Filmmaker Oren Peli took the horror world by storm back in 2009 with his micro-budgeted thriller Paranormal Activity, which took in over $190 million worldwide from just a meager $15,000 budget. It also spawned the sequels Paranormal Activity 2, Paranormal Activity 3, and the upcoming Paranormal Activity 4. He returns as a writer-producer with the horrific found footage tale Chernobyl Diaries, which hits theaters May 25.

The story is set in the abandoned Russian town of Prypriat, which was evacuated overnight after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the 1980s. The thriller follows a group of adventurous American friends who decide to visit this desolate city, only to discover that they are not alone. We were able to sit down with Oren Peli and director Brad Parker, who revealed their production wasn't even allowed to visit the real city of Prypriat. Take a look at our exclusive interviews.