Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode 118. Friends till the End. Child’s Play (1988)

In this episode we look at the origins of the original “Good Guy.” From his place in the history of toys to his ties to masculinity to the anxiety around 1980s family structures, we go deep with Chucky to find out what makes him kill. 
 
 

REQUIRED READING

Child’s Play. Dir. Tom Holland, 1988. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

The History of Creepy Dolls. An examination of how dolls became part of our nightmares.
 
Technology’s Covert Socialization of Children: High-Tech Toys. How “high-tech” toys create a false sense of safety. 
 
Hasbro’s My Buddy Doll. A history of the doll that inspired Chucky.
 
“Midnight Scenes and Orgies”: Public Narratives of Voodoo in New Orleans and Nineteenth-Century Discourses of White Supremacy. 
 
The Child and Adult Trauma in American Horror of the 1980s. Freud’s uncanny child in the era of consumerism.
 
The Place of Play: Toys and Digital Cultures. A look at toys as “generation-shapers.” 
 
Hasbro Brazil’s ad for Baby Alive, encouraging parents to examine their gender biases.
 

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Episode 117. Fear of Folk: The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971)

We’re back on our old stomping grounds of Salem Horror Fest to plow the fertile fields of themes and metaphors to unearth why the British folk horror classic, The Blood on Satan’s Claw, left us feeling so icky. From teens and occultism to PSAs and power, we dig deep. 
 
 
 

REQUIRED READING

The Blood on Satan’s Claw. Dir Piers Haggard, 1971. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

Folk Horror Hours Dreadful And Things Strange. Paul Scovell’s essential text for British folk horror. 
 
Satanic Tourism: Adolescent Dabblers and Identity Work. Pseudo-Satanism as harmless teen fun!
 
 

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Episode 116. Carrying On: The Quatermass Xperiment

In this episode we look at what happens when an American experiment crash lands in the British countryside. By looking at the state of England after two World Wars, a crisis of masculinity and humanity’s shaky grasp on scientific responsibility, Andrea and Alex uncover what is truly driving innovation and our need to win. 
 
 

REQUIRED READING

The Quatermass Xperiment. Dir. Val Guest, 1955. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

Hammer and Beyond by Peter Hutchings. An in-depth examination of the studio and its impact. 
 
Seeing is Believing by Peter Biskind. A definitive text for American films in the 1950s. 
 
The Imagination of Disaster. Susan Sontag’s essay about the role of science-fiction in the midst of the Cold War. 
 

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Episode 115. House Guest: Misery (1990)

Mind the roads this time of year because we’re covering Rob Reiner’s iconic film that delves into the murky territories brought to light when your saviour is also your #1 fan. We cover romance novels, toxic fandom, addiction, and more so buckle up! And make sure you know where the Dom Pérignon is kept. 
 
 
 

REQUIRED READING

Misery. Dir. Rob Reiner, 1990. 
 

EXTRA CREDIT

On Writing by Stephen King
 
Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman
 
High and Low Culture by Abigail Williams
 
 
 
“Where have all the Artist-Addicts gone?” A New York Times article about the white male writer as tortured artist trope
 

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