Dread Central

History

Dread Central was founded on July 4, 2006. When a venture to create a horror-themed cable television channel stalled, the web team left and established their own news site. On January 6, 2026, Brad Miska was announced as the publication’s new owner and editor-in-chief, with Josh Korngut also recently announced as editorial director in 2025.

Website

The site's staff use horror-themed aliases. The website has a broad focus, and it covers both mainstream and fringe topics that range from horror films to comics to toys. In 2013, Steve Persall of the Tampa Bay Times stated, "if it gushes blood or desecrates flesh, Dread Central covers it," and "the site is oriented toward a male demographic and favors edgy, exploitative films. Celebrity supporters include John Carpenter, Gale Anne Hurd, Sid Haig, Adam Green, and Darren Lynn Bousman.

Other ventures

In 2007, Dread Central and VersusMedia announced Horror D'Oeuvres, a competition for independent short films. In 2008, the site partnered with several other prominent horror sites and studios in a horror-themed auction to raise money for the Entertainment Industry Foundation. In 2013, they partnered with Gas Lamp Museum and the San Diego Ghost Hunters to organize a ghost hunt at the William Heath Davis House. The proceeds went toward upkeep for the historic site. Also in 2013, they began offering the "Box of Dread", a random package full of merchandise delivered monthly to subscribers, one of whom is randomly chosen to receive a "special edition" valued at $250.

DREAD

In 2017, Dread Central Media was acquired by Epic Pictures Group. The independent studio announced it would be launching a new distribution label specializing in horror films released in theaters and on demand. On January 29, 2019, the label was renamed DREAD. Significant releases include:

• Terrifier
• Benny Loves You
• Tales of Halloween
• The Lodgers
• Satanic Hispanics
• The Jester
• Nina Forever
• Harpoon
• Beezel
• Bad Candy
• The Lake
• Howling Village

DREAD Podcast Network

The DREAD Podcast Network consists of a variety of diverse, free audio series celebrating all things horror. Notable network talent include The Boulet Brothers, Mick Garris, and Mark Ramsay with podcasts such as:

• Development Hell
• Dark Sanctum
• Scarred for Life
• Girl, That's Scary
• Kim and Ket Stay Alive ... Maybe
• Post Mortem with Mick Garris
• Creatures of the Night

DreadXP

DreadXP was founded in 2019 by Dread Central founder Jon Condit and overseen by editor in chief Ted Hentschke as a video gaming website with a focus on editorial, reviews, podcasts, and original streaming content.

In 2020, DreadXP turned to video game publishing with the release of Dread X Collection, an anthology of horror video games created by several indie developers. In early 2024, it was announced that Hunter Bond and Brian Clarke would be taking charge at DreadXP. Significant game releases include:

• The Mortuary Assistant
• Sucker4Love: First Date
• Amanda the Adventurer
• Amanda the Adventurer 2
• Amanda the Adventurer 3
• Heartworm
• My Friendly Neighborhood
• White Knuckle
• Dread Delusion

References

• Dread Central Turns 7!, Barton, Steve, Dread Central, 2013-07-04, 2013-11-26
• Viva La DreadCentral! The Horror Channel DEAD!?, Bloody Disgusting, 2006-06-18, 2013-11-26, October 8, 2006, dead
• Behind The Scenes Photos From Nacho Cerda's The Abandoned At The Re-Launched Dread Central, Brown, Todd, Twitch Film, 2006-07-05, 2013-11-26, December 2, 2013, dead
• Kit, Borys, 2026-01-06, Horror Shake-Up: Website Dread Central Gets a New Owner in Bloody Disgusting Co-Founder Brad Miska (Exclusive), 2026-01-11, The Hollywood Reporter, en-US
• McAndrews, Mary Beth, 2025-09-16, New Transmission: Dread Central Welcomes New Staff Writers, Plus A Promotion!, 2026-01-11, Dread Central, en-US
• Persall, Steve, 2007-03-09, In Gore They Trust, 2013-11-26, Tampa Bay Times
• Couch, Aaron, Kit, Borys, December 21, 2016, How Dread Central's "Hail Mary" Campaign to Stay Open Could Change Genre Journalism, January 4, 2017, The Hollywood Reporter
• Barton, Steve, Patreon Exclusive: Adam Green, Arwen, and Sid Haig Talk #SaveDreadCentral, December 21, 2016, January 4, 2017, January 6, 2017, dead
• Barton, Steve, Patreon Exclusive: Darren Lynn Bousman and Joe Knetter Talk #SaveDreadCentral, December 16, 2016, January 4, 2017, January 6, 2017, dead
• DreadCentral.com and VersusMedia Team Up to Find THE Best Independent Short Horror Films, Wells, Michael, 2007-08-17, 2013-11-26
• Open Call for Horror shorts!!, Walkuski, Eric, JoBlo.com, 2007-04-12, 2013-11-26
• Horror-Themed Charity Auction This Saturday, UGO, 2008-10-08, 2013-11-27, dead, 2013-12-03
• Go ghost-hunting (for real!) with Dread Central in San Diego, Fangoria, 2013-07-11, 2013-11-26, December 2, 2013, dead
• Are You Brave Enough to Open the Box of Dread?, Miller, Ryan, JoBlo.com, 2013-08-27, 2013-11-26
• Epic Pictures To Launch Dread Central Presents; Robert Galluzzo To Run It, Ramos, Dino-Ray, 2017-10-12, Deadline, 2018-06-16, en-US
• Introducing - Dread Central Presents! - Dread Central, www.dreadcentral.com, October 12, 2017, en-US, 2018-06-16
• Horror Films , , Epic Pictures, 2025-04-19, epic-pictures.com, en
• DREAD Podcast Network, 2023-03-21, Dread Central, en-US
• Condit, Jon, 2021-03-17, DEVELOPMENT HELL joins the DREAD Podcast Network New Episode Drops Next Week, 2023-03-21, Dread Central, en-US
• Chernov, Matthew, 2021-10-26, 12 Horror Movie Podcasts to Make You Scream, 2023-03-21, Variety, en-US
• Korngut, Josh, 2024-10-25, Tune into Halloween Terror with DARK SANCTUM from the DREAD Podcast Network, 2025-04-19, Dread Central, en-US
• Staff, Dread Central, 2023-10-02, Scarred For Life Joins The Dread Podcast Network, 2025-04-19, Dread Central, en-US
• Millican, Josh, 2021-06-23, GIRL, THAT'S SCARY Is Now Part of the DREAD Podcast Network!, 2023-03-21, Dread Central, en-US
• McAndrews, Mary Beth, 2022-06-13, 'Kim & Ket Stay Alive... Maybe' Celebrate Their 200th Episode With First-Ever Sammie Awards, 2023-03-21, Dread Central, en-US
• Millican, Josh, 2021-04-21, POST MORTEM WITH MICK GARRIS Is Now Part of DREAD Podcast Network!, 2023-03-21, Dread Central, en-US
• Millican, Josh, 2020-10-07, The Boulet Brothers' CREATURES OF THE NIGHT Acquired by Dread Central Podcast Network!, 2025-04-19, Dread Central, en-US
• Hentschke, Ted, 2019-08-30, Announcing DREAD XP - Gaming Content By Gamers For Gamers, 2023-01-09, Dread Central, en-US
• Beresford, Trilby, 2020-04-09, Epic Pictures to Launch Gaming Venture With Playable Horror-Themed Trailers (Exclusive), 2023-01-09, The Hollywood Reporter, en-US
• Dread X Collection, Dread XP, October 26, 2025, live, October 26, 2025
• Wood, Justin, 2024-01-18, New Year, New DreadXP, 2024-02-07, Dread Central, en-US
• Steam Publisher: DreadXP, 2025-04-19, store.steampowered.com, en

External links

• DreadXP website