Scary Thoughts

Scary Thoughts episodes:

• 05.16.2024

  Scary Thoughts #117 - Fallout (2024)

  Chad and Marc return from the prison of their career commitments to the nihilist hellscape of Amazon Prime’s dystopic series Fallout Marc is a noob to this take on this apocalypse-as-western. His guide...

  
• 03.23.2024

  Scary Thoughts #116 - Clueless (1995)

  Clueless (1995) is one of those films that almost everyone has a soft spot for. It defined a time and place, riffed on a classic, upholds pretty good values, is extremely quotable, and makes you...

  
• 12.24.2023

  Scary Thoughts #115 - Rick and Morty, Season 7, Episode 10, Fear No Mort (2023)

  When faced with the recent dreary Christmas horror offerings of the past year or two, we felt nothing but apathy. Which is a terrible position to be in when you’re looking for a holiday episode...

  
• 10.26.2023

  Scary Thoughts #114 - Top Ten Tropes and Grievances of 2023

  It’s been a while—but fear not—we have returned, just in time for Halloween! This episode covers 10 loosey-goosey horror themes that we’ve been pondering as of late. We praise stuff we love and...

  
• 09.10.2023

  Scary Thoughts #113 - The Martian

  Andy Weir’s novel The Martian (2011) is top-shelf hard sci-fi for nerds who love space and MacGyver situations. Just four years after (official) publication, Ridley Scott made a film version starring (South Park voice) Matt...

  
• 05.31.2023

  Scary Thoughts #112 - The Craft

  The Craft (1996) is a beloved teen witch movie that helped define the 90s mall goth experience. It also made supporting actress Fairuza Balk a bit of an icon for the heavy eyeshadow crowd. ...

  
• 03.04.2023

  Scary Thoughts #111 - Soviet Horror with Alexander Herbert

  This episode we talk with our comrade Alexander Herbert about his great new book, Fear Before the Fall: Horror Films in the Late Soviet Union. Alexander is a PhD candidate in Soviet History at Brandeis...

  
• 02.02.2023

  Scary Thoughts #110 - Sunn O)))

  Hear Chad and Marc tackle the monolithic drones of metal duo Sunn O))). They discuss witchery and ritual, gear and sculpture, fandom and influence, and (as usual) capitalism and art. ...

  
• 01.06.2023

  Scary Thoughts #109 - Self Help for Nihilists on Discipline! with Nick "The Tooth" Gullo

  Nick “The Tooth” Gullo is a 2x IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Black Belt world champion, co-host of the Infinite Worlds podcast, a writer, lawyer, world traveler, TV Star—and most importantly for this NYE resolution conversation, is...

  
• 11.29.2022

  Scary Thoughts #108 - Halloween Ends (2022)

  Halloween Ends (2022) is Blumhouse’s last shot at making that Michael Meyers money. But rather than do more of what sort of works, they introduce us to the saddest sack character ever and focus the...

  
• 10.20.2022

  Scary Thoughts #107 - The Munsters (2022) & Spider Baby (1967)

  Our first DOUBLE FEATURE episode covers Jack Hill’s Spider Baby (1967) and Rob Zombie’s The Munsters (2022). Why these films together? Well, the straightforward answer is that we watched them the same week—and Sid Haig....

  
• 10.04.2022

  Scary Thoughts #106 - Terror Vault with Peaches Christ

  Drag legend and horror icon Peaches Christ (Joshua Grannell) is back for a fourth episode. This time we’re exploring the spooky secrets of Terror Vault, a fully immersive haunted theatrical experience that takes audiences on...

  
• 08.25.2022

  Scary Thoughts #105 - Prey (2022)

  Dan Trachtenberg’s 2022 Predator offering, Prey, is one of the better films in the franchise. If you’re a truly misguided soul, (like Marc) it might even be your favorite. We talked about what it did...

  
• 08.03.2022

  Scary Thoughts #104 - Jennifer's Body (2009)

  Karyn Kusama’s 2009 film Jennifer’s Body, is finding an audience thanks to a mix of #metoo reckoning, queer analysis, oughts nostalgia, and public fascination with Megan Fox’s hematophagic pairing with male scream queen Machine Gun...

  
• 07.14.2022

  Scary Thoughts #103 – Stranger Things, Season Four, Part Two

  The second half of Stranger Things 4 was fun. Even Argyle and Lucas managed to have great moments. In this episode we talk about why this season won us over, how drugs help with the...

  
• 06.30.2022

  Scary Thoughts #102 - Stranger Things, Season Four, Part One

  We started our show talking about the first season of Stranger Things, so we are compelled to continue. Thankfully for everyone, the end is nigh. But as Marc is fond of saying, “Don’t let our...

  
• 05.19.2022

  Scary Thoughts #101 - The Evil Dead (Sam Raimi – 1981) and Evil Dead II (Sam Raimi – 1987)

  The Evil Dead (1981) and Evil Dead 2 (1987) are both unimpeachable classics of horror comedy. After our longest hiatus, we delve into the cult lore of these films and their influence on horror. This...

  
• 03.04.2022

  Scary Thoughts #100 - What Have We Learned?

  We started Scary Thoughts back in 2016. The years since have been–eventful. This episode rambles hard as we attempt to answer the question, “what have we learned?” Think of it as a director’s commentary. We...

  
• 02.16.2022

  Scary Thoughts #99 - Post-Quarantine Q&A

  Let us help you slide into this not-quite-new not-quite-normal-not-quite-post-pandemic with some answers to your questions. You asked about news consumption, movie theaters, horror trends, Disney character team-ups, nostalgia, algorithms, the hunt for Joe Rogan, meditation—and...

  
• 02.06.2022

  Scary Thoughts #98 - Titane (2021) with Monique Jenkinson aka Fauxnique

  Julia Ducornau’s Titane (2021) features a lot of dancing and gender theory. So who better to have as a guest than Monique Jenkinson, AKA Fauxnique? We talk about her new book Faux Queen: A Life...

  
• 01.17.2022

  Scary Thoughts #97 - Don’t Look Up (2021)

  Don’t Look Up came out on Netflix just in time to brighten everyone’s 2021 holidays. The director, Adam McKay, is one of the most successful comedy directors ever, but this movie isn’t exactly a winner, even if it...

  
• 12.01.2021

  Scary Thoughts #96 - Dune (2021)

  Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (2021) isn’t horror. But this episode was requested by quite a few people, and we aim to please. We discuss this version, the first book in Frank Herbert’s series, David...

  
• 10.30.2021

  Scary Thoughts #95 - Halloween Kills (2021)

  Halloween Kills (2021) is Blumhouse’s second film in what will undoubtedly, and unfortunately, be an ongoing series. Like many entries in this classic franchise, it is awful. We discuss where it goes wrong, the few...

  
• 10.06.2021

  Scary Thoughts #94 - Malignant (2021)

  James Wan’s Malignant (2021) is a lot of things. Giallo homage. Action film. 90s horror. But even when it feels familiar, it delivers some genuinely original moments and ideas. We cover the film itself, its...

  
• 09.12.2021

  Scary Thoughts #93 - The Final Girl Support Group (2021)

  Grady Hendrix’s Final Girl Support Group (2021) is a love letter to the golden age of slasher movies. This episode is essentially a love letter to the author—even if we do have our crusty quibbles...

  
• 08.23.2021

  Scary Thoughts #92 - Halloween (2018)

  In this episode we take a look at Halloween (2018), the third film of the same title, in the same franchise. Yes folks, this is the age of the reboot. We discuss the pleasures and...

  
• 07.29.2021

  Scary Thoughts #91 - Inside (2021)

  Bo Burnham’s Inside (2021) is one of the most unique things you’ll see on Netflix. It’s an angsty and existential one-man musical comedy about isolation. Though COVID-19 is never mentioned in the piece, it looms...

  
• 06.06.2021

  Scary Thoughts #90 - Event Horizon (1997) with Nick Gullo

  This episode we cover the 1997 sci-fi horror film Event Horizon—with deep digressions into the nature of reality, L. Ron Hubbard, QAnon, martial arts nerds, psychedelics, UFOs, and cosmic horror.  We’re joined by...

  
• 05.27.2021

  Scary Thoughts #89 - Dungeon Synth with Andee Connors

  Dungeon Synth is as obscure as it gets for music genres, but it might be everywhere soon. We explore the fetid foundations and eldritch evolutions of this bizarre scene with extreme music authority, Andee Connors....

  
• 05.12.2021

  Scary Thoughts #88 - Introducing Season 2: The Post-COVID World

  This episode follows a long and unplanned break caused by a plethora of personal calamities (spoiler: Chad got The ‘Rona). Rather than focusing on a single film or book, we use the episode to discuss...

  
• 02.10.2021

  Scary Thoughts #87 The Vast of Night (2019)

  Back in October of 2020 we hosted an online screening of the 2020 indie sci-fi film, The Vast of Night. The event was put together by Fulcrum Arts. This episode is a recording of the...

  
• 01.21.2021

  Scary Thoughts #86 - The Purge (2013)

  The Purge franchise’s first film was released in 2013. There are now four flicks, two seasons of a TV series, and a host of questionable fan content online. We discuss the appeal of this story,...

  
• 01.08.2021

  Scary Thoughts #85 - Us with Boston & J from Race Trader Podcast

  Jordan Peele is an important Black filmmaker and a horror nerd’s horror nerd. His 2019 film Us is packed full of references to obscure classics—but does that make it less original? Boston and J from...

  
• 11.12.2020

  Scary Thoughts #84 - Verotika (2019)

  Glenn Danzig’s Verotika (2019) is a failure. But has it failed in an interesting way? That all depends on how much you like boobs. In this episode we discuss bad acting, bad effects, bad music, and...

  
• 10.29.2020

  Scary Thoughts #83 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

  Gather ‘round boils and ghouls, it’s our annual Halloween episode! This year we’re covering It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966). Short and sweet like a peppermint patty, we talk about television, made up holidays, bad...

  
• 10.08.2020

  Scary Thoughts #82 - “Is this how you thought it would all end?” with Michelle Tea, Meg Elison and Lawrence English

  Writer Michelle Tea, writer Meg Elison, and composer Lawrence English join us for a trio of COVID-19-era conversations. We ask them each, “Is this how you thought it would all end?” All three guests have great...

  
• 09.21.2020

  Scary Thoughts #81 - Rick and Morty

  Rick and Morty is one of those shows people love making video essays about. It’s smart, it uses philosophical ideas to deliver dick and fart jokes, and it includes a lot of high-level sci-fi/cosmic horror. This...

  
• 08.14.2020

  Scary Thoughts #80 - Host (2020) with Madeleine Koestner

  Shudder’s Zoom-based film Host (2020) is the belle of the COVID-19-horror-film ball. This fun and imaginative movie is a great way to spend an hour at the end of a depressing work day. But is it actually good? Or...

  
• 08.04.2020

  Scary Thoughts #79 - The 'Burbs (1989) with Nathan Thompson

  Joe Dante’s 1989 film The ‘Burbs has been our most requested film to cover since we started this podcast. It’s great and so is our guest Nathan Thompson. He’s a writer and journalist and hosts the...

  
• 07.27.2020

  Scary Thoughts #78 - The Road (2006) with Daniel Coffeen

  Cormac McCarthy’s bleak, apocalyptic father-son road trip novel, The Road (2006), won both the Pulitzer Prize and the admiration of Oprah. Daniel Coffeen (Zero Books, Renegade University) rejoins us to discuss if the book deserves all...

  
• 07.09.2020

  Scary Thoughts #77 - World War Z (2006)

  Max Brooks nailed it with his 2006 fictional oral history, World War Z. It’s a fun book with lots of original ideas, which makes it a blast to talk about; especially since there are so many...

  
• 06.30.2020

  Scary Thoughts #76 - The Wicker Man (1973) with Steven Intermill

  The Wicker Man (1973) is British folk horror at its best. It’s got weird townsfolk music, a mysterious and sexy monarch, bizarre occult practices, and nude pagan dance numbers. We’re joined by Steven Intermill, the Director...

  
• 06.16.2020

  Scary Thoughts #75 - Safe (1995) with K.M. Soehnlein

  What better time than a pandemic to cover Safe (1995) by Todd Haynes? This illness thriller is on a lot of “best of” lists even though it’s rarely talked about now. In this episode we’re joined...

  
• 05.27.2020

  Scary Thoughts #74 - The Hunt (2020)

  The Hunt (2019/20) is surrounded by political drama but is pretty mediocre. Except for our hero Betty Gilpin, who absolutely slays. We spend just about as much time talking about fake martial arts, conspiracy theories and...

  
• 05.20.2020

  Scary Thoughts #73 - 28 Days Later... (2002)

  Our pandemic podcasting continues with the 2002 fast-zombie film 28 Days Later. We both loved it when it came out, but some elements of the film have aged better than others. The conversation drifts into COVID-19...

  
• 05.02.2020

  Scary Thoughts #72 - Ed Wood (1994)

  Tim Burton’s Ed Wood (1994) is his best film and Johnny Depp’s best performance. Your inner goth teen might bristle, but everything about it is near perfect. Joshua Grannell (Aka Peaches Christ) joins us again to...

  
• 04.15.2020

  Scary Thoughts #71 - Tiger King (2020)

  In the age of COVID-19 there are only two popular subjects: Trump and the Tiger King. We are tired of both. But the memes remain strong. We talk about the saga of these cat-addicted mutants, how...

  
• 03.30.2020

  Self Help for Nihilists 0003 - Quarantine Q&A

  Thanks to COVID-19 caused social distancing, this is the first episode we’ve recorded remotely. With compromised audio, and fortified immune systems, we talk about life under the virus, answer a lot of listener questions, and make...

  
• 03.17.2020

  Scary Thoughts #69 - Contagion (2011)

  Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 Contagion is eerily prescient because of the filmmakers dedication to research and realism. The cast, cinematography, and script are excellent. But it’s not exactly an uplifting watch, considering the news. We recorded this...

  
• 03.05.2020

  Scary Thoughts #68 - A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

  A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) is debut director Ana Lily Amirpour’s stylish Iranian vampire spaghetti western. It’s more or less everything we like here at Scary Thoughts: it looks cool, it has a...