Erick Wessel and Terri Rivera are the creators of The Mystic Museum and The Horror Boodega, two of LA’s most unique horror destinations.

In this episode, we trace the journey from punk rock beginnings and getting drunk in Vegas to how a small oddities shop grew into the Mystic Museum and how the Horror Boodega was built in just four months. We talk about nostalgia, wearing horror on our sleeves, and designing immersive spaces that celebrate the genre and bring fans deeper into the experience.

We get into the paranormal side of the Mystic Museum — from hauntings and séances to visitor encounters and even a true crime event tied to the building. We reflect on belief vs. skepticism, how fear of death connects to our love for horror, and why these stories resonate so deeply with fans.We also cover the state of horror film culture today: the best and worst films of the year, remakes and reboots, mean-spirited horror, critics, and the movies we defend even when everyone else hates them.

Along the way, we talk about the first horror films that shook us, casting mega-stars in horror, and the exhibits that keep the Mystic Museum evolving — from Horror High Reunion to Total Grotesque Live, their Evil Dead collaboration, and partnership with Eli Roth’s Horror Section Studios.

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00:00:00- Intro - Getting Drunk, Punk Rock

00:03:16 - The Genesis of The Mystic Museum

00:11:28 - Creating The Horror Boodega

00:20:39 - Nostalgia, Wearing Horror On Our Sleeves

00:27:24 - Building Immersive Experiences

00:34:13 - The Mystic Museum Is Haunted? Paranormal Experiences, Believing in the Paranormal, and Addressing Skepticism of the Paranormal

00:50:41 - A "True Crime" Event Happened at The Mystic Museum? Evil Spirits and The Paranormal Experiences of Visitors.

01:07:07 - Fear of Dying and How This All Ties Into Our Love For Horror

01:12:28 - Best Horror Films This Year

01:21:10 - Don't Take Horror Too Seriously

01:26:40 - Least Favorite Horror Movies of the Last Year

01:35:09 - Horror High Reunion, Films We Want to See, Where Remakes/Reboots Go Wrong, Mean Spirited Horror

01:51:40 - Film Critics - Good or Bad? Films We Love That Everyone Hates

02:02:22 - Expectations Ruining Movies, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

02:07:53 - Films That Deserve A Remake/Reboot/Spin-Off

02:21:17 - First Horror Films That Really Shook Us

02:31:42 - Casting Mega Celebrities and Horror Icons - Does it Ruin the Movie?

02:39:42 - The Mystic Museum's Exhibits: TGL, Horror High Reunion, 90s Slasher

02:48:48 - Expanding The Mystic Museum and The Horror Boodega

02:56:07 - Total Grotesque Live, Evil Dead Experience, Partnership With Eli Roth's Horror Section Studios

03:02:51 - Outro

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