A podcast about films of quiet horror
We continue our discussion of horror and fairy tales with 2020’s Gretel & Hansel, a slow-burn, coming-of-age tale from director Oz Perkins, and dive deeper into our thoughts about how horror mirrors the journey of a girl moving through a challenging world.
The story of Red Riding Hood gets meta and bloody as we kick off a month of fairy tale horror with 1984’s The Company of Wolves. We discuss the legacy of fairy tales, the influence of writer Angela Carter and why horror is such a perfect vehicle for female coming-of-age stories.
We head into a world of Thai folk beliefs, evil spirits and familial strife with 2021’s The Medium. This one ends up diving headfirst into traditional horror, but we’re more affected by what’s going on under the surface.
We begin a month’s discussion of folklore in psychological horror film with 2019’s La Llorona. Despite its honor as Guatemala’s submission for best international film, this one seems to have been overshadowed by lesser films with the same story device, but we think it deserves more recognition for its effective and affecting use of myth.
Transcript:
We continue our month of discussing the intersection between horror and noir with the 2021 adaptation of Nightmare Alley. We compare it to the original adaptation and delve into the differences in character motivations, plus we consider if director Guillermo del Toro’s influence tips this film into full “horror” territory.
Transcript:
This month we discuss the dark intersection between horror and noir, beginning with the 1947 adaptation of Nightmare Alley. Carnivals, cons and a slow descent into fated madness. Fun for the whole family!
Transcript:
We continue this month’s discussion of the horror of old age and generational trauma with 2020’s Relic, directed by Natalie Erika James. A slow-burn psychological horror woven among three women of the samily but different generations, this one leads to surprisingly tender hidden places.
Transcript:
We begin a month of discussion about films dealing with age, disease and generational trauma with 2021’s The Manor, which tells us that getting old is really scary and sometimes there are ancient tree demons.
Transcript:
There’s something out there on the prairie. Isolation, jealousy, childbirth, psychosis, demons—or maybe it’s just the wind. We cover it all in our discussion of 2018’s The Wind from director Emma Tammi.
If you like The Wind, you might also like:
The Witch
The Other Lamb
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Transcript:
This month we’re discussing wide, open spaces and the horror lying in wait beyond civilization. So what better place to begin than with 1971’s Ozploitation classic, Wake in Fright. Topics include the facade of morality, the danger of the outcast and, um, kangaroo hunts.
Content warning! This film has very graphic scenes of violence against animals and we talk about it, in general terms, in the episode. Be aware if you haven’t seen the film yet.
Transcript: