BEHIND THE LENS is kicking off the Halloween season today with a terrific making-a-movie-within-a-movie full of blood and hacking, madness, mayhem, and ridiculum - THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE. And joining me to talk about this bloody (and funny) gem are writer/editor RAY SPIVEY and actor/executive producer ALLEN DANZIGER. Recognize those names? Ray has been on the live show with me before. And as for Allen, did you ever hear of a little film called “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and a character affectionately called by fans Chainsaw Jerry? Well, that’s Allen, and we’ve got him!

But first, we’re going Down Under with writer/director KIAH ROACHE-TURNER and his WWII film, BEAST OF WAR. And I’ll let you in on a little hint. The “beast” is a bloodthirsty shark. I always enjoy speaking with KIAH and watching his films. So creative, so well done, so entertaining. By the way, have you guys seen Kiah's film “Sting”? If you haven’t, check it out. It’s fantastic.

Speaking of fantastic, that’s exactly what BEAST OF WAR is, and that’s due in large part to Kiah’s use of practical in-camera effects and an animatronic shark. No CGI here. And thank goodness! You all know how particular I am when it comes to sharks and shark movies.

Inspired by the real-life story of the HMS Armidale, which was sunk by Japanese zeroes in WWII while crossing the Timor Sea, along with some of the personal WWII experiences of Kiah’s grandfather, BEAST OF WAR is the tale of a young troop of Australian soldiers who must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking life raft which was nothing more than a small hunk of their ship that hadn't been obliterated. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark.

Written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, BEAST OF WAR stars Mark Coles Smith, Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich, Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Parsonson, Maximillian Johnson, Tristan McKinnon, and Aswan Reid.

With a brief amount of time to dive into the making of BEAST OF WAR, Kiah highlights the challenges of working with practical shark effects, which interestingly, were inspired by some of Kiah’s own work on Matthew Holmes' "Fear Below" - as you may recall, I interviewed Matthew about “Fear Below” and his level of authenticity and practical effects and wouldn’t you know it, Kiah also called on the expertise of production designer Esther Rosenberg and costumer/vintage prop houser Tracy Rose Parks for BEAST OF WAR. Here, Kiah emphasized the use of a 40-meter indoor water tank and innovative lighting techniques of his DP Mark Wareham to create a realistic and atmospheric setting. In addition to lighting, Wareham’s lensing and camera blocking and dutching are unreal! Beyond the visual grammar and visual tonal bandwidth, the soundscape is critical, and Kiah turned to Folklore for the film’s sound design. The sound fuels suspense, and its layering is so realistic. As you’ll hear him discuss, Kiah wanted the shark to have a sound similar to what Spielberg did with the yellow barrels in “Jaws.” Folklore delivered by incorporating an air raid siren lodged in the shark's side. Superb production elements, amazing performances, particularly from Mark Coles Smith and Joel Nankervis, and a shark to die for, BEAST OF WAR delivers on every level.

And now, let the fun begin with ALLEN DANZIGER and RAY SPIVEY and THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE. This is Ray’s second trip to BTL. He last appeared on the live show with me in 2023, talking about his demonic thriller “Storage Locker”, and I am thrilled to have him back, this time with his partner in crime, ALLEN DANZIGER. These two are not only tons of fun together, but each brings something terrific to the film - and to this interview. Now, as I wrote earlier, some of you may recognize the name Allen Danziger, as Allen is legendary in the horror industry thanks to his turn as Chainsaw Jerry in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”! After a 48-year retirement from acting, Allen has returned to the screen in THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE, and he is a hoot!!

So what is THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE? From Ray’s fertile and creative mind, this is the story about the remaking of a bad horror movie by the cast and crew of The WeedHacker Massacre film, who go to the site of where the real murders occurred 10 years ago. Bad acting, bounced payroll checks, and the killer's return threaten what is to become their worst movie ever.

Directed by Jody Stelzig and written by Ray Spivey, who also serves as editor, THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE, is filled with weird and wondrous characters like Digger, Skunk, Dufus, Rufus, and Mayor Dick Gunter, Willie Wonder and Pokerface, all played by a talented cast, among them Allen Danziger as Sheriff Danzinshoos, Sean Reyna as Pokerface, David Trevino as Willie Wonder, Parrish Randall, Jody Stelzig, and more.

As we hack into the making of THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE with Allen and Ray, Ray shares the inspiration behind the film, which is that of a friend’s hair (seriously), and the concept of an indie film group facing challenges in making a film. Highlighting the large cast, the fun on the set, the music, and the complexity of filming a film within a film, there are plenty of laughs in our conversation that are inspired by the antics of the film itself. Filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, perhaps the greatest revelations and fun come from Allen Danziger himself as he talks about “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, the fan love and Chainsaw Jerry Bobbleheads, his 48-year absence from acting, and some fun surprises. And yes, the three of us have ideas for merch...and a sequel.