Have we told you lately how much we admire the marketing magicians at Titan Caskets? Let us refresh your memory. First, they managed to gain the attention of what could be the world’s largest fanbase — the Swifties, a title claimed by more than 53% of Americans — when Taylor Swift popped out of one of their fabulous caskets in her Anti-Hero video. Next, Titan Caskets enlisted Oppenheimer star David Dastmalchian to serve as their brand ambassador, and his spots calling for Daylight Saving Time to be “buried” went viral.
Now, Titan Caskets is once again breaking new ground with their latest effort, “Grave Conversations,” a weekly talk show hosted by Dastmalchian, whose new horror flick Late Night With the Devil just hit theaters last month. The premise of the show, which launched last Wednesday on Instagram, is pure genius. Each episode features Dastmalchian interviewing a personality from the horror-movie genre — while both lie in Titan Caskets throughout the entire show. It’s edgy, unusual, and ultimately on-brand for Titan and Dastmalchian, who is quickly earning a reputation as a deathcare darling.
The “Grave Conversations” Instagram bio is deceptively self-deprecating: it’s “the only show where your favorite celebrities get to lie down. New episodes every Wednesday until we run out.” The show’s set is simple, featuring only the two caskets and a central table set with tea (in Titan mugs, of course), a flower, and an urn. Dastmalchian and his celebrity guests are primarily filmed from above, and, as they are lying prone in the caskets, their dialogue is not taking place face-to-face. It’s awkward, intriguing, and honestly, spot-on for the brand.
While there is plenty of death-related conversation, the dialogue is delightedly diverse and mostly lighthearted, which is exactly how we should all discuss our own deaths and end-of-life plans. Dastmalchian is the perfect host for this platform, pitching questions about everything and everyone from Jeffrey Epstein to wardrobe choices to each star’s “you-logy.”
Kate Siegel, star of Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher and Midnight Mass, is the show’s first guest. Her husband, Mike Flanagan, who directed Usher and Mass, is slated for Episode Two. Matthew Lillard, who recently appeared in Five Nights at Freddy’s, will appear in Episode Three.
“‘Grave Conversations’ is one of the best interviews, one of the top 15 strangest conversations with David Dastmalchian I’ve ever had,” Flanagan said in a press release. “Finally, my tendency to climb into open caskets was put to earnest and entertaining use.”
