Ted Geoghegan
A horror director who swapped the New York publicity grindstone for crafting atmospheric, character-driven genre films that feel both classic and fresh.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American director·Birthday: August 10·Generation X
Biography
Ted Geoghegan cut his teeth not in film school but in the trenches of New York City's publicity world, working for years to promote other people's movies. That behind-the-scenes hustle informed his own creative path, leading him to write and direct films that prioritize mood and story over cheap scares. His feature debut, 'We Are Still Here,' became a word-of-mouth sensation, reimagining the haunted house tale through a lens of grief and New England folklore. He followed it with 'Mohawk,' a tense historical thriller that used the War of 1812 as a backdrop for a relentless chase, proving his ability to weave social commentary into gripping genre frameworks. Based in Brooklyn, Geoghegan represents a self-made breed of filmmaker whose deep love for cinematic history is matched by a distinctly modern, independent voice.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ted was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ted Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Ted's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote and directed the critically praised supernatural horror film 'We Are Still Here,' which became a cult hit after its 2015 release.
- Directed and co-wrote 'Mohawk,' a unique horror-thriller set during the War of 1812, noted for its historical setting and tense narrative.
- Built a successful parallel career as a film publicist and marketing consultant for major genre films and home video releases.
Did You Know?
He is an avid historian of American horror comics, particularly EC Comics from the 1950s.
Before filmmaking, he worked extensively in home video publicity for companies like Blue Underground.
He contributed audio commentary tracks for Blu-ray releases of classic horror films like 'The House by the Cemetery.'
“I make horror films about people, not about monsters.”
