42:19 – Jamie Lee Curtis Controversy, Connecting With Horror Icons, and Heather Langenkamp

01:55:36 – 'Talk Scary to Me' Podcast With Scout Taylor-Compton and Danielle's Socials

01:58:06 – Outro