The Dread Alert Podcast
The Dread Alert Podcast explores the darkest corners of horror literature, film, and media through in-depth conversations and interviews with the creators behind the fear. Co-hosted by Vince and Sara of Dread Alert Media, the show dissects the craft of storytelling, the psychology of dread, the impact of these stories, and the cultural roots of horror. Featuring exclusive interviews with authors, filmmakers, and genre innovators, The Dread Alert Podcast is where fans and scholars of horror come together to uncover what truly makes us afraid.
The Dread Alert Podcast is a part of the Dread Alert Media Network.
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The Dread Alert Podcast
Lilly Lives Alone Redefines Psychological Horror | Interview with Martin Melnick
In this episode of The Dread Alert Podcast, we sit down with filmmaker Martin Melnick, director of the haunting new psychological horror film Lilly Lives Alone (distributed by Dark Sky Films). Martin takes us inside the creative process of his first feature film, exploring themes of grief, trauma, memory, and the supernatural.
We discuss his love for ghost stories and the inspirations behind Lilly Lives Alone—from Japanese horror classics like Pulse and Cure to surrealist cinema and mythological storytelling. Martin also shares behind-the-scenes details on the film’s practical effects, his process for helping to create the nuanced performances from the cast (including Jeffrey Combs), and how he approached difficult subject matter with sensitivity and empathy.
If you’re a fan of character-driven horror, ghost stories, or indie filmmaking, this episode is a must-listen.
Lilly Lives Alone is now available on all major VOD platforms via Dark Sky Films.
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Dread Alert Podcast for more interviews with the minds behind the most innovative horror films today.
Martin Melnick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martin_melnick/
Martin Melnick Website: https://www.martinmelnick.com/
Dark Sky Films Website: https://darkskyfilms.com/film/lilly-lives-alone/
Martin Melnick in Fangoria Magazine: https://www.fangoria.com/womb-special-fx-lilly-lives-alone/
Martin Melnick's Favorite Horror Films List:
Don’t look now
The changeling
Let the right one in
Cure
Pulse
Ju-on
Kwaidan
Carnival of Souls
The Innocents
Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Thing
Ghostwatch
The Exorcist
The Vanishing
Eyes Without a Face
Night of the Living Dead
Dead and Buried
The Beyond
Possession
Black Sabbath (the Drop of Water segment)
The Haunting
A Ghost Story
Three Extremes
Candyman
The Orphanage
Night of the Demons
A Tale of Two Sisters
Tenebrae
Suspiria (1977)
Deep Red
Scream
Audition
Demon (2015)
The Shining
Possession
The Reflecting Skin
Dream Warriors
Under the Skin
Hour of the Wolf
Inland Empire
Martyrs
Possum
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