Horror Homeroom Conversations
By Horror Homeroom
Horror Homeroom ConversationsMay 21, 2019
Gothic Decay: Talking House of Usher (1960)
In today’s episode, Vincent Price helms House of Usher, a dark tale of decay inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s 1839 short story "The Fall of the House of Usher.” Released in 1960 as the first in the Corman-Poe cycle of films, the film follows Phillip as he visits the Usher mansion in the hopes of convincing his runaway fiance, Madeline, to return to him. But his efforts are continually thwarted by Madeline’s brother, Roderick, who warns Phillip that marriage to Madeline will result in total, personal destruction. Merging elements of the gothic sensibility that marked Poe’s illustrative career with a specific brand of 1960s film affect, House of Usher is a surprisingly overlooked film in the gothic horror canon. But should it be? We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers so stay tuned!
Recommended Reading:
Avelar, Mário. "The Colors of Melancholy in Roger Corman's House of Usher." The Edgar Allan Poe Review 11.1 (2010): 174-181.
Hendershot, Cyndy. "Domesticity and Horror in House of Usher and Village of the Damned." Quarterly Review of Film & Video 17.3 (2000): 221-227.
Reyes, Xavier Aldana. "Gothic Horror Film, 1960—Present." The Gothic World. Routledge, 2013. 388-398.
St. Armand, Barton Levi. "Poe's Landscape of the Soul: Association Theory and" The Fall of the House of Usher"." Modern Language Studies (1977): 32-41.
Thompson, James. "Alternative Treasures: The Fall of the House of Usher and The Terror within Roger Corman’s Poe Cycle." Journal of Asia-Pacific Pop Culture 6.1 (2021): 168-190.
Born Bad?: Talking A Nightmare on Elm Street 1 & 3
In today's episode, “one, two, Freddy’s coming for you” in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Chuck Russell's A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987). In the original 1984 release, a group of teens attempt to outsmart Freddy Krueger, a supernatural killer who stalks them in their dreams. In the 1987 sequel, a band of institutionalized teens attempt to defeat Krueger and save the life of an innocent by intentionally entering Dreamland together to dire consequences. Aided by one of the most famous monsters in horror film canon, the films are considered essential viewing for fans of the slasher film, but is there more to this franchise than gore and Freddy’s razor sharp wit? We're breaking it all down today with spoilers so stay tuned.
Recommended Reading
Christensen, Kyle. "The Final Girl versus Wes Craven's" A Nightmare on Elm Street": Proposing a Stronger Model of Feminism in Slasher Horror Cinema." Studies in Popular Culture 34.1 (2011): 23-47.
Gill, Pat. "The monstrous years: Teens, slasher films, and the family." Journal of Film and Video 54.4 (2002): 16-30.
Heba, Gary. "Everyday Nightmares: The Rhetoric of Social Horror in the Nightmare on Elm Street Series." Journal of Popular Film and Television 23.3 (1995): 106-115.
Kendrick, James. "Razors in the Dreamscape: Revisiting" A Nightmare on Elm Street" and the Slasher Film." Film Criticism 33.3 (2009): 17-33.
Nowell, Richard. Blood money: A history of the first teen slasher film cycle. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2010.
Podoshen, Jeffrey Steven. "Home is Where the Horror Is: Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left and A Nightmare on Elm Street." Quarterly Review of Film and Video 35.7 (2018): 722-729.
Shimabukuro, Karra. "The Bogeyman of Your Nightmares: Freddy Krueger's Folkloric Roots." Studies in Popular Culture 36.2 (2014): 45-65.
Christmas Horror: Talking Better Watch Out (2016) and It's a Wonderful Knife (2023)
In today’s episode, festive cheer gets a bloody makeover in Chris Peckover’s Better Watch Out (2016) and Tyler MacIntyre’s It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023). A subgenre of horror that turns beloved seasonal traditions into nightmarish fodder, Christmas horror is rife with malevolent Santas, homicidal elves, and many, many angry snowmen. But what happens when the source of the horror in these films takes a much more human form? We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers so stay tuned.
Sloths Gone Wild: Talking Slotherhouse (2023)
In today’s episode, it's an old school horror-comedy romp with Matthew Goodhue’s Slotherhouse (2023). The plot revolves around Alpha, a homicidal three-toed sloth who is abducted from her home in the Panamanian jungle by poachers. Upon killing Oliver, one of the poachers, she is taken in by Emily who believes Alpha just might be her ticket to the sorority house presidency. But when Alpha discovers Emily looking chummy with Oliver in an Instagram post, she unleashes her fury on the unsuspecting sorority house. With some fans and critics lambasting the film as the dumbest story ever committed to film and others declaring it the best horror film of the year, Slotherhouse is, to put it mildly, divisive. We’re breaking it all down with spoilers, so stay tuned.
The Devil Inside: Talking The Exorcist (1973)
In today’s episode, we are finally tackling the film Roger Ebert called “a raw and painful experience” that “transcends the genre of terror, horror, and the supernatural.” We are, of course, talking about William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973). Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel of the same name, the film is an acknowledged classic trafficking in body horror and demonic possession, scenes of which have morphed into head turning, pea-soup laced pop culture shorthand. But is there more to this story than meets the eye? We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers so stay tuned.
References/Mentioned in this Episode
Clover, Carol J. Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film-Up. Princeton University Press, 2015.
Collative Learning. The even darker underbelly of THE EXORCIST - film analysis. YouTube, 24 January 2017.
Ebert, Roger. “The Exorcist.” RogerEbert.com, 23 December 1973.
Happy Haunts Library, YouTube, 2023.
Heffernan, Ryan. “The 9 Most Hilarious 'The Exorcist' Parodies in Movies and TV Shows.” Collider, 9 October 2023.
Schuetz, Janice. "“The exorcist”: Images of good and evil." Western Journal of Communication (includes Communication Reports) 39.2 (1975): 92-101.
Williams, Marlena. Night Mother: A Personal and Cultural History of The Exorcist. Mad Creek Books, 2023.
Faces of Fear: Encounters with the Creators of Modern Horror. Berkley Trade, 1985, pp. 36-49.
A Hand to Hold: Talking Talk to Me (2023)
In today’s episode, Australian horror takes center stage courtesy of Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou’s Talk to Me (2023). In the film, Mia, who is grappling with the imminent second anniversary of her mother’s death, attends a party with Jade, her best friend, and Riley, Jade’s brother. There, they are given the opportunity to commune with the spirit world via an embalmed hand. Predictably, things do not go according to plan. With unrelenting hype and a domestic box office gross outpacing other A24 releases, the film is a potent hybrid of gore and dread but is it the best horror film of the year so far? We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers so stay tuned!
Always Check Your Candy: Talking Trick 'r Treat
In today’s episode, we’re kicking off the spooky season with Michael Dougherty’s Trick 'r Treat (2007). Told in an anthology format with non-linear storytelling, the film is a virtual shoutout to Halloween lore making it a cult classic among horror fans. But does it deserve its reputation? We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers so stay tuned!
Mentioned in this episode:
Keetley, Dawn. “Trick or Treating in Halloween Movies.” Horror Homeroom, 7 October 2016.
McIntosh, Matthew A. “Samhain: The Celtic Inspiration for Modern Halloween.” Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas, 30 October 2020.
Flesh and Blood: Talking Deep Blue Sea (1999)
In today’s episode, it’s part two of our deep dive into shark horror with Renny Harlin’s Deep Blue Sea (1999). Blending science fiction with horror, the film follows a crew of researchers as they try to replicate in sharks the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s Disease. Predictably, the experiment does not end well. Known for its divisive heroine, campy reinterpretation of animal attack tropes, and some truly epic CGI sharks, Deep Blue Sea is the rare shark horror film that resists demonizing the sharks. But is that a good thing? We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers, so stay tuned!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Sign the petition to have release its footage of the original ending to Deep Blue Sea
- Our podcast on Crawl (2019)
- Tugan, Nuray Hilal. “Neoconservativism in the Science-Fiction Cinema: The Representation of Neoconservativism in Deep Blue Sea (1999).” International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences / Uluslararasi Avrasya Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 31, 2018.
Blood in the Water: Talking Shark Night (2011) & The Shallows (2016)
In today's episode, we are diving into the depths of cinematic terror with Jaume Collet-Serra’s The Shallows (2016) and David R. Ellis’s Shark Night (2011). In The Shallows, a young woman on a pilgrimage to her late mother’s favorite surf haunt finds herself stranded on a rock as she faces off against a relentless great white shark. In Shark Night, a group of unsuspecting friends gather for a little lakeside R&R, only to find themselves being stalked by an assortment of toothy terrors. While both films ostensibly fall under the subgenre of ‘shark horror,’ their differing approaches have us considering the utility of the ‘shark as monster’ trope. Do these films offer up waters chummed with spine-tingling suspense and jaws-dropping scares? We’re finding out in today’s spoiler filled episode, so stay tuned!
CITED IN EPISODE
- BERGER, JOHN. "WHY LOOK AT ANIMALS?." LITERATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT; LEMNAGER, S., SHEWRY, T. EDS (1980): 32-42.
- CLASEN, MATHIAS. EVOLUTIONARY STUDY OF HORROR LITERATURE
- FUCHS, MICHAEL. LOOKING THROUGH THE BEASTS EYES?: THE DIALECTICS OF SEEING THE MONSTER AND BEING SEEN BY THE MONSTER IN SHARK HORROR MOVIES
- LATTANZIO, RYAN. JOHN CARPENTER HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE TERM 'ELEVATED HORROR' MEANS
RELATED REVIEWS AND ESSAYS OF INTEREST
- HORROR REWATCH: DEEP BLUE SEA (1999)
- JAWS, THE SLASHER, AND THE ENCOUNTER AT THE HEART OF HORROR
- JERSEY SHORE SHARK ATTACK (2012) REVIEW
- MAKO: THE JAWS OF DEATH (1976) REVIEW
- SHARKANSAS WOMEN’S PRISON MASSACRE GETS IT SOOO RIGHT
- SHARK HORROR, PART 1: NATURALISTIC HORROR
- SHARK HORROR, PART 2: THE SHARK IN THE HUMAN WORLD
- THE BLACK DEMON: SHARK HORROR MEETS FOLK HORROR
- UP FROM THE DEPTHS (1979) FILM REVIEW
Platformed Dread: Talking Influencer (2023)
In today’s episode, it’s a disturbing journey into the misleading world of social media courtesy of Kurtis David Harder’s Influencer (2023). The story follows social media influencer Madison (Emily Tennant), who is in Thailand for what was supposed to be a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, Ryan (Rory J. Saper). But her lonely and mundane reality is shown to be completely at odds with the exciting, friend-filled adventures she portrays online. When a chance meeting with local CW (Cassandra Naud) offers Madison an opportunity to turn her lies into truth, she embarks on a dark journey where image is definitely not everything. Equal parts eviscerating indictment of influencer culture and cautionary tale about the importance of skepticism, Influencer is a film specifically of its time. But is that a good thing? We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers, so stay tuned.
A Disaster of a Movie: Talking Godzilla (1998)
On today’s episode, we’re diving into the magnificent world of creature features with 1998’s Godzilla. Directed by Roland Emmerich, the film takes the famous monster’s story and puts a decidedly American spin on it to questionable results. We’re talking about historical revisionism and what makes a really bad horror film on today’s episode so stay tuned!
Where are all the bodies?: Talking Barbarian (2022)
In today’s episode, we’re diving into Zach Creggar’s Barbarian (2022). Told in a three act structure, Barbarian vacillates between realism and absurdism in what is arguably one of the most unique horror films to drop in recent years. Following three characters and their relationship to a house located in the Detroit neighborhood of Brightmoor, the film plays with genre hybridity while also offering a powerful indictment of the power of cultural norms to mask what lurks beneath the surface. We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers so stay tuned!
A Return to Nihilism: Talking Smile (2022)
In today's episode, we’re diving into Smile (2022), a film that has almost single-handedly reinvigorated debate over the importance of trigger warnings. Written and directed by Parker Finns, the film follows Rose (Sosie Bacon), a doctor who cares for patients at a psychiatric facility while navigating her own mental health journey. Following the death by suicide of a patient in her care, Rose begins to suspect that she is the new target of a demonic entity who won’t be happy until she’s dead. With its nod to the uncanny and gruesome death scenes, Smile is a horror movie explicitly about trauma but is it also about something more? We’re breaking it all down today, so stay tuned.
Please be aware that this episode contains spoilers and a discussion on suicide.
Before Norman Bates: Talking the Spiral Staircase (1946)
In today's episode, it is early horror with an unexpected feminist twist in 1946’s The Spiral Staircase, directed by Robert Siodmak. Set in 1906, the film follows Helen (Dorothy McGuire), a woman with traumatic mutism, who cares for Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore), the difficult and bedridden lady of the manor. When a serial killer begins killing off women with so-called afflictions, Helen is warned that she may be next. Adapted from Ethel Lina White’s novel Some Must Watch (1933), the film takes up themes such as disability and masculinity while simultaneously challenging the notion that the modern slasher film began with Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). We’re breaking it all down today with spoilers, so stay tuned.
But She's a Star!: Talking Pearl (2022)
In today's episode, it's an old-Hollywood tinged journey into repression and murder via Ti West’s Pearl, the sequel to his massively successful X. Set against the final days of World War 1, the film follows Pearl (Mia Goth), a young woman who feels trapped by her mundane farm life and who yearns to take her place alongside the Big Screen stars she idolizes. But when those dreams get dashed, the film segues into unadulterated horror territory. With its sympathetic look at madness and its homage to the Golden Age of film, Pearl is a character study that all but ensures that you will never look at a scarecrow the same way again. We’re going to spoil the hell out of this film, so stay tuned.
A Divisive Slasher: Talking Sick (2022)
In today's episode, the Horror Homeroom crew dives into John Hyam’s SICK (2022). Situated in the early days of the pandemic, the film follows friends Parker and Miri as they quarantine at a remote lake house owned by Parker’s parents. They are joined unexpectedly by DJ, Parker’s friend with benefits, who is eager to make their relationship exclusive. But their idyllic reprieve is soon interrupted when an unexpected threat starts stalking them. We’re going to spoil the hell out of it today so stay tuned.
Time to Start Running: Talking Cirque Berzerk (2020)
In this condensed episode, Dawn and Liz are chatting about 2020’s CIRQUE BERZERK by Jessica Guess. Part of the 'Rewind or Die' series, the story takes place 30 years after a group of kids went on a killing spree at a local carnival; a massacre that left a dozen people dead. Decades after the tragedy, a group of students, including best friends Sam and Rochelle, decide to visit the theme park for one last hurrah. But sometimes, the past refuses to stay dead. We’re going to spoil the hell out of this book, so stay tuned!
Rewriting the Slasher: Talking They/Them (2022)
In this episode, we’re deep diving into John Logan’s highly polarizing They/Them (2022). A slasher film that takes place at a conversion camp, the film drew early criticism on social media with many wondering if there aren’t some topics that should be off limits. But what does that mean for a genre like horror that is predicated on exploring taboo and violating social norms? We’re spoiling the hell out of this movie, so stay tuned!
The Taboo of Aging: Talking "X" (2022)
In this episode, horror and pornography become not so strange bedfellows in Ti West’s "X". A love letter to 1970s low budget filmmaking, the movie blends humor, heart and lots of boobs to create a shockingly effective meditation on the complexities of aging. We’re going to spoil the hell out of this film today so stay tuned.
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The Other Bad Seed: Talking Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
On today’s episode it’s creepy kids meets arthouse violence with 1976’s Alice, Sweet Alice. Arguably more Giallo than classic slasher, this film merges religious iconography with straight up taboo to reflect a specifically 1970s horror sensibility. But despite a rabid cult fanbase, this movie never quite ascended to the heights of other well known slashers of the era but why? We’re breaking it all down on today’s episode so stay tuned.
Suburban Nightmare: Talking The Stepfather (1987)
In this episode, we are heading back to 1987 with Joseph Ruben's The Stepfather. Inspired by the horrific murders committed by John List, this movie doesn't just deconstruct the myth of the nuclear family, it detonates it...and sets it to a slamming 80s soundtrack. We're talking conservative values run amuck on this episode, so stay tuned!
Meet Frendo: Talking CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (2020)
How much do we love Adam Cesare's CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (2020)? So much that we braved Zoom just to bring you this episode! From its in the moment politics to its creative deployment of slasher tropes, Dawn and Liz are explaining why this novel deserves its buzz on this episode so stay tuned! SPOILERS ABOUND IN THIS EPISODE SO TAKE HEED.
The Kids Are Not Alright: Talking The Prodigy and Eli
Love Hurts: Talking My Bloody Valentine (1981 and 2009)
Wedding Woes: Talking Ready or Not (2019)
Polarizing Politics: Talking Black Christmas (2019)
Indie Darlings: Talking Sweetheart (2019) and Spiral (2019)
Scaredy Cats: Talking What Terrifies Us
Schlock & Shock: Talking the Creepshow Franchise
Weaponized Women: Talking The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
Jaw Crushing Horror: Talking Crawl (2019)
Unapologetic Disability: Talking Freaks (1932)
School's Out Summer Special: Queer Horror & Our Top 10 LGBTQ+ films
School's Out Summer Special: But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) and Psycho Beach Party (2000)
Sex, Guns, Gore & cameos: Our Top 10 Favorite Exploitation Horror Films (Bonus Episode)
Eat 'Em All: Talking the Piranha Franchise
Senior Scares: Our Top 10 Favorite "Old" Characters in Horror (Bonus Episode)
Retro Dread: Talking The Final Girls (2015) and Summer of 84 (2018)
Eco-Horror: Our Top 10 Movies (Bonus Episode)
Erasing Empathy: Talking Pet Sematary (2019)
1970s Horror: Our Top 10 Movies (Bonus Episode)
Doppelgängers of Death: Talking Us (2019)
1990s Horror: Our Top 10 Movies (Bonus Episode)
Breaking & Entering: Talking The People Under the Stairs (1991) & Don't Breathe (2016)
1980s Horror: Our Top 10 Movies (Bonus Episode)
Appropriating Aokigahara?: Talking The Forest (2016)
Horror Homeroom Conversations: Our Top 10 (Bonus Episode)
Feminist Exploitation?: Talking Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
Today the Horror Homeroom crew is weighing in on those questions as well as asking whether death by a 12-inch drill can ever be anything other than phallic.
Transgressing Grief: Talking Pet Sematary (1989)
The entire Horror Homeroom crew is here and we’re talking Jud’s questionable nature, what Zelda brings to the story, whether we should be watching the movie as folk horror and so much more!
The Pro-Sex Slasher: Talking Black Christmas (1974)
In this Horror Homeroom Conversation, we’re kicking it back to 1974 with the ultimate holiday horror film, BLACK CHRISTMAS and considering how the depictions of women in horror might be different had this film had gone mainstream.