Scream Creeps

The grand finale of the 31 Days of Halloween. Jeremy and Josh close out the series with Michael Dougherty's cult Halloween anthology. It has interwoven stories, a small burlap-masked enforcer named Sam and one rule: respect the traditions.

In this episode

• The setup: four connected stories on one Halloween night in a small Ohio town
• Sam, the pint-sized "holiday compliance officer," and why his simple design works
• The stories: Emma and Henry's jack-o'-lantern dispute, the school principal's dark secret, the kids' bus legend prank, and Lori's night out
• Halloween as the main character: atmosphere, practical effects and dark humor
• Final Horror Hot Seat: Sam is at your door. What do you do?
• Final Agree to Disagree: is Trick or Treat the ultimate Halloween movie, or does Halloween or Hocus Pocus take the crown?
• ⚠️ Spoilers: the principal's reveal, Lori's twist and Sam's role (flagged in the episode)
• Final Horror Check: 9.1/10
• A look back at all 31 movies, from Psycho to Midsummer

Join the conversation

1. Is Trick or Treat the ultimate Halloween movie?
2. Which movie from the series was your favorite?
3. Which one surprised you most?
4. What should a future series include: more slashers, international horror, cult classics, creature features or horror comedy?

Follow or subscribe to Scream Creeps, leave a rating and share the series with a fellow horror fan. Thank you for 31 days of horror. Keep your pumpkin lit and your candy bowl full.

Note: the episode contains strong language and references to violence.

Day 30 of our 31 Days of Halloween. Jeremy and Josh cover Ari Aster's 2019 folk horror film Midsommar. Sunny meadows, flower crowns and a community that has no plan to let you leave.

In this episode

• The setup: a grieving Danny (Florence Pugh) joins a trip to a remote Swedish village
• Folklore as horror: why daylight makes it worse
• Character breakdowns: Danny, Christian, Mark, Josh, Pelle and the Hårga
• The community's relationship with death, and its disturbing rituals
• Horror Hot Seat: you're stuck in the village. What's your escape plan?
• Agree to Disagree: is Midsommar more disturbing than Hereditary?
• ⚠️ Spoilers: the May Queen, Christian's fate, the temple and Danny's final smile (flagged in the episode)
• Scream Creeps Horror Check: the final score is 9.3/10

Join the conversation

1. Is Danny's ending liberation or the final stage of her manipulation?
2. Would you rather face Midsommar or Hereditary?
3. What's your favorite folk horror movie: The Wicker Man, The Witch, The Ritual or something else?

Follow or subscribe to Scream Creeps, leave a rating and share the episode with a horror fan. One movie left.

Note: the episode contains strong language, discussion of suicide and graphic violence.

Day 29 of our 31 Days of Halloween. Jeremy and Josh cover You're Next (2011), directed by Adam Wingard and written by Simon Barrett. This week's theme is the Final Girl. What happens when masked killers break into the wrong house?

In this episode

• The setup: a family gathering turns into a home invasion
• Erin (Sharni Vinson), a survivalist-trained final girl who fights back
• Crispian, the Davison family and the attackers
• Final Girl evolution: Erin compared with Sidney in Scream and Laurie in Halloween
• Home invasion horror: why it works and how the house becomes a weapon
• Horror Hot Seat: would you hide, run or fight?
• Agree to Disagree: is Erin one of the strongest modern final girls?
• ⚠️ Spoilers: the twist and the ending (the episode warns you before this section)
• Scream Creeps Horror Check: the final score is 8.9/10

Join the conversation

1. Is Erin one of the strongest final girls in modern horror?
2. What's your first move in a home invasion?
3. Did the Davison family twist surprise you?
4. Which final girl deserves more recognition?
5. Where does You're Next rank among your favorite home invasion and survival horror films?

Follow Scream Creeps, share the episode with a fellow horror fan, and tell us your favorite final girl. Two nights left. Stay spooky, stay safe.

Note: the episode contains strong language and graphic violence.

Jeremy and Josh discuss the 1994 gothic vampire film Interview with the Vampire as part of Scream Creeps’ 31 Days of Halloween. They explore how the movie blends supernatural horror with romance—and why immortality feels more like a curse than a gift.The episode covers the film’s characters, complicated relationships, and the gothic atmosphere that makes this vampire story so memorable.

Key topics

• The film’s supernatural romance theme and the cost of eternal life.
• Louis’s guilt and struggle to hold onto his humanity.
• Lestat’s charisma, need for control, and complicated desire for companionship.
• Claudia’s tragic existence: immortal, but unable to grow up physically.
• Armand’s perspective on vampire life and whether age brings wisdom.
• How power, consent, dependency, and control complicate love.
• The film’s costumes, candlelit settings, shadows, and gothic imagery.

Timestamps

00:00 — Immortality as a curse with terrible benefits
 01:26 — Introducing Interview with the Vampire and the Halloween series
04:10 — Daniel interviews Louis in San Francisco
04:38 — Louis meets Lestat in 18th-century Louisiana
05:36 — Claudia’s transformation and the cruelty of immortality
07:51 — Louis as a conflicted vampire narrator
09:48 — Lestat: charisma, control, and companionship
11:13 — Claudia’s tragedy and the prison of her unchanging body
14:12 — Armand and another possible vampire life
16:04 — Why this is supernatural romance, not a typical love story
20:33 — Can a love story be romantic when the relationship is unhealthy?
21:03 — The film’s gothic atmosphere and visual beauty
22:56 — Horror hot seat: Would you accept immortality?
25:49 — Is immortality a gift or a curse?
30:01 — Spoilers begin: Louis’s transformation and growing conflict
31:51 — Claudia’s anger and the consequences of permanent choices
33:13 — The ending and Daniel’s fascination with becoming a vampire
39:00 — Horror Check ratings and final score
44:01 — Final reflections on loneliness, guilt, and destructive desire
45:48 — Closing out the Halloween countdown

Listener questions

• Which character did you find most compelling: Louis, Lestat, Claudia, or Armand?
• Does Lestat genuinely love Louis, or is his need for control too strong?
• Would you accept immortality if it meant becoming a vampire?
• Is Claudia the film’s most tragic character?
• Where does Interview with the Vampire rank among your favorite vampire movies?

Final verdict

Jeremy and Josh call Interview with the Vampire a beautifully haunting vampire classic that makes the price of eternal life feel painfully human. The film stands out for its performances, gothic visuals, and tragic emotional core.

Jeremy and Josh break down What We Do in the Shadows as part of their 31 Days of Halloween series. They explore why the film works as a horror comedy and mockumentary, from its vampire-household drama to its deadpan humor and unexpectedly relatable ancient monsters.The first part discusses the characters, mockumentary style, and standout comic moments. The second half contains spoilers, including discussion of the ending, the werewolf rivalry, and the hosts’ verdict on the film.

In this episode

• The hosts introduce What We Do in the Shadows as day 27 of their Halloween series: a mockumentary about vampire roommates in Wellington, New Zealand.
• They meet the household: polite, fussy Viago; dramatic Vladislav; rebellious Deacon; and basement-dwelling Peter.
• Jeremy and Josh discuss how the documentary format makes supernatural life feel oddly ordinary—and gives the vampires room to reveal their personalities directly to the camera.
• They explore the movie’s central joke: immortal creatures can still be terrible roommates, arguing over chores, bathrooms, and household messes.
• The hosts consider whether the film is best described as a horror movie, a comedy, or a mockumentary.
• They compare the film with its TV adaptation, with Josh explaining why he thinks the series has more room to expand the story world.
• Spoilers ahead: The discussion covers specific scenes, the werewolf rivalry, the ending, and the movie’s balance of comedy and horror.
• In their final horror check, the hosts give the film an average score of 8.6 out of 10 and call it a must-watch for horror-comedy fans.

Timestamps

• 00:00 — The vampire-roommate premise
• 01:11 — Day 27 of the Halloween countdown
• 03:48 — Meet the vampire household
• 05:18 — Why the mockumentary format works
• 09:03 — Viago, the household organizer
• 11:35 — Vladislav’s dramatic vampire persona
• 13:13 — Deacon, the rebellious roommate
• 15:03 — Peter and the movie’s classic-horror roots
• 16:11 — What makes the film a mockumentary
• 18:15 — Do the cameras make the vampires less frightening?
• 20:27 — The vampires and werewolves
• 24:02 — Horror, comedy, or mockumentary?
• 25:05 — The horror hot seat: choosing a vampire roommate
• 27:24 — Can mockumentary become a gimmick?
• 30:01 — Spoilers begin
• 31:37 — The werewolf rivalry
• 33:33 — Comparing the movie with the TV series
• 36:15 — The Scream Creeps horror check
• 38:49 — Final verdict
• 41:28 — Closing thoughts and the Halloween countdown

Discussion questions

1. Who’s your favorite vampire: Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, or Peter?
2. Does the mockumentary format make the film funnier?
3. How long would you last living with these vampires?
4. Where does What We Do in the Shadows rank among your favorite vampire movies?

Share your answers with Scream Creeps, and suggest other horror comedies for the show to cover.Final verdict: What We Do in the Shadows is a must-watch for horror-comedy fans who enjoy deadpan humor, vampire chaos, and supernatural creatures with very ordinary roommate problems.

Jeremy and Josh dig into Rob Zombie’s House of a Thousand Corpses as part of their 31 Days of Halloween series. They break down why the film’s grimy roadside-attraction setting, chaotic style, and unforgettable Firefly family make it such a divisive horror movie.They also debate whether the film is a true cult classic or just too excessive, then score it across atmosphere, practical effects, characters, story originality, fear factor, and rewatch value.

Key topics

• In this episode, Jeremy frames the movie as a twisted road-trip nightmare where curiosity leads straight into danger.
• They cover the film’s core setup: young travelers stop at a roadside attraction run by Captain Spaulding and end up crossing paths with the Firefly family.
• Jeremy and Josh discuss Captain Spaulding, played by Sid Haig, as a creepy but charismatic horror host who feels comfortable inside the madness.
• They break down Baby Firefly, played by Sherry Moon Zombie, as unpredictable, playful, and terrifyingly unstable.
• They talk about Otis B. Driftwood, played by Bill Moseley, as the family’s most openly hostile and nihilistic presence.
• They also discuss Mother Firefly, played by Karen Black, and how she helps show that the family’s cruelty is normalized, not isolated.
• The episode explores the movie’s visual identity: saturated colors, abrupt cuts, surreal passages, grimy rural locations, and grindhouse and exploitation influences.
• Jeremy and Josh compare the film’s disturbing imagery and violence, with Josh arguing that the movie is extremely chaotic and hard to rewatch.
• They debate whether the film’s excess strengthens the horror or overwhelms the story.
• The discussion closes with the movie’s ending, the Doctor Satan storyline, and why the film leaves viewers feeling like they’ve barely escaped.

Timestamps

00:00 - A road trip detour turns into a nightmare
 00:57 - Welcome back to Scream Creeps and Day 26 of 31 Days of Halloween
 02:26 - Why House of a Thousand Corpses fits the 2000s horror theme
 03:08 - The Firefly family and the movie’s nightmare hospitality
 04:37 - Setting the scene in rural America
 05:35 - Why horror characters investigate obvious warning signs
 06:05 - The Firefly House: a normal-looking place with monstrous behavior inside
 07:34 - Captain Spaulding and the power of a frightening horror host
 10:23 - Baby Firefly’s playful but deeply unsettling energy
 11:49 - Otis B. Driftwood and the movie’s nihilistic cruelty
 13:15 - Mother Firefly and the family’s normalized violence
 14:35 - Ordinary travelers trapped in a situation they’re not built to survive
 15:57 - The film’s grimy, surreal visual style
 18:16 - Exploitation horror and why the violence is so divisive
 21:15 - Horror Hot Seat: survive the Firefly House or die trying
 25:22 - Agree to Disagree: cult classic or too chaotic?
 29:17 - Spoiler territory and the Fiji mermaid reaction
 30:20 - How the story shifts from road-trip mystery to survival horror
 32:01 - The ending leaves the Firefly nightmare unresolved
 34:00 - Scream Creeps horror check scoring begins
 39:13 - Listener questions about the movie’s most disturbing element
 41:27 - Final score: 8.3 out of 10
 42:39 - Final warnings about creepy clowns and roadside attractions

Notable quotes

“If somebody invites me to see a house full of corpses, I’m calling a lawyer, a priest, and possibly a very expensive therapist.”

“The movie feels like a trip through a grotesque attraction.”

“A creepy clown who seems a little too excited that I’ve arrived.”

Jeremy and Josh revisit The Faculty (1998), Robert Rodriguez’s sci-fi horror film about a high school where the teachers may not be human anymore. They explore how the movie turns teen paranoia, social cliques, and body-snatcher horror into an alien invasion story.They discuss the ensemble cast, the film’s late-90s genre blend, and why a school is an effective setting for a story about mistrust and imitation. They also debate whether the movie is underrated, then wrap up with their horror check rating and questions for listeners.

In this episode

• Why Harrington High makes an effective setting for an alien invasion story
• The student ensemble and comparisons to The Breakfast Club
• The film’s body-snatcher horror, identity themes, and paranoia
• The late-90s mix of teen drama, science fiction, horror, and humor
• The soundtrack and memorable cast
• Whether The Faculty is an underrated horror favorite
• The hosts’ final rating: around 8.5 out of 10

Timestamps

00:00 — High school paranoia meets alien invasion
 02:09 — Welcome to Scream Creeps and day 25 of 31 Days of Halloween
 02:38 — Why The Faculty works as a 1998 genre mashup
03:36 — The soundtrack and cast standouts
05:50 — Setting the scene at Harrington High
06:18 — How the alien infection spreads
07:17 — Teen cliques, The Breakfast Club, and forced teamwork
09:11 — Casey Connor as the outsider protagonist
12:34 — Delilah Prophet and the collapse of social status
16:02 — Stan Rosado and questioning the athlete role
17:29 — Stokely Mitchell as the skeptical outsider
19:08 — Mary Beth and uncertainty about trust
19:59 — Zeke Tyler’s sarcasm and resourcefulness
21:49 — Why the alien threat works as body-snatcher horror
24:20 — The film’s late-90s horror identity
27:04 — Horror hot seat: how to survive the invasion
31:09 — Agree to disagree: underrated or just entertaining?
34:23 — Spoiler warning
34:44 — Spoilers: the infection reveal and the finale
39:27 — Trivia on Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Williamson
40:05 — Horror check scoring begins
43:41 — Final verdict
44:10 — Listener questions and closing thoughts

Notable quotes

• “If your teacher suddenly starts acting like an alien, don’t ask for extra credit.”
• “The people you underestimate might be the people you need the most.”
• “Not every monster comes from outer space. Some of them might already be sitting in your classroom.”

Jeremy and Josh break down Clive Barker’s 1987 horror film Hellraiser, a grim supernatural nightmare about obsession, family dysfunction, resurrection, and the terrible cost of curiosity. This episode looks at why the movie stands apart from other 1980s horror films, with special focus on Frank Cotton, Julia Cotton, Kirsty Cotton, and the unforgettable Cenobites led by Pinhead.

Key topics

• In this episode, Jeremy frames Hellraiser as a different kind of 1980s horror film, one that blends dark fantasy, body horror, and philosophical ideas about pleasure and pain.
• The hosts outline the core setup: Frank Cotton solves the Lament Configuration, unleashing the Cenobites and setting off a chain of violence and resurrection.
• Jeremy shares why Frank is frightening not just because of the supernatural, but because he is already selfish, manipulative, and willing to use other people.
• Josh argues that Julia is fully responsible for her actions, and the discussion focuses on how her desire for Frank leads her into murder and deception.
• Kirsty is presented as the audience surrogate: resourceful, terrified, and forced to survive a situation she never asked for.
• The episode highlights Larry as the ordinary man caught in a nightmare built from other people’s choices.
• The Cenobites are discussed as more than simple monsters - they have rules, a philosophy, and a ceremonial understanding of suffering.
• Jeremy and Josh spend time on the practical effects, especially Frank’s transformation, reverse-shot effects, and the tactile creature design that gives the film its physical impact.
• The hosts compare Hellraiser to other 1980s horror styles and argue that it succeeds because it creates its own identity instead of copying slashers or haunted house formulas.
• A “horror hot seat” segment asks whether they would open the puzzle box, and both agree the answer is no.

Timestamps

00:00 - Opening nightmare and the promise of ultimate pleasure
 01:38 - Welcome to Scream Creeps and day 24 of 31 Days of Halloween
 02:01 - Why Hellraiser stands apart from other 1980s horror films
03:27 - Clive Barker’s strange blend of horror, fantasy, and desire
04:09 - Frank Cotton, the Lament Configuration, and the Cenobites
05:36 - Why Frank’s curiosity is the real trap
06:32 - The ordinary house that makes the horror worse
08:00 - Frank Cotton as selfishness turned monstrous
10:40 - Julia Cotton’s obsession and moral responsibility
13:04 - Kirsty Cotton as the survivor and audience entry point
14:18 - Larry Cotton as the man living inside someone else’s nightmare
15:16 - Pinhead and the Cenobites as unforgettable horror designs
18:28 - Why Pinhead became the franchise’s most recognizable figure
20:23 - How Hellraiser avoids the familiar slasher formula
21:31 - Reverse effects and the film’s practical tricks
22:55 - Frank’s transformation and the body as horror
24:48 - Horror hot seat: would you open the puzzle box?
28:43 - Is Hellraiser a masterpiece or too overwhelming?
30:34 - Spoiler territory and the film’s major twists
31:03 - Frank’s resurrection and Julia’s role in it
32:54 - Kirsty vs. the Cenobites and the logic of their rules
34:38 - Trivia: Clive Barker, The Hellbound Heart, and feature debut details
35:32 - Horror check scores for atmosphere, effects, characters, and fear
38:08 - Final verdict: why Hellraiser still matters
41:22 - The episode’s final warning about puzzle boxes

Notable quotes

“The worst thing you can do is open a box.”

“The box doesn’t invent his selfishness, it exposed it.”

“If a puzzle box looks like it was designed by someone who hates humanity, maybe don’t solve it.”

Overall take

Hellraiser earns its place as a standout of 1980s horror because it pairs unforgettable imagery with a mythos about desire, punishment, and consequences. Jeremy and Josh land on the idea that the movie’s lasting power comes from how the supernatural horror reflects very human flaws: selfishness, obsession, and the temptation to go too far.

Jeremy and Josh cover Hellfest as part of their 31 Days of Halloween series, focusing on why a haunted attraction is such an effective slasher setting. They break down how the movie uses masks, crowds, darkness, and staged scares to blur the line between fake danger and real danger.They also discuss Natalie’s role as the audience’s point of view, the film’s killer, and whether the premise works because the setting naturally hides violence. The episode closes with a horror check score and a broader conversation about Halloween-themed horror movies.

Key topics

• Jeremy introduces Hellfest as a Halloween setting movie: a real killer is hiding inside a haunted attraction full of fake scares.
• Josh and Jeremy discuss how masks, loud noises, dark corridors, and crowds make it hard to tell what’s real.
• They explore Natalie’s believable uncertainty in a place designed to confuse visitors.
• They discuss the friend group, including Brooke and Quinn, and how the characters’ relationships ground the story.
• They consider the haunted attraction a character in its own right, shaping what the visitors notice and how the killer moves through the park.
• They compare the killer’s mask and anonymity to classic slasher figures like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees.
• They ask the episode’s central question: if everyone expects fake scares, how do you recognize a real attack?
• They debate whether a haunted attraction is an ideal setting for a slasher.
• Spoilers: They discuss the ending and how the killer’s return to ordinary life makes the story’s threat feel more unsettling.
• They wrap up with their horror check ratings and a recommendation for Halloween movie marathons.

Timestamps

00:00 - Haunted attraction horror opens the night
 00:52 - Why Hellfest blurs fake scares and real danger
01:30 - Introducing the 31 Days of Halloween series
02:00 - The film’s premise and why the setting matters
03:39 - Natalie enters the park expecting fun
04:07 - Fake scares make the real threat harder to spot
05:04 - Friends in danger, not trained investigators
05:58 - Natalie’s believable uncertainty
07:10 - Why the friend group gives the movie emotional weight
08:02 - Quinn and the wider group dynamic
10:57 - The haunted attraction as a character
12:24 - Why masks, lighting, and crowds help the killer
14:38 - Entertainment turns into paranoia
15:07 - The killer’s mask and slasher anonymity
16:37 - How the setting refreshes a familiar slasher formula
18:02 - Halloween as cover for hidden violence
18:41 - Horror hot seat: what would you do if the killer were real?
21:15 - Is a haunted attraction the best slasher setting?
23:24 - Spoiler discussion begins
24:51 - The ending and the grounded human threat
28:19 - Horror check scoring begins
31:01 - Halloween appeal and rewatchability scores
33:23 - Final verdict on Hellfest
35:06 - Wrap-up and next episode tease

Notable quotes

• “The setting is the movie’s greatest weapon.”
• “The park is already full of opportunities for concealment.”
• “How do you recognize genuine danger in a place where everybody is trying to scare you?”

Final verdict

Jeremy and Josh call Hellfest a solid modern slasher that makes excellent use of its haunted attraction setting. It may not reinvent the genre, but its Halloween atmosphere, misdirection, and anonymity make it a strong seasonal watch.

Jeremy and Josh kick off day 22 of their 31 Days of Halloween with Frank Marshall’s Arachnophobia, a creature feature that turns a normal town into a spider-infested nightmare. The episode looks at why the movie works so well, from its practical effects and suspense to the way it mixes horror with comedy without losing the threat.In this episode, Jeremy leads the discussion with Josh chiming in on the film’s biggest scares, funniest beats, and the simple fact that spiders are deeply unnerving. They also compare Arachnophobia to other creature features and ask the bigger question: what’s scarier, a realistic small creature or a giant monster?

Key topics

• Jeremy opens by framing Arachnophobia as a movie about everyday fear becoming a community-wide crisis
• The hosts explain why spiders are especially effective horror villains because they can hide in ordinary places like shoes, beds, sinks, and corners
• They break down Dr. Ross Jennings, played by Jeff Daniels, as a believable protagonist whose arachnophobia becomes the central obstacle
• Molly Jennings, played by Harley Jane Kozak, is discussed as the family anchor that raises the stakes and grounds the story
• Delbert McClintock, played by John Goodman, stands out as the confident exterminator who brings humor and practical know-how
• The episode emphasizes how the film uses practical effects and live spiders to make the danger feel real and immediate
• Jeremy and Josh discuss how the movie turns the audience into active participants by making them scan the frame for spiders
• The horror and comedy balance gets a lot of attention, especially how the film gives the audience breathing room without defanging the threat
• They revisit the film’s setup in Venezuela and how the spider outbreak spreads into an ordinary California town
• In spoiler talk, they cover Ross’s struggle to convince others the infestation is real and his final confrontation at home

Timestamps

(00:00) Why spiders are the perfect nightmare fuel
 (01:26) Welcome to day 22 of 31 Days of Halloween
 (02:28) Frank Marshall’s creature feature setup
 (04:01) Ross Jennings and the outbreak in Kanaima
 (06:37) Dr. Ross Jennings and why the phobia works
 (08:05) Molly Jennings and the family stakes
 (10:08) Delbert McClintock and John Goodman’s energy
 (11:35) Practical effects and why the spiders feel real
 (13:13) Why spiders work so well as horror creatures
 (15:07) Home invasion horror without the front door knock
 (16:03) Horror and comedy keeping the movie balanced
 (18:51) Why the practical spider effects still hold up
 (21:17) Horror hot seat: what would you do in a spider infestation?
 (23:54) Agree to disagree: small realistic creature vs giant monster
 (26:26) Spoiler warning and the infestation’s escalation
 (28:14) Ross’s final confrontation and emotional payoff
 (30:15) Horror check scoring begins
 (32:49) Final verdict and listener questions
 (36:04) Wrap-up for day 22 and what’s next in the marathon

Notable quotes

• “Sometimes the most effective horror comes from something small enough to hide in a corner.”
• “Courage doesn’t mean you never experience fear. It means the fear doesn’t make every decision for you.”
• “A spider? That’s a different story.”