20. READY OR NOT (2019): Crossbows, Card Games, and Classism

20. READY OR NOT (2019): Crossbows, Card Games, and Classism

* Content warnings: violence, descriptions of gore * I’m sure we’ve all had game nights that end with everyone wanting to kill each other– but what would happen if the devil from the bible was influencing the stakes from the start? Hide and Seek games can be found in many a horror film, with their built-in jumpscares and convenient eavesdropping setup, but 2019’s Ready or Not takes it to a whole other level! Carson and Laney have some fun with this horror comedy (which got a sequel earlier this year!), examining the class and gender roles the movie explores, the sheer beauty and talent of Samara Weaving, and Carson’s favorite horror movie question: is it bad luck, or bad choices that lead the characters to their eventual (and very entertaining) demise?

19. THE EXORCIST (1973): What an Excellent Day for a Pod Guest

* Content warnings: descriptions of gore and medical trauma, discussions of alcohol abuse, mental illness stigmatization, and child abuse. * What’s this? A wild podcast guest appeared! Join Scaredy Cat and Horror Hound in welcoming friend of the pod and Exorcist super fan, Amanda! The trio discuss the many intricacies, controversies, and allegories of the genre-defining 1973 classic The Exorcist. From audience (over)reactions and overcultural impacts, to feminist interpretations versus nuclear family propaganda, there are countless ways to view and critique the infamous possession of Reagan McNeil and the violent consequences that follow. Bringing their own ideas of the film’s meaning as well as discussing the literature that it has inspired over the decades, Carson, Laney, and Amanda have a lively discussion about the importance of this film, as well as its drawbacks. We also get some fun tidbits from Amanda about the making of the film, the different versions that have been released over the years, and Amanda’s background with horror as a genre! Make sure you’ve got your crucifix, holy water, and all-important pea soup at the ready!

18. HELLRAISER (1987): Sadomasochists From Beyond the Grave, the original sexier title

Content warnings: discussions of sexual violence, sexual assault, and familial abuse; descriptions of BDSM dynamics and kink culture; descriptions of body horror The pod; you opened it, we came. Explore the far reaches of experience with us and the Cenobites as we discuss Clive Barker’s dark kinky classic, Hellraiser! Horror Hound Carson actually did some homework this time and read Barker’s original short story The Hellbound Heart which the Hellraiser franchise stems from, adding new context to the discussion contrasting book vs movie, why we think Barker changed some elements when adapting his own work, and creating a richer world of gender, sexuality, and BDSM culture to unpack. Additional topics include: handling of various female character archetypes, how gender and gendered acts are played with and subverted, the unmatched hotness levels of Clare Higgins, and what these stories try to teach us about consent, pleasure, and power dynamics. Get to work on solving the puzzle box, don your best leather garb, and come join us in Hell!

17. EVIL DEAD (1981) and DEAD BY DAWN (1987): 2 Evil 2 Dead

Content warnings: descriptions of gore, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of gendered violence We’re getting groovy, baby! For our first dual-film episode, we dig up the first two installments of the classic Evil Dead franchise, comparing and contrasting the two ret-conned origins of Sam Raimi’s campy gorefest extravaganza. Topics include: ogling final boy Bruce Campbell, when “bad” practical effects are actually the best and creepiest, when laughter can be a fitting response to shock-factor content, how the franchise creates and plays with hyper-masculinity, and why suspending your disbelief to enjoy a fun movie is good, actually! Dust off your tape player, rev up your chainsaw, and raise hell with us, Ash, and the Book of the Dead!

16. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991): Unapologetically Always Rooting for Hannibal Lecter

Content warnings: discussions of transphobia and transphobic violence, discussions of real life serial killers From books, to movies, to the greatest television series of all time, the Hannibal franchise has a little something for everyone- especially if you’re wearing your queer-horror-comedy glasses like us! We have a lot to say about all these different types of media that bring the iconic Dr. Hannibal Lecter to life, though we do our best to focus in on the 1991 film adaptation of Thomas Harris’ Silence of the Lambs. Listen in for discussions about The Trans Representation Question, the inherent camp and queerness of Hannibal’s villain archetype, how gore cinematography can create the most beautiful visuals, and of course general fanning over this franchise’s cast of characters and talent. Pull out your Rolodex and cookbooks, lay back on the therapy couch, and fly fly away with us to escape that awful silence of the lambs…