Friday Night Frightfest

Black Cat and Two Evil Eyes

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are diving into the twisted world of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations filtered through the lens of Italian horror masters! We’re comparing two distinctly different takes on Poe’s works, both featuring the iconic killer feline: the atmospheric Giallo-tinged film The Black Cat (1981) from Lucio Fulci, and he anthology film Two Evil Eyes (1990), directed by Dario Argento and George A. Romero. The Black Cat (1981) Directed by the “Godfather of Gore,” Lucio Fulci, this film is a loose, Gothic interpretation of Poe’s famous short story. Set in a small English village, a psychic professor (Patrick Magee) with a penchant for recording the voices of the dead seems to share a malevolent connection with his black cat. As a series of gruesome, seemingly unrelated deaths plague the community, an American photographer (Mimsy Farmer) and a detective (David Warbeck) race to determine if the feline is truly a supernatural killer, or merely a vessel for the professor’s madness. The film is known for its moody atmosphere and surreal Fulci-esque touches. Two Evil Eyes (1990) This anthology film is a collaborative effort between two horror giants, George A. Romero and Dario Argento, with each directing a story based on Poe. * Romero’s Segment (“The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar”): This segment stars Adrienne Barbeau and E.G. Marshall and focuses on a dying, wealthy man who is hypnotized just before death so his consciousness can be preserved. However, the plan goes horribly wrong when his spirit remains trapped between worlds, leading to a chilling reanimation and the terrifying consequences of cheating death. * Argento’s Segment (“The Black Cat”): Starring Harvey Keitel, this segment is a stylized adaptation of “The Black Cat.” Keitel plays a crime scene photographer who descends into madness and violence after he resents and tortures his girlfriend’s pet feline. Argento uses hyper-stylized gore and nightmarish visuals to explore themes of perversity and artistic decay. Join us as we dissect these two distinct adaptations. Tune in for a double dose of Poe and Italian horror masters! Spoilers start around 7:30-ish.

Weapons and There's Something Wrong with the Children

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re facing a chilling truth: nothing is scarier than when the children are not alright. We’re exploring the horrific subgenre of “creepy kids” or “kids in danger” by comparing the multi-perspective horror epic Weapons (2025) from the director of Barbarian, and the recent Blumhouse chiller There’s Something Wrong with the Children (2023). Weapons (2025) Directed by Zach Cregger, Weapons is an ambitious, sprawling horror film that centers on a terrifying mystery in the small town of Maybrook, Pennsylvania. The plot follows the case of seventeen children from the same classroom who mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, all except one. The film explores the community’s frantic search for answers and the psychic disintegration of the adults as they grapple with the idea that the children themselves may be the source of the terror, linking themes of social collapse and supernatural dread. There’s Something Wrong with the Children (2023) Directed by Roxanne Benjamin, this film is a more contained take on the corrupted child trope. When two couples take a weekend trip to a remote woodland cabin, one couple’s two young children mysteriously disappear into the woods overnight near a strange set of ruins. When the kids return, Ben (Zach Gilford) begins to suspect something supernatural has possessed them, but his friends dismiss his concerns as mental health issues. The film uses the isolation of the cabin and the paranoia within the adult group to amplify the sinister horror of the changed children. Join us as we look at these two distinct approaches to corrupted innocence. Which film offers the most chilling vision of childhood twisted into an instrument of fear? Tune in to find out! Spoilers start around 5:50

WNUF Halloween Special and Ghostwatch

Happy early Halloween!! This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re stepping back in time and into your television screen to explore the scariest subgenre of horror: the fake live broadcast! We’re comparing two films that blur the lines between reality and terror: the American analog horror cult classic WNUF Halloween Special (2013) and the infamous, nation-terrifying British pseudo-documentary Ghostwatch (1992). WNUF Halloween Special (2013) Directed by Chris LaMartina, this film is presented as a salvaged VHS recording of a local TV station’s 1987 Halloween night special. A cynical reporter, Frank Stewart, takes a camera crew and a pair of paranormal investigators (a clear nod to Ed and Lorraine Warren) into the notoriously haunted Webber House for a live, televised séance. The film’s genius lies in its meticulously accurate recreation of late-80s local TV, complete with delightfully cheesy commercials and news breaks that build a deeply nostalgic and unsettling atmosphere before the ritual goes catastrophically wrong. Ghostwatch (1992) Written by Stephen Volk and broadcast “live” on BBC on Halloween night, 1992, Ghostwatch caused a national panic in the UK. Presented as a genuine BBC investigation into a haunted London council house, the film utilized popular, trusted presenters (like Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene, playing themselves) and real-time camerawork to convince millions of viewers they were watching a true, terrifying paranormal event unfold. It is a masterpiece of deception, using the power of the medium itself to bring the demonic entity, “Pipes,” right into the viewers’ living rooms. Join us as we look at the art of the fake live broadcast. We’ll explore how Ghostwatch weaponized the audience’s trust in mainstream media and how WNUF achieved its scares through lo-fi nostalgia and world-building. If you enjoy horror that makes you question what you’re seeing on your screen, this is the episode for you! Spoilers start around 5:06

The Conjuring: Last Rites and The Haunted

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re tackling a horrifying real-life case that has inspired decades of terror! We are bringing our extensive deep dive into the Conjuring Universe to a chilling conclusion by comparing the final main installment of the cinematic saga, The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025), with an older, made-for-TV movie based on the very same haunting: The Haunted (1991). The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) Directed by Michael Chaves, The Conjuring: Last Rites is set to be the final chapter featuring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Based on the infamous Smurl haunting case from Pennsylvania, the film chronicles what is considered the Warrens’ final significant case, where a seemingly quiet family home becomes the epicenter of a relentless supernatural siege. This installment promises a blend of atmospheric horror, high-stakes investigation, and an emotional farewell to the iconic investigators. The Haunted (1991) Directed by Robert Mandel, The Haunted is a chilling made-for-television film that also dramatizes the Smurl family’s ordeal. This cult classic stars Sally Kirkland and Jeffrey DeMunn as the afflicted couple (Janet and Jack Smurl), with Stephen Markle and Diane Baker portraying the Warrens. Released decades before the Conjuring universe began, this film delivers a gritty, faith-driven, and often surprisingly graphic portrayal of the long-term, devastating effects of demonic infestation on a family. Join us as we analyze two radically different cinematic interpretations of the same real-life paranormal case. And with this episode, we officially conclude our comprehensive journey through the entire Conjuring Universe film series! Thank you for joining us for every demonic possession, haunted doll, and terrifying nun. Spoilers start around 5:26.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made me Do it and The Nun II

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re continuing our journey through the chilling Warrenverse, exploring instances where demonic influence takes center stage. We’ll be comparing The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), which delves into a real-life murder trial with a supernatural defense, against the direct demonic confrontation of The Nun II (2023). Get ready for legal scares and unholy terrors! The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) Directed by Michael Chaves, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It takes a darker and more grounded approach, inspired by the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who claimed demonic possession as his defense for murder. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate this unsettling case, uncovering a malevolent force that ties back to a hidden occult group. This installment explores the blurred lines between human culpability and supernatural influence. The Nun II (2023) Directed by Michael Chaves (again!), The Nun II serves as a direct sequel to the 2018 film, continuing the terrifying saga of the demonic nun Valak. Set in 1956 France, the film follows Sister Irene as she once again confronts the malevolent entity, which is now causing chaos and death in a seemingly ordinary boarding school. This chapter promises more direct supernatural horror and a deeper dive into Valak’s dark powers and origins. Join us as we dissect these two entries in the Conjuring Universe. How do these films further expand the Warrens’ documented cases and the mythology of the evil forces they faced? Tune in to explore the devil’s influence and the power of faith against darkness! Spoilers start around 5:15