We have another horror author on the pod today! Please welcome Kathleen Palm, author of The Nowhere Series (amongst other short stories and fiction), as we chat about an essential gateway horror for us both, Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist (1982). Kathy takes us on a journey to the drive-in and we discuss all things ghost hunting, clowns, trees, screaming skulls and special effects. But at the center of this story is family, so we also discuss our awesome horror-loving dads and sharing horror with our family and friends!

If you watch before you listen, please note that Poltergeist (1982) contains heavy strobe lights.

00:00-19:00- Intro / How Kathy Got Into Horror / How We First Saw Poltergeist / Our Own Paranormal Investigations

19:00-36:00- Brief Synopsis / Domestic Horror Elements

36:00-50:00- Paranormal Investigation Elements / Special Effects

50:00-01:07:00- Ending(s) / Sequels & Remakes / Score / Reception

01:07:00-01:19:30- Showing Your Kids Poltergeist / Double Feature Ideas / Outro

Please note, timestamps are estimates.

References:

* Granger House Museum (where Chloe went ghost hunting)

* Horror Writers Association- Chicagoland Chapter (where we met!)

* The Little Girl Lost S3E26 (1962)- Twilight Zone episode

* Poltergeist- S1E2 (2020)- Cursed Films episode

* Scariest Places on Earth (paranormal reality show from the early 2000’s in which Zelda Rubinstein does the voiceover)

* Snopes on Poltergeist using real skeletons

Find Us:

* Follow Kathy on her website and buy The Nowhere Series.

* Follow Chloe’s Letterboxd and Instagram.

* Find other great film pods on the Now Playing Network.

The sound and music used in this episode is from Poltergeist (1982) trailer, film and soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith, used for educational purposes.

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