Home / Arts and Entertainment / Bill Hader Trades Comedy for Horror: Directs First Feature
Bill Hader Trades Comedy for Horror: Directs First Feature
17 Oct
Summary
- Bill Hader makes directorial debut with horror film 'They Know'.
- The film stars Hader as a father suspecting his ex-wife's new partner.
- Hader's inspiration for the plot stemmed from personal divorce conversations.
After years in comedy, Bill Hader has directed his first feature film, the horror movie 'They Know.' Hader also stars in the film as a divorced father who grows concerned about his ex-wife's new partner's influence on their children. The premise originated from personal conversations between Hader and his writing partner about potential negative scenarios following divorce.
The film, produced by MRC, wrapped photography in May and is currently in post-production. Hader, known for his roles on 'Saturday Night Live' and his acclaimed series 'Barry,' embraced the horror genre for his directorial debut. He admitted to experiencing self-doubt, a feeling he carried from his sketch comedy days, but viewed it as a necessary motivator.
Hader drew inspiration from unexpected sources, including Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 2025 film 'Cloud,' which helped him find the right direction for 'They Know.' He emphasized the importance of embracing mistakes and working through uncertainty during the filmmaking process. The IndieWire Future of Filmmaking 2026 Summit also featured presentations by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
