To close out 2025, we’re trying something new — an episode dedicated to looking back on all the horrific happiness of the past year. Tune in as we reflect on the most notable horror releases of 2025 (the hits and the misses), revisit some of our favorite interviews from the year, and talk about how Happy Horror Time grew and evolved throughout the year. Plus, a sneak peek at the horror films we’re looking forward to most in 2026!

It’s been 41 years since the original “Silent Night, Deadly Night” was released, so a remake was pretty much inevitable. But this installment takes quite a different approach to Santa’s slay ride. Tune in to hear us break down the new “Silent Night, Deadly Night” — from the decision to put a voice in Billy’s head, to giving him a girlfriend (and all the other subplots), and of course, whether it stacks up to the original.

As Billy in the original “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” Robert Brian Wilson dons the Santa suit, chases the naughty with an axe, and makes good on his promise to “punish” them. Tune in to hear all about playing the OG Killer Santa in this 1984 horror classic, how he felt about all the controversy back then (and when his feelings changed), and the story behind why he isn’t in the remake that just hit theaters.

Kari Keegan isn’t just one of the “Friday the 13th” final girls — her character, Jessica Kimble, is actually a direct descendant of Jason Voorhees. Talk about a terrifying family tree! Tune in to hear all about making “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday,” what it was like filming that big climactic finale with Kane Hodder, and she sets the record straight on her supposed feud with Director Adam Marcus.

From an ill-fated cruise ship, to the streets and sewers of NYC, Jensen Daggett battled Jason Voorhees across many different settings as Rennie in “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.” Tune in to hear all about filming everywhere from in the water to actual Times Square, the sequence with Jason that truly scared her, and how it feels being one of the final girls in this beloved franchise.

Osgood Perkins is back with a new folk horror tale that takes a dark look at relationships, sacrifice, and drooling creatures. Tune in to hear us break down “Keeper” — from Tatiana Maslany’s effective performance, to whether the film’s explanation/reveal worked, and of course, all that chocolate cake.

Visit https://apostrophebooks.bigcartel.com/ to grab a copy of “Ripped to Shreds” (the graphic novel we mention at the beginning of this episode).

It’s a tale as old as time… well, as old as 1818 at least, since that’s when Mary Shelley’s novel was first published. And after multiple film adaptations, Guillermo del Toro is now putting his stamp on this classic monster story. Tune in as we’re joined by Philip Faiss, host of Netflix & Phil, to break down Netflix’s “Frankenstein” — from the many different layers behind this narrative, to the ways del Toro changed the source material, and of course, how Jacob Elordi can be sexy even as The Creature.

Check out Netflix & Phil on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@philoween_trends

After narrowly surviving the Abaddon Hotel in “Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire,” Elizabeth Vermilyea is back as Vanessa Shepherd in the latest installment of this indie horror franchise — “Hell House LLC: Lineage” (now streaming on Shudder). Tune in to hear all about making both “Hell House” movies, what it was like switching from found footage to the new film’s traditional narrative format, and what Elizabeth would like to see explored if the series continues.

Dee Wallace has been starring in scary movies for the last 5 decades, solidifying her status as a true horror legend. Tune in to hear all about making some of her most popular genre hits like “The Hills Have Eyes,” “The Howling,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Cujo,” “Critters,” and “The Frighteners,” what it was like working with directors Wes Craven, Steven Spielberg, and Peter Jackson, and she even teases her multiple upcoming horror films.

It’s been 4 years since Finney took on the Grabber with help from the dead via phone calls, and now we’re back with a new setting, a new set of murders, and tons of dream sequences! Tune in to hear us break down “Black Phone 2” — from the way it shifted the focus to Finney’s sister, to how it created its own set of rules for the dream world, and whether the more emotional scenes worked well or felt over-the-top.