The Calls Are Coming from Inside the Podcast

Let’s keep the party going (to an unadvised second location). We’re following up the teen thrills of Ma for the decidedly adult chills of Karyn Kusama’s indie masterpiece The Invitation. Bhavna Sharma of the Bloody Broads Podcast joins us to talk about cults, grief, cats, and our own worst party experiences in an episode sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

We’re starting Season 3 off in splashy fashion with a series devoted to celebration. Parties in horror movies are never a good idea for the characters but always a great idea for the audience. This week’s guest, the Stoker-nominated author R.J. Joseph, recommended the 2019 film Ma to us as a must-see in the party-gone-wrong canon. We had a blast with Octavia Spencer’s performance, the camp, and unpacking the themes of sympathetic monsters and representation between the film and Joseph’s own writing.

It’s January, so let’s twirl into it with a return of snowy dread. For Winter’s Revenge month, we bring back frequent guest Cal Walker to follow-up on last year’s viewing of Dead Snow to get their take on Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead. We discuss magic n*zi zombie arms, a plethora of Martins, and where disgust fits into the horror genre. Then, we switch gears to talk about

Let’s give a cheer for one more night of holiday fear! Queen Trashley and TayyySlayyy, the rap duo known as GLITTER MONEYYY, join us on a very special Xmas episode to talk about Nacho Vigalondo’s 2018 Into the Dark entry Pooka!  We explore the dark side of the holidays, at least one gift that keeps on giving all year, and best practices when making Furby-related Google searches. Naughty or nice, this is a Pooka we all want you to check out, along with our double-feature recommendation, Christmas Bloody Christmas.

We’re finding some creature comforts this Christmas season with our movie selections! This week, we have the joy of welcoming writer, TikTokker and podcast host extraordinaire Ryan Kinney (Brother Ghoulish) onto The Calls to discuss the childhood wonder of Gremlins. We get into the weeds of consumerism run rampant and gremlin self-actualization. And prime yourselves for some hot takes because we’ve got some #DeagleTruths that need to be exposed. We also offer up a rare treat of a double-feature, the naked Santa creature parade that is Rare Exports.

From man-eating plants to man-eating mans, this week we're exploring cannibalism in a feast for the senses. First, Emmy Colón-Geistlinger joins us to talk about why The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is the perfect Thanksgiving movie. Then, we make a recommendation for our double-meat double-feature, the 2010 Mexican film We Are What We Are.

It's Zombies and Other Man-Eaters Month on The Calls Are Coming from Inside The Podcast, and we couldn't think of a better place to start than the movie(s) that reversed all we knew about the food chain. That's right, we've got the original people-eating plant themself, Audrey II, making appearances through both the 1986 musical adaptation and the 1960 schlock-classic original. Guest Geoff Maxfield shares his experiences growing up with the musical and living as Audrey II for a short time, and we discuss the music, iconography, and themes of toxic relationships in this story.

We're completing our meal and continuing our 1-year anniversary celebration by pulling Dame Helen Mirren into the mix. We think that you all need a lesson in Teaching Mrs. Tingle, a quintessential “what the hell is this?!” ‘90s movie. One of our very first guests, Rachel Perzynski, returns to discuss the madcap antics, Exorcist reenactments, and socioeconomic thematics of a Camp classic film that is begging for reappraisal. And a few other missing parts.

It’s our one-year anniversary and Glamp Month is coming to a close, so we had to celebrate with the crown jewel of glamorous, camp masterpieces, Death Becomes Her. We bring back guest-friend Cal Walker to talk about the hypergender drag of it all, the high-jinks that ensure when you become undead, and the hilarious line readings that make this such an iconic movie 30 years later.

This week, we’re putting our calls on hold to bring out our second Super Chiller episode. This audio essay focuses on why Camp is such an integral part of horror and what we really mean when we call something campy. This essay acts as a tentpole between the two halves of our Glamp Month coverage, allowing us to better understand all the wonderfully campy films we’ve been dying to watch with you.

We’ve made it through the wilderness, and now it’s time to feel like a virgin as we make our debut into Society. This film is the definition of 1989, with wall-to-wall denim, fashion mullets, and Day-Glo swimwear, and we couldn’t resist putting former guest Ian Voltaire Deanes through the trials and tribulations of the bizarre Shunting. Then, we pair Society up with a second ‘80s melt movie, the grimy, low-budget ectoplasm-sploitation, Slime City.

Pack up your bags because it’s time to go glamping! This week, we kick off Glamp Month, as we look at Camp horror films that don’t take place at a summer camp. We’re starting off with a recent hall-of-famer, Malignant, and joined by returning guest Matthew James Marquez to gush about Gabriel, unpack all James Wan’s horror references, and try to decide what a lollipop has to do with detective work.

This week, we’re injecting you with the last hit of our sugar rush on the Sweet Treats of Summer. We’re staying put and making the treats travel light-years to come to us as we welcome back guest David Nesbitt Taylor to talk to us about the Killer Klowns from Outer Space–cue cotton candy cocoons, pregnant popcorn, and flesh-melting cream pies! We’re also staying on Earth but traveling across the planet for our double-feature recommendation, the New Zealand classic, Bad Taste.

In our first Super Chiller bonus audio essay, we explore the themes of Neil Jordan's 1984 film, The Company of Wolves, most importantly, the connection between horror stories and folk tales. We tackle how unconscious desires, coming-of-age narratives, and the werewolf trope all boil together to offer us a different perspective on genre, gender, and the meaning of horror.

Sweet dreams are made of… well, Annie Lennox has yet to tell us. But we do know that dreams and nightmares play a role in our featured film this week, Coraline, as well as our super-secret bonus movie to be revealed. Writer C.M. Crockford joins us to talk about Coraline’s impact as a gateway horror, its clever use of stop-motion and digital animation, and how food and candy are used to create a false sense of security. Then, we provide a teaser of our upcoming bonus audio essay on this week’s choice double-feature.

The Sweet Treats of Summer continue to drip deliciously. Suspiciously deliciously. This week, we talk with Mr. Hollywood Burlesque himself, Viktor Devonne, about Larry Cohen’s 1985 creepy dessert satire, The Stuff. Some topics include why horror needs some sweetness, the dangers of corporate marketing, and Murder, She Wrote connections. Then, we cap off the Stuff-jar and pour a nightcap with our double-feature recommendation, 1987’s Street Trash.

Welcome to our Sweet Treats of Summer coverage! What’s a hot summer day without a refreshing ice cream treat? We’re kicking off this month's saccharine horrors with the 1995 cult classic, Ice Cream Man. We talk with Dr. Marianna Staroselsky about Pied Piper allegories, depictions of mental illness in horror, and clown cones, and we answer the real question this movie poses: what the heck is hard-pack? Then, we top off with a double-scoop of suburban dairy drama with 2017’s The Ice Cream Truck.

Pride Extension! We’re finishing up our month dedicated to queer horror bypassing America’s birthday and traveling over to France to cover the giallo-splashed gay porno horror love letter, Knife+Heart (Un couteau dans le couer) with writer and performer Chelsea Fiddyment. We discuss the complicated relationship of being a queer monster, reclaiming slurs (if you can’t tell from the title, the F-slur is going to make a few appearances), and how a film about the 1970s has a lot to say about the LGBTQ+ community today. Then, we’ll double-up our gay excursion with the 2014 Spanish film, Amor eterno (Everlasting Love).

This week, we’ve got two reunions to make: former guest Emmy Colón-Geistlinger and the dream demon himself, Freddy Krueger. We take a look at the queer underbelly (or just regular belly) of the original Nightmare sequel to understand the suburban repression of the Nightmare series, what value queer people can find in this movie, and the straight oblivousness and homophobia that gave rise to Freddy’s Revenge.

This week, we’re splitting in half thanks the flesh-rending power of body horror! We’re kicking off our Pride Month coverage by queering the 1989 Japanese cyberpunk classic Tetsuo: The Iron Man with our special guest, horror writer and podcaster John Patterson. Then stay tuned later this week when we release our discussion on another body horror classic (any guesses?).

This week, we’re counting down from 10 to help you prepare and take stock of all your horror favorites before we hit the midpoint of 2022. This Top 10 list covers exciting new horror films that are available for streaming or on VOD, with many celebrated and underseen titles amongst our picks. We also provide some comparison films for each entry to hopefully help you decide what to watch next. While we do skip over some of the bigger theatrical releases of the year, we hope you’ll use our list to seek out some of the other worthwhile releases. And let us know, what have been your top horror movies of 2022?

We’re wrapping up our horror-comedy month here at The Calls Are Coming from Inside The Podcast, but not before we wrap our hands around some themes! We’re not only unpacking the themes of the two movies we’re watching today, we’re also relating them to theater, feminism, technology, and surveillance with our guests. First, we chat with Sharai Bohannon about the 2020 indie film Scare Me. Then, we cap everything off with Jan Rosenberg talking to us about the modern classic, The Cabin in the Woods.

Let’s have a celebration! 25 episodes in, it’s not our birthday but we’re finally ready for a death day. We’re joined by Fear Queers co-hosts Beyza Ozer and Chase Hauser to chortle over the 2017 Blumhouse smash, Happy Death Day. Listen along as we talk creepy and problematic school mascots, infinite time loops, why you shouldn't trust a birthday cupcake, and what we want out of Happy Death Day 3Me (in 3D). Then, we offer a second feature recommendation of the 2015 indie horror-comedy You’re Killing Me.

For the second week of our horror-comedy focus, we’re going back to the ‘80s! We take a flashback to the greatest slasher spoof of all time, Student Bodies, with our guest, tattoo artist-musician-comedian Christian Bernal. Then, we let you in on one of the best-kept secrets, Flesh-Eating Mothers, a mad ride through suburban restlessness and maternal cannibalism. You don’t want to miss out! (Please forgive our audio tribulations!)

April Fools Day may be over, but the month of the fool is still going strong. Our first round of horror-flavored laughs comes courtesy of some gateway horror films that made us and our guests fans for life. First, we talk with DeVaughn and Garrett of the Bloody Blunts Cinema Club podcast about that ghost with the most, Beetlejuice. And then we switch over to a man doing just as much, if not more, to talk about Ernest Scared Stupid with Shirley Blazen.

Spring is about to bust through your window! But before winter blows away, why not cozy up by the fireplace one more time and program yourself a movie marathon with these six additional wintry horror and thriller films. We begin with a discussion about what makes cold season horror so effective, and then, we’ll talk you through our six picks that go beyond the usual snow-spects.

CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Another week, another snowy fright: we’re finally getting our Thing on! We explore if this is the ultimate winter horror movie, the representation of otherness in gender and race The Thing presents us with, the gloopy, gloppy unmatched practical effects and what exactly happened with that remake-prequel. First, we talk with the Bloody Broads Podcast (Bhavna Sharma and Jamie Howard) about the 1982 classic, and then, we get first impressions from Tom Sparrow on the 2011 remake.

About Bloody Broads Podcast:

We’re putting ourselves into isolation for this part of our Winter Horrors series. Whether we’re stuck on ski lift in the middle of a winter storm or rekindling with our exes in an isolated Icelandic cabin, our two films this week look at loneliness and isolation in different ways. First, we discuss with Jessica Scott, of We Who Walk Here,  Adam Green’s tense survival thriller, Frozen (starting at 00:01:06). Then, we dive into analyzing the queer loneliness of Erlingur Thoroddsen’s 2017 film, Rift (starting at 00:58:14) with actor and writer Jose Nateras.

About Jessica Scott

The sun still has not risen on our 6 More Weeks of Winter coverage. This week, we’re joined by Mike Brown and Bobby Torrez of The People Under the Scares podcast to talk about 2007’s 30 Days of Night. We share our love of all different types of vampire stories, the class system of movie monsters, and who would we spend 30 days in the dark with if not Josh Hartnett? Then stick around for our double-creature feature recommendation Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004).

And so begins six more terrifying weeks of winter. Since we’re in our own deep freeze, our next six episodes until spring will cover the major and minor snow-blown, winter-cold horrors out there. We’re starting off in one of the northernmost countries, Norway, with a taste of regional ‘00s horror movies in Dead Snow and Cold Prey, and welcoming back previous guest Cal Walker to share more of their zombie knowledge. We've got a lot to say about snow-related injuries, toilet sex, and unpacking the N*zi zombie trope as a whole, so join us on this toboggan ride!

Welcome to Season 2! We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to do a Birthday Battle between two classic birthday horror movies: it's Frogs vs. Happy Birthday to Me! Hot Florida swampland vs. cold Montreal prep-school, young, hot Sam Elliott vs. ingenue Melissa Sue Anderson, creature feature vs. classy slasher. Find out which movie takes the cakes as host Kevin and special guest Ayisha Jaffer try to convince fellow birthday celebrant Jill M. Stone which movie she should pick for the big day.

The Horror Holiday Vacation continues as we gear up with two school teachers from Down Under. First, we’re talking with playwright and theatre artist Cal Walker about the 2019 zombie comedy Little Monsters. We go over a brief history of the zombie film, discuss the character growth that happens in this movie, and spare a minute for a way-too-horny frog puppet. Then, we follow up with a recommendation of the 1985 Australian survival horror Fortress as our double-feature this week.

Join us on our globe-trotting Horror Holiday Vacation as we start off this leg of our journey by hopping over to Spain. I team up with Candice and Logan Conner to go ghost hunting through the sad story of Laura, Simón, and the children of The Orphanage. Along the way, we talk Peter Pan, playing games, and even share a bit of insight into what color grading actually does. Then, stick around for our double-feature recommendation of the 2017 Brazilian horror fable As Boas Maneiras (Good Manners).

We’re wrapping up November Nostalgia month with 13 movies that have a strong sense of nostalgia for our host. These movies are unranked (because how could we choose?), but we have placed them in four categories to help you navigate a mini-marathon based on your tastes: Gateway Films, Dark Fairy Tales, Retro Throwbacks, and Underseen Gems. Give us a listen and then let us know: what are your favorite nostalgia fright flicks?

Just in time for Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving), we have two guests who are always welcome at the feast! First, actor, writer, and so much more David Nesbitt Taylor digs up the buried memories of My Buddies past and finds Chucky the killer doll from the very first Child’s Play movie. Then, we make our host's brother, Tom Sparrow, watch a much newer film with a nostalgic twist: 2021’s PG: Psycho Goreman. But that doesn’t stop us from reminiscing about the ‘90s classics it makes us long for (looking at you Josh Kirby: Time Warrior).

November Nostalgia continues with a look into the dream world. We're calling up comedy cabaret all-star Brittny Congleton to share her fond, fraidy memories of Mr. Freddy Krueger in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street. Along the way, we chat sleepovers, horror musicals, and the universal childhood fear of quicksand. Then, we cross into the realm of dreams once more and rewind back to 2000's 2 Vinces and a J. Lo flick, The Cell, with our horror correspondent, Matthew James Marquez.

It’s Halloween week and time for a celebration! In honor of the 30th anniversary of The People Under the Stairs (released November 1, 1991), we fawn over the movie with actor and writer Ian Voltaire Deanes. This episode is jam-packed with tingly tales as we talk about the uses of art in horror, Craven’s exploration of masculinities in the film, manga, and we even get a visit from a spider! Then, Kevin requests you catch a Craven double-feature with his underloved, penultimate film, My Soul to Take (2010).

This week, the walls come crumbling down, and we reveal their gnarly innards as we look at a couple horror films depicting housing crises across the world. First, we talk with Chicagoan Emmy Colón-Geistlinger about the original hometown horror, 1992’s Candyman. Along the way, we discuss our feelings on bees, the gothic nature of the movie, and the history behind the adaptation of this Clive Barker story. Then, we travel across the world to peek in the grisly window of Pang Ho-cheung’s 2010 Hong Kong hit, Dream Home.

This week, we're looking at the sub-subgenre of horror comedies set in the world of porn filmmaking. We talk about One-Eyed Monster (2008) with playwright Hannah Ii-Epstein, and we also chat about dinosaur erotica, choosing audition monologues from a horror film, and our love for Amber Benson and confusion with her role in this film. Then, we offer our double-feature recommendation of Deep Murder (2019).

CONTENT WARNING FOR EPISODE: We discuss sexual assault allegations against Ron Jeremy (who is featured in this film). Also, we are generally talk about pornography and sexually explicit material as they relate to the film throughout the episode.

Hannah's upcoming horror play, The Kasha of Kaimuki, premieres on Friday, October 29, 2021. Tickets can be purchased now at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-kasha-of-kaimuki-by-hannah-ii-epstein-tickets-162484656983

Follow Hannah on Instagram @Hcat5

Follow us on social media @callsinsidepod

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It’s episode 6, and we’re slicing it up about Saw VI (2009), with Chicago wrestler Mateo Valentine (Jay Garcia), to talk about healthcare and horror, the internet’s favorite sexy Billy puppet, and perhaps the most famous trap in the Saw franchise. Then in our horror correspondent segment, we double-up on everything for 12 Hour Shift (2020) with George Heftler, host of The Best Little Horror House in Philly, and discuss this hilariously dark tale of organ thievery.

In this week’s episode, we discuss representations of sex work within horror between our two films. First, we call up Shirley Blazen to talk Frank Henenlotter's oddball grand opus,  Frankenhooker (1990). Topics include iconic quotable lines, exploding mannequins, and secret connections to My Little Pony. Then in our horror correspondent segment, we look at Cam (2018) with Cruel Valentine, and discuss the challenges of cam modeling, the movie’s accuracy, and an unfortunate number of gross dudes.

In this week's episode, we go back almost 50 years to unpack the classic horror film The Exorcist (1973) with singer-songwriter Jill M. Stone. We touch on bad babysitters, bad neighbors, and why you shouldn't slap that priest. We then match up themes of religious trauma in horror films to talk about our double-feature selection Saint Maud (2020).

On this week's call, our guest Rachel Perzynski discusses being horror-averse and seeing Oculus (2014) as her first horror movie. We analyze the use of mirrors and reflections of trauma in horror movies, and then we invite in horror correspondent G.G. Graham to discuss our double-feature selection, the 1990 supernatural slasher Mirror, Mirror (beginning at 53:00). Spoiler alert for both movies!

Kevin Sparrow discusses Ready or Not (2019) with our inaugural guest, Ray Goldberg, where we chat about each of the characters, eating the rich, and the exquisite tapestry of swears throughout the film. Then, we reflect on the use of games and interactivity within horror movies and dive into our double-feature suggestion, Game of Death (2017).

Follow this week's guest on Twitter: @rayngoldberg

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