Avsnitt
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Immaculate and The First Omen have similar settings (convents) and though the goal of the antagonists is quite opposing, we can’t deny that both films are on the cutting edge of culture, commenting on the religious patriarchy controlling women’s bodies.
Leave it to horror to always comment on culture and provide us with the perfect films to nourish our souls when we need it the most.
This episode may contain spoilers for
-Immaculate 2024
-The First Omen 2024
-Repulsion 1965
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Horror is definitely for weirdos, but is it really Weird (with a capital 'W')?
In this episode we look at the simultaneous resurgence of Weird fiction and how this has influenced and flavoured New Horror. Plus, we'll look at how this perfect pairing has brought new themes and a new depth to horror that's fit fior our times.
*there are no spoilers in this episode
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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The 1692 Salem Witch Trials may seem like ancient history but Alice Markham-Cantor, a researcher, author and descendant of an accused witch, is here to set us straight on the recipe (or perfect storm) for a modern-day witch hunt.
This is a very special close-to-Halloween episode where we learn about and celebrate one of the most iconic spooky archetypes: The Witch.
Alice’s book is The Once and Future Witch Hunt: A Descendant’s Reckoning from Salem to the Present
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Candy Corn isn't everyone's favourite Halloween candy and not everyone likes 4-hour long documentaries about the making of Rob Zombie films...
BUT in this episode we'll address both problems all while discovering a perfect Halloween slasher that you shouldn't overlook and a director bringing the feels to the horror creator community.
*This episode may contain spoilers for
31 (2019)
Candy Corn (2019)
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Why do '90s horror movies get such a bad rap?
In this listicle episode, I'm joined by Tim and Patrick Callaghan of The Film Bros Championship Podcast who help me break this question wiiiide open!
We each share our faves and our takes on how the decade fairs overall as a unique era for horror comedy and setting up for the new millenium!
*Spoilers abound in this episode and include (but are not limited to):
Misery (1990)
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Sleepwalkers (1992)
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The Craft (1996)
Scream (1996)
Tremors 2 (1996)
Event Horizon (1997)
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Bride of Chucky (1998)
Stigmata (1999)
Final Destination (2000)
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Are we living in a Bubblegum Dystopia?
Learn more about this term and common subgenre that is more common than you think. Stephen Notham gives us a deeper look into just exactly what fears and new nightmares this type of dystopia unlocks.
*This episode contains spoilers for
Fahrenheit 451 (novel 1953 & film 2018)
Zero Theorum (2013)
They Live (1988)
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I'm with actor David Hern who was involved in the spinoff series,Freddy’s Nightmares, among other horror finds like Summercamp Nightmare and Zombie Voodoo Scream Party.
In our conversation, David gives his insight on being a working actor and some healthy, practical advice for anyone looking to get into the business.
You can find out more about David and his take on being an actor in his book, How Not to Make it in Hollywood
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Hypnosis and the 'evil psychiatrist' is a horror movie trope of a storyline that goes ALL the way back to the very first horror film. So is this one of our deepest rooted fears?
In this episode a real life hypnotist gives her take on several hypnosis horror movies that really gave real hypnotherapists a hard time in the middle of last century.
We'll also look at how hypnosis is portrayed in modern horror and whether it's accurate or just a fun and powerful device to add to the idea of mind control and demon possession.
*This episode may contain spoilers for:
Late Night with the Devil (2023)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
The Hypnotic Eye (1960)
Horrors of the Black Museum (1960)
Suitable Flesh (2023)
Get Out (2018)
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Has the Pope seen The Exorcist? Is the Vatican watching horror movies? Well, my guest, Matt Rogerson, has all the answers in the episode and more in his upcoming book, The Vatican Versus Horror Movies.
While it may not be by the Pope, there are definitely horror movies being watched by a council of 'important' Vatican leaders all (allegedly) in the name of the safety of the community. You HAVE to hear this!
AND! Spooky Susan joins this episode for a special review of The Wasp Woman (1959)
*This episode may contain spoilers for:
The Exorcist (1973) But if you haven’t seen it, what are you even doing with your life?
The Wasp Woman (1959)
Il Demonio (1963)
Beatrice Cece (1969)
Immaculate (2024)
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In horror literature and film we see books do powerful things: open gateways, call forth otherworldly beings, maybe even bring back spirits from the dead!
Books, especially those with supernatural powers of their own, are everywhere in horror. In this episode we'll look at a few familiar ones a little more closely to see if there are any other messages or knowledge these texts within a text or film are trying to tell us, especially for our world where so many books are being questioned as too influential and..powerful...
*This episode may contain spoilers for:
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocus 2 (2021)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Nightmare on Elm Street 2 (1985)
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My guest, Ali Khamseh, is an expert in 1960s Hammer Horror in all its history, grit and modern influence.
Ali is a BIG fan of Christopher Lee so we talk a lot about the "mania" of Christopher Lee, his work with Tim Burton, how he felt about being Dracula and even playing his doppelganger, Rasputin, after meeting his killers. Whuuuh?!
This spooky season might have you searching back in time for more classic horror and this is a great place to start!
*How to find and follow Ali and his work:
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AK88Studios
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/AKhamseh88/
This episode may contain spoilers for the following:
The Devil Rides Out (1968)
Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)
Unforgiven (1992)
The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1996)
The Batman Vs Dracula (2005)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
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The Babadook's epic journey from an Australian film with stifled success to the separation of the Babadook monster who becomes a major global gay icon is a modern tale of how technology spreads information and even how modern cult classics are born.
What started as a Tumblr feud and a possible Netflix error is now part of queer horror lore. BUT WAIT - there's more!
What does director Jennifer Kent think of all this? Did she purposefully drop these notes of queerness in the film and the monster for us to find or is this all coincidence? Or are our queer lenses just coming on too strong?
You may not have thought there was even very much queer about the film on a first watch, but you'd be very much wrong... and the whole deep dive into the queer symbolism in this film is "fabulous".
This episode contains spoilers for:
The Babadook (2014) Directed by Jennifer Kent
Eclipse (1907) Directed by George Méliés
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Do you ever subject your houseguests to horror movies? I do - but only if they're already fans which is definitely my guest today - my friend, Doomsdave, who was visiting for a WHOLE WEEK - in my house - every day - watching horror with me!
In today's episode, we discuss 6 movies and the experience of watching together - looking at reactions, cheering for deaths and kills together and then having a chat about all the fun on a podcast...
We also somehow touch on creepy Christians, Satanic cults, how much modern dating sucks and the exact parameters for an evil pit to be effective.
This episode contains spoilers for:
Fresh (2022)- Directed by Mimi Cave
Werewolves Within (2021)- Directed by Josh Ruben
Late Night with the Devil (2023) - Directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes
Jugface (2013) - Directed by Chad Crawford Kinkle
Ready or Not (2019) - Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olphon and Tyler Gillet
Vamps (2012)- Directed by Amy Heckerling and starring...EVERYONE.
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Plants may be the new pets, but what do we actually know about these crafty characters we bring innocently into our homes and gardens?
And how do horror stories about carnivorous and poisonous plants remind us that we are all technically their food in the end? What horror really being unlocked in plant horror or, more formally, the 'monstrous vegetal'?
Let’s look at some Gothic stories and some modern movies that remind us that humanity’s control over the natural world is tenuous, and that everything we do that’s unnatural or against nature will have consequences.
This episode contains spoilers of :
Rappaccini’s Daughter (short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne) Carnivorene (short story by Lucy H. Hooper) The Ruins In the Tall Grass Little Shop of Horrors ..HUMANITY (yes, this is how we will all end up!) -
We love horror movies because they give us ALL the feels, right?
In one film, the whole spectrum of human emotion can be covered—from fear, repulsion, abjection, sorrow and even to humour. But how does this work and what are horror movies doing to us?!
In this episode we look to the parasympathetic response, (AKA 'Rest and Digest') to find out exactly how horror is luring us in by trading fear for happy hormones.
*This episode does not contain any spoilers
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Summer camp slasher movies might be keeping you company these days as us indoor cats avoid the heat.
And if you're sitting there in your sweaty tank, wondering why summer camps and camp killers are so popular in horror, this episode entertains a couple theories.
By way of Friday the 13th, The Burning and Sleepaway Camp (mostly) we look at the summer camp as a setting, a character itself and a metaphor for the liminality between adolescence and adulthood (#ahhhdulting!)
*Spoilers of Friday the 13th (1980) and Sleepaway Camp (1983)
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I watched some great Camp horror over the break (that's Camp with a capital 'C', not the kind about teens being slashed in the woods—the kind about being slashed in the woods and then singing about it in hotpants, just to be clear).
Camp horror and Cult Classic horror seem to go hand in hand at times but there IS a difference and we're going to get started with some experts like Susan Sontag to help us sort through it and talk about the films we love but some people really really hate!
*this episode is spoiler free!
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Kimberley Pinzon joins me to discuss her book, Final Girl Redux: A Relaxed Exploration of Women’s Place in Horror. And, as happens when two horror nerds get together, we go into a lot of other ideas and films as well.
Kimberly is especially wise in is how gender is portrayed in horror movies and she has new insights you may not have thought of before when it comes to final girls and the representation of all genders in horror films.
So get ready to see even your favourite movies in a new way!
*Somewhat Spoilers:
Get Out
Hereditary
Hostel
Behind the Mask
*Bonus material and show notes on patreon.com/spookyscholars
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Does your favourite horror movie pass the test? Maybe it does with you, but what if we're talking about representation and diversity in film (and we are!)
Tests like the Bechdel, Mako Mari and the Sexy Lamp test aim to call out lack of representation of race, gender (happy pride!) and disabilities so that we're not left with superficial and flat characters.
We want more from our horror, right?
Join me to see who will pass or fail miserably [HINT: it's not who you think!]
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Pink Horror is a fierce and expanding subgenre - but what is it exactly? Horror for girls? Rage horror? Feminists on their $#!* again?
Author Wendy Dalrymple is championing the genre with her work and support of the writers and film directors who are bringing women's issues to the forefront of horror and, even though you may not think so, it's something for everyone of every background and orientation to enjoy.
Wendy gives us more than a peek at pink horror with a robust starter pack of authors and films to add to our TBR and TBW lists.
In this episode Ashe is joined by Wendy Dalrymple @wendydalrymplewrites
- Visa fler
