The Lesser Dead

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 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.  The Lesser Dead also stars Danny Huston and Saul Rubinek. It is written by Christopher Buehlman who is also an Executive Producer with Mark Stern, Joshua D Maurer, Minnie Driver and Jack Kilmer. Dan Blank is the director. It was produced by SALT Audio.

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 Wondery+. You can listen exclusively by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.