Director Dean Alioto entered the film stage with The McPherson Band. The film, in which a family accidentally records their first encounter with aliens, is considered by many to be one of the very first examples of found footage films. It was released in 1989 and The McPherson Band was almost a decade earlier than The Blair Witch Project. In recent years, Alioto has continued to play in the horror sandbox with his latest work, The last podcastArriving at this year’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest.

Although Alioto made his breakthrough as a director with found footage, he has explored a variety of narrative styles throughout his career. The last podcast has a more traditional camera format. On paper, this is a story that might lend itself to either found footage or the screen, but the decision to put both formats on hold is the right one. The last podcast follows the journey of podcaster Charlie Bailey (Eric Tabach), who is determined to achieve ultimate success, whatever the cost. The ambitious podcaster or influencer has become the favorite protagonist of the horror genre of late, but Charlie is different from many others.

Films like Death Stream And Dash cam have brought disgraced or controversial figures to the screen and encouraged audiences to revel in their suffering. Charlie, however, is something of the opposite of them. He’s not inherently mean, but relies on sarcasm to attract a captive audience. He hosts a podcast called Paranormalcy and struggles to make a name for himself amidst the sea of ​​millions of other creatives. Charlie’s podcast aims to debunk the supernatural, but his presentation methods cause problems with his girlfriend Brie (Kaikane) and still aren’t enough to get him the attention he craves. Then, when he visits Duncan (Gabriel Rush), a professor with proof that the supernatural is a lie, everything changes. Charlie finds a new hook for his podcast and sees listeners flocking in droves. It’s everything he ever hoped for, but it comes at a price…

Stories about ambitious and determined people who falter are always fascinating. The difference in The last podcast is that the viewer never loses the connection with Charlie. Many films force their main character into a hopeless situation, but by keeping Charlie close to the viewer, Alioto creates a more emotional story. The last podcast also keeps its tone a bit brighter than some of its counterparts. A simple comparison would be An American werewolf in London. Alioto’s film is dark, but like John Landis’s film, it also has a wry sense of humor. This decision offers a welcome change from horror films that focus entirely on doom and gloom.

Eric Tabach does an incredible job as Charlie, endowing him with little flourishes that create enough depth to make him feel real. His past in the online world and never-ending need to create content and build a following make him the perfect vessel for Charlie. Tabach has lived through elements of Charlie’s story and that experience brings the character closer to the audience. In the lead role, Charlie is on screen almost constantly and Tabach deftly manages to withstand the pressure. Besides his mouth, Charlie, his counterpart is Duncan. As Duncan, Gabriel Rush is the opposite of Charlie. He is narrow-minded and practically mute, his portrayal requires him to use his body to express his emotions. Fortunately, Rush has a past as a dancer and is therefore used to this way of working. Together, the two are electric, following in the footsteps of the unlikely pair from Lisa Frankenstein.

The last podcast expertly juggles light and darkness to create a story that reflects real life. The podcaster aspect is nothing new, but it is handled differently. Instead of cheering Charlie’s destruction, the viewer wants him to pull himself together and succeed. This investment in Charlie is of the utmost importance, and thanks to Tabach’s thoughtful portrayal, the most important aspect of The last podcast works. This comedy horror thriller proves that Dean Alioto continues to be a filmmaker worth investing in, and with The last podcast‘s funny segment during the end credits. This may not be the last we’ve seen of this world.

The last podcast was checked at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024.