Episode 137: The Thankskilling Legacy - Interview with Ryan Francis

Episode 137: The Thankskilling Legacy - Interview with Ryan Francis

From Horror Dads by Horror Dads

November 18, 2025 · 1h 33m · Episode 137

About this episode

The Horror Dads interview Ryan Francis about his role in the cult classic Thankskilling and discuss the film's legacy and holiday horror traditions.

November is upon us, and as the horror community works its way through a time of Post-Halloween Depression, we look toward the holiday season, and toward holiday traditions. In Episode 137, the Horror Dads sit down for a feast of horror nostalgia in this very special episode, welcoming actor and musician Ryan Francis — known to fans of cult cinema as Darren, the lovable nerd from the 2008 holiday slasher classic Thankskilling . Let the endless one-liners begin. In this conversation, Ryan brings us behind the scenes of one of the wildest, weirdest, and most joyously absurd indie horror films that we have all come to know and love. Managing killer puppets and no-budget chaos to unexpected fan devotion, we dive into how Thankskilling became a staple of the seasonal horror lineup. We also get a glimpse into why Darren remains one of the most beloved characters in the film’s offbeat cast. Ryan shares stories from the set, reflections on low-budget ingenuity, how the film found its second life as a cult hit, and what it’s like to play the “nerd who just wants friends". We also talk to Ryan about his current creative focus: Huge Euge , his high-energy, Nerdcore project.

People in this episode

Host: Horror Dads

Guest: Ryan Francis

Topics covered

  • holiday horror
  • cult cinema
  • indie films
  • interview
  • nostalgia

Keywords

  • Thankskilling
  • Ryan Francis
  • holiday slasher
  • cult classic
  • indie horror
  • Nerdcore

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Huge Euge

Books & works: Thankskilling

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