Last Podcast On The Left Weapons: An Interview with Zach Cregger
Aug 18, 2025
Zach Cregger, writer and director known for his work on 'Barbarian' and 'Weapons', discusses his unique journey from comedy to horror. He shares insights on character development, including crafting 'The Mother' and the inspirations behind his films. The conversation touches on the art of scoring films, emphasizing how music enhances the horror experience. Zach also dives into the creative challenges of 'Weapons', discussing CGI, character design, and the thrill of audience reactions at theaters. Enthusiastic about future projects, he reflects on the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
The Scream Session That Shaped Barbarian
- Zach Cregger recounts calling Henry to record a blood-curdling shriek that inspired a scream in Barbarian.
- Henry came over and screamed for 20 minutes to help Zach nail the mother's voice.
Sketch Comedy As A Mental Gym
- Sketch comedy trains creators to push ideas to extremes and discover unusual scenarios.
- Zach says that decade-long sketch work acted like a mental gym for going 'how far can I go?'.
Make Scares Central To Horror
- Prioritize writing scenes that genuinely scare if you intend to make a horror film.
- Zach notes a horror can still be effective if its scares are intact even when stripped from the story.
