In this Lost Episode from our archives, Geoffrey D. Calhoun sits down with Philip Eisner, the mind behind the cult classic Event Horizon, for a deep dive into the film’s origins, its Lovecraftian and Warhammer 40k influences, and the psychology of horror. From the ship’s unsettling “personality” to the challenge of keeping audiences engaged without overexplaining, Philip reveals his approach to crafting dread, balancing science with cinematic spectacle, and the lessons learned from working with director Paul W. S. Anderson. They also explore the fine line between horror and thriller, the power of character-driven scares, and Eisner’s collaborations on projects like Sweet Girl.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The Shining in space pitch that sold Event Horizon
- How Lovecraft and Hellraiser shaped the film’s horror elements
- Why the ship itself became a character—and how that changes the story
- The science vs. spectacle push-and-pull in production
- Writing horror that resonates beyond jump scares
- Navigating collaboration and protecting the work while staying open to change
Key Moments:
- 00:28 – Why Event Horizon still holds up decades later
- 04:26 – Horror as a way to give form to “nameless dread”
- 13:32 – The gravity drive and designing a ship with a soul
- 18:19 – Interpreting the ship’s intentions from a non-human perspective
- 46:06 – Lovecraft, Hellraiser, and hidden influences on Event Horizon
About the Guest:
Philip Eisner is a screenwriter best known for the sci-fi horror Event Horizon, as well as Sweet Girl, co-written with Greg Hurwitz. His work blends high-concept ideas with grounded, psychological depth, and he has collaborated with some of the industry’s top directors and producers.
About the Host:
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Dance Macabre by Stephen King
- Event Horizon (1997)
- Sweet Girl (2021)
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:
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