This week, Liz and Evan return to the J-Horror well (get it?) to unpack the mysteries of the 2000 prequel Ringu 0: Birthday! They’re joined by a familiar voice, returning guest and Ringu expert James Skosky, who helps put the film in context amidst the sprawling rest of the franchise. Join them as they discuss how the state of the Japanese film industry led to The Ring's international success, explore the movie’s empathetic and tragic take on Sadako, and ponder the enduring appeal of this franchise’s imagery, even in an era where nobody owns VCRs anymore.

If you, too, famously threw a tantrum and refused to go swimming in the ocean, then be sure to check out nowscreaming.com, and drop by our Twitter @nowscreaming. You can also show James some love on Twitter or Letterboxd @mst3james! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast in the next 7 days… it’s the only way to make sure you survive…