Category Archives: Episodes

Oct 31 2020
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Episodes, Uncategorized

Episode 88. Cult Classic: The Howling (1981)

We’re *virtually* live from Salem Horror Fest this year and we’re talking about sexy werewolves and not-so-sexy wellness with Joe Dante’s The Howling. From cultish retreats to women in media, Alex and Andrea go to the darkest reaches of the p0rn theatre… 
 
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REQUIRED READING

The Howling. Dir. Joe Dante, 1981.

EXTRA CREDIT

Feminist Critique of Freud. A summary of how Freud is less than friendly to women. It the privilege we envy, not the penis!
 
The Human Potential Movement Gone Awry. A look at how one wellness movement became co-opted.
 
Self Help Inc. Micki McGee’s book about how self-help became a cultural movement.
 
Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers. Sady Doyle’s book on the construct of woman as monster.
 
Haunted. Leo Braudy’s book on supernatural elements in the natural world told from an accessibly academic standpoint.

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Sep 27 2020
8 Comments
Episodes

Episode 87. Mother Monster: Pyewacket (2017) and Hereditary (2018)

 
CW: Suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones: 1-800-273-8255. 
 
We’re kicking off a new semester by tackling two incredibly dark films that ask the question: have you checked on your mom lately? Alex and Andrea investigate the deepest depths of grief, despair and what we stand to lose (and gain) when we forsake our family for community.
 
 
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REQUIRED READING

Pyewacket. Dir. Adam MacDonald, 2017.
Hereditary. Dir. Ari Aster, 2018.

EXTRA CREDIT

Fack exclusive: Pyewacket filmmaker audio Commentary! Adam MacDonald’s enlightening commentary for his film.
 
Canadians Talking Shit. Adam MacDonald’s podcast – we recommend!
 
“This be the verse.” Larkin’s poem from Alex’s inaugural poetry corner.
 
The Book of Spells by Nicole de Pulford. Alex’s foray into teen witchcraft. Disclaimer! We assume no responsibility for those sealed pages!
 
“Mass Media and Religious Identity: A Case Study of Young Witches.” For all us elder millennials who called the corners in the park.
 
Generation Multiplex: The Image of Youth in Contemporary American Cinema. Timothy Shary’s examination of teens on screen.
 
Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers. Maybe the most oft-quoted book of this podcast? Sady Doyle’s book on the construct of woman as monster.
 
“Silencing the Dead: The Decline of Spiritualism.” A piece from The Atlantic on the history of spiritualism and its fall from fashion.
 
“Trans Horror Stories and Society’s Fear of the Transmasculine Body.” A trans reading of Hereditary.
 
“The Truth About the Five Stages of Grief.” Everything we learned in psych 101 was BS! See why Kubler-Ross’ popular grief model should be put down in this great video from Sci Show.

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Jul 31 2020
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Episodes

Episode 86: Summer of Plague Pt 3. Nature Is Healing: Mimic (1997) and The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

 
Our Summer of Plague wraps up with a look at potential cures and a post-human reality. Between Guillermo del Toro’s Frankensteinian bugs and a post-apocalyptic UK, the end of the world may be closer (and more necessary) than we think.
 
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REQUIRED READING

Mimic. Dir. Guillermo del Toro, 1997.
The Girl with All the Gifts. Dir. Colm McCarthy, 2016.

EXTRA CREDIT

Down and Dirty Pictures. Peter Biskind’s examination of the rise of Miramax and Dimension Films.
 
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. An in-depth look at the notebooks and films of del Toro.
 
At Home With Monsters. A look at del Toro’s touring exhibit!
 
“Mimic”. The short story, by David A. Wollheim
 
Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection. Julia Kristeva’s treatise on the purpose of abject horror.
 
Queer Revolution, Zombie Uprisings, and the problem with M. R. Carey’s The Boy on the Bridge: an article examining the prequel to The Girl with All the Gifts.
 
The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement: “May we live long and die out”

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Jun 30 2020
3 Comments
Episodes, Uncategorized

Episode 85: Summer of Plague Pt 2. Shut In: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Time to hunker in your bunker! In this episode, Andrea and Alex tackle the issues surrounding Nice Guys, privilege, and the conservative ideology around preservation during times of upheaval.

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REQUIRED READING

10 Cloverfield Lane. Dir Dan Trachtenberg, 2016. 

EXTRA CREDIT

r/niceguys. These “nice guys” aren’t nice.
 
Awards for Good Boys. Add some “nice guy” satire to your Instagram feed with art by Mia Mingus.
 
The BATCAVE. Andrea’s YouTube episode on 10 Cloverfield Lane.
 
Cloverfield Clues: A whole YouTube channel devoted to Cloverfield marketing easter eggs online.
 
J.J. Abrams – The Mystery Box. Abrams’ Ted Talk on the central conceit to his creations. 
 
Theatre and the Plague. Antonin Artaud’s treaty The Theatre and Its Double, which contain his plague theory.
 
Hollywood 9/11. Tom Pollard’s book on 9/11’s impact on the film industry.
 
Gaylords of Darkness, Episode 82. An amazing interview with Luca Guadagnino and David Kajganich the director and writer of Suspiria (2018).

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