ScaryCrit: A Black Horror Podcast

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....We missed y'all. Please excuse us for the unintentional hiatus but we have returned with a new episode and our second Special! Our first Special focused on season one of the horror anthology series Them, Them: Covenant (2021). With season two, titled Them: The Scare (2024) having been recently released, we had to strike while the iron was hot with another Special. We get into what we thought about the season, the casting, execution of theme and ideas and how it compares to S1. So lock in, turn up that volume up and get cozy with 99 1/2!

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Gems from E99½ 

• Them: Covenant (2021)
• Them: The Scare (2024)
• American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)
• Spiral (2021)
• Saw (2004)
• Lincoln Heights (2007)
• Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
• Pooka (2018)
• American Horror Story (2011)
• Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023)
• Pet Sematary (Stephen King, Doubleday, 1983, Print)
• Jurassic Park (1993)
• Space Jam (1996)
• Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
• The Amityville Horror (1975)
• Poltergeist (1982)
• The Babadook (2014)
• Terrifier (2016)
• The Conjuring (2016)
• The Grudge (2004)
• The Ring (2002)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
• I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
• Promising Young Woman (2020)
• Revenge (2017)
• Law and Order: SVU (1999)
• Lovecraft Country (2020)
• Winnie-the-Poo: Blood and Honey (2023)
• Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 (2024)

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NINE-NINE

We've got one question... Do you like Phil Collins?
 
Get ready for a deep dive into the dark and stylish world of American Psycho (2000) as we dissect the enigmatic Patrick Bateman. Join Lauren, Jared, and returning guest El'Ja Bowens for a thrilling discussion on this psychological thriller, exploring the film's satirical edge, haunting visuals, and Christian Bale's unforgettable performance.

We'll unravel the layers of Bateman's psyche, discussing the blurred lines between reality and delusion, the cultural and intersectional commentary, and the film's enduring impact on pop culture.

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Thank you again to our lovely guest El'Ja!
Buy his book here
Follow him on Instagram
Check out his website, Poetry-N-Motion

Timestamps
00:06:52 - Negronomicon
00:57:06 - Crit
02:13:2 9- Final Curls

Gems from E99

• Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
• Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014, video game)
• Coraline (2009)
• Hereditary (2018)
• Mockingjay Part II (2015)
• Goosebumps (1995 - 1998)
• Slender: The 8 Pages (2012, video game)
• M3GAN (2023)
• Imaginary (2024)
• Channel Zero: The Dream Door (2018)
• Slasher (2016)
• The Murdoch Mysteries (2008 - Present)
• Inside Out (2015)
• She’s Gotta Have It (2017 - 2019)
• Someone Great (2019)
• Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
• The Harder They Fall (2021)
• Luigi’s Mansion (2001)
• Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
• Scream VII (upcoming)
• Scream (1996)
• Scream 2 (1997)
• Scream 3 (2000)
• Scream 4 (2011)
• Scream (2022)
• Scream VI (2023)
• Wednesday (2022 - Present)
• Happy Death Day (2017)
• Cheers (1982 - 1993)
• The Cell (2000)
• American Psycho (2000)
• Charlie’s Angels (2000)
• American Psycho (Bret Easton Ellis, Vintage, 1991, Print)
• The Real Housewives (2006, franchise)
• Henry: Portrait of a Serial Kiiller (1986)
• Dexter (2006 - 2013)
• Barbie (2023)
• Black Swan (2010)
• The Walking Dead (2010 - 2022)
• American Psycho 2
• Renaissance (2023)
• The Marvels (2023)
• Talking Black in America: Performance Traditions (2023)
• Talking Black in America: Roots (2022)
• Before: A Collection of Poems (Lejuane Bowens, Lulu, 2023, Print)

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Is is really Spooky Season if we're not talking about a Halloween movie?

Get ready for a side-splitting episode as we delve into the sequel that is 'Halloween: Resurrection' (2002). Join Lauren and Jared for a deep dive into this ironically iconic installment where Michael Myers returns once again to murder and mame LIVE on the internet. 

We'll explore the portrayal of Blackness, the misuse of the Black characters in the film, and the impact this film had on the 'Halloween' franchise. From the strange pacing to the classic jump scares, we break down the elements that made this film, for better or for worse, a memorable addition to the horror canon.

Is 'Halloween: Resurrection' an underrated gem or a comical misstep in the franchise? Find out on this episode of ScaryCrit!

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Timestamps
00:10:37 - Negronomicon
00:57:18 - Crit
02:04:37 - Final Curls

Gems from E98

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"Hey, guys!" In our latest podcast episode, we take you on a journey into the unique world of Ma (2019).  Join us as we dissect the complex psyche of the unforgettable character portrayed by the illustrious Octavia Spencer (we love you!), and the harrowing transformation of a seemingly ordinary house into a place of unspeakable horrors.

We'll explore the themes of isolation, obsession, and the haunting consequences of past secrets, all while taking a closer look at the exceptional performances that brought this psychological thriller to life.

Prepare for a thought-provoking crit that uncovers the darkest corners of human nature and the darkest corners of a script that could have used a little more TLC and concrete conversations about intersectionality. Whether you're a die-hard fan of Ma or just curious about the film's deeper layers, this episode is sure to leave you intrigued, entertained, and perhaps even a little bit unnerved. So have a listen and get home safe! ...Or else. 

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Timestamps
00:04:41 - Negronomicon
00:44:08 - Crit
02:06:28 - Final Curls

Gems from E97

• Saw X (2023)
• Saw (2004)
• Saw II (2005)
• Saw 3D (2010)
• Jigsaw (2017)
• Spiral (2021)
• Saw VI (2009)
• The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• Halloween Kills (2021)
• Halloween (2018)
• Halloween Ends (2022)
• Psycho (1998)
• Psycho (1960)
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
• Scream (2022)
• Scream (1996)
• Godzilla (2014)
• The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
• The Crucible (1996)
• It Lives Inside (2023)
• Goosebumps (1995 - 1998)
• Eragon (2006)
• It’s Over (upcoming)
• M3GAN (2023)
• Ma (2019)
• The Blackening (2023)
• The Help (2011)
• The Girl on the Train (2016)
• Get On Up (2014)
• The Machine (2023)
• Halloween II (2009)
• The Witches (2020)
• Thunderforce (2021)
• Spirited (2022)
• Luce (2019)
• Power (2014 - 2020)
• Power Book II: Ghost (2020 - Present)
• Serial Mom (1994)
• Mean Girls (2004)
• Bottoms (2023)
• Carrie (1976)
• South Park (1997 - Present)
• May (2002)
• American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016)
• American Psycho (2000)
• Rap Sh!t (2022 - Present)

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We are playing hella mindgames in this episode of ScaryCrit, where we get lost in the trappings of the 2000s trippy thriller The Cell. This has been an episode long in the making and it makes quite a step in our #Roadto100! Bolstered by Melle's delicious passion for this underrated gem, we explore Jennifer and Vince's uncharacteristic roles, the movie essentially being two different stories, the illustration of fantasy and darkness through the mind and the mind itself being the perfect sandbox for The Cell to play with all it's weirdness in.

Note: If y'all have not ever watched The Cell, we implore you heavily to please see it before listening. Seriously!

Second note: Please don't hold our mispronunciations of Hercule Poirot and Gonjiam against us. Jared got the I and J mixed up and Melle's heart was in the right place. Thank you.

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Timestamps
00:01:46 - Negronomicon
00:42:00 - Crit
01:34:26 - Final Curls

Gems from E96

• Dead Silence (2007)
• A Haunting in Venice (2023)
• Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
• Death on the Nile (2022)
• Hallowe’en Party (Agatha Christie, Collins Crime Club, 1969, Print)
• And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie, Collins Crime Club, 1939, Print)
• Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
• Cinderella (2015)
• Cinderella (2021)
• Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997)
• Law & Order: SVU (1999)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Gonjiam: The Haunted Asylum (2018)
• Grave Encounters (2011)
• Bottoms (2023)
• Shiva Baby (2020)
• Shiva Baby (2018, short)
• American Pie (1999)
• Arrival (2016)
• What’s New Scooby Doo? (2005 - 2006)
• The Assistant (2020)
• Goosebumps (2023)
• Goosebumps (2015)
• Say Cheese and Die (R.L. Stine, Scholastic, 1992, Print)
• Night of the Living Dummy (R.L. Stine, Scholastic, 1993, Print)
• The Boogeyman (2023)
• Final Destination 6 (upcoming)
• Final Destination (2000)
• Final Destination 2 (2003)
• Final Destination 3 (2006)
• The Final Destination (2009)
• Final Destination 5 (2011)
• Living Single (1993)
• Criminal Minds (2005 - Present)
• The Cell (2000)
• Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)
• I Am Legend (2007)
• Poseidon (2006)
• Old Boy (2013)
• Thor (2011)
• Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• Hannibal (2013 - 2015)
• The Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
• Insidious (2010)
• Gran Turismo (2023)
• The Equalizer 3 (2023)
• Rustin (2023)
• Ferrari (2023)
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023)
• Stranger Things (2016 - Present)
• The Flash (2023)
• The Crowded Room (2023)
• The Cell 2 (2009)
• American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016)
• American Horror Story: Red Tide (2021)
• American Horror Story: Hotel (2015)
• Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (2024, video game)
• Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (2004, video game)
• Paper Mario: Sticker Star (2012, video game)
• Paper Mario: Color Splash (2015, video game)
• Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020, video game)

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Beware the stare of Mary Shaw.
She had no children, only dolls.
And if you see her in your dreams...

You BEST bet'not scream!!! Tf? Today on ScaryCrit, we're taking a trip down to dreary Raven's Fair to hang with the good sis Mary and her vociferous dolls and dish about Dead Silence (2007). A brainchild of the fathers of Saw (2005), Leigh Whannel and James Wan, we have a fun time analyzing how this film holds up in the possessed/haunted doll subgenre, toying with the idea of if the movie were from another character's perspective, defining the "curse" of Mary Shaw, and pondering how the Dead Silence we got wasn't originally the one James and Leigh had in mind. So turn us on, turn yourselves down (or else) and enjoy!

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Timestamps
00:11:26 - Negronomicon
00:33:37 - Crit
01:27:54 - Final Curls

Gems from E95

• Super Mario 64 (1996, video game)
• I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)
• The Nun II (2023)
• The Nun (2018)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
• The Werewolf of Fever Swamp (R.L. Stine, Scholastic, 1993, Print)
• Evil Dead (2003)
• Missing (2023)
• The Last of Us (2023)
• The Invisible Man (2020)
• The Conjuring (2013)
• Thanksgiving (2023)
• Grindhouse (2007)
• The Addams Family
• Blood Freak (1972)
• Home Sweet Home (1981)
• Blood Rage (1987)
• ThanksKilling (2008)
• Black Christmas (2019)
• Black Christmas (1974)
• Goosebumps (2015)
• Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)
• Goosebumps (1992, books)
• Goosebumps: Horrorland (2010, books)
• Riverdale (2017 - 2023)
• R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (2010 - 2014)
• Creeped Out (2017 - 2019)
• Just Beyond (2021 - 2021)
• Twilight Zone (2019 - 2020)
• The After Party (2022 - present)
• Dead Silence (2007)
• Night of the Living Dummy (R.L. Stine, Scholastic, 1993, Print)
• Saw (2004)
• American Horror Story (2011 - Present)
• M3GAN (2023)
• Ganja and Hess (1973)
• Crimson Peak (2015)
• The Grudge (2004)
• Saw II (2005)
• A Quiet Place (2018)
• The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (2001 - 2007)
• Robot Chicken (2005 - 2022)
• Mucha Lucha (2002 - 2005)
• What's New Scooby-Doo (2002 - 2006)
• Family Guy (1999 - Present)
• True Blood (2008 - 2014)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• The Changeling (2023 - Present)
• Alternate Opening 
• Alternate Ending 

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Today on ScaryCrit, we're getting lower than low, crittin' the 2014 found-footage horror gem As Above, So Below. Quite an underrated entry in the genre, drop down with us as we chat about the film's not quite on-the-nose take on Dante's Inferno, the first act's noteworthy genre shift/blend, the film's take on what hell is and how this personally affected each of the characters. Remember, once you're in hell, the only way out is down. So pray, repent, press play and dive on in!

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Timestamps
00:16:06 - Negronomicon
00:27:51 - Crit
01:48:24 - Final Curls

Gems from E94

• Barbie (2023)
• Game of Thrones: The Last Watch (2019)
• Game of Thrones (2011)
• Artist Unknown (2023)
• Oppenheimer (2023)
• Blue Beetle (2023)
• The Nun II (2023) (Teaser)
• Bottoms (2023)
• Superbad (2007)
• Fight Club (1994)
• Dune: Part 2 (2024)
• Dune (2022)
• The Hunger Games (2012)
• A Bug’s Life (1998)
• As Above, So Below (2014)
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• The Mummy (1999)
• The Princess Bride (1987)
• The Cave (2005)
• The Descent (2005)
• A Haunting in Venice (2023)
• Inferno (Dante) (from Divine Comedy) (Dante Alighieri, 1321, Print)
• Devil (2010)
• Quarantine (2008)
• The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
• Interstellar (2014)
• American Horror Story: Coven (2013)
• National Treasure (2004)
• Thief: Deadly Shadows (2004, video game)
• Us (2019)
• The Powerpuff Girls (1998)
• The Night Eats the World (2018)
• Trolls: Band Together (2023)
• PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023)

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     This season of ScaryCrit keeps coinciding with some must-watch horror releases and we'd be remiss if we didn't take full advantage! This week's episode is no different as we grab hold of A24's horror feature Talk to Me (2023), having seen it on its opening night. We think that Talk to Me is a unique film in that it operates parallel to your typical possession horror flick (which makes for some unforgettable results).

     Listen in as we unpack that as well as the Philippou bros.'s direction (and career beginnings), the bystander effect and what it means to bear witness in regards to social media as a narrative device, the jarring juxtaposition in framing possession as a party game, and Mia's intense and lonely bout as a grieving protagonist.

    This episode might be a long one but we'd like to think it's quite gripping all the same. So, take our hand and let us guide you straight into another stellar episode of ScaryCrit! You're not going to be able to let go of this one.

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Timestamps
00:10:38 - Negronomicon
00:39:28 - Crit
02:14:04 - Final Curls

Gems from E93

• Grey House (2019, play)
• She-Hulk (2023)
• Orphan Black (2013)
• Avenue Q (2003, play)
• Saw X (2023)
• Saw (2004)
• Saw IV (2007)
• Saw V (2008)
• Spiral (2021)
• Jigsaw (2017)
• Saw VI (2009)
• Saw 3D (2010)
• Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (delayed indefinitely)
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, video game)
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017, video game)
• Barbie (2023)
• Titans (2018)
• Selling Sunset (2019)
• The Real Housewives (2006)
• Teen Mom (2009)
• Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta (2012)
• Project Greenlight: A New Generation (2023)
• Evil Dead Rise (2023)
• Insidious: Red Door (2023)
• Talk to Me (2023)
• Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
• Beau is Afraid (2023)
• The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
• Mid90s (2019)
• Hereditary (2018)
• Zola (2021)
• Moonlight (2016)
• The Babadook (2014)
• Annabelle (2014)
• The Evil Dead (1981)
• Insidious (2010)
• Veronica (2017)
• The Conjuring (2013)
• Rocky (1976)
• The Sadness (2021)
• Euphoria (2019)
• Oculus (2013)
• Unfriended (2014)
• Nope (2022)
• The Ring (2002)
• Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001)
• Oppenheimer (2023)
• They Cloned Tyone (2023)
• Sweet Magnolias (2020)
• And Just Like That (2022)
• A Thousand and One (2023)
• Deadstream (2022)

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We return to the Further in today's episode as we crit the recently released Insidious: The Red Door, the fifth installment of the iconic supernatural horror series! Some of the things we discuss are whether or not the series was able to maintain its scare factor, the complicated father/son relationships that frame the story, the refreshing inclusion of Dalton's college friend Chris (shout-out to actress Sinclair Daniel!), and Patrick Wilson's debut as director. So, grab your lanterns, make sure to mark your way back and join us we go beyond the Red Door and see what hauntings are going on in the Further this go-round.

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Timestamps
00:02:38 - Negronomicon
00:21:01 - Crit
01:16:11 - Final Curls

Gems from E92

• The Nanny (1993-1999)
• The Last Dance (2020)
• Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror (Jordan Peele, Random House Publishing Group, 2023, Print)
• Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
• Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Rugrats All Grown Up (2003-2008)
• Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
• Quarantine (2008)
• Insidious (2010)
• Parasite (2019)
• Halloweentown (1998)
• The Cheetah Girls (2003)
• IT (2017)
• Jeepers Creepers (2001)
• Nancy Drew (2007)
• Scooby Doo, Where Are You? (1969 - 1978)
• Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
• Scream (2022)
• Wednesday (2023)
• Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001)
• Oppenheimer (2023)
• The Haunted Mansion (2023)
• Talk to Me (2023)
• Barbie (2023)
• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

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When we tell you Lauren has been dying to talk about Near Dark (1987)  since season 1! Kathryn Bigelow's genre bending cult classic holds a special place in our hearts and if you haven't seen this vampire-cowboy-romance then strap in for the ride of your night. For this crit, we discuss the true meanings of relationships, loneliness, and the canonical depictions of vampires and how this film flips what we expect to see in a film like this. 

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Shout-outs
Be sure to float over to The Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast to feast on the brains of women-directed horror and their own episode about Near Dark (1987)!

Timestamps
00:05:29 - Negronomicon
00:26:12 - Crit
01:46:50 - Final Curls

Gems from E91

• Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
• Talk to Me (2023)
• Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (video game, 2021)
• Five Nights at Freddy’s (video game, 2014)
• Black Mirror (2011 - Present)
• Twilight Zone (1959 - 1964)
• American Horror Stories (2021 - Present)
• Law and Order: SVU (1999 - Present)
• Dear White People (2017-2021)
• Near Dark (1987)
• Point Break (1991)
• The Hurt Locker (2008)
• Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
• Detroit (2017)
• Teen Witch (1989)
• Teen Wolf (1985)
• The Craft (1996)
• Ganja & Hess (1973)
• Casablanca (1942)
• Bonanza (1959)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974)
• Twilight (2008)
• Interview with a Vampire (2022)
• Being Human (2008 - 2013)
• Underworld (2003)
• 30 Days of Night (2007)
• Cursed (2005)
• Halloween Resurrection (2002)
• The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
• Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
• Aliens (1986)
• The Umbrella Academy (2019 - Present)
• True Blood (2008 - 2014)
• The Lost Boys (1987)
• Fright Night (1985)
• M3GAN (2023)

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