Spooky Bitch Gang

The Weed Eaters

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +1000

Our non-prescription preoccupation continues as we take a close look at The Weed Eaters, a micro budget, pot-themed splatter film from Aotearoa.

Also includes discussions of Twentynine Palms (2003), The Fanatic (2019) and more.

Drugsploitation

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +1000

All the cautionary tales you've ever been told come to terrifying life in this crop of drugsploitation movies. Reefer, tea, tomato, shrooms, acid - they're all Public Enemy Number 1! And YOU could be next to fall victim to the scourge of narcotics.

Includes discussions of The Pearl Comb (2026), House of Leaves (novel), Strange Houses (novel), Reefer Madness (1936), She Shoulda Said No! (1949), The Big Cube (1969), Blood Freak (1972), Blue Sunshine (1977), Class of Nuke 'Em High (1986), Shrooms (2007), Climax (2018) and more.

Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +1000

Jane Schoenbrun's third feature continues with their established themes of nostalgia, belong and gender euphoria. This powerfully meta take on the slasher explores the intersection between sex and death in a way that's funny, insightful and deeply moving. We investigate the ways Schoenbrun's distinctive storytelling investigates the "problematic" baggage of the horror movies we love and how they've made us who we are.

Also includes discussion of Tinsman Road (2026) and more.

Tales from the Crypt

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +1000

A horror franchise with its roots way back at the birth of comic books, Tales from the Crypt has proven to be influential and formative for many a horror head. We take a look at a selection of classic Tales from the Crypt episodes and discuss their enduring quirks.

Also includes discussions of Deep Water (2026), Evil Dead Burn (2026), Angel Down (novel, 2025) and more.

The Thing (from Another World)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +1000

It's cold, it's dark, and we're feeling paranoid as hell. The first film adaptation of John W. Campbell's classic sci-fi novella Who Goes There? turns 75 this year. We're taking a look at the various Things from pop-culture, especially John Carpenter's classic 1982 film and its dogged road to being a beloved masterpiece.

Also includes discussions of Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma (2026), Disclosure Day (2026), Killer Whale (2026) and more.

Liminal Horror

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +1000

Germinating for years online and now exploding into cinemas, is liminal horror the new mainstream trend? Dealing in the uncanny and the unknowable, liminal horror breaks down the very fabric of human identity. We take a look at Backrooms and other recent examples of liminal horror and we also take a look at the deep cinematic roots of the mysterious, surreal and transitional.

Includes discussions of The Strangers - Chapter 3 (2026), The Blood Countess (2026), Last Year at Marienbad (1961), Possibly in Michigan (1983), The Black Tower (1987), Marebito (2004), This House Has People In It (2011), The Oldest View (2023), Exit 8 (2025), Backrooms (2026) and more.

Obsession

Fri, 29 May 2026 06:00:00 +1000

Curry Barker of viral success Milk & Serial has delivered another (relatively) low budget marvel. Already a huge hit, where does Obsession slot into the horror landscape? Does its vision of toxic relationships have bite, or does it disappear in the shadows?

We also discuss the 50th anniversary of The Town that Dreaded Sundown (1976), plus its sequel (2014). Also includes discussions of Undertone (2026) and Hokum (2026)

Old Dark Houses

Fri, 15 May 2026 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode we take a look at a micro genre that's positively ancient by pop culture standards. A relic of early talkies that has spread across the horror landscape, what can we learn from the mad and macabre locales of Old Dark House movies?

Includes discussions of Whistle (2025), The Holy Boy (2025), The Old Dark House (1932), The Ghost Walks (1934), Thirteen Ghosts (1960), The Terror (1963), Bloody Pit of Horror (1965), The Vampire Doll (1970), The Others (2001), The Orphanage (2007) and more.

Lee Cronin's The Mummy

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 +1000

A semi-dormant and dogged IP comes back to life with Lee Cronin's The Mummy. Beyond its baffling vanity title, how does this movie contribute to the mummy's pop culture image? Is it really a mummy movie at all? And what about the cultural baggage that's always followed the bandaged boogeyman?

Also includes discussions of Hokum (2026), Apex (2026), Dracula (2025) and more.

Video Nasties

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +1000

One of horror's most notable periods of censorship, we examine the "Video Nasty" panic that took hold in the UK in the 1980s. How do these movies offend a conservative worldview, and how do they reflect an alarming trend that still continues?

Includes discussions of Thrash (2026), Axe a.k.a. California Axe Massacre a.k.a. Lisa, Lisa (1974), Faces of Death (1978), The Driller Killer (1979), Don't Go in the House (1979), Dead & Buried (1981), Evilspeak (1981), Xtro (1982) and more.

Alpha

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +1100

French provocateur Julia Ducournau is back with another bold piece of body horror. We break down the auteur's latest film Alpha. Is it a beautiful, life-affirming tale, or a stodgy and portentous mess? Is it an AIDS allegory or an elegy for death in all its forms? Regardless, it's a conversation starter.

Also includes discussions of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026), They Will Kill You (2026) and more.

Head to our Instagram for your chance to win tickets to the 2026 Fantastic Film Festival in Sydney and Melbourne.

Deadly Games

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +1100

We're rolling the dice, playing our cards and fiddling with our joysticks as we investigate the world of deadly games. It's a surprisingly common trope now, but how do these games-gone-sinister reflect the world we live in?

Includes discussions of Dolly (2026), The Ice Tower (2025), Resident Evil Requiem (2026), The Naked Prey (1965), Shooting Range (1979), Series 7: The Contenders (2001), Haze (2005), Stay Alive (2006), Fermat's Room (2007), Cheap Thrills (2013), Follow Me a.k.a. No Escape (2020), and more.

Scream 7 Sucks

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +1100

Scream 7 has arrived and talking about it felt like doing a post-mortem. After the controversy, the rewrite and the boycott, is it any surprise that the finished product is nowhere near the level of its predecessors? We discuss the plot in detail, so beware of spoilers!

Also includes discussions of Jimmy & Stiggs (2024), If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025), Safe (1995) and more.

Edgar Allen Poe Stories & Adaptations

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +1100

Featuring guest host Sarah Wolfe.

American writer and poet Edgar Allen Poe wrote hundreds of stories and poems and codified several genres in the process. In this episode, SBG salutes Edgar Allen Poe and looks at some of the weird and wily adaptations of his work that have graced our screens.

Includes discussions of The Number 23 (2007), The Tell-Tale Heart (1928), The Fall of the House of Usher (1928), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), Spirits of the Dead (1968), Lunacy (2005) and more.

Carrie's 50th Anniversary

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +1100

It's been 50 years since Carrie first graced cinema screens. We've read the book and revisited the film to see how this iconic story has aged as it's entered the pop culture canon. Who's the real villain in this odd and moving tale of domestic violence and locker room torment?

Our Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +1100

Another year down and another clutch of movies to somewhat arbitrarily rank! We're giving you the lowdown on the movies we liked the best in 2025, along with some we absolutely hated as a treat.

A Very Tubi Christmas

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +1100

'Tis the season to hunker down and watch some execrable Christmas crap. Thankfully there are a few hidden gems amidst the lumps of coal. This year, friend of the pod Paul Robson has curated a list of 20 holiday-themed stocking stuffers that can all be found on Tubi. Spooky Bitch Crystal managed to watch all 20 and she's giving you the lowdown.

We also have a very special guest appearance from Mike L. Taylor and Charles Powers, the director and star respectively of future-classic Christmas slasher Gnome Sick: 7 Slays til Mithras.

View the full list here.

Sex-Horror

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:00:00 +1100

It's time we sat you down and gave you a talk about the birds and the bees. From horror's formative years through to now, we're investigating how sexuality defines the genre. Sex in horror has a long history of puritanism, but we also look at the ways it can be liberating, strange and celebratory.

Includes discussions of The Exit 8 (video game, 2023), Tender Is the Flesh (novel, 2017), Cat People (1942), Hollywood 90028 (1973), The Beast (1975), Hellraiser (1987), The Lair of the White Worm (1988), Stranger by the Lake (2011), The Untamed (2016), Bone Lake (2024) and more.

SBG Book Club: Carmilla

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

It's the inaugural meeting of the SBG Book Club and we hope you've done your homework! We're talking about J. Sheridan Le Fanu's seminal vampire novella Carmilla and its place in the canon of bloodsucking lesbians.

Also includes discussions of Escape Room (2019), The Blood-Spattered Bride (1971), Vampyr (1932), Carmilla Hyde (2010) and more.

Comedy-Horror

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Is it comedy-horror or horror-comedy? We're taking a look at some of the silliest horror movies to ever grace our screens and investigating the strange similarity between laughing and screaming.

Includes discussions of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931), The Houses October Built (2011), The Occupant (2025), The Time of the Wolf (2003), The Cat & the Canary (1927), A Bucket of Blood (1959), Young Frankenstein (1974), Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980), Juan of the Dead (2011), One Cut of the Dead (2017) and more.

Black Phone 2

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +1100

The hotly anticipated sequel to the hit supernatural horror film The Black Phone is here. Ethan Hawke returns as the strange and sexy villain The Grabber in Black Phone 2 which we think is a bit muddled and troublingly familiar.

Also includes discussions of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The Texas Chainsaw Marathon

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +1100

It's our 100th episode! To mark the occasion, we stayed up all night watching the entire The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. From its humble, low-budget origins, Tobe Hooper's shocker has given birth to a distinctly odd horror franchise that never seems quite sure what it wants to be. How do you expand on something that's arguably perfect just how it is?

The Conjuring Quadrilogy

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +1000

After four movies and a few spinoffs we're bidding adieu to Ed and Lorraine Warren and their adventures in The Conjuring series. We take a look at the way the now-classic first instalment has influenced the horror scene, and how the latest film The Conjuring: Last Rites wraps up their story.

Also includes discussions of Hallow Road (2025), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) and more.

Dark Nights Film Fest Volume 2 takes place October 9-12, 2025 at The Ritz in Randwick.

Dystopia & Authoritarianism

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode we explore a set of terrifying tales that might get a bit too close to reality. We explore the potent desperation, fear and hope that define stories about dystopia and authoritarianism, and how these stories illuminate our real circumstances.

Includes discussions of Black Water (2007), Punishment Park (1971), Terminal Island (1973), The Crazies (1973), Golem (1979), They Live (1988), Battle Royale (2000), They Cloned Tyrone (2022) and The Long Walk (2025).

Weapons

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Zach Cregger's second feature Weapons has been one of the year's most impactful horror movies. We take a look at what makes this alternately serious and silly movie tick, and why it's been received with so much enthusiasm. What can we make of the loaded, potentially subversive symbolism at play in the film, and how does it tie in to the already-iconic villain?

Also includes discussions of War of the Worlds (2025), Final Destination 2 (2003), Final Destination 5 (2011) and more.

Mummies

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +1000

The mummy has carved out an interesting place in pop culture that reveals some odd quirks when you peel off the bandages. We investigate the exoticism and neo-colonialism that colours the image of the mummy in horror literature and film. How did this shambling corpse become so iconic and yet so divorced from its origins?

Includes discussions of Afraid (2024), #missingcouple (2024), The Mummy (1932), The Mummy's Hand (1940), The Aztec Mummy (1957), Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971), Timewalker (1982), The Mummy (1999) Bubba Ho-tep (2002), Frankenstein vs. the Mummy (2015) and more.

28 Days Later Trilogy

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's 28 Days Later is a film that holds up a lot better than a lot of its contemporaries. Following a disappointing middle entry, Boyle is back in the director's chair with the epic 28 Years Later. We discuss the distinctive trilogy's emotionally-charged place in the horror canon and the quirks of its writer and director's visions.

Also include discussions of Saw X (2023), Locked (2025), M3GAN 2.0 (2025), The Excavation of Hob's Barrow (video game, 2022) and more.

Splatter Films

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Maybe grab a poncho because in our latest ep you will get wet! We take a look at the grisly, gleeful gore of the splatter sub-genre. The absurd, nihilism, and the tenuous nature of our society all underpin a genre that cuts much deeper than it seems on the surface.

Includes discussions of The Shrouds (2025), The Great God Pan (short story by Arthur Machen, 1894), Chain Reactions (2024), Jigoku (1960), Blood Feast (1963), The Gore Gore Girls (1972), The Beyond (1981), Demons (1985), Ichi the Killer (2001) and The Sadness (2021).

Bring Her Back

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +1000

The Philippou Brothers' follow-up to the record smashing hit Talk to Me is here and it's grosser, weirder and... sadder? We investigate the powerful melancholy of Bring Her Back, which is both a terrifying gross-out horror movie and a nuanced, thoughtful exploration of grief.

Also includes discussion of The Front Room (2024), Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973), and Stalked by My Amish Boyfriend (2024)

The Asylum

Fri, 30 May 2025 07:00:00 +1000

Renowned for their low budget "mockbusters" and their absurd creature features, we take a look at the unusual place The Asylum occupies in the horror canon. What do these often bizarre, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, always unpredictable films say about art, commerce and the tastes of horror fans?

Also includes discussions of Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025), Skincare (2024), The Children of the Dead aka Die Kinder der Toten (novel 1995, film 2019), Hillside Cannibals (2006), When a Killer Calls (2006), Invasion of the Pod People (2007), Paranormal Entity (2009), Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012), Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014), Clown (2019) and more.

Final Destination Bloodlines & Clown in a Cornfield (Double Feature)

Fri, 16 May 2025 06:00:00 +1000

We've got our finger on the pulse as we investigate two brand new movies - Final Destination: Bloodlines and Clown in a Cornfield. The sixth instalment in a belovedly camp splatter franchise and possible franchise-starter based on a novel make great fodder for a discussion of what actually makes a good horror movie. Through Final Destination: Bloodlines and Clown in a Cornfield, we get a strong picture of what horror is like in that space between mainstream and cult audiences.

Also includes discussions of W.R. The Mysteries of the Organism (1971), The Rule of Jenny Pen (2025) and Rebecca (novel, 1938, film 1940).

Cults

Fri, 02 May 2025 06:00:00 +1000

As thanks for being a part of the Spooky cult, we're exploring the horror and mystique around cults, sects and New Religious Movements. Charismatic leaders, blind devotion and Flavor-Aid feature as we unpack the mechanisms of indoctrination and wonder if it would ever work on us.

Features discussions of Sinners (2025), Until Dawn (2025), Thirst (1979), Santa Sangre (1989), Suicide Club (2001), The Sacrament (2013), The Invitation (2015), The Void (2016) and more.

Drop

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Drop, the latest film from Christopher Landon (Paranormal Activity, Happy Death Day, Freaky), is a nail biter in the classic sense. We talk about this rollercoaster ride's tropes on motherhood and femininity, its big reaches, and its self-dating use of memes.

Also includes discussions of Lovely, Dark & Deep (2024),The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales (1960), the 2025 Fantastic Film Festival program and more.

Medical Horror

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Nothing is certain but death, taxes and going to the doctor. We investigate the ways in which the medical system has carved out its own horrifying niche in the horror canon. Surgery, sickness and sinister doctors abound.

Includes discussions of Afraid (2023), The Unholy Three (1925), Eyes without a Face (1960), The Curious Dr. Humpp (1969), Flatliners (1990), The Kingdom (1994), The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005), Excision (2012) and Grafted (2024).

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +1100

This year marks the 50th anniversary of what might be the greatest Australian film of all time - Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock. Full of tantalising mystery and suggestions of dark, cosmic horror, what is the allure of this oblique dream of femininity and disappearance?

We also discuss the novel and the stage adaptation.

Also includes discussions of Dead Calm (1989) and Se7en (1995).

Spore-or (Fungal Horror)

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Our fungal friends seem purpose-built for horror, but our they have only a small filmography. We investigate the creepiest, gooiest appearances by mushrooms and mould in horror movies.

Includes discussions of The Watchers (2024), Spider Baby (1967), The Vourdalak (2023), The Unknown Terror (1957), Matango (1963), Splinter (2008), Superdeep (2020), Gaia (2021) and The Spore (2021).

The Monkey

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 19:00:00 +1100

Oz Perkins' follow-up to last year's Longlegs is an ambitious, hilarious left turn into absurdity. We discuss this deceptively complex movie's Biblical allusions and its exploration of the inevitability of death.

Also includes discussions of Heart Eyes (2025), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Notting Hill (1999) and The Barefoot Contessa (1954).

Satanic Panic

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +1100

You can't swing a crucifix in this town with hitting a Satanic cult, so we're taking a look at this horror staple. Turns out Satan and his followers come in all shapes and sizes!

Includes discussions of Presence (2025), Companion (2025), Faust (1926), Night of the Demon a.k.a Curse of the Demon (1957), If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? (1971), Hungry Wives (1972), The Devil's Rain (1975), Race with the Devil (1975), The Sentinel (1977) and more.

Our Top 10 Horror Movies of 2024

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +1100

We're getting all nostalgic over what was an absolutely sick year for horror. Join us as we count down our individual top 10s of the best horror (and horror adjacent) movies of 2024.

Nosferatu Triple Feature

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +1100

F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu went from unauthorised Dracula adaptation to one of the sacred texts of horror. We look at the 100-year-old masterpiece and the remakes by Werner Herzog and Robert Eggers, investigating the context and themes of each one. Nosferatu's vision of vampirism is as eternal as war, plague, paranoia and death itself.

Also includes discussions of Oddity (2024), Black Cab (2024) and Cure (1997).

Psycho Biddies

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +1100

It's hard out here for a biddy! We're taking a look at movies featuring older woman going psycho. Known also as hagsploitation, these movies may have a problematic view of women, but in hindsight do they reveal something empowering?

Includes discussions of Strange Darling (2024), Witches (2024), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), Strait-Jacket (1964), Fanatic a.k.a. Die, Die My Darling! (1965), Flesh Feast (1970), What's the Matter with Helen (1971), Serial Mom (1994) and more.

Heretic

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +1100

A24's latest contribution to the horror genre is the dialogue-heavy, slightly bonkers Heretic. We discuss the Hugh Grant-starring film's unique takes on religion, pop culture and gender.

Also includes discussions of Fear the Spotlight (video game, 2024), MadS (2024) and more.

Scarecrows

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +1100

CONTENT WARNING: Contains references to childhood sexual assault

The scarecrow seems to be a horror icon on the surface, but this oddball's repertoire is inconsistent and relatively small. We take a look at scarecrows in a selection of horror movies and wonder why the spooky straw man seems to lack a clear identity.

Includes discussions of Smile 2 (2024), The Hollow Watcher (1961), Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981), The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight (novel, 1994, TV episode, 1996), Kakashi (2001), Hallowed Ground (2007), Husk (2011) and more.

The Substance

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +1100

How did this gross, cartoonish body horror movie ending up being one of the year's major film events? We discuss all the silliness and viscera of The Substance, unpacking its satirical intent and feminist themes. Does its stylisation get in the way of its characters? Does its message get lost in melt movie goo?

Plus Two Spooks & a Lie featuring Australian horror gun Enzo Tedeschi.

Also includes discussions of Don't Look Now (1973), The Stuff (1985), Coherence (2013) and more.

Hammer Horror

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Take a trip back in time to the heyday of the iconic British production company Hammer Film Productions. Between the mid-50s and the early 70s, Hammer left an indelible mark on horror, with hits that were sexy, lurid, gothic and campy. We take a look at the lasting impact and sometimes questionable politics of a small selection of Hammer Horror films.

Includes discussions of David Cronenberg's novel Consumed, Blow Out (1981), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), Taste of Fear (1961), The Gorgon (1964), The Devil Rides Out (1968), The Vampire Lovers (1970), Hands of the Ripper (1971) and more.

Speak No Evil Double Feature

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Subtitle haters and subtitle lovers are at odds over the new James McAvoy vehicle Speak No Evil, a remake of a film that in some circles is already a minor classic. We unpack the pitch black satire of both, very different versions of Speak No Evil.

Also includes discussions of Something in the Water (2024) and Strange Darling (2024).

Pregnancy & Motherhood

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode, we take a look at movies that explore all the ins and outs of bearing a child. Turns out the beginnings of life might be not-so-secretly horrifying. What commentary can horror movies offer on pregnancy, abortion and motherhood itself?

Includes discussions of In a Violent Nature (2024), Blink Twice (2024), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Suckling (1990), Inside (2007), Prevenge (2016), Baby Ruby (2022), Birth/Rebirth (2023), The Deliverance (2024) and more.

Alien: Romulus

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Everyone is talking about the latest instalment in the Alien franchise. How does the classic Alien formula of popcorn action plus compelling characters fare in this new iteration? Is Alien: Romulus a return to form or a sad attempt at recapturing the magic?

Also includes discussions of The Coffee Table (2024), Woman in the Dunes (1964) and Kidnapping in the Grand Canyon (2023).

White People Got Stuck Where? Part 2

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Once again, we're taking a look at the rich tapestry of movies that is white people getting stuck places. Going from microgenre to macrogenre, it feels like these movie are unavoidable and this time we've got some bangers. Where did they get stuck and where will they get stuck next?

Includes discussions of Trap (2024), The Coffee Table (2024), Lord of the Flies (1963), Lady in a Cage (1964), P2 (2007), 12 Feet Deep (2017), Oxygen (2021), Holy Shit! (2022) and more.

Longlegs

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +1000

With the most impressive viral marketing campaign since Skinamarink, Osgood Perkins' Longlegs was a sensation long before anyone even knew Nicolas Cage was involved. We discuss the good and the bad of this fascinating and ambitious film and wonder if it ever had a chance of living up to the hype.

Also includes discussions of Twisters (2024), Messiah of Evil (1973) and more.

Bigfoot & Friends

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +1000

He's big, he's hairy and he lives in the woods. No it's not another Russell Crowe movie; it's Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the yeti, yowie, and more. We discuss some of the hairy forest-dweller's onscreen appearances, and what we've learned about Bigfoot's (and similar monsters') place in the pop culture canon.

Includes discussions of A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), The Abominable Snowman (1957), The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), Abominable (2006), Willow Creek (2013), There's Something in the Pilliga (2014), Exists (2014) and more.

The Exorcism

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Was anyone asking for another exorcism-based horror movie starring Russell Crowe? Well, we got one anyway! This time it's a bit meta with a personal connection to a certain venerated classic. We take a look at Crowe's latest foray into the horror genre and wonder if the exorcism sub-genre is all dried up.

Plus some Sydney Film Festival highlights and the return of 2 Spooks and a Lie!

Includes discussions of Hunting Daze (2024), Under Paris (2024), The Substance (2024) and more.

The Sixth Sense

Fri, 31 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

M. Night Shyamalan's breakthrough feature is twenty-five years old this year. Does the rapturous acclaim it received at release still hold up today, or has its maverick director run out of goodwill? We talk about its quirks, its lasting influence, and what makes it a great horror movie.

Also includes discussions of The Witch's Mirror a.k.a El espejo de la bruja (1960) and Unfrosted (2024).

Disaster Movies

Fri, 17 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

These movies might not be technically horror, but they definitely scratch the same part of our brain that wants thrills, chills and mayhem. Disaster movies pit humanity against some of its harshest challenges. What is revealed when everything is stripped away from the human spirit?

Includes discussions of Tarot (2024), Sleep Has Her House (2017), Deluge (1933), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Submersion of Japan a.k.a. Japan Sinks (1973), The Last Wave (1977), The Quiet Earth (1985), Melancholia (2011), Sharknado (2013) and more.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Fri, 03 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of the most recognisable cult films of all time and beloved by many. We take a closer look at the themes, story, and possible problems with the radical queer musical. How does something this groundbreaking and beloved hold up and what can it offer us in the 21st Century?

Also includes discussions of Slay (2024), Infested (2023), Yannick (2024) and more.

Techno-Horror

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +1000

We can't live without technology, but is that a good thing? The most rapidly changing facet of our existence offers fertile ground for exploring all kinds of horrifying things. We're entering the virtual world and talking about how TV, computers, robots and more define and complicate our existence.

Includes discussions of The Stepford Wives (1975), The Demon Seed (1977), Videodrome (1984), Chopping Mall (1986), The Lawnmower Man (1992), Brainscan (1994) and more.

The First Omen

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 22:00:00 +1100

Nearly fifty years on, The First Omen gives us a prequel to horror classic The Omen and it may surprise you to know it's really good! Turning the familiar story into an alarming feminist tale, the film grapples with some massive themes. We talk about its unique and referential take on the genre.

Also includes discussions of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), Love Lies Bleeding (2024) and You'll Never Find Me (2024).

Cosmic Horror

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +1100

In this episode, the gang takes a look behind the veil of reality into thought-provoking, madness-inducing cosmic horror. How does the vast possibility of the universe put our puny little lives into focus? What happens when humans transcend their place in space and time? How come everything is still misogynistic?

Includes discussions of Inside (2023), Margeaux (2022), Starship Troopers (1997), Altered States (1980), From Beyond (1986), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Event Horizon (1997), The Call of Cthulhu (2005), Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010), Spring (2014) and more.

Imaginary

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 23:00:00 +1100

The latest film from Blumhouse is a romp through childhood anxieties and family drama. Is this new wave of PG-horror a cynical cash grab or an important development in the horror landscape?

We break down Jeff Wadlow's Imaginary through its odd story beats, excellent creature design and often bizarre visuals.

Killer Animals

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Sometimes the scariest creature is out there in the wild or living right in your house! In this episode, we're looking at some of the killer animals in the horror canon and how they relate to our experiences as humans.

Includes discussions of Karen (2021), Baghead (2023), Night Swim (2024), The Beast (2023), The Birds (1963), Sssssss (1973), Grizzly (1976), Long Weekend (1978), Cujo (1983), Razorback (1984), Monkey Shines (1988), Piranha 3D (2010) and more.

Our Top 10 Horror Movies of 2023

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +1100

That's right, another year has passed and we've all grown older, wiser and sexier. We celebrate the year that was by counting down our top 10 spooky movies of 2023.

Holiday Horror

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +1100

In our final episode for 2023, we unpack some of the horror movies set on and inspired by our favourite holidays. There are plenty of Christmas creeps, as well as bloody valentines, an April fool or two and more.

Includes discussions of Leave the World Behind (2023), Poor Things (2023), Godzilla Minus One (2023), Black Christmas (1974), My Bloody Valentine (1981), April Fools' Day (1986), Blood Rage (1987), Dial Code Santa Claus aka Deadly Games (1989), Rare Exports (2010), Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022), It's a Wonderful Knife (2023) and more.

Thanksgiving

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +1100

Eli Roth's long-gestating film is here and it might be his best work. We discuss this potential franchise-starter and its place in the slasher canon.

Also includes discussions of When Evil Lurks (2023) and T-Blockers (2023).

Nunsploitation

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +1100

Holy moly, these nuns are naughty. We're talking nunsploitation, the genre that explores the lives (and the sex lives) of nuns. Join us on a journey through cloisters and convents as we unpack what's so compelling about these brides of God.

Static Vision and SBG co-present The Devils, Sunday November 19. Buy tickets here.

Includes discussions of There's Nothing Out There (1991), There's Something Wrong with the Children (2023), The Devils (1971), The Nun and the Devil (1973), School of the Holy Beast (1974), Killer Nun (1979), Dark Waters (1993), St. Agatha (2018), Sister Death (2023) and more.

Our Top 10 Horror Movies Ever

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +1100

Happy Halloween Spookies! On this ep, we're each counting down our top 10 horror movies of all time.

Also includes discussions of Things Heard & Seen (2021) and The Burning Hell (1974).

Giallo

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 20:00:00 +1000

Ciao! In this episode, the gang dip their toes into the muddy waters of vintage Italian horror. Is Giallo a flash-in-the-pan, a relic of the past, or a key component of the genre we know and love?

Includes discussions of Saw X (2023), Elevator Game (2023), Blood and Black Lace (1964), The Laughing Woman a.k.a The Frightened Woman (1969), Bay of Blood (1971), Don't Torture a Duckling (1972), Deep Red (1975), Tenebre (1982), Stage Fright (1987) and more.

Meg 2: The Trench

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode we're talking about the ultra-dumb, maybe-camp sequel to everyone's favourite giant shark movie The Meg. Is it leaning into the silliness, or too serious for its own good? Only one thing is sure - we know nothing.

Also includes discussions of Pearl (2021), Talk to Me (2023) and Dracula: The Voyage of the Demeter (aka The Last Voyage of the Demeter) (2023).

Ghosts

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +1000

We're discussing ghosts, wraith, spirits, spectres and phantoms. One of the cornerstones of horror, how did ghosts end up symbolising so much about the human psyche?

Includes discussions of The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra (2022), Nightsiren (2022), Insidious: The Red Door (2023), The Innocents (1961), Carnival of Souls (1962), The Haunting (1963), The Stone Tape (1972), The Entity (1982), Ghostwatch (1992), The Innkeepers (2011), The Woman in Black (2012) and more.

All Nighter: Child's Play/Chucky

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +1000

We're getting the hang of this all-nighter stuff now, but still this one nearly broke us! We stayed up all night watching the seven movies in the OG Chucky/Child's Play franchise just for you. We do it because we love you.

Neapolitan Special

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +1000

We're tackling three very different but complementary horror movies in this Neapolitan special: The Boogeyman (2023), Infinity Pool (2023) and Huesera: The Bone Woman (2023).

Extraterrestrials

Fri, 05 May 2023 06:00:00 +1000

The truth is out there, and we aim to find it! In this episode we're talking about extraterrestrials (a.k.a aliens) and how they contextualise and disrupt our place in the world.

Includes discussions of Evil Dead Rise (2023), The Thing from Another World (1951), Lifeforce (1985), Signs (2002), Dark Skies (2013), Under the Skin (2013), Honeymoon (2014), Area 51 (2015), Vivarium (2019) and more.

Scream VI

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +1100

Scream is now a horror institution, but how does the new instalment stack up? We discuss Scream VI in all its meta glory and wonder where the franchise can possibly go from here.

Witches

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +1100

On this episode, the gang discusses the spellbinding real life and fictional tales of witches. From historical fact to teenage TV witches, who are these powerful women and where do they fit in society?

Includes discussions of Toxic Shark (2017), On the Line (2022), Pearl (2022), Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (2022), Häxan (1922) Day of Wrath (1943), Black Sunday (1961), Viy (1967), Suspiria (1977), The Craft (1996), The Witch (2015), Hellbender (2021) and more.

M3GAN

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +1100

Roses are red, M3GAN is fierce, this is an episode you don't want to miss! We're discussing everyone's favourite robot babe M3GAN and hoping we can slay as hard as her.

Our Top 10 Horror Movies of 2022

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +1100

2022 was a weird year, huh? To ring in the new year, we're each counting down our top 10 horror movies of 2022. Join us to look back and maybe find some new faves.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +1100

Turns out our bodies are irresistible to aliens! In this episode we unpack the slimy and sexy world of parasites and other nefarious body snatchers.

Includes discussions of The Last Broadcast (1998), Violent Night (2022), I Blame Society (2020), Invaders from Mars (1953), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958), Shivers (1975), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), The Thing (1982), The Faculty (1998) and more.

Barbarian (2022)

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +1100

CONTENT WARNING: The episode contains discussion of sexual assault.

This episode brought to you by the letter B! We're talking about Zach Cregger's crazy little movie Barbarian, as well as Luca Guadagnino's Bones and All.

Big spoiler warning!!! Do not listen if you don't want Barbarian and Bones and All spoilers.

Slashers

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Simple, scary and sharp, the slasher might be the foundation of horror as we know it today. We're talking creepy, slow-moving killers from Michael Myers to Jason to some of the more obscure knife-wielding maniacs from film history.

Includes discussions of Smile (2022), Nest of the Cuckoo Birds (1965), Halloween Ends (2022), Alice, Sweet Alice [aka Communion] (1976), Halloween (1979), Maniac (1980), The Slumber Party Massacre (1982), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986), Intruder (1989), Scream (1996), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1976) and more.

Patrick (1978)

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Beloved by Quentin Tarantino among others, Australian cult classic Patrick is an overlooked supernatural horror pioneer. Its slyly deranged narrative is a fascinating, feminist tale of omnipotent male malice.

White People Got Stuck Where?

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +1100

As white people, maybe the genre that hits closest to home is the one where white people get stuck somewhere dumb. On the latest SBG, we're talking about the single-location survival movies that could take place in a sauna, a chairlift, or an abandoned bunker.

Includes discussions of They See You (2022), The Woman with a Knife (1969), Fall (2022), Frozen (2010), Gerald's Game (2017), 247 Degrees F (2011), The Hole (2001), 47 Meters Down (2017), Lifeboat (1944), Devil (2010) and more.

Crimes of the Future

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +1000

David Cronenberg's return to body horror with Crimes of the Future has been as anticipated as it's been divisive. Find out what we thought about this new feature from one of our favourite directors.

Also includes discussions of The Wolf House (2018), Horror in the High Desert (2021) and We're All Going to the World's Fair (2021).

Werewolves

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +1000

The moon is full and werewolves are on the prowl! In this episode, we unpack all the baggage that comes with transforming into a hairy, bloodthirsty monster.

Includes discussions of The Love Witch (2016), The Bones (2021), Beast (2022), Cuadecuc, vampir (1970), Wolfblood: A Tale of the Forest (1925), The Wolf Man (1941), Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory (1963), An American Werewolf in London (1981), The Howling (1981), Ginger Snaps (2000), When Animals Dream (2014), Teddy (2020) and more.

Nope (2022)

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Jordan Peele's eagerly-awaited third feature Nope is out. On this episode we break down the bizarre and magical eco-western that's dividing audiences.

Spoiler warning for Nope!

Also includes discussions of Glorious (2022).

Melt Movies

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +1000

In our latest ep, we're talking melty, gooey movies where the human body becomes nothing but fondue. When the human body melts, what does it say about our place in the world?

Includes discussions of The Black Phone (2022), The Night (2020), Censor (2021), Showgirls (1995), The Incredible Melting Man (1977), Creepshow 2 (1987), Street Trash (1987), The Blob (1988), Body Melt (1993) and more.

Men (2022) + Sydney Film Festival

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +1000

We discuss Alex Garland's much-hyped new film Men, plus a smorgasbord of goodies from the 2022 Sydney Film Festival.

Includes discussions of Men (2022), Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), Family Dinner (2022), Sushi Noh (2022), Piggy (2022), Flux Gourmet (2022), Incredible But True (2022).

Destructive Doodads

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +1000

Evil inanimate objects have permeated every form of media, so we're taking a look at some of horror's most destructive doodads. Killer beds, dresses, pianos and tyres take us on a weird and wild journey into the paraphernalia of everyday life.

Includes discussions of The Found Footage Phenomenon (2022), The Village (1993), Barbarella (1968), Christine (1983), In Fabric (2018), Death Bed: The Bed that Eats (1977), House (1977), Battle Heater (1989), Rubber (2010) and more.

Pre-Code Horror

Fri, 20 May 2022 06:00:00 +1000

We're going back in time to the Wild West of horror before the the Hays Code tried to bring morality to the movies, and discussing some of the weirdest, sleaziest little films we've ever seen.

Includes discussions of The Unknown (1927), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), Freaks (1932), Island of Lost Souls (1932), The Most Dangerous Game (1932), Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932), The Mummy (1933), Murders in the Zoo (1933), The Invisible Man (1933), The Old Dark House (1933) and more.

Found Footage

Fri, 06 May 2022 06:00:00 +1000

In May 2022, two podcasters disappeared in the woods near Sydney, Australia while recording a podcast. The recordings from that day were never found... until now.

Join us in the world of shaky cameras and spooky sounds as well talk the much-maligned found footage genre.

Includes discussions of C'est arrivé près de chez vous (aka Man Bites Dog) (1992), The Blair Witch Project (1999), Noroi: The Curse (2005), [REC] (2007), Lake Mungo (2008), The Houses October Built (2014), Creep (2015), Hell House, LLC (2015), Found Footage 3D (2016), Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) and more.

The Northman and Time Warps

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 08:00:00 +1000

Time warps, time loops, and ruptures in the fabric of reality are the topic this time as we discuss movies that make you question everything.

We also caught The Northman on opening night of Fantastic Film Festival Australia. Head to our Instagram to find out how you can win one of three double passes. Head to https://www.fantasticfilmfestival.com.au to see the full program - running until May 6 in Sydney and Melbourne.

Includes discussions of The Northman (2022), Cube 2: Hypercube (2002), 1408 (2007), Triangle (2009), Resolution (2012), Freaks (2019), Koko-Di Koko-Da (2019), Old (2021), Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).

Ti West's X and Creepy Crawlies

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +1000

Ants, spiders and other arthropod pals are the stars of the hour as we talk things that creep and crawl. In this episode we discuss how bugs in horror movies create a unique sense of danger and paranoia.

Includes discussions of X (2022), Them! (1954), Phase IV (1974), Kingdom of the Spiders (1977), Creepshow (1982), The Fly (1986), Eight Legged Freaks (2002), Bug (2006) and more.

Bonus Episode: Family Horror

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Featuring discussions of two of the most chilling films we've ever seen, we unpack all the horror of the nuclear family.

Frankenstein

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +1100

One of horror's most iconic monsters might actually be a big softy! On this episode, we unpack all the gravitas of the misunderstood Frankenstein (or Franky as we call him).

Includes discussions of Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Flesh for Frankenstein (1973), Blackenstein (1973), Frankenhooker (1990), May (2002), Depraved (2019), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), Fresh (2022) and more.

Scream (2022) and Our Top Ten Horror Movies of 2021

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +1100

In our first ep of 2022, we're talking the brand new "requel" to the Scream franchise, and counting down our top 10 horror movies of the bizarre year that was 2021.

Hooptober

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +1100

For the first time, we took part in the Hooptober challenge - a challenge to watch 31 horror movies throughout the month of October. In this episode, we talk about some of the highlights, lowlights and weird shit of our Hooptober journey.

Crystal's Hooptober List: https://boxd.it/dvU6E

Scott's Hooptober List: https://boxd.it/dvQBI

Rape-Revenge

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 21:00:00 +1100

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault and rape.

We're tackling one of the most divisive horror sub-genres ever - the rape-and-revenge movie. Hopelessly misogynistic or empowering, feminist diatribes? We try to get to the bottom of what these stories say about the world we live in.

Contains discussions of Ms. 45 (1981), I Spit on Your Grave a.k.a Day of the Woman (1978), Motor Psycho! (1965), The Virgin Spring (1960), The Last House on the Left (1972), Baise-moi (2000), Monster (2003), Revenge (2017) and more.

Demonic Possession

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +1000

SBG gets up-close-and-personal with some demons. What makes them tick and what are they looking for in a partner? From The Exorcist to Emily Rose, we talk about the most demonic demons and their hosts of choice.

Includes discussions of Black Box (2020), Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), Squid Game (2021), The Exorcist (1973), The Exorcist III (1990), Alucarda (1977), Possession (1981), The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead 2 (1987), Prince of Darkness (1987), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2006), Luz (2018) and more.

Cannibals

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:00:00 +1000

It's the final taboo, the forbidden snack, human flesh. In this episode we talk about people who eat people and discover it's one of the most complex horror tropes we've covered so far.

Includes discussions of The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), Block Island Sound (2020), Spiral (2021), Man from Deep River (1972), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), Frightmare (1974), We Are What We Are (2010), Dumplings (2004), Raw (2016), The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and Her Lover (1989) and more.

The Ring vs. The Grudge

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 13:00:00 +1000

Get ready for our most heated episode yet! In the inaugural Spooky Bitch Debate, we determine which is the superior J-Horror franchise - The Ring or The Grudge.

Featuring special guest judge Priscilla Pettit, plus another round of 2 Spooks and a Lie with Paul Robson.

Vampires (with Felix Hubble of Static Vision)

Fri, 07 May 2021 22:00:00 +1000

Who's the hottest movie vampire? Is blood-sucking just sex? Do vampires shit? Sink ya fangs into our vampire episode where we answer all the hard hitting questions about the iconic movie monster. Featuring Felix Hubble of Static Vision.

View the Dreamscapes program and buy tickets.

Includes discussions of Habit (1996), The Addiction (1995), Dracula (1931), Nosferatu (1922), The Brides of Dracula (1960), Near Dark (1987), Ganja & Hess (1973), Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) and more.

Episode 420: Evil Bong

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +1000

It's time for another marathon - this time a special journey through the world of Charles Band's Evil Bong. After the initial high, things get weird fast... So weird we're not sure we can take it.

Horror Games

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +1100

Does a love of horror movies cross over into horror games? We try to wrap our heads around some gaming classics and some new horror games making a buzz.

Includes discussions of Shadow of the Vampire (2000), Countdown (2019), Vampire Hookers (1978), Like.Share.Follow (2017), Resident Evil (2002 version), Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010), Limbo (2010), Inside (2016), Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil Maiden (2021), Clock Tower (1995), Until Dawn (2015), The Medium (2021) and more.

Zombies

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 21:00:00 +1100

From Caribbean folklore to George Romero's classics and beyond, we're talking zombies! Is the zombie genre still vital, or is it time we laid its rotting corpse to rest?

Includes discussions of Wrong Turn (2021), The Dark and the Wicked (2020), The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Zombi Child (2019), White Zombie (1932), Halley (2012), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), Braindead (1992) and more.

Creepy Kids

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 22:00:00 +1100

Kids are creepy af but y'all aren't ready for THAT conversation. Join us as we discuss creepy, killer kids in horror and how they reflect the deepest fears of society.

Skip to 08:40 to avoid spoilers for Promising Young Woman.

Includes discussions of Promising Young Woman (2020), Village of the Damned (1960), Them (2006), The Bad Seed (1956), The Omen (1976), Children of the Corn (1984), The Children (2008), The Brood (1979) and more.

Our Top Ten Horror Movies of 2020

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +1100

Spooky Buzz Gang is back. It's a new year and we're counting down the best horror movies of the horror movie that was 2020.

All-Nighter: Friday the 13th

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +1100

Obviously we didn't learn our lesson the first time. We stayed up all night watching ten Friday the 13th movies and we did it all for you. Hear our slow descent into insanity as we try to figure out just why this franchise and its hulking killer has become so iconic.

Torture Porn

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +1100

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence.

The much-maligned torture porn genre gets the SBG treatment. Is it horrible sadism for the sake of making us squirm, or is there more going on beneath the gory surface?

Includes discussions of Antebellum (2020), Spree (2020), The Wizard of Gore (1970), Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975), Cannibal Holocaust (1980), Audition (1999), Saw (2004), Hostel (2005), Hostel Part II (2007), Martyrs (2008), Antichrist (2009), A Serbian Film (2010) and more.

Sharks & Crocs

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +1100

Sharks and crocs are the terrors of the deep, but do these ancient and terrifying beings have something to say about humans?

Includes discussions of La Llorona (2019), Host (2020), Near Dark (1987), Jaws (1975), Jaws II (1978), Open Water (2003), Eaten Alive (1977), The Shallows (2016), Dark Age (1987), The Pool (2018), Rogue (2007) and more.

Home Invasions

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +1000

The gang is staying home, so it's prime time to talk home invasion horror. How does home invasion horror comment on our domestic relationships and the way we view the sanctity of home?

Includes discussions of The Vigil (2019), Shirley (2020), Unhinged (2020), The Strangers (2008), La Casa Muda (2010), The Silent House (2011), Emelie (2015), Panic Room (2002), Don't Breathe (2016), mother! (2017), Us (2019), Straw Dogs (1971), The Purge (2013), You're Next (2011), Black Christmas (1974), Funny Games (1997), Cape Fear (1991), Night of the Hunter (1955), A Clockwork Orange (1971), When a Stranger Calls (1979), Breaking In (2018).

Killer Plants

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +1000

What's that smell? It's us talking enough shit to fertilise an entire forest. This ep we're talking plants that walk, plants that talk, and plants that kill.

Includes discussions of Sweetheart (2019), Night Tide (1961), Walking Out (2017), The Day of the Triffids (1962), Maneater of Hydra (1967), Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), Annihilation (2018), The Girl with All the Gifts (2016), The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), Creepshow (1982), The Ruins (2008), The Happening (2008), The Invasion (2006), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 / 1978), Seedpeople (1992), The Crawlers / Troll 3 / Creepers / Contamination .7 (1993), The Thing from Another World (1951), Little Joe (2019) and more.

Treehouse of Horror

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 22:00:00 +1000

The Simpsons is a gateway into pop culture and its annual Treehouse of Horror episodes have further cemented the legacy of many great (and not so great) horror and sci-fi stories. We discuss and rank the first ten Treehouse of Horror episodes.

Plus discussions of Little Joe (2019), Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014), Evil Bong (2006), The Fly (1958/1986), and The Return of the Living Dead (1985).

Apocalyptic Horror

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +1000

Apocalypse, WOW! 2012's Mayan Calendar scare was a bust but there's still time for the world to end. We're talking Apocalyptic Horror from the bible, to zombies, to nuclear war and what it says about humanity.

Includes discussions of Knock Knock (2015), Le Manoir (2017), Born in Flames (1983), The Road (2009), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Panic in Year Zero (1962), Antisocial (2013), Dead End Drive-In (1986), The Last Man on Earth (1962), I Am Legend (2007), 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), The Purge (2013), The Terror Within (1989), Left Behind: The Movie (2000), Left Behind (2014).

Watch the trailer for Downhill (2016) here: https://youtu.be/5gPjXFjoa5Y

Bonus Episode: Webcam Horror (Instagram Live)

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 20:00:00 +1100

I scream, you scream, we all scream for quarantine. We're staying inside our house and killing time on the internet, so we did what all the real podcasts do and went live on Instagram discussing Internet Horror. Webcams, creepypasta, slow dial-up and online predators all get a shout out.

Enjoy this indelible record of our idiocy as we preserve it online for future generations.

Includes discussions of Unfriended (2014), Unfriended: Dark Web (2018), Smiley (2012), The Den (2013), Searching (2018), Pulse (2001), My Little Eye (2002), Halloween: Resurrection (2002) and more.

Hixploitation

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 19:00:00 +1100

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault.

Get ready for some down-home deep fried horror as we talk Hixploitation. Hicks, hillbillies, yokels, bumpkins. Whatever you want to call them, we try to figure out what role they play in horror and what hixploitation can tell us about ourselves.

Featuring special guest Crystal's dad!

Includes discussions of The Platform (2019), The Invisible Man (2020), The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007), Lake Mungo (2008), Malasaña 32 (2020), Night of Fear (1973), Deliverance (1972), Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964), Hunter's Blood (1986), The Hills Have Eyes (1977/2006), Eden Lake (2008), Wake in Fright (1971), Wolf Creek (2005), Jug Face (2013) and more.

Horror of Personality

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 16:00:00 +1100

We talk about horror that's all too human - the conniving, malicious and murderous personalities that make psychological horror so terrifying!

Includes discussions of 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019), Blood and Black Lace (1964), The Invisible Man (2020), Gaslight (1944), Black Swan (2010), American Psycho (2000), The Shining (1980), Repulsion (1965), Misery (1990), Stoker (2013), Psycho (1960), Goodnight Mommy (2014), Halloween (1978), Nekromantik (1987).

Watch the trailer for Nektromantik here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byDAyshYjA4

Jump Scares, plus The Lighthouse (2019)

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 23:00:00 +1100

We talk about the much-anticipated and hugely lauded The Lighthouse and investigate the power and the failings of jump scares. Poor film making, or a tool for good? How does our recognition and expectation of tropes play into our experience of genre films?

SPOILER WARNING FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE:
13:17 - 21:00.

Includes discussions of Pumpkinhead (1988), Bliss (2019), Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), The Lighthouse (2019), The Curse of the Weeping Woman / The Curse of La Llorona (2019), Sinister (2012), Annabelle (2014), The Exorcist (1973), The Innocents (1961), Cat People (1942), Paranormal Activity (2007), The Descent (2005), Resident Evil (video game, 1996), Until Dawn (2015), Santa's Slay (2005) and more.

Watch the trailer for Santa's Slay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0nDG91hVu0

Our Top Ten Horror Movies of 2019

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +1100

So we missed Christmas, but like our sad-looking Christmas tree, we’re carrying the festive cheer into the new decade. Join ‘Spooky Buzz Gang’ as we count down our favourite horror movies of the year, and get ready for a few surprises!

View the lists on our website!

Queer Horror

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +1100

We try to unpack the deeply coded, hidden presence of queer and trans people throughout the history of horror movies. From unseen menace to beleaguered horror heroes, queerness has been an element of horror since the beginning and in some of its most recognised works.

Includes discussions of Psycho (1960), Rope (1948), Sleepaway Camp (1983), Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988), High Tension (2003), The Perfection (2019), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Hellbent (2004), Pitchfork (2014), Seed of Chucky (2004), I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990) and more.

Watch the trailer for I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbvqz-nv7Zw

Monster Fest Wrap-Up

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +1100

Following Fangoria x Monster Fest hitting Sydney on the weekend, we wrap up the good, the bad and the ugly of Australia's premiere genre film festival.

Includes discussions of 3 from Hell (2019), Porno (2019), Vivarium (2019), Deerskin (2019), The Wretched (2019), Devil Woman (2018), Satanic Panic (2019), Color out of Space (2019).

Interview with Simon Foster of Monster Fest

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +1100

Ahead of Monster Fest’s Sydney Debut, we chat with the director of the Sydney leg, Simon Foster, a 30 year veteran of genre cinema. Check out Monster Fest at http://monsterfest.com.au and read Simon’s reviews at Screen Space.

Follow us all on Letterboxd! Simon, Crystal, Scott, Jesse.

Clowns

Sat, 26 Oct 2019 20:00:00 +1100

We talk about everything wrong with IT: Chapter Two and discuss all the horror movie clowns that came before. Why is the killer clown trope so pervasive? Is it just a convenient shortcut to scary? Why does the killer clown trope seem to be most effective in horror's grittiest, low-budget works?

Includes discussions of It: Chapter One (2017), It: Chapter Two (2019), Stephen King's IT (1990), Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988), Clown (2014), Hellbreeder (2004), Killjoy (2000), House of 1000 Corpses (2003).

Folk Horror

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 21:00:00 +1000

What makes a movie folk horror? Is Midsommar all style and no substance? Why do folk horror classics like The Wicker Man still chill us?

Includes discussions of Midsommar (2019), The Witch (2015), Kill List (2011), The Virgin Spring (1960), The Wicker Man (1973), The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971), Witchfinder General (1968), The Blair Witch Project (1999), Onibaba (1964), Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964) and more.

Watch the trailer for Two Thousand Maniacs! here: https://youtu.be/oqju5lSHRJE

Never Sleep Again (Nightmare on Elm Street Marathon)

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 19:00:00 +1000

Don't. Fall. Asleep. We spent a night watching every single A Nightmare on Elm Street movie* so you don't have to. (*Minus the remake and Freddy vs Jason, with Kelly Rowland's homophobic mome.) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), A, Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989), Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994).

Body Horror

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 11:00:00 +1000

What is body horror? Is Cronenberg's depiction of women problematic? Addiction, sexual oppression and zombie chickens—this episode has it all.

We touch on The Night Eats the World (2018), The Curse of La Llorona (2019), Cat People (1942), Freaks (1932), Eraserhead (1977), It Chapter Two (2019), Rosemary's Baby (1968), Dead Ringers (1988), eXistenZ (1999), American Mary (2012), Raw (2016), Poultrygeist (2006).

Our Favourite Horror Movies

Thu, 09 May 2019 15:00:00 +1000

Welcome to Spooky Bitch Gang! In our first ep we breakdown our favourite horror movies, Night of the Living Dead (1968) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), we discuss Jordan Peele's new movie, US, and the remake of Pet Sematary, and we let you know whether or not you should see Body Melt (1993) based exclusively on its trailer.