Send Us Your Scares!

This week we're talking Obsession, the new Curry Barker horror movie that's blowing up on word of mouth. It's about a lonely guy who'd rather make a cursed wish than risk hearing the word "no" — and we get into why the scariest thing in this movie isn't the trinket at all. It's the cowardice behind it.

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Episode Breakdown

• We break down how the whole idea started from a Treehouse of Horror Simpsons rerun while Barker was killing time before his own TV episode aired.
• We dig into Inde Navarrette's performance as Nikki, including those frozen-smile moments that are 90-95% practical, no CGI safety net.
• We argue over the movie's biggest debate: is it secretly guilty of the same "nice guy" entitlement it's criticizing?
• We cover the wild behind-the-scenes stuff, from the real working cursed-trinket hotline to the party location that burned down in the L.A. fires.

The Dead Letter Want more horror between episodes? The Dead Letter is our free horror newsletter and the perfect companion to the show. Every issue is packed with five sections: Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's a fun little dose of horror straight to your inbox, and a great way to keep the conversation going after the episode ends. Come join us.

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We finally did it. After making everyone wait, we're cracking open Clive Barker's Hellraiser (1987) — and we're here to argue it was never actually the Pinhead show. This one's a nasty little story about marriage, betrayal, and obsession, where the demons are almost the least human thing in the house.

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Episode Breakdown

• How Barker adapted his own novella with a million bucks, a handful of drawings, and two directing books he couldn't even check out from the library.
• The resurrection scene breakdown — a body torn apart and run backward, plus a "demon heart" that was really just a tube and a guy blowing into it.
• Why Julia is the real engine of the movie, and why Clare Higgins gets way too overlooked.
• The score that almost was: Coil's rejected version vs. Christopher Young's gothic "sick romance" sound.

The Dead Letter

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That's a wrap on Hellraiser — go solve the box responsibly, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave us a review if we earned it this week. As Jessica always says:

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Send Us Your Scares!

It's Halloween 1977, and a desperate late-night host named Jack Delroy has booked the worst possible lineup for a live special. A psychic, a smug debunker, a parapsychologist, and a possibly-possessed teenage girl walk into a TV studio — and the ratings start climbing. Ambrose and Jessica break down why Late Night with the Devil (2023) is so much more than a horror gimmick, and why the scariest thing on screen isn't the demon.

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Episode Breakdown

• Ambrose and Jessica dig into David Dastmalchian performance and why the whole movie collapses without him.
• They unpack the film's two valid endings — Faustian bargain or grief-broken man — and why the movie refuses to pick one.
• The survival check gets real: Jessica changes the channel immediately, and Ambrose fully admits he'd keep the cameras rolling.
• Both hosts land on five out of five coffins — and yes, one of them was surprised by the other's rating.

The Dead Letter If you want to go even deeper into the horror, our free monthly newsletter The Dead Letter has you covered. Each issue comes packed with five sections: 

Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's the perfect companion to the show and it lands right in your inbox every month.

Sign-off Thanks for hanging out with us for this one — Late Night with the Devil is a film that earns every bit of its reputation, and we hope you go watch it immediately if you haven't. Subscribe, leave us a review, and come find us on social at TheTHINGaboutFilms.

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Ambrose and Jessica climb into the irradiated wasteland of Alexandre Aja's 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes, and come out the other side genuinely changed. From the Scottish cannibal legend that started it all to the most brutal trailer attack in modern horror, this episode breaks down why this remake might be one of the most important horror films of the 2000s.

Episode Breakdown:

• Ambrose and Jessica trace the film's DNA all the way back to the 17th-century legend of Sawney Bean — and the real historical mirror that caught Wes Craven's attention.
• They dig into the punishing Morocco shoot: 130-degree heat, foam latex melting off actors' faces, and a fake American gas station that real drivers kept pulling into for fuel.
• The trailer attack sequence gets a full breakdown. Including why the unrated cut changes the entire psychology of the scene.
• Ambrose gives it five coffins. Jessica holds firm at four. The debate is exactly as heated as you'd expect.

Want more horror than one episode can hold? The Dead Letter is our free monthly horror newsletter built to go deeper. Each issue features Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's a whole extra layer for horror fans who can't get enough. And the best part it's absolutely Free, and you can cancel anytime you want if you don't like it. No hard feelings.

Thanks for surviving this one with us. And if you're still showing up every week, do us a favor and hit subscribe. It helps more than you know.

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Send Us Your Scares!

She's patient. She's possessive. And she remembers everyone who ever wronged her.

This week Ambrose and Jessica take a wrench to John Carpenter's 1983 cult classic Christine — the story of a 1958 Plymouth Fury that gets possessed, hunts down bullies, and looks incredible doing it. But there's a lot more going on under that cherry red paint than a killer car movie. This one is about obsession, toxic masculinity, the dark side of American car culture, and what happens when a bullied kid gets handed a two-ton weapon and decides to use it.

Plus — the real-life curse of James Dean's Little Bastard, the MPAA ratings battle that forced Bill Phillips to go back and stuff F-bombs into a finished script, and why Stephen King calling this movie boring is a fundamental misread of how cinema works.

What We Cover

• Why Carpenter took this job as a deliberate career rescue mission after The Thing flopped — and the wild parallel to Arnie buying a junker
• How the entire ghost mythology from King's novel got ripped out and rebuilt from scratch — and why Ambrose will die on that hill
• The casting battle over Scott Baio, Brooke Shields, and Kevin Bacon — and how Keith Gordon ended up being the perfect choice
• Arnie's wardrobe transformation as a masterclass in visual storytelling
• The "Show Me" regeneration scene: three weeks, hydraulic pumps, an upside-down camera, and the debris problem that almost blew the illusion
• Terry Leonard driving a flaming two-ton car down a dark highway through a painted-black windshield with a millimeter-wide slit to see through
• Christine's radio as her only voice — and why the sound design is criminally underrated
• The MPAA ratings problem: not enough blood, so they added profanity
• James Dean's Little Bastard — the real-world cursed car legend that gives this film its lingering chill

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Send Us Your Scares!

A Nun throws herself off a balcony. The Vatican scrambles. And somewhere in the Carpathian Mountains, a demon in a habit is waiting. This week Ambrose and Jessica descend into the fog-soaked chaos of The Nun (2018) — the Conjuring universe's most divisive entry, and somehow its biggest box office hit.

We're talking real Romanian castles, a director who may or may not have shared a room with actual ghosts, and a marketing stunt so evil that YouTube banned it. Plus: why Valak sued Warner Brothers, the "nepo baby" casting drama, and two very different coffin ratings from the Crypt.

This week in the Crypt:

• The Hammer Horror DNA hiding in plain sight — and why Indiana Jones is in here too
• Taissa Farmiga, claustrophobia, and why being genuinely terrified on set might be a feature, not a bug
• The Romanian ghost story Corin Hardy told completely straight-faced
• Valak's real identity (hint: winged baby, two-headed dragon, absolute chaos)
• The YouTube ad that made people throw their phones across the room
• Why the Catholic Church in Lebanon said "absolutely not"
• Frenchie's dark secret and how it ties back to The Conjuring (2013)

The atmosphere is stunning. The story is barely holding together. And somehow, they can't stop watching.

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Send Us Your Scares!

Your worst date. A remote cabin. An app that controls everything about your partner. And an electric wine opener that becomes the most satisfying kill in recent horror history.

Ambrose and Jessica break down Companion — the 2025 horror-comedy that's one part rom-com, one part slasher, and one hundred percent a takedown of men who think love is something you can order off a menu.

This episode covers:

• The Barbarian connection — and why director Zack Cregger handed the keys to first-timer Drew Hancock
• Trailer Gate: did the marketing actually spoil the robot twist, or does it not even matter?
• Sophie Thatcher's tightrope performance as Iris — and the one-eye crying thing that is weirdly perfect
• Jack Quaid weaponizing his nice-guy face as the most unsettling boyfriend in horror right now
• The "go to sleep" command, the Campbell's Soup font, the Goo Goo Dolls needle drop with a very specific meta layer
• What Companion is really about — control, commodification, and "nice guy" misogyny with a remote control
• That ending — and whether Iris deserves peace more than a robot revolution

If the answer to "would you want to control everything about your partner" is yes... this movie has something to say to you.

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Send Us Your Scares!

So, you bought a ticket for a fairy tale. But you got a bone chisel.

This week Ambrose and Jessica (filling in for Kelly, who's recovering from surgery — get well soon!) crawl down into the Critic's Crypt to break down The Ugly Stepsister (2025) — Emily Blitchfield's debut feature that takes the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella and drags it straight into full-on body horror territory.

Think less glass slipper, more hammer and chisel. Less pumpkin carriage, more tapeworm extraction.

What We Cover

• Who is Elvira — and why she's the most relatable character in any Cinderella story ever made
• Why Agnes (Cinderella) is not the pure, helpless good girl you grew up with
• The rotting body in the spare room and what it says about money, class, and survival
• Dr. Esthetique's Institute — the procedures, the practical effects, and the foley work that will make you never eat celery again
• The tapeworm scene, the extraction scene, and the Sundance vomit incident
• The toe-chopping finale — and the tragically funny mistake that makes it worse
• How this compares to The Substance (and why this one is angrier and grimier)
• The Oscar-nominated makeup work and how they made a classically trained dancer look "aggressively average"
• What the film is actually saying about the beauty industry, eating disorders, and the economics of marriage

Content warning: graphic body horror, surgical procedures, eating disorder themes, blood, and a tapeworm extraction that one Sundance audience member did not survive emotionally.

Mentioned This Episode

• The Substance (2024)
• Raw (2016) — dir. Julia Ducournau
• Crash (1996) — dir. David Cronenberg
• Dead Ringers (1988) — dir. David Cronenberg
• Possession (1981)
• The Fly (1986)
• A Rose for Emily — William Faulkner
• Thelma & Louise (1991)
• William Castle (gimmick marketing legend)
• Jacques Joseph — pioneered modern rhinoplasty in the late 19th century
• The 1899 Paris trend of sewing hair into eyelids for "permanent" lash extensions (yes, it was real)

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Send Us Your Scares!

In this episode of The THING about Films, Ambrose is joined by Jessica (because Kelly lost her voice and is officially on vocal rest 💀) for a listener-requested trip straight into John Carpenter’s brain-melter: In the Mouth of Madness (1994).

We’re talking Sam Neill as the world’s most stubborn skeptic, a horror author whose books don’t just scare people—they change people, and a “road trip” to Hobbs End… a town that feels like it was printed out of a paperback and stapled onto reality. Along the way, we hit the wild opening asylum setup, the “Do you read Sutter Cane?” moment, the looping-road nightmare logic, and why this movie still feels weirdly ahead of its time.

Spoiler note: This episode is not spoiler friendly. We get into the full story and the ending.

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Send Us Your Scares!

In this episode of The THING about Films, Ambrose and Kelly head into the coal-dusted chaos of My Bloody Valentine (1981) and break down why it’s one of the most memorable slashers of the early 80s. They talk about what makes the setting feel so different from the usual “teens in the woods” formula, how the town’s working-class vibes shape the story, and why the killer design is still an all-timer.

They also dig into the real-world production story (including what it took to film in an actual mine), the long history of censorship and missing footage, and how the later uncut release changed the way people reevaluated the movie. Plus: favorite set pieces, what holds the movie back, how the 2009 remake compares, and a full Critic’s Crypt verdict with coffin ratings.

SPOILER NOTE: 

This episode does include some spoilers discussion of My Bloody Valentine (1981). The episode also includes talk about the 2009 remake.

CONTENT NOTE: 

Includes discussion of gore and violent set pieces.

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We just crawled back out of the morgue with our hair full of fake blood and our brain full of neon-green science choices. This week on The THING about Films, Ambrose and Kelly revisit Re-Animator (1985) for its 40th anniversary and ask the only important question: why does this movie somehow feel gross, funny, and completely unstoppable at the exact same time?

We’re talking Herbert West being the ultimate roommate from hell, how director Stuart Gordon brought theater-kid rehearsal energy to a splatter movie, and why Jeffrey Combs is basically welded to this role forever (in the best way). Plus: gallons and gallons of blood, practical effects wizardry, and the kind of “how did they even film this” moments that only the 80s could get away with.

SPOILER NOTE
 This episode is spoiler-heavy for Re-Animator.

CONTENT WARNING
 We discuss a sexual assault scene in the film (the Dr. Hill/Megan sequence). If you’d rather skip that part, just use the timestamps/chapters in your player.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE GET INTO

• Why this is more “Frankenstein chaos” than a typical zombie movie
• How H. P. Lovecraft wrote the original story as a serialized, work-for-hire gig… and hated it
• The unexpected path from Chicago theater to splatter classic (and the almost-TV-series version)
• Casting perfection: Combs as West, Barbara Crampton as Megan, and the gloriously slimy Dr. Hill
• Practical effects breakdowns: headless body tricks, table illusions, and why it still works
• The “how is the censored cut longer?” weirdness: unrated vs R-rated vs the Integral Cut
• “Grand Guignol” energy: when the shocks are so over-the-top you laugh on reflex
• Our Critic’s Crypt verdict: scares, laughs, and total madness

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Send Us Your Scares!

Nice suburban house. Cute family. Cozy living room TV. And then… the static talks back.

In this episode of The THING about Films, Ambrose and Kelly go all-in on Poltergeist (1982) — the haunted-house classic that traumatized a generation, somehow walked away with a PG rating, and helped push Hollywood straight into the PG-13 era. We break down why the Freeling family feels so real, why the TV is basically the scariest “front door” ever invented, and how this movie quietly roasts the American dream while it’s stacking your kitchen chairs like a threat.

We also get into the behind-the-scenes chaos: the Steven Spielberg vs. Tobe Hooper “who actually directed this?” debate, the MPAA rating drama (yes, it was originally an R), and the practical effects era at its most impressive… and most ethically messy.

SPOILER NOTE: This is a spoiler-friendly discussion of Poltergeist (1982).

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Scream 7 almost didn't exist. Fired leads, a resigned director, death threats, and an emergency nine-week rewrite later and Ghostface was back. This week, Ambrose and Jessica dig into whether the movie that rose from the ashes actually delivered, or just survived.

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Episode Breakdown:

• The behind-the-scenes collapse: Melissa Barrera fired, Jenna Ortega out, Christopher Landon gone — all within days of each other
• Kevin Williamson's emergency return and what he built around Neve Campbell as a mother protecting her kids
• The sound design doing heavy lifting — that bar kitchen scene with just a fridge hum and footsteps is old-school terrifying
• The deepfake mechanic: timely and clever in theory, but does using A.I. to resurrect Dewey and Stu break the rules of the game?
• The dual-killer reveal and why it feels like two totally different movies stitched together
• Final rating: a jointly agreed three and a half coffins out of five

Want more horror content between episodes? The Dead Letter is a free monthly horror newsletter that goes deeper on everything we cover. Each issue includes Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's the perfect companion if you want more horror in your life.

Thanks for listening to The THING About Films. If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave us a review — it genuinely helps us reach more horror fans. We'll be back next Friday with another one, and it'll probably destroy us.

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Episode Summary

Ambrose and Kelly are back for Season 2! After a quick catch-up, the duo dives into the bold, smart, and often nasty era of 2010s horror. They explore why "small" horror films like Green Room and Better Watch Out hit so much harder than big-budget blockbusters before performing a deep-dive autopsy on the 2016 cult favorite, The Autopsy of Jane Doe.

From the clinical tension of the Virginia morgue to the haunting significance of a "Ray of Sunshine," the hosts break down every stage of this ritualistic nightmare. They also reveal the incredible practical effects and the intense physical performance required to bring Jane Doe to life.

Warning: This episode contains full spoilers for The Autopsy of Jane Doe.

Key Discussion Points

• The 2010s Horror Renaissance: Why this decade moved away from "safe" horror to embrace smart, mean, and high-stress storytelling.
• Atmospheric Dread: How The Autopsy of Jane Doe uses a single location and a minimalist cast to create maximum claustrophobia.
• The Tilden Family Dynamic: Analyzing the relationship between father and son coroners, Tommy (Brian Cox) and Austin (Emile Hirsch).
• The Practicality of Horror: A look at the film's "grossly realistic" practical effects and the remarkable performance of Olwen Kelly as the titular corpse.
• The Symbolism of "Ray": How Tommy’s personal guilt over his late wife's death is mirrored in the autopsy of the mysterious Jane Doe.
• The Final Verdict: Do the hosts think this film is a masterpiece or a misfire? (Hint: Grab your coffins).

Featured Films

• The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) (Main Feature)
• Green Room (2015)
• Better Watch Out (2016)

Notable Quotes

"The 2010s was the decade where horror got bold again. It wasn’t just one flavor—you had movies that were smart, nasty, funny, and mean." — Ambrose

"Every step they take in the autopsy just opens another problem. The body becomes this puzzle that keeps getting worse the more you solve it." — Kelly

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⚠️ LIMITED TIME FREE PREVIEW! ⚠️

Welcome to the debut of the Scream Queens Horror News Show! We are unlocking Episode 1 for everyone to give you a taste of what’s behind the velvet curtain.

Love what you hear? The VIP Pass is your ticket to the inner circle. For just $4 a month, you get:

• Ad-Free Episodes: No interruptions, just pure horror.
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• Private Discord Channel: Join Kelly, Jessica, and the rest of the community to discuss the latest news in real-time.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Scream Queens Horror News Show! Join your hosts, Kelly and Jessica, as they take a deep dive into the 2026 horror landscape. From A24’s most unsettling new teasers to the return of Pennywise and Jason Voorhees, we are covering the news that keeps you up at night.

In This Episode:

Trailer & Poster Highlights

• Mother Mary (A24): We break down the teaser for this "transgressive dive" into the cult of celebrity. Is stardom the ultimate monster?
• Primal: Get ready for Johannes Roberts’ "killer chimp" movie. We discuss the D-BOX theatrical experience coming January 9th.
• The Strangers: Chapter 3: Renny Harlin’s trilogy concludes on February 6th. We analyze the new "Embrace Your Fears" poster.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Shark: "Sharkopine" is real. Prepare for this digital release later this month.

Production & Industry Updates

• Welcome to Derry (Max): Miles Eckhart joins us (via news updates) to discuss filming Season 2, jumping back to the 1935 Bradley Gang Massacre.
• Crystal Lake (A24): Huge news for the Friday the 13th prequel—we're officially getting a teenage Jason Voorhees.
• Box Office: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 hits a massive $200M milestone.

The 2026 Horror Watchlist

• The Long Walk: Stephen King’s dystopian nightmare hits screens January 10th.
• Cold Storage: Joe Keery vs. parasitic fungus? Sign us up for this February release.
• New Fear’s Eve: The holiday slasher you didn't know you needed.
• Giallo-uary: Arrow Video brings us restored classics like Deep Red and Blood and Black Lace.
• Indie Picks: Quick hits on The Plague, South Korea's Noid, and Norway's The Ugly Stepsister.

Merch Check

• NECA Reveal: We take a first look at the Santa Ghostface figure—the perfect blend of holiday cheer and 90s nostalgia.

Notable Quote

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Grab your parkas and check the phone lines—we’re heading back to Colorado, but the rules have changed. This week, Ambrose and Kelly dive deep into the snow-covered hellscape of Black Phone 2.

The sequel takes a massive swing, pivoting from the claustrophobic basement thriller of the original to an 80s-inspired "supernatural siege." We break down Ethan Hawke’s spectral return as the Grabber, the fascinating technical "visual map" used to separate dreams from reality, and why the horror community is so divided over the film’s "no kill" paradox. Is it a worthy evolution of Finney and Gwen’s story, or did the 80s slang dial it up a bit too far?

Warning: This episode contains full spoilers for Black Phone 2.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Genre Pivot: How the franchise moved from a grounded thriller to a "Supernatural Siege" set at Camp Alpine Lake.

• The Ninth Circle of Hell: Exploring the Dante’s Inferno connection and why the Grabber’s new "frozen lake" domain is more than just a cool visual.

• Technical Deep Dive: Why the filmmakers used pristine 8.6K Sony Venice 2 digital cameras for the real world versus gritty, "reckless" Super 8 and Super 16 film for the dream sequences.

• The Dream Warrior Evolution: Gwen’s transition from fragmented visions to active combat, and Finney’s heartbreaking struggle with trauma-induced dissociation.

• The Ice-Skating Grabber: Breaking down that audacious (and terrifying) homage to 1983’s Curtains.

• The Controversy: Is the "spectral" Grabber too "polite"? We tackle the fan debate regarding the lack of a present-day body count.

• The Verdict: We head into the Critic’s Crypt to give our official rating in coffins.

QUESTION FOR YOU

Did the sequel’s “frozen-hell ghost” vibe work for you, or did the mythology homework take you out of it?

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This week on The THING about Films, we go headfirst into the suburban chaos of Weapons, the sprawling follow-up that basically dares you to think you’ve got it figured out… and then pulls the floor out from under you.

We break down the “Trojan horse” marketing and why the trailers were built to mislead, the insane scale behind the movie (including the reported bidding war, budget, and final-cut deal), and the cleanest horror hook imaginable: seventeen kids from one third-grade class vanishing at exactly 2:17 a.m. 

Then we dig into the movie’s craft and big swings: “melancholy sunshine” visuals, sound design that’s basically an audio jump scare with a long fuse, the layered meanings behind 2:17, and the ritual rules that make the ending hit as hard as it does. 

Full spoilers for Weapons, including the ending. So if you haven’t seen the movie yet. Go watch it and then come back to hear our take on the movie.

What we cover

• Why the rollout was intentionally deceptive (and how it worked) pasted
  
  
• The scope: New Line vs. Universal, the reported ~$38M budget, final cut, and theatrical guarantee pasted
  
  
• The hook: Maybrook, PA and the 2:17 a.m. vanishing pasted
  
  
• The 2:17 rabbit hole: classroom math, Shining nods, and the Matthew 2:17 grief read pasted
  
  
• Performances and characters (Justine, Archer, James, and Gladys) + why the town turns on the wrong “monster” pasted
  
  
• Cinematography: “melancholy sunshine,” plus the film-stock/processing choices that drain the warmth out of daylight pasted
  
  
• Sound design: the “quiet” that isn’t quiet and the infamous “whale from hell” texture fileciteturn1file2L3-L4pasted
  
  
• The ritual mechanics: the simple, brutal rules of the spell (and how they set up Gladys’s downfall) pasted
  
  
• The ending debate: what almost made it into the director’s cut vs. what audiences got pasted
• The Trevor Moore tributes (including the “seven hot dogs” moment) pasted

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What if “welcome to the family” really meant “run for your life before dawn”?

In this episode of The THING about Films, Ambrose and Kelly dive headfirst into Ready or Not (2019), the bloody, chaotic wedding-night nightmare where in-laws, inheritance, and a literal deal with the devil all collide.

They break down how this horror-comedy walks the razor’s edge between genuine terror and pitch-black humor, why the Le Domas gaming dynasty is the perfect “eat the rich” family, and how a single cursed game of Hide and Seek turns into a full-blown satanic survival ritual.

You’ll hear them dig into:

• The Le Bail bargain, that sinister pact behind the family’s obscene wealth
• Why Hide and Seek is the one game that turns the wedding into a hunt
• How Radio Silence reshaped the script into a one-night survival thriller
• The Toronto mansion locations that double as the Le Domas estate (and the X-Mansion!)
• The iconic “Swiss Army Dress” and how 24 versions track Grace’s evolution
• Samara Weaving’s scrappy final girl performance and Andie MacDowell’s brutal turn as Becky
• The incompetent rich, disposable staff, and the film’s savage class satire
• Daniel’s tragic almost-redemption, Charity’s cold choice, and Alex’s selfish descent
• That explosive finale, Grace’s perfect “I want a divorce” moment, and why this ending is so insanely satisfying

Spoilers are everywhere, so if you haven’t seen Ready or Not, consider this your final warning before we light the candles and draw a card.

Stick around to the end as we head down into The Critic’s Crypt to pick apart the legacy, themes, and why this film earns its place as a modern “eat the rich” classic.

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In this episode, Ambrose and Kelly astral project straight into Insidious (2011) and break down how James Wan and Leigh Whannell reinvented the modern jump scare with almost no gore and a tiny budget. They dig into the “quiet creative desperation” that pushed the Saw duo back to their indie roots and turned a low-budget ghost story into a box office monster.

You’ll hear how Insidious pulled in nearly 100 million on a shoestring, why that 66.6x budget ratio is horror-movie perfect, and how “The Further” flips the haunted house trope into something way more personal and psychological. The hosts unpack the Lipstick-Face Demon, the Bride in Black, puppet imagery, red doors, and all the sneaky background scares hiding in plain sight.

From Giallo-inspired color and inverted camera shots to Joseph Bishara’s atonal “rusted piano” score and the no-fake-jump-scares rule, Ambrose and Kelly show how every technical choice is designed to mess with your nerves. Then it is down into the Critic’s Crypt for final ratings, a debate over whether the demon is terrifying or just over-contoured, and a sprint away from a mysteriously opening red door.

In this episode:

• Escaping the shadow of Saw and returning to low-budget control
• How Insidious redefined PG-13 jump scares without relying on gore
• The mythology of The Further, astral projection, and generational curses
• Lipstick-Face Demon, the Bride in Black, and all those creepy puppets
• Giallo colors, red doors, and Wan’s love of inverted, spiraling shots
• Joseph Bishara’s atonal score, rusted piano sound design, and “no fake jump scares” rule
• Cast, crew, kid-actor horror stories, and on-set Easter eggs
• Franchise legacy, Parker Crane, and how the sequels turn terror into generational healing
• Critic’s Crypt ratings: Ambrose 4.5 / 5 coffins, Kelly 4 / 5 coffins

Call to action:

If you enjoyed this deep dive into Insidious, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with the friend who still can’t hear “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” without checking the corners of the room.

Have a horror movie you want us to tackle next or a hot take on the Lipstick-Face Demon? Check the show notes for our links and send us your picks and theories.

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Don’t touch that light switch—you’re going to want to see what’s hiding in the corners for this one.

In this episode, Ambrose and Kelly blur the lines between spiritual terror and psychiatric reality. We are diving deep into the heartbreaking and terrifying true story of Anneliese Michel, the young German woman whose tragic death inspired The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Was it a battle for her soul against six demons, or a failure of the medical and religious systems surrounding her?

We also pull back the curtain on Hollywood to explore the physical toll of "immersive acting" and the legendary "cursed sets" of horror history—from the fires of The Exorcist to the tragic deaths surrounding Poltergeist.

Plus, we get technical with the science of sound, explaining how the "Kuleshov Effect" manipulates your fear and how the ENF Criterion is used to authenticate audio recordings.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Real Emily Rose: The life, suffering, and recorded exorcisms of Anneliese Michel.
• Hollywood vs. Reality: Comparing the legal thriller The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) with the gritty German drama Requiem (2006).
• Method Acting or Madness? How Jennifer Carpenter’s body-warping performance blurred the lines of reality.
• Cursed Cinema: The eerie deaths and accidents on the sets of The Omen, The Exorcist, and Poltergeist.
• Forensics of Fear: Analyzing the "Anneliese Michel Tapes" and how audio experts prove a recording is real using the electrical grid's hum.
• The Critic’s Crypt: Ambrose and Kelly head down to the basement (mistake!) to rate The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

So, grab your holy water and your headphones—it’s time to confront the cost of belief.

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What happens when a bunch of broke Michigan kids decide they’d rather summon Deadites than get normal jobs? Ambrose and Kelly hike back to the cabin to dig into The Evil Dead and the beautiful chaos behind it.

They walk through how Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and friends went from backyard Super 8 shorts to a miserable winter shoot in Tennessee, sleeping on floors and inventing Fake Shemps, Shaky Cams, and sticky DIY gore just to get this thing finished.

Then they break down why the film still works as pure dread energy. Plus the five emotional states of horror, Ash’s total mental collapse, one infamous scene that still divides fans, and how an X rating, Video Nasty panic, and a Stephen King rave turned it into a cult legend.

In this episode, we…

• Trace the scrappy origin story of The Evil Dead.
• Geek out over blood recipes, cracked lenses, and painful makeup.
• Map Dread, Terror, Horror, Shock, and Disgust onto key moments.
• Compare the original to Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness, and the 2013 remake, then hand out Coffin ratings.

Listen now and follow The THING about Films wherever you get your podcasts.

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Charge your flashlight, lock the basement door, and welcome back to The THING About Films.

This week, Ambrose and Kelly are calling on The Conjuring (2013) and asking the big questions:
How did a “little” haunted house movie turn into a horror empire? Where does the real Perron family story end and the Hollywood version begin? And what happens when your “based on a true story” comes with real people, real trauma, and a very real old farmhouse that will not stay quiet?

They break down why this movie still creeps people out, what makes the Warrens such compelling on-screen guides, and why smart, slow-burn scares hit harder than buckets of gore. Then they pull back the curtain on the true story that inspired it all and talk about the messy, uncomfortable stuff the movie leaves in the dark.

If you’ve ever watched The Conjuring and thought, “Okay, but how much of this actually happened?” this episode is your rabbit hole.

Hit play, keep your feet off the floor, and remember: just because it says “true story” on the poster doesn’t mean the real horror made it to the screen.

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This week we crack open It Follows, the modern slow-burn nightmare that turned a simple idea into pure anxiety. We dig into the real childhood dream that sparked the story, why the world of the film feels “out of time,” how the camera work makes you paranoid on purpose, and how Disasterpeace built that pulse-raising score in a wild three-week sprint. We also talk box office glow-up, the pool finale, and where things stand with the sequel, They Follow.

What we cover

• The original nightmare that inspired the “it just walks” concept
• Why the movie’s mix of decades (’60s houses, ’80s fits, fake e-reader) keeps your brain on edge
• Deep-focus shots, slow 360 pans, and how the camera turns you into the lookout
• Disasterpeace’s synth score: influences, the rush to Cannes, and why the music is “too loud” on purpose
• Michigan locations, the “border” of Eight Mile, and that perfect abandoned house layout
• Maika Monroe’s performance and the cast choices that made the entity feel personal
• Themes: inevitability, guilt, and dread that doesn’t care what year it is
• The finale’s “DIY” plan, the dad reveal, and why the ambiguity sticks
• Sequel check-in: They Follow updates and what “ten years later” could mean

Critic’s Crypt Ratings

• Ambrose: 4 out of 5 Coffins
• Kelly: 3.5 out of 5 Coffins

Spoilers
Yep, we discuss plot details, the pool scene, and the final shot.

Content warnings
Stalking, sexual implications, brief nudity, violence, anxiety themes.

Segment guide (no timestamps)
Cold open banter • What the curse is and why it works • Production design and that timeless vibe • Cinematography that makes you scan the frame • Disasterpeace’s score story • Detroit/Michigan locations • Cast notes and character beats • Finale breakdown • Sequel talk • Critic’s Crypt verdicts & sign-off

Grab-bag trivia

• The tall hallway scare was played by 7'7" Detroiter Mike Lanier.
• Yara reading The Idiot ties the movie to the fear of inevitable fate.
• That pink “seashell” e-reader was built for the film so nothing would date the story.

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Can horror comedy actually make a comeback? Or did the internet ruin the spoof movie forever? This week, Ambrose and Jessica go deep on five films — Scary Movie, Shaun of the Dead, Tucker & Dale vs Evil, M3GAN, and the upcoming Scary Movie 6 — to answer one question: what makes a horror comedy actually last?

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Episode Breakdown

• They break down how Keenen Ivory Wayans ran two weeks of character rehearsals to make Scary Movie feel like a real slasher underneath all the filth.
• The story of how a volunteer zombie army built from a Spaced fan site helped make Shaun of the Dead on just six million dollars.
• Tucker & Dale isn't really a slasher parody — it's a movie about class prejudice and how horror films trained us to assume the worst about working class people.
• A single TikTok dance cut M3GAN from a hard-R horror movie into a PG-13 cash machine — and both Ambrose and Jessica have feelings about it.

The Dead Letter If you want more horror between episodes, The Dead Letter is the free monthly newsletter from TheTHINGaboutFilms. Each issue includes Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's horror that goes deeper without the homework. 

Sign-off Thanks for hanging out in the dark with us. If you're enjoying the show, subscribe and leave us a review — it really does help. We'll be back next Friday with something that'll probably wreck us emotionally. See you then.

"And the best part it's absolutely Free, and you can cancel anytime you want if you don't like it."

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🕯️ Episode Summary

This week, Ambrose and Kelly crack open one of the most disturbing modern horror films — Ari Aster’s Hereditary. From the gut-wrenching screams of Toni Collette to that unforgettable attic scene, they dig deep into the film’s raw exploration of grief, guilt, and fate. It’s family trauma turned into full-blown occult horror — and we’re not holding anything back.

The duo dives into behind-the-scenes stories, production details, and the performances that left both cast and crew emotionally wrecked. You’ll learn why Hereditary crawls under your skin, how the dollhouse visuals turned into a metaphor for control, and what makes Aster’s refusal to offer closure so brilliantly cruel.

Then, in the Critic’s Crypt, Ambrose and Kelly trade thoughts on what worked, what didn’t, and how Hereditary manages to make dinner conversations scarier than demonic possession.

🔦 Highlights

• Why Hereditary’s real horror is grief, not demons
• Toni Collette’s performance that shook audiences (and maybe deserved an Oscar)
• Alex Wolff’s intense method acting and on-set injuries
• The miniature sets that symbolized control, fate, and family doom
• Ari Aster’s obsession with precision and emotional pain
• The attic scene that haunts even the cast
• Final Coffin Salute ratings: Ambrose – 4/5, Kelly – 3/5

💀 In the Critic’s Crypt

Ambrose and Kelly go head-to-head on pacing, symbolism, and the infamous cult ending. Is Hereditary a masterpiece of psychological terror or an emotional mugging disguised as art? Either way, it leaves you checking your ceiling before bed.

🕯️ Final Thoughts

Is King Paimon the real villain—or is the true curse the trauma we inherit?
 Grab your flashlight, Survivors. We’re heading back into the dark.

🎧 Listen Now

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your scares.
 Join the conversation — what’s your Hereditary moment that still haunts you?

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This week on The THING about Films, we are stepping into the telekinetic terror that started it all. Stephen King’s Carrie did not just launch one of horror’s most tragic characters. It launched Stephen King himself into the pop-culture stratosphere.

We break down the journey from King’s debut novel in 1974 to the iconic 1976 film adaptation that made prom night a blood-soaked cautionary tale. Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie brought Carrie and Margaret White to life with performances so intense they both landed Oscar nominations. Not too shabby for a movie where the gym literally explodes.

We also dig into the creative crew that shaped the film’s nightmare energy:
 • Director: Brian De Palma
• Screenwriter: Lawrence D. Cohen
• Composer: Pino Donaggio (after Bernard Herrmann passed away)
• Art Director: Jack Fisk
• Cast Highlights: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, John Travolta (yes, that John Travolta), Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles

De Palma leaned into Hitchcock influences hard, especially Psycho. Even the sound stage has history. Parts of the movie were filmed at Culver City Studios, including the same location where Gone With The Wind staged the burning of Atlanta. Swap flames for pig’s blood and you get the idea.

We also walk through Carrie’s legacy. There have been:
• The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)
• Carrie: The Musical (1988)
• TV movie remake in 2002
• Feature film remake in 2013
• Upcoming Mike Flanagan limited series for Prime Video arriving in 2026

Yes, Mike Flanagan is back at it. The new cast is already exciting:
 • Summer H. Howell as Carrie White
• Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White
• Matthew Lillard as Principal Grael
• Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen

Flanagan adapting King again. A tale as old as time. A prom dress as red as… well, you know.

Favorite Pull Quotes

"The violence isn't triggered by some ancient evil. It's triggered by relentless bullying and horrible abuse."

"Her saving those pages literally changed modern literature."

"It perfectly captures Carrie's brief moment of pure happiness and acceptance... makes the fall even harder."

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Ambrose and Kelly break down how IT evolved from King’s doorstop novel into the 1990 TV classic, the R-rated 2017/2019 films, and the upcoming prequel Welcome to Derry. We talk fear, friendship, why Derry feels “alive,” and why Pennywise still wrecks our nerves.

Highlights

• Derry as a character, not a backdrop
• Two timelines and why that’s hard to adapt
• 1990 ABC constraints vs. big-screen freedom
• Tim Curry’s charm vs. Skarsgård’s inhuman menace
• Chapter Two’s heart: Richie, Eddie, and Stan’s letter
• What a prequel should reveal without killing the mystery

Quick Timestamps

0:00 Cold open, red balloons
 7:00 Book scale, dual timelines
 15:00 1990 miniseries: what works, what creaks
 28:00 2017: reset to ’89, R-rated stakes
 41:00 Chapter Two: cast, grief, endings
 52:00 Welcome to Derry: hopes and worries
56:00 Critic’s Crypt ratings

Critic’s Crypt — Coffin Salute

• IT (1990): 3/5 (both)
• IT (2017): Ambrose 5/5, Kelly 4/5
• IT Chapter Two (2019): Ambrose 3.5/5, Kelly 3/5
• Welcome to Derry: TBD

Join In

Got thoughts or Derry lore? Email kellyshorrorhallpass@yahoo.com. If we read it on air, you get a sticker pack.

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🎧 Summary

This week, we dig into Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat — the horror anthology that turned Halloween night into a rulebook for survival. From studio setbacks to cult status, we break down how Sam, the burlap-masked spirit of Halloween, became an icon and why this film deserves its annual spot in your spooky season lineup.

🕸️ Key Topics

Michael Dougherty — Writer and director of Trick ‘r Treat and its upcoming sequel. His earlier short Seasons Greetings (1996) introduced Sam and inspired the film’s non-linear comic-book style, influenced by Pulp Fiction (1994).

Samhain (“Sam”) — Halloween’s enforcer in burlap and buttons. His kills aren’t random — they’re payback for breaking the rules.

The Film’s Journey — Shelved by Warner Bros. for two years before finding new life on home video and becoming a cult phenomenon. Arrow Films later released a stunning 4K remaster.

2025 Revival — Fathom Events will re-release Trick ‘r Treat in theaters with Seasons Greetings included. Plus, Trick ‘r Treat 2 is in active development at Legendary Pictures.

Character Spotlight — Dylan Baker’s Principal Steven Wilkins remains one of horror’s most unsettling “nice guys.”

🩸 Pull Quotes

🧛 Corrections

No unclear sections found; all facts verified against known details about the film.

🔗 Links

• Trick ‘r Treat (Streaming + 4K Edition by Arrow Films)
• Fathom Events 2025 Re-Release
• Email us your thoughts at kellyshorrorhallpass@yahoo.com
  — if we read yours on air, you’ll get a free Scream Team Sticker Pack!

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Starring Betsy Palmer as Pamela Voorhees and Adrienne King as Alice, this landmark slasher film helped cement the genre’s place in mainstream cinema. The special effects were handled by Tom Savini, whose practical gore effects became legendary for their shocking realism.

Produced on a modest budget of roughly $550,000–$650,000, the film went on to gross nearly $60 million worldwide, proving that independent horror could be a serious box office force. It effectively legitimized the slasher genre as a profitable Hollywood formula.

The story unfolds at Camp Crystal Lake, a fictional setting filmed at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick, New Jersey — a real campground that still offers Jason-themed tours for fans.

The eerie “Ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma” sound effect — often mistaken for Jason’s whisper — was actually inspired by Mrs. Voorhees’ line, “Kill her, Mommy!” Composer Harry Manfredini recorded and distorted the phrase to create the now-iconic horror cue.

The film’s unforgettable final jump scare, where a young Jason bursts from the lake, was suggested by Savini himself, drawing inspiration from Carrie (1976).

Behind the scenes, success came with a dark side. Actress Adrienne King faced a real-life stalker after the film’s release, prompting her to step away from acting for several years.

Although Jason Voorhees appears only briefly as a child in this original installment, he went on to become one of horror’s most enduring icons — even earning an MTV Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992 as the genre’s most prolific killer.

Pull Quotes

• “It wasn’t about careful artistic planning at all. It was pure commercial audacity.”
• “That one desperate move saved the scene and basically made horror history.”
• “Critics hated it, but it was a massive hit, both commercially and culturally.”

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This week, Ambrose and Kelly dig into Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects — the brutal, blood-soaked follow-up to House of 1000 Corpses. It’s not just gore and chaos; it’s a dusty road trip through Americana, revenge, and the ugly heart of violence itself. We’re breaking down the Firefly family’s twisted journey, Sheriff Wydell’s descent into obsession, and why this movie feels less like a horror sequel and more like an outlaw Western turned inside out.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• How Rob Zombie flipped from campy horror to raw grit.
• The Firefly family’s evolution from cartoon villains to tragic antiheroes.
• Sheriff Wydell’s transformation into something even darker than his prey.
• The film’s grindhouse aesthetic: 16mm grit, sweat, and outlaw rock.
• Cameos, cult casting choices, and why this movie cemented its place in horror history.
• That unforgettable ending set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird — and why it still hits like a gut punch.

Key Takeaways:

• The Devil’s Rejects isn’t just about blood and mayhem — it’s about how horror can blur the line between villain and victim.
• Rob Zombie brought 1970s road movie grit into the horror genre and left his mark.
• This is a film that forces you to look at violence, grief, and vengeance in a way that’s messy, human, and deeply uncomfortable.

Pull Quotes from the Episode:

• “It shifts from that closed-set Gothic thing into this wide-open, existential road film.”
• “Wydell becomes the bigger evil because his cruelty is sanctioned.”
• “The music tricks you into feeling the tragedy of their end.”

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Some movies you watch. Others you survive. William Friedkin’s The Exorcist wasn’t just a horror film — it was a cultural earthquake. Pea soup, spinning heads, fainting audiences, whispers of a “curse,” and a box office run that rewrote the rules of cinema. Half a century later, this nightmare still hasn’t let go of us.

In this episode of The THING about Films, we peel back every layer of The Exorcist — from its real-life inspirations to the chaos of its production, and the deep questions it still raises about science, faith, and evil itself.

Here’s what we dig into:

• The real 1949 exorcism case that inspired William Peter Blatty’s novel.
• Why the film’s medical realism is more terrifying than the supernatural.
• The cultural hysteria: fainting audiences, walkouts, and worldwide controversy.
• Behind-the-scenes stories: set accidents, Friedkin’s extreme methods, and the so-called “curse.”
• How sound design, lighting, and editing pushed the boundaries of horror craft.
• The battle between Friedkin and Blatty over the film’s message — shock vs. spirituality.
• Why Father Karras, not Merrin, may be the true heart of the story.
• And of course, our final verdict in the Critic’s Crypt.

The Exorcist isn’t just scary — it’s complicated, uncomfortable, and unforgettable. And we’re breaking it all down so you don’t have to watch it alone in the dark.

👻 New episodes drop every Friday!
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Some horror movies fade the second the credits roll. The Entity (1982) isn’t one of them. This controversial classic drops you straight into a nightmare: a single mother terrorized by an unseen force. But it’s more than supernatural scares—it’s about trauma, institutional gaslighting, and the terrifying question of what happens when no one believes you.

In this episode, we break down:

• The shocking opening that set the tone for one of horror’s most unsettling films
• Barbara Hershey’s powerhouse performance and why critics called it her comeback
• The real case of Doris Bither that inspired the story—and how Hollywood twisted it
• Stan Winston’s practical effects wizardry that made the invisible feel horrifyingly real
• The cultural debates around exploitation, belief, and how horror portrays violence
• Why The Entity still resonates in the #MeToo era, and what its lasting legacy tells us about horror

From cult status to controversy, from folklore to true crime inspiration—this movie refuses to stay buried.

🎙️ Buckle up. This isn’t popcorn horror.

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Grab your popcorn (and maybe a barf bag) because this week we’re diving straight into the blood-soaked circus of the Terrifier franchise. From Art the Clown’s scrappy beginnings in indie shorts, to audiences literally fainting during Terrifier 2, to the twisted holiday carnage of Terrifier 3 — and yes, all the speculation about where Damien Leone is taking us in Terrifier 4.

In this episode, we cover:

• 🎭 Art the Clown’s slow climb from background creep to full-blown horror icon.
• 🩸 The raw grindhouse grit of Terrifier (2016) and how it felt like finding a cursed VHS tape.
• 🎟️ The marketing mayhem behind Terrifier 2 — puke bags, fainting headlines, and why it worked.
• 🎄 Terrifier 3: Art meets Christmas… and ruins it for everyone.
• 🔥 The myth-making of Sienna, why she’s become horror’s newest Final Girl, and the epic good-vs-evil energy she brings.
• 👹 Theories, teases, and hype for Terrifier 4: hellscapes, bigger budgets, and Leone promising the “most shocking horror movie of the decade.”

Whether you’re here for the gore, the hype, or just the sick curiosity of how far Art will push it next — we’ve got you covered.

So buckle up, horror fans. This one’s messy.

👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate the show wherever you listen, and if you survive this episode, join our horror community for exclusive content, giveaways, and bonus shows like Kelly’s Horror Hall Pass.

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What happens when horror and comedy collide on the foggy English moors? In 1981, John Landis gave us the answer with An American Werewolf in London—a film that’s as bloody as it is hilarious, and as tragic as it is unforgettable.

This week on The THING about Films, we’re diving deep into one of the most iconic horror-comedies ever made. From its strange real-life inspiration to the decade-long struggle to get it produced, we’ll unpack the story behind the nightmare. Along the way, we cover:

• 🎬 How John Landis went from Animal House to werewolves
• 🐺 The wild back-and-forth over casting, including the almost Aykroyd & Belushi version
• 🎭 Griffin Dunne’s rotting makeup and the dark comedy hiding beneath it
• ❄️ David Naughton’s freezing barefoot runs and terrifying zoo scenes
• 🧟 Nazi werewolf nightmares, cultural clashes, and hidden allegories
• 🎶 Why every song on the soundtrack has “moon” in the title—and what didn’t make the cut
• 🩸 Rick Baker’s groundbreaking transformation effects that literally created an Oscar category

We’ll also break down the film’s deeper themes—identity, folklore, loss of control—and how this cult classic paved the way for Shaun of the Dead, Evil Dead II, and even Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

So grab your pint at The Slaughtered Lamb, keep an eye on the full moon, and join us as we unravel why An American Werewolf in London still has horror fans howling more than forty years later.

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This week, Ambrose and Jessica step into Cyrus Kriticos's glass house of horrors to break down Thir13en Ghosts (2001). They tackle the wild Black Zodiac lore, the practical effects masterclass behind those twelve ghosts, and the question that splits horror fans down the middle — is this movie a glorious mess, or a misunderstood cult classic?

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Episode Breakdown

• The bisection death scene and the practical body gag that put this movie on every horror top-ten list
• Why the Angry Princess, the Jackal, and the Torso are still some of the best ghost designs ever put to film
• Matthew Lillard chewing scenery as Dennis vs. Tony Shalhoub's grounded sad dad performance
• The grief metaphor hiding under all the glass, gore, and chaos — plus the rumored TV series in the works

The Dead Letter

Want more horror in your inbox every month? Sign up for The Dead Letter, our free horror newsletter companion to TheTHINGaboutFilms. Each edition features five recurring sections: Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's the perfect way to keep the horror conversation going between episodes. Sign up at https://deadletter-m8dfsqxm.manus.space

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Thanks for hanging out in the crypt with us this week, horror fam. If you dug the episode, hit follow, drop us a rating, and share it with the friend who still won't admit they were terrified of the Jackal as a kid. The Dead Letter newsletter is waiting for you — Jessica, take it home.

"And the best part it's absolutely Free, and you can cancel anytime you want if you don't like it."

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Barbecue, road trips, and… cannibalism? This week, we’re diving straight into the sweaty, sun-baked nightmare that changed horror forever: Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

We’re talking:

• 🔪 The chaos of filming — unbearable heat, unwashed costumes, and a dinner scene so rancid it made actors sick.
• 🎥 The art of grit — how a shoestring budget, 16mm film, and Daniel Pearl’s raw cinematography gave the movie its iconic “too real” documentary vibe.
• 🎧 Sound as terror — from buzzing chainsaws to pig squeals layered over screams, the film weaponized noise in ways that still rattle audiences today.
• 👹 The Sawyer family — Leatherface, the Hitchhiker, the Cook, and Grandpa, all working together to redefine what “family dinner” means.
• 🩸 Myth vs. reality — why everyone remembers it as gorier than it actually is, and how implication made it even scarier.

Along the way, we unpack the physical and psychological toll on the cast, the blurred line between method acting and straight-up suffering, and why Leatherface remains one of horror’s most complex monsters.

So grab your headphones (and maybe skip the barbecue tonight), because this isn’t just a movie—it’s an experience.

👉 Drop your thoughts in the comments: Is silence scarier than jump-scare music? Did Chainsaw scar you the first time you saw it?

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Grab your fava beans and a nice Chianti, because this week we’re digging into Jonathan Demme’s Oscar-sweeping nightmare masterpiece, The Silence of the Lambs.

In this episode, we explore how a horror film not only broke into Hollywood’s most exclusive club but completely cleaned house — winning the “Big Five” Academy Awards: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Adapted Screenplay. It’s a feat so rare, only three films in history have ever done it.

What’s Inside the Episode:

• Oscar Gold & Genre Barriers: How Silence muscled its way into awards history and proved horror could be both terrifying and prestigious.
• Clarice Starling’s Quiet Strength: Jodie Foster’s grounded, vulnerable, yet fiercely determined performance — and how her real-life experiences shaped the role.
• Hannibal Lecter’s 16-Minute Reign: Anthony Hopkins’ unforgettable portrayal, built from reptilian stares, Shakespearean villains, and one very creepy slurp.
• Buffalo Bill’s Disturbing Legacy: Ted Levine’s method-fueled performance, the infamous “Goodbye Horses” dance, and the real-life killers that inspired him.
• Cinematic Craftsmanship: Demme’s unnerving camera work, Howard Shore’s haunting score, cutting-edge sound design, and even the “VIP moths” flown in for their big scene.
• Themes & Symbolism: Transformation, manipulation, trauma, and the way Clarice’s empathy turns into her greatest weapon.
• The Controversies: The LGBTQ+ backlash, feminist critiques of violence against women, and how the film’s impact continues to be debated decades later.
• Lasting Legacy: AFI’s #1 villain and #6 hero in the same film, countless spin-offs, parodies, and even Silence! The Musical.

By the end, we’ll crawl through the psychological basement of this film, sift through its disturbing but brilliant layers, and step into the Critic’s Crypt to deliver our final verdict on why The Silence of the Lambs still echoes in both Oscar history and your nightmares.

👉 Ready to hear why the lambs are still screaming? Press play and join us for a conversation that’s as chilling as Lecter’s stare.

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After a 14-year hiatus, the Final Destination franchise roared back to life with Bloodlines—and we’re diving headfirst into why it’s more than just another round of creative death scenes. From box office dominance to bold mythology rewrites, this episode unpacks how a horror sequel turned into one of the biggest genre hits of 2025.

We break down:

• 📈 From Streaming to Theatrical Juggernaut – How Warner Bros.’ risky pivot from HBO Max to theaters paid off big time.
• 💀 The Bloodline Curse – The game-changing retcon that links every previous Final Destination film to a single 1968 disaster.
• 🎭 Family Over Fear – Why centering the story on the Reyes family raises the emotional stakes (and the body count).
• 🔪 The Kills – From the lawnmower carnage to the infamous MRI sequence, we dissect the franchise’s most twisted set pieces yet.
• 🎥 Behind the Screams – The directors’ legendary pitch, practical effects wizardry, and the impact of production delays.
• 🪦 Tony Todd’s Farewell – A haunting, meta-textual goodbye to William Bludworth that hits harder knowing it was his final role.
• 🕵 Easter Eggs & Callbacks – Hidden nods to earlier films, visual motifs, and darkly funny foreshadowing you might’ve missed.

Whether you’re here for the inventive fatalities, the expanded mythology, or the nostalgia, Bloodlines delivers—and we’ve got all the details.

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Welcome film fans! In this episode, your hosts Ambrose and Kelly pull back the curtain on the horror franchise that changed the rules:

Scream. We're taking a deep dive into the groundbreaking 1996 original and its meta-savvy 2022 successor to explore how this witty, surprising, and complex series came to be and why its legacy endures.

The creation of the original Scream is almost as dramatic as the film itself.

The Writer's Desperation: The journey began with screenwriter Kevin Williamson, who was struggling financially and late on his car payments. The catalyst came when he was house-sitting and stumbled upon a TV news episode of Turning Point covering the horrific Gainesville Ripper murders, which terrified him.

A Script in Three Days: Williamson, fueled by this dark inspiration and his encyclopedic knowledge of horror clichés, wrote the entire script in a legendary three-day burst of creative energy.

The Bidding War: The fresh and exciting script sparked a huge bidding war between major studios. Miramax ultimately won acquiring the script for $400,000.

The Master of Horror: Wes Craven, the master behind A Nightmare on Elm Street, was crucial for the director's chair. He was initially reluctant, feeling he had already done his time in the slasher genre, but saw the script as a chance to reestablish himself in the '90s. His work on New Nightmare in 1994, which blurred the lines between film and reality, made him a perfect fit.

Production and Release Hurdles

The path to the screen wasn't smooth, with the production facing several challenges.

Production: The film was shot primarily in Santa Rosa, California. During production, studio co-founder Bob Weinstein reportedly hated the iconic Ghost face mask and the studio had bizarre notes, such as wanting Drew Barrymore's hair in a "pageboy cut". The production also suffered technical errors with an anamorphic lens that caused focus issues.

MPAA Battles: The film was initially deemed too violent by the MPAA, requiring cuts to secure a release.

An Unlikely Success: Released on December 20th, the film had a weak opening weekend of just $6.4 million, leading many to dismiss it as a flop. Producer Marianne Maddalena recalled seeing near-empty theaters. However, the film defied expectations thanks to incredibly strong word-of-mouth and positive exit poll buzz. It had an unusually small box office drop in its second week and went on to gross $103 million domestically on a $15 million budget.

Deconstructing a Classic: Why Scream (1996) Worked Scream revitalized the horror genre by being smart, subversive, and unforgettable.

Elevated Characters: Unlike many slashers, the film's characters weren't just "dumb teens". Sidney Prescott was a traumatized, insecure, yet strong final girl. Gale Weathers was a ruthless, ambitious journalist , and the on-screen chemistry between Courteney Cox and David Arquette blossomed into a real-life marriage.
Subverting the Tropes: The film’s genius was in how it used its characters’ knowledge of horror movies to survive. Randy Meeks is the embodiment of this, famously laying out the "rules" for surviving a horror film. The film shocked audiences by killing its biggest star, Drew Barrymore, in the first 10 minutes—a deliberate homage to Psycho.
The Killers: The dynamic between killers Billy and Stu has been noted for its homoerotic subtext, drawing inspiration from the real-life Leopold and Loeb case.
The Voice: The unsettling voice of Ghostface was provided by Roger L. Jackson.
The Legacy Continues: Scream (2022) The conversation also explores the 2022 "requel," which adapted the franchise for a new generation.

Modern Themes: The film cleverly tackles modern cultural&

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The THING about Films - Episode: Near Dark

In this episode, we're diving deep into the dusty, sun-baked, and utterly brutal world of Kathryn Bigelow's 1987 cult classic,

Near Dark. Forget everything you think you know about vampires – no gothic castles or sparkling teenagers here!

Near Dark rips up the rulebook, offering a raw, violent, and surprisingly haunting take on the vampire mythos. It's a gritty blend of horror, western, and even tragic romance, setting itself apart from other vampire films of its era.

Episode Highlights:

A Different Kind of Vampire Flick: We explore how Near Dark redefines the vampire genre, trading in traditional tropes for a grounded, American heartland setting where vampires burn in the sun and constantly chase the night.
Phenomenal Cast & Chemistry: We sing the praises of the incredible cast, including Adrian Pasdar as the innocent Caleb and Jenny Wright as the angelic yet dangerous Mae, whose believable chemistry is crucial to the story.
The Unforgettable Vampire Family: Get ready to hear about the scene-stealing vampire family!

Lance Henriksen as Jesse Hooker: The terrifyingly charismatic patriarch with centuries of violence behind him.
Bill Paxton as Severen: An absolute chaotic force of nature, unhinged, hilarious, and genuinely menacing – a performance you won't forget.
Jenette Goldstein as Diamondback: The tough-as-nails, no-nonsense partner to Jesse.
Joshua John Miller as Homer: The tragically childlike vampire, forever stuck in a kid's body with centuries of bloodlust.
The Aliens Connection: Discover the fascinating reunion of James Cameron's Aliens cast members – Paxton, Goldstein, and Henriksen – all playing vampires under the direction of Kathryn Bigelow, who also worked on Aliens!
Caleb's Nightmare Begins: We break down Caleb's fateful encounter with Mae, and how a "full-on, neck-chomping bite" sends his ordinary life spiraling into a nightmare with a dysfunctional, dangerous vampire family.

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The Bar Scene: A deep dive into the iconic, chaotic, and utterly visceral bar scene, a highlight that perfectly embodies the danger these vampires represent.

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Ever watch a movie ending so shocking it made you spit out your popcorn, question your sanity, and wonder if therapy might be necessary? Today on The THING about Films, we're revisiting the summer camp horror classic that left everyone traumatized back in '83—the infamous and unforgettable Sleepaway Camp. We're diving headfirst into the awkward acting, the bizarre kills, the controversial themes, and one of the most jaw-dropping final scenes in horror history. Trust us, you won't wanna miss this trip back to Camp Arawak.

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In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Uncanny Camp Aesthetic: How Sleepaway Camp's "flaws"—from its shoestring budget and bizarre subplots to its awkward dialogue—became its greatest strengths and cemented its cult status.
• A Different Kind of Slasher: We break down how the film subverts typical slasher tropes, including its surprising sexualization of male characters and its uniquely creative kills.
• The Kids Aren't Alright: A look at the cast of actual young teenagers, including a 13-year-old Felissa Rose, and how their raw, sometimes "terrible," performances add a disturbing layer of realism to the horror.
• The Ending That Changed Everything: We explore the build-up, the execution, and the lasting legacy of one of cinema's most shocking and talked-about twists (without spoiling it for new viewers!).

Behind-the-Scenes & Fun Facts:

• The hands of the killer seen throughout the film actually belong to actor Jonathan Tiersten (Ricky), not Felissa Rose (Angela).
• A local college kid was used as a body double for the final, deeply unsettling shot and reportedly needed a six-pack of beer for liquid courage.

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Films & People Mentioned:

Sleepaway Camp (1983), Mimic (1997), Robert Hiltzik (Director), Felissa Rose (Angela), Jonathan Tiersten (Ricky), Desiree Gould (Aunt Martha), Mike Kellin (Mel)

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Send Us Your Scares!

On its 50th anniversary, we're not just asking if Jaws is still scary, we're asking why it has never been equaled. Join us as we dive deep into the bloody waters of this cinematic classic!

Key Takeaways:

* Jaws' Enduring Power: Even after 50 years and countless CGI monsters, Jaws' suspense, realistic characters, and perfectly timed jump scares remain incredibly effective. The film's craftsmanship ensures it has lost none of its power.

* More Than a Monster Movie: Jaws is a masterclass in tension, a political thriller about prioritizing profit over lives, and a testament to how two simple musical notes can evoke unparalleled terror.

* The Challenging Production:

* Director's Choice: Initially

considered John Sturges and Dick Richards (who was fired for calling the shark a "whale"), Steven Spielberg, fresh off The Sugarland Express, actively pursued and landed the directing role.

* Spielberg's Vision & Script Development: Spielberg pushed for shooting on the open ocean and removed subplots from Peter Benchley's novel (like the affair between Hooper and Brody's wife). Playwright Howard Sackler (uncredited) introduced crucial elements like Brody's fear of water and Quint's USS Indianapolis backstory. Carl Gottlieb was brought in as the primary screenwriter just three weeks before shooting, tasked to "GUT IT."

* Collaborative Chaos: Gottlieb and Spielberg developed the script collaboratively, often writing scenes the night before filming. This fluid process allowed for organic character development and iconic improvised lines like "You're gonna need a bigger boat." Robert Shaw also significantly contributed to Quint's USS Indianapolis monologue.

* Location Challenges: Martha's Vineyard was chosen as the primary filming location. Spielberg appeased skeptical townsfolk by hiring many as extras.

* "Bruce" the Malfunctioning Shark:

Special effects wizard Bob Mattey constructed three 25-foot, 12-ton mechanical sharks. A major setback occurred on the first day of shooting when it was discovered the sharks were built for fresh water, not saltwater, leading to severe malfunctions.

* Spielberg's Genius Amidst Adversity: The constant issues with "Bruce" forced Spielberg to embrace Alfred Hitchcock's principle of suspense – delaying the reveal of the monster. This improvisation became the film's greatest strength, transforming it into a masterclass in tension.

 * Open Ocean Filming: Shooting largely on the open ocean presented numerous logistical nightmares, including seasickness and unpredictable weather.

* The crew nicknamed the shark "Sonofabitchin Bastard Rig" and the film "Flaws" due to delays.

* The dinner scene where Hooper and Brody get drunk involved real wine replacing grape juice.

* George Lucas famously got his head stuck in Bruce's mouth.

* The Ben Gardner boat scene was shot in editor Verna Fields' swimming pool, with milk used to create cloudy water.

* The climactic Hooper cage scene was filmed in a water tank, not the open ocean, for safety.

* The Birth of the Summer Blockbuster: Jaws' chaotic and near-failed production ultimately forced brilliant creative decisions, leading to a film that not only terrified a generation but also created a new paradigm for the film industry: the summer blockbuster.

Critic's Crypt Review:

* Verdict: A FIVE-COFFIN SALUTE!  Reasoning: For its monumental impact, masterful suspense, unforgettable characters, iconic score, and the legendary way it overcame a troubled production to redefine the blockbuster. Jaws is a cinematic titan that still wrings every drop of tension from an audience.

Final Thoughts: Fifty years later, Jaws continues to make a massive splash, proving itself a truly legendary film that absolutely deserves to be celebrated.

Next Week on The THING abo

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Send Us Your Scares!

Ambrose and Jessica head into the woods for Dolly (2025), Rod Blackhurst's nasty backwoods nightmare about a giant masked woman who doesn't want to kill you — she wants to keep you. We break down the brutal cold open, the nursery from hell, and the ending that flips the whole movie on its head.

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Episode Breakdown

• Why the opening shovel scene tells you exactly what kind of movie you're in for
• The nursery, the crib, and the genuinely unsettling thing Dolly actually wants from Macy
• Max the Impaler's performance and how that doll mask does so much heavy lifting
• Where the script slips, the Texas Chainsaw shadow it walks in, and that ring shot at the end

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Want more horror between episodes? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, The Dead Letter — the official companion to the podcast. Every issue brings you Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's everything we're obsessed with, packed straight into your inbox.

Thanks for hanging out in the crypt with us. If you had fun, follow the show, leave us a review, and tell a friend who loves a good doll-mask nightmare. New episodes drop every Friday.

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Send Us Your Scares!

This week we're breaking down Good Boy (2025), the seventy-thousand-dollar indie horror that out-grossed The Rock at the box office and won its golden retriever a real acting award against actual humans. We dig into whether the monster is real, why this movie is secretly a grief story, and which one of us would survive moving into a haunted family farmhouse. (Spoiler: Jessica is Todd. We're sorry, Jessica.)

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Episode Breakdown

• Ben Leonberg shot the entire movie at nineteen inches off the ground using his own dog Indy, his own house, and four hundred shooting days
• The Kuleshov effect, ADR'd dog whines, and the wild fact that Indy was never actually scared in a single frame
• The lantern reveal in the bedroom, the dog skeleton in the basement, and the ending that's been wrecking horror fans for weeks
• Is the monster real, or is it just what dying looks like to a dog who has no words for it?

The Dead Letter

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Thanks for hanging out with us this week. If you liked the show, hit subscribe, leave us a review, and tell a friend who can't watch a movie without checking if the dog dies first. We see you.

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Send Us Your Scares!

What if watching a horror movie was the thing that got you killed? That's the question at the heart of Demons, the 1985 Italian splatter classic from Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento — and Ambrose and Jessica are here to make the case that this film invented meta-horror a full decade before anyone gave it credit.

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Episode Breakdown:

• Ambrose argues that Demons beat Wes Craven's New Nightmare to the "horror-as-infection" concept by ten years — and he's not wrong
• The hosts break down Geretta Geretta's iconic demon transformation, which was entirely improvised and ended up setting the physical blueprint for every demon in the film
• Jessica and Ambrose go deep on the practical effects — glowing demon eyes made from street sign material, teeth pushed out by mechanical fangs, and a spine-bursting scene straight out of a fever dream
• Coffin ratings are in: Ambrose lands at four and a half, Jessica goes full five — and makes a pretty convincing argument for why the unexplained stuff is actually the point.

The Dead Letter is our free monthly horror newsletter, and it's the perfect companion to the show. Each issue includes Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It goes out once a month and it's completely free to subscribers.

Thanks for listening to TheTHINGaboutFilms. If you're enjoying the show, subscribing and leaving a review goes a long way — it helps more horror fans find us, and we genuinely appreciate every single one.

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Send Us Your Scares!

What if the scariest thing in a horror movie wasn't a monster, it was a drug? This week, Ambrose and Jessica are covering The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), Wes Craven's wildly underrated Haitian zombie film based on real events. And yes, there is a real tarantula on a real open eyeball. We warned you.

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Episode Breakdown:

• The film's opening shot — a single tear rolling down a buried man's face. Sets up the entire movie's central terror before a single word is spoken

• Ambrose breaks down the real science behind zombie powder, Wade Davis's controversial ethnobotany research, and how tetrodotoxin can drop your vital signs to clinically dead

• The hosts debate Zakes Mokae's terrifying, ice-cold performance as Peytraud and why his stillness is scarier than any supernatural moment in the film

• Jessica loved the first two acts and hated the third. Ambrose gave it five coffins anyway, and they're not letting it go quietly

The Dead Letter is the free monthly horror newsletter that goes deeper than the podcast. Each issue includes Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's the companion piece the show deserves. 

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook at TheTHINGaboutFilms — we want to know: when Dennis Alan wakes up at the end, did he actually beat it? Or is he still trapped and just doesn't know it? Start the conversation. We'll see you next week.

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It's 1979. A film crew rolls up to a Texas farmhouse to shoot an adult movie, and the ancient couple who owns the place has some... strong feelings about that. Ti West's X is a gonzo slasher wrapped around a genuinely sharp argument about desire, aging, and who gets to be seen. Ambrose and Jessica break down why this one hit so much harder than anyone expected.

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Episode Breakdown:

• Mia Goth plays both Maxine and Pearl — two women at opposite ends of desire — and somehow makes you terrified of one and heartbroken for the other
• The crew dissects the famous alligator kill, which West built using multiple practical puppets in a full Jaws-style production nightmare
• The hosts debate whether the film critiques society's discomfort with elderly sexuality or quietly reinforces it
• Ambrose rates it four and a half coffins, Jessica holds firm at four — and they both agree the lawnmower scene is exactly the right amount of unhinged

The Dead Letter: Want more horror between episodes? The Dead Letter is the free monthly newsletter from TheTHINGaboutFilms. Every issue comes packed with five sections: Anatomy of a Scene, Cutting Room Floor, Casting Shadows, Whispers in the Dark, and Summoning Soon. It's horror content you actually want in your inbox.

Sign-off: Thanks for listening — if you're enjoying the show, a subscribe or review goes a long way. We'll see you next week with something else that'll mess you up.

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