Horror Joy

As an anticipation of our episode out on Monday (12/16), Brian reads "The Kit-Bag" by Algernon Blackwood. "The Kit-Bag," originally published in 1908 by Pall Mall Magazine, tells the story of Johnson, a young man preparing to go on a Christmas vacation after helping to successfully defend a particularly gruesome murder case. Alone in his apartment, Johnson begins to experience strange noises and visions. Is it his drunk lodger bringing in the mail? Is it another tenant of the building? Or is it a sinister figure invading his home via his borrowed suitcase (the titular kit-bag). Like an perverse telling of Santa Claus, listen to "The Kit-Bag" find out what's haunting Johnson and whether or not he ever makes it to his promised vacation.

Episode Timeline **2:12-40:42 – StokerVerse and Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Chris McAuley **40:42-58:26 – Salem’s Lot **58:27-end – Midnight Mass   From the gothic castles of Transylvania to the sleepy towns of Maine, vampires have captivated our imaginations for centuries. In this episode of Horror Joy, we'll explore the evolution of the vampire mythos, from Bram Stoker's iconic Dracula to modern interpretations like Salem's Lot and Midnight Mass. We'll discuss: * The Vampire's Enduring Appeal: Why this ancient creature continues to fascinate us. * Dracula's Dark Legacy: The cultural impact of Stoker's masterpiece and its influence on subsequent vampire stories. * Small-Town Horror: How Salem's Lot reimagines the vampire myth for a suburban American setting. * Faith, Fear, and the Undead: The religious undertones of Midnight Mass and its exploration of community and belief. Join us as we explore the creaking coffins of vampiric narratives. Make sure to bring along your best silver and your favorite stake. But keep an eye on the horizon, lest we let the sun go down before we’re done. StokerVerse [https://dark-universes.com/stokerverse] Jacques Lacan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Lacan] Virtue Ethics [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/] Dracula and colonialism [https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203104637-18/vampires-technology-racism-brian-onishi] The Dark Tower Series [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(series)]  It [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_(novel)] Stephen King [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King] Bram Stoker [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stoker] Dracula [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula] Midnight Mass [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Mass_(miniseries)]

In this episode of Horror Joy, we're venturing into the cold, dark depths of space to explore Ridley Scott's iconic sci-fi horror masterpiece, Alien. We'll delve into the film's terrifying themes, including: * The Alien as the Ultimate Other: How the alien creature embodies our fears of the unknown and the uncanny. * Body Horror and the Violation of the Human Form: The film's disturbing exploration of birth, death, and the body. * Corporate Greed and Existential Threat: The role of capitalism and technology in creating the conditions for the alien's emergence. * The Heroine's Journey: Ripley's evolution from a resourceful crew member to a hardened warrior. So, buckle up and prepare for a terrifying journey. Just remember, in space, no one can hear you scream. Elaine Graham Post/Human [https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/representations-of-the-posthuman/9780813530598/] Raymond Williams [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Williams] Frederick Jameson [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredric_Jameson] Julia Kristeva, Abjection [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abjection] Horror in Space: Critical Essays on a Film Subgenre by edited by Michele Brittany [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/horror-in-space/?srsltid=AfmBOoob6lPytMcrJKwlr6xlJr8MRYIPD6iDlgMJSAWpCwoN0E8_5nGQ]

Sometimes, the most terrifying monsters aren't lurking in the shadows, but in the very heart of our world. In this episode of Horror Joy, we delve into the eerie world of folk horror, where ancient myths and environmental fears intertwine. We'll explore: * The Appalachian Nightmare: How the exploitation of the Appalachian landscape has given rise to terrifying folklore and real-world consequences. * The Blair Witch Project: The unsettling power of place and the psychological terror of the woods. * Old Gods of Appalachia: The ancient evil lurking beneath the surface of the Kentucky hills. Join us as we trek through these haunted landscapes and confront the monsters that dwell within.   Christian Nationalism 2 [https://redcircle.com/shows/97996083-5fe9-41d5-824e-f069a412ed76/episodes/d5a37876-8700-4d9c-9073-ba4a80bb6eb6] Old Gods of Appalachia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods] American Gods by Neil Gaiman [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods] Folk Horror – New Global Pathways edited by Dawn Keetley and Ruth Heholt [https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/F/bo196814069.html] Coal Stories by Embedded Podcast [https://www.npr.org/transcripts/607943031] Frogman [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21377766/] The Last Broadcast [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122143/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1] Cannibal Holocaust [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibal_Holocaust]

Join us as we plunge into the shadowy world of Haddonfield, Illinois. In this special episode of Horror Joy, Jeff and Brian dissect John Carpenter's iconic 1978 slasher film, Halloween. We'll explore: * The Shape's Morality: Is Michael Myers a terrifying villain or a moral compass? * Beyond the Mask: Can we find a more subversive reading of this classic horror film? * The Rules of the Slasher: How Halloween established the blueprint for countless horror films to follow. * The Psychology of Fear: Unraveling the psychological underpinnings of the film's enduring terror. So, lock the doors, grab your sharpest knitting needles, and join us as we explore one of horror’s most enduring masterpieces. But be careful, we can’t all be the final girl.          Emmanuel Levinas [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/levinas/] The Thing from Another World (1951) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_from_Another_World] You’re Next directed by Adam Wingard [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853739/] Scream Franchise [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream_(franchise)] My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Heart_Is_a_Chainsaw] Psyche as soul [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_(psychology)]