Horror filmmaker Zach Valdry joins Tim Russ on The Emergent Lens for a conversation that’s equal parts creepy, thoughtful, and packed with real craft lessons. After screening two shorts, his post-apocalyptic desert story Waste and the demon-driven thriller Broken Iris, Valdry breaks down what it actually takes to make horror work on screen.
Making Waste in the Nevada Desert
Waste was shot in a dry lake bed in Nevada, and the production wasn’t easy. One of the actors became ill mid-shoot, forcing the team to pause production for a month. Valdry also reveals a classic indie problem-solver: night-for-day shooting. Some scenes were filmed at night but designed to match daytime footage, proof that planning matters, but flexibility matters more.
In the world of Waste, everything has dried up. The real story, though, is intimate: a mother and son navigating their relationship while trying to survive. Valdry centers that emotional truth inside the chaos, giving the apocalypse weight beyond the visuals.
Demons, Body Horror, and the Cost of Power
In Broken Iris, a woman trapped in an abusive relationship is contacted by a demon, then pays a price for every “gift” she uses. Valdry leans into body horror, manipulation, and fear of the unknown. He cites Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue as a key influence, especially the dreamlike, reality-bending dread that makes you question what’s real.
Valdry also speaks candidly about representation in horror and the pressure of “doing it wrong,” while still aiming for honest relationships on screen.
And when Tim Russ closes with rapid-fire fun; Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers? Valdry doesn’t hesitate: Michael Myers.
The Emergent Lens is streaming now online and on Roku at Fancy A Movie.
- Search “The Emergent Lens” on your Roku device
- Watch now on the web at: FancyAMovie.com.
- Download the Fancy A Movie app on Roku
Watch the full episode and explore more interviews.
Leave a Reply