In 18th-century Austria, women be depressed. For pretty good reasons. We discuss the recent film, The Devil’s Bath, and cover what it feels like to be trapped in an oppressive society, both sides of subtlety, and why maybe sometimes people should talk things out before resorting to murder (sometimes).
Episode 05.19: Bunny Lake Is Missing
Bunny Lake is missing … or did she never exist? You know women, always making up imaginary children to claim have been kidnapped. We discuss Otto Preminger’s 1965 psychological whodunnit, Bunny Lake Is Missing, including the differences between the film and its source novel, and society’s hysterical assumptions about women without children, or women with children via unconventional ways.
Episode 05.18: Hellbender
To follow up our discussion with Toby Poser and John Adams, we take a closer look at their recent feature, also starring daughter Zelda Adams, Hellbender, and talk about folktales, monstrous mother-daughter relationships, and coming to terms with who you are.
Episode 05.17: Toby Poser and John Adams
A little something different this time: we sit down with filmmakers Toby Poser and John Adams to discuss their homegrown horror films and what it’s like working on a film as a family. Enjoy!
Episode 05.16: The Strangler
We go on an existential romp through loneliness, isolation, and serial killings, with a dash of bizarre sailor-themed nightclub musical. 1970’s The Strangler is a French giallo of deep weirdness and opportunity for discussion—which is what we do around here, so this one is a good one.
Episode 05.15: Indentikit
We hate the title, but we love the movie. And we love Liz Taylor, who gives a striking performance as an odd, difficult woman hell-bent on self-destruction in 1974’s Indentikit. Also Andy Warhol shows up for a bit, because why not.
Episode 05.14: Longlegs
While we don’t often cover new releases so close to their release dates, we anticipated that Longlegs was a good opportunity for an exception. This episode, we bookend our earlier episode on director Oz Perkins’s debut feature with a discussion on his latest. Covered topics include the legacy of Anthony Perkins, the mythic potential of horror film, creeping dread, existential terror, unsettling silence. You know. The usual.
Episode 05.13: The Blackcoat’s Daughter
It’s Oz Perkins season here at the podcast. In anticipation of Longlegs, we went back to his debut The Blackcoat’s Daughter—a film we’ve mentioned before, because it’s about 200% our thing, but this is the first time we’ve discussed it in depth. Devils, psychosis, and another installment in our favorite ongoing thematic series, “teenage girls are terrifying.”
Episode 05.12: Ghostwatch
Since we got on the topic of demonically possessed faux documentary, what else could we do next but talk about Ghostwatch and its timeless capacity for inspiring abject horror and lasting mental trauma. Have fun!
Episode 05.11: Late Night with the Devil
Once more into the breach of found footage, although this time with a self-aware twist in Late Night with the Devil. We discuss the evolving genre, doing a lot with a little, and the haunted brillance of David Dastmalchian.