Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast

21. The Descent (2005)

Another returning guest Bree Tighe joins me to discuss her favorite horror movie and a movie she showed me a decade ago, The Descent (2005). We discuss going spelunking while hungover and jetlagged (couldn’t be us), our experience with caves (very little), if we like Juno (yeah, we do) and the UK ending (aka the only ending worth watching). Plus some tangents about behind the scenes, watching library DVD’s, and a crawler’s family tree. Also, we recorded a bunch of scary stories –including one about a haunted clothes hanger– and then it all deleted mysteriously so, let me know if you want a bonus episode telling our true scary stories!! Find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/notscaredpodcast?utm_source=qr] or email me at chloesnotscared@gmail.com [chloesnotscared@gmail.com]. 00:00-14:00- Intro / Bree’s Horror History / How We First Saw The Descent 14:00- 42:00- Brief Synopsis / Nature is Scary / Characters including Crawlers 42:00-55:00- Behind the Scenes / Fight Scenes / Ending 55:00-01:18:00- Sequels / Double Features / Outro Please note, timestamps are estimates. References: * Beneath the Scenes Featurette [https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=IHjV3VaHhbaIzSKO&v=gqx5snAahzA&feature=youtu.be] (Bree mentioned) * Cinephilia Beyond [https://cinephiliabeyond.org/descent/]- “Neil Marshall’s The Descent at 20” * Final Scene [https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=qPI6VyF1EEhe7hdL&v=62Pl3xaxttQ&feature=youtu.be] (the UK version) * House of Ashes [https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/1281590/] game (Bree mentioned) * Into the maelstrom [https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-descent-2006]- Roger Ebert Review- August 3, 2006 (Chloe mentioned) * The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-girl-who-loved-tom-gordon-stephen-king/6c55185ae26a7e17?ean=9781501157516&next=t] by Stephen King (Chloe mentioned) * Bree & I also talked about Rose Red last year (listen here [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/p/2-rose-red-2002]) Find Us: * Find Bree watching horror movies at my house. * Follow Chloe’s Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/chlobot/]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chloesnotscared/]. * Find other great film pods on the Now Playing Network [https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/]. The clips used in this episode is from The Descent (2005) trailer and film, used for educational purposes. Listen to “Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast” on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-scared-a-horror-movie-podcast/id1832623186], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VichqN4PZEhjwTfY2srtw?si=c25fdac31a594c86], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to get new reviews and special features, please subscribe to my Substack [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/podcast]. Thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

20. The Birds (1963)

Good evening. I have a returning [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/p/3-suspiria-2018] guest here, my friend and fellow film enthusiast Matt Epp, to talk about the iconic Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds (1963). We discuss our favorite Hitch films, the ahead-of-its-time special effects, how Tippi is a legend and deserved better, the virality of Risselty Rosselty, the uselessness of Mitch, and a Bodega Bay birthday trip. Plus, a discussion of new movies coming out at the time of recording, how trailers nowadays show all the scares, and sneaking horror films onto the “big” home screen when our respective partners are asleep. This is one of my favorite movies so you know it’s gonna be a great episode! 00:00-28:00- Intro / IFF Boston Recap / Matt’s Horror (and Hitch) History / How We First Saw The Birds 28:00-54:00- Brief Synopsis / Script / Characters (mostly Melanie, Lydia, & Annie) 54:00-01:07:00- Building Tension / Special Effects 01:07:00-01:25:00- Short Story / Sequels / Double Feature Ideas / Score / Outro Please note, timestamps are estimates. References: * Alfred Hitchcock: The Complete Films [https://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Hitchcock-Complete-Paul-Duncan/dp/3836566842] ed. by Paul Duncan (mentioned by Chloe) * All About the Birds [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf4pUr5FOrE] documentary (in part on YouTube) * Daphne DuMaurier’s The Birds [https://mrnsmith.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/the-birds-by-daphne-du-maurier.pdf] (short story) * Dial P for Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dial-p-for-podcast-1-the-pleasure-garden-the-lodger/id414288912?i=1000747440957] on Director’s Club (Patrick Ripoll [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/p/14-carnival-of-souls-1962]’s podcast) * Evolution of Horror episode [https://www.evolutionofhorror.com/nature-pt-19] from Nature Bites Back series (Roar & Grizzly Man) * Horror Queers Podcast (episode about [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-birds-1963/id1449041559?i=1000727157512]The Birds [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-birds-1963/id1449041559?i=1000727157512]) * Joe Dante/ John Carpenter in a documentary [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13887458/]about The Birds (mentioned by Matt, on his DVD) * Read Chloe’s piece in 5 Years [https://5years.beehiiv.com/p/chloe]about The Birds * Sequel to The Birds [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birds_II:_Land%27s_End] and The Birdemic Trilogy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdemic:_Shock_and_Terror] * Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCxR7dlavwg]for The Birds (1963) * Trautonium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trautonium] (early synthesizer used in The Birds) Matt and I talked about Hooptober back in 2025 (listen here [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/p/mini-ep-hooptober-2025]) and we also talked about Suspiria with the wonderful Jenni Schofield last summer (listen here [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/p/3-suspiria-2018]). Find Us: * Follow Matt on Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/iammattepp/]and visit Independent Film Festival Boston [https://iffboston.org/]. * Follow Chloe’s Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/chlobot/]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chloesnotscared/]. * Find other great film pods on the Now Playing Network [https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/]. The sound and clips used in this episode is from The Birds (1963) trailer and film, used for educational purposes. Listen to “Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast” on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-scared-a-horror-movie-podcast/id1832623186], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VichqN4PZEhjwTfY2srtw?si=c25fdac31a594c86], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to get new reviews and special features, please subscribe to my Substack [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/podcast]. Thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

19. El Orfanato aka The Orphanage (2007)

This episode is for the bookstagrammers! We have a booksta legend here today: Brittany aka Bookish Millennial [https://www.instagram.com/bookish.millennial/], co-creator of The Diverse Baseline [https://thediversebaseline.carrd.co/] challenge. On the podcast, Brittany and I discuss the excellent movie that traumatized us as teens back in 2007, J.A. Bayona’s El Orfanato or The Orphanage. We discuss how we both were duped by marketing for this film, how you should trust your wives and children (because they’re people with feelings, what a concept, I know!), how nail trauma is worse than teeth in horror, and why you must ask your kid to draw their imaginary friends. We also discuss a record amount of readalike and watchalikes for this one, so be sure to listen to the end! Please note that child death is a major plot point in The Orphanage (2007) so we do talk about child death throughout. 00:00-18:00- Intro / How Brittany Got Into Horror / How We First Saw The Orphanage 18:00- 32:00- Brief Synopsis / The Haunted House Genre 32:00-56:00- Scariest Scenes (The Games, Bathroom, Medium) / The Devastating Ending 56:00-01:22:00- Double Feature Ideas / Readalikes / Outro Please note, timestamps are estimates. References/Books Mentioned: * The Orphanage- DVD Special Features [https://www.orbitdvd.com/products/the-orphanage-limited-hardbox-edition-region-free?srsltid=AfmBOormqJHfc9-AM6F0dzfP55wFH5lXIwyKzv-DoHX0AofBn5JCgiFa] * My Darling Dreadful Thing [https://bookshop.org/p/books/my-darling-dreadful-thing-johanna-van-veen/f8db3f6f95b7b138?ean=9781728281544&next=t] by Johanna van Veen (Brittany mentioned) * Incidents Around the House [https://bookshop.org/p/books/incidents-around-the-house-a-novel-josh-malerman/56999345a631ef94] by Josh Malerman (Chloe mentioned) * Let Them In [https://bookshop.org/p/books/let-him-in-william-friend/297c0a66d6fe446a?ean=9781728295138&next=t] by William Friend (Brittany mentioned) * Out There Screaming [https://bookshop.org/p/books/out-there-screaming-an-anthology-of-new-black-horror-jordan-peele/614596005d02a8c9] (anthology mentioned by Chloe mentioned) * On the Calculation of Volume I [https://bookshop.org/p/books/on-the-calculation-of-volume-book-i-shortlisted-for-the-2025-international-booker-prize-solvej-balle/39837e132ef254c6] by Solvej Balle (Chloe mentioned, time loop) * Such Lovely Skin [https://bookshop.org/p/books/such-lovely-skin-tatiana-schlote-bonne/9be65265ed06994f] by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne (Brittany mentioned) * This Cursed House [https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-cursed-house-del-sandeen/4a64484552d9a1ef?ean=9780593639542&next=t] by Del Sandeen (Brittany mentioned) * The Salvage [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-salvage-a-novel-anbara-salam/7f61a4df3d8ebf87?ean=9781963108477&next=t] by Anbara Salam (Chloe mentioned for main character similarities only) * Lupita Nyong’o and her cat [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lupita-nyongo-cat-a-quiet-place-day-one-1235914382/] (Hollywood Reporter, June 4, 2024) Find Us: * Follow Brittany on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bookish.millennial/] and read along with The Diverse Baseline [https://thediversebaseline.carrd.co/] on Storygraph [https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/c6cf0a77-77bf-493d-be2b-1ffd37c69638]. * Follow Chloe’s Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/chlobot/]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chloesnotscared/]. * Find other great film pods on the Now Playing Network [https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/]. The sound and clips used in this episode is from The Orphanage (2007) trailer and film, used for educational purposes. Listen to “Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast” on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-scared-a-horror-movie-podcast/id1832623186], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VichqN4PZEhjwTfY2srtw?si=c25fdac31a594c86], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to get new reviews and special features, please subscribe to my Substack [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/podcast]. Thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

BONUS: 2026 Movie Trailer Watchalong

No guest this week because I’m on spring break! So let’s watch some horror movie trailers! In this episode, I watch 2026 horror movie trailers and comment on them, so you can queue up and watch along with me (I also describe them so you can also just listen, if you prefer). Lee Cronin’s The Mummy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ0uv-phsDk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ0uv-phsDk] Hokum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAmcbX_B6kU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAmcbX_B6kU] Scary Movie 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Hv7fxjqr4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Hv7fxjqr4] Backrooms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKGhxMi50y8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKGhxMi50y8] Obsession: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMC8kkwbIQQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMC8kkwbIQQ] Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdrOjjByVMA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdrOjjByVMA] Mother Mary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATGaqU6Srcc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATGaqU6Srcc] Exit 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fIaG1RjWMU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fIaG1RjWMU] Disclosure Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCPhAydaRBc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCPhAydaRBc] The release dates are US-based and could change. What new horror movies are you most excited about? See you in a few weeks with a fabulous guest who you may recognize! Find Me: * Follow Chloe’s Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/chlobot/]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chloesnotscared/]. * Find other great film pods on the Now Playing Network [https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/]. Listen to “Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast” on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-scared-a-horror-movie-podcast/id1832623186], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VichqN4PZEhjwTfY2srtw?si=c25fdac31a594c86], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to get new reviews and special features, please subscribe to my Substack [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/podcast]. Thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

18. Poltergeist (1982)

We have another horror author on the pod today! Please welcome Kathleen Palm, author of The Nowhere Series [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXS9G3TL?binding=paperback&qid=1770756064&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk] (amongst other short stories and fiction), as we chat about an essential gateway horror for us both, Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist (1982). Kathy takes us on a journey to the drive-in and we discuss all things ghost hunting, clowns, trees, screaming skulls and special effects. But at the center of this story is family, so we also discuss our awesome horror-loving dads and sharing horror with our family and friends! If you watch before you listen, please note that Poltergeist (1982) contains heavy strobe lights. 00:00-19:00- Intro / How Kathy Got Into Horror / How We First Saw Poltergeist / Our Own Paranormal Investigations 19:00-36:00- Brief Synopsis / Domestic Horror Elements 36:00-50:00- Paranormal Investigation Elements / Special Effects 50:00-01:07:00- Ending(s) / Sequels & Remakes / Score / Reception 01:07:00-01:19:30- Showing Your Kids Poltergeist / Double Feature Ideas / Outro Please note, timestamps are estimates. References: * Granger House Museum [https://grangerhouse.org/] (where Chloe went ghost hunting) * Horror Writers Association- Chicagoland Chapter [https://hwachicago.org/] (where we met!) * The Little Girl Lost [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734585/] S3E26 (1962)- Twilight Zone episode * Poltergeist [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11574116/]- S1E2 (2020)- Cursed Films episode * Scariest Places on Earth [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scariest_Places_on_Earth] (paranormal reality show from the early 2000’s in which Zelda Rubinstein does the voiceover) * Snopes [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/were-real-skeletons-used-in-the-making-of-poltergeist/]on Poltergeist using real skeletons Find Us: * Follow Kathy on her website [https://kathleenpalm.wordpress.com/]and buy The Nowhere Series [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXS9G3TL?binding=paperback&qid=1770756064&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk]. * Follow Chloe’s Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/chlobot/]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chloesnotscared/]. * Find other great film pods on the Now Playing Network [https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/]. The sound and music used in this episode is from Poltergeist (1982) trailer, film and soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith, used for educational purposes. Listen to “Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast” on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-scared-a-horror-movie-podcast/id1832623186], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3VichqN4PZEhjwTfY2srtw?si=c25fdac31a594c86], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to get new reviews and special features, please subscribe to my Substack [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/podcast]. Thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe [https://chloesnotscared.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]