The Lesser Dead

The Lesser Dead

THE LESSER DEAD is an immersive audio drama about a disparate group of vampires living in the wild-and-wooly world of 1978 New York City. Our narrator Joey Peacock (Jack Kilmer) — an irreverent, eternally-young 19-year-old — introduces us to his unconventional family and its formidable leader, Margaret McMannis (Minnie Driver), who has built a home for all of them under the subways of the city. Margaret’s strict rules have kept them safe and secure for decades... Until one night when Joey's discovery of three little kid vampires turns their world upside-down forever. Cast: Jack Kilmer, Minnie Driver, Danny Huston, Saul Rubinek Written by: Christopher Buehlman Series created by: Christopher Buehlman based on his book “The Lesser Dead" Director: Dan Blank Executive producers: Mark Stern, Joshua D Maurer, Christopher Buehlman, Minnie Driver, Jack Kilmer Producer: Alixandre Witlin Original Audio Production, Music and Sound Design by SALT Executive Produced for SALT by Noah Gersh, Jamie Schefman, Nick Panama and Kenzi Wilbur Original music and composition by: Benjamin Sturley

Episodes

THE LESSER DEAD - TRAILER

March 20, 2023 • 1 min
THE LESSER DEAD is an 8 x 30-minute immersive audio drama about a disparate group of vampires living in the wild-and-wooly world of 1978 New York City.  Our narrator Joey Peacock (Jack Kilmer) — an irreverent, eternally-young 19-year-old — introduces us to his unconventional family and its formidable leader, Margaret McMannis (Minnie Driver), who has built a home for all of them under the subways of the city. Margaret’s strict rule...
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Dark City - Season 1 - Episode 1

March 27, 2023 • 28 mins
For Joey Peacock (Jack Kilmer), life as a vampire in 1978 New York City isn’t half bad. He lives in the tunnels of the city with his unconventional family led by the fearsome Margaret McMannis (Minnie Driver) and spends his evenings reveling in the abundant pleasures the city has to offer. That is until one night, when Joey witnesses something on a routine subway ride that turns his world upside-down. Follow The Lesser Dead on Won...
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The Moth - Season 1 - Episode 2

June 5, 2023 • 29 mins
After being scolded by Margaret for not following the vampire children and trying to find their “sick in the head” Maker, Joey enlists the help of his girlfriend Neva and her Spanish Harlem “family,” the Corazones Frios. They search the night-time city for the rogue vampire and make a terrible early-morning discovery in Chinatown.
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Castle Gone Red - Season 1 - Episode 3

June 5, 2023 • 36 mins
Margaret calls a “family” meeting to discuss the horrific events of the previous night. The deadly exploits of the rogue vampire are putting them all in danger. He must be found and stopped before it’s too late. Joey visits Studio 54 and has a run-in with a powerful old vampire before he and Cvetko (Saul Rubinek) find a surprising clue in Central Park.
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Stains - Season 1 - Episode 4

June 5, 2023 • 22 mins
We learn more about Joey and Margaret’s complicated history together. The little vampire kids are afraid to reveal their Maker to Margaret, so she tasks Joey and Cvetko with coaxing the information out of them. After a “meal” at the Bakers and a field trip to “Star Wars”, they finally name the culprit, and it’s worse than Joey could have imagined. 
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The Hessian - Season 1 - Episode 5

June 5, 2023 • 27 mins
The discovery of the kids’ Maker forces Margaret to confront the dangerous vampire, and her own contentious personal connection with him. The debate over what to do next is decided when the kids reveal a surprise vulnerability in his seemingly impregnable stronghold and Margaret hatches a plan to solve their problem for good.
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Rasputin - Season 1 - Episode 6

June 5, 2023 • 23 mins
Margaret puts her plan in action against a dangerous foe. We discover the dark secret at the heart of Margaret and Joey’s history together. Joey goes uptown to feed on the Bakers and makes a shocking discovery with deadly consequences.
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A Throne Room In Hell - Season 1 - Episode 7

June 5, 2023 • 30 mins
Reeling from the unexpected events at the Bakers’, Joey uncovers the terrible truth behind everything they’ve been experiencing. With Neva’s help, he races downtown to try and save Margaret and the rest of his family before it’s too late.
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The God Of Small Places - Season 1 Finale - Episode 8

June 5, 2023 • 42 mins
Season Finale. In the aftermath of a major battle, Joey is chased through the urban jungle of New York by a relentless and unthinkable enemy. As the walls close in, the decisions he makes will affect him and those he loves forever.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - Behind the Scenes

August 1, 2023 • 3 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - Minnie Driver as Margaret and Exploring the Loops

August 1, 2023 • 5 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, we hear from Minnie Driver about her role as Margaret McMannis. We’ll also explore one of the most prominent locations in the series, “The Loops” of NYC. 
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - It’s All About Family

August 1, 2023 • 8 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, the team discusses the theme of family and how it shapes the series.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - Bringing the World to Life

August 1, 2023 • 5 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, we explore how the lush locations and characters of The Lesser Dead’s unique setting brought the world to life.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - Vampire Kids!

August 1, 2023 • 3 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, we focus on the show’s adorably creepy vampire children.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - Danny Huston as The Hessian

August 1, 2023 • 4 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, we explore the character of The Hessian, played by Danny Huston.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - Confronting the Past

August 1, 2023 • 7 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, the team discusses the importance of each character's past and how it informs their stories. We also hear from the show’s composer, Benjamin Sturley.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - Twists, Turns, and Soundscapes

August 1, 2023 • 5 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, writer Chris Buehlman discusses how he crafted the show’s big reveal. The rich soundscape created for the season's penultimate episode is also analyzed.
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The Lesser Dead - Bonus Episode - The End?

August 1, 2023 • 3 mins
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Lesser Dead, featuring the team of directors, producers, and writers who helped create the series. In this episode, the team offers their thoughts on the season’s conclusion.
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