Wicked Words Book + Film Club Podcast

THE FILM | Ringu (1998); The Ring (2002)

We are exhausted from all of the many adaptations of Ring by Koji Suzuki. Join us in a cold, dark well to discuss the Japanese film Ringu (1998) and the American version, The Ring (2002). BUT FIRST... This month's Aardvark Book Club book box was a stunner. We picked up Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward, After the Fall by Edward Ashton, and Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman! Get YOUR Aardvark Book Club subscription with promo code: STAYWICKED! In Greg's Bonus Film Reel, Greg gives his thoughts on the latest film in the Predator franchise, Predator Badlands. In Sara's Bonus Book Shelf, we discuss the out-of-this-world gonzo dreamlike thriller fable, The Hike by Drew Magary. Join us. Join the Discord [https://discord.gg/J5DF983yMg]. Check us out on Substack at areyouwicked.substack.com [https://areyouwicked.substack.com]! AARDVARK BOOK CLUB: Use our promo code: STAYWICKED to buy your first book for only $4 (+ free shipping!) and join the club! Note: This promotion is available to US residents only at this time and only new members are eligible to use this code at checkout (1 usage per household). Join us on Patreon [patreon.com/areyouwicked]. Join us on Discord [https://discord.gg/J5DF983yMg].

THE BOOK | Ring by Koji Suzuki

Pop that VHS in and, in true Asakawa style, casually coast through 7 days to stumble upward with us while we discuss Ring by Koji Suzuki. We won't spoil it for you, or at least, we'll warn you before we do. BUT FIRST... We announced our new Wicked Words Book It Challenge! Read along with us and engage with us on the Discord [https://discord.gg/J5DF983yMg] for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Pizza Hut at the end of the year! In Greg's Bonus Film Reel we discuss the rest of season two of the television series Fallout. In Sara's Bonus Book Shelf, we discuss the slow-burning cult thriller Make Me Better by Sarah Gailey and the deliciously fucked up Hollywood revenge thriller Cruelty Free by Caroline Glenn. Join us. Join the Discord [https://discord.gg/J5DF983yMg]. Join the Patreon [Patreon.com/AreYouWicked]. Check us out on Substack at areyouwicked.substack.com [https://areyouwicked.substack.com]! AARDVARK BOOK CLUB: Use our promo code: STAYWICKED to buy your first book for only $4 (+ free shipping!) and join the club! Note: This promotion is available to US residents only at this time and only new members are eligible to use this code at checkout (1 usage per household).

THE FILM | Foe (2023)

On this episode, instead of heaping effusive praise on the novel as they did last episode, Sara and Greg have a very different discussion of the film adaptation, Foe (2023). BUT FIRST... In this month's Aardvark Book Club box, Sara got the following books: Adrift by Will Dean, The Pretender by Jo Harkin, and Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer (a signed copy!). Greg's Bonus Film Reel was on HIATUS for this episode. This is a Special Expanded Edition of Sara's Bonus Book Shelf, themed for Iain Reid. Since we read Foe and discussed it on the last episode, Greg has read I'm Thinking of Ending Things and Sara read We Spread. We were so taken by Iain Reid's writing that we felt we had to read every novel he's written so far. We look forward to his next book, co-written with director Ellie Foumbi, a surreal philosophical suspense story about memory, identity and ambition called Unreal (coming Fall 2026). Join us. Check us out on Substack at areyouwicked.substack.com [https://areyouwicked.substack.com]! AARDVARK BOOK CLUB: Use our promo code: STAYWICKED to buy your first book for only $4 (+ free shipping!) and join the club! Note: This promotion is available to US residents only at this time and only new members are eligible to use this code at checkout (1 usage per household). Join us on Patreon [patreon.com/areyouwicked]. Join us on Discord [https://discord.gg/J5DF983yMg].

THE BOOK | Foe by Iain Reid

Whelp, this is Greg's last episode with Sara. Yes, Greg has been the lucky involuntary lottery winner to leave the planet and leave behind a replacement for Sara to adjust to. We discuss some behind-the-scenes trivia about Foe by Iain Reid before we jump into Spoiler Territory (don't worry, we'll warn ya). We get into some mind-boggling ideas and questions that Foe left us with, not least of all: What the fuck is up with the beetles? BUT FIRST... We jumped on the bandwagon... you can now listen to us on Substack! Listen to the podcast and get occasional newsletter updates at on our Substack here [http://areyouwicked.substack.com]. Plus, it's a new year, so we have a new promo code with Aardvark Book Club! Sinners in the US can join the club with promo code STAYWICKED to get your first book for only $4. In Greg's Bonus Film Reel we discuss the fabulous Oscar-nominated film Bugonia (2025) and Greg shares that we finally saw 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). Sara pulled off the ultimate surprise party renting the entire theater and filling it with all of Greg's best friends and family, including Greg's mother, for his 50th birthday. We plan to go out and see again before releasing a bonus episode to discuss the film. In Sara's Bonus Book Shelf, we discuss the pitch black comedy Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse. We also discuss the much-anticipated horror novel from the author of The Eyes are the Best Part, Sara read a Netgalley Advanced Reader Copy of Molka by Monika Kim, and had nothing but glowing reviews. Join us. Check us out on Substack at areyouwicked.substack.com [https://areyouwicked.substack.com]! AARDVARK BOOK CLUB: Use our promo code: STAYWICKED to buy your first book for only $4 (+ free shipping!) and join the club! Note: This promotion is available to US residents only at this time and only new members are eligible to use this code at checkout (1 usage per household).

BONUS: 28 Years Later | SPOILERS

Welcome to a BONUS EPISODE from Greg's Bonus Film Reel! Today, in honor of the release of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, we release our SPOILER version of our discussion of 28 Years Later (2025). We recorded this directly after we saw the film in theaters and we were in love. Enjoy this little bonus episode for all you dedicated zombie-loving Sinners out there. THIS TIME, WITH SPOILERS. Don't worry, we'll let you know when the spoilers are coming. STAY TUNED for our review of THE BONE TEMPLE coming soon and in the meantime, STAY WICKED. Join us on Patreon [Patreon.com/AreYouWicked]. Join us on Discord [https://discord.gg/J5DF983yMg].