Milissa, Nick, and Mary join Caitlin to cover 2022's Smile. It was a box office success, but it's somewhat controversial one among horror fans. Is it derivative, or is it paying homage? We tease out that question and more, including some monstrous motherhood themes. Tangents include: milkshakes, Dateline, breakup horror, worst fast food experiences, sharks, pubes, and some great would-you-rather and fuck-mary-kill topics. Check out Skin of a Killer, as well as Milissa's awesome art, and be sure to tune in to Binge This to see if Nick and Mary can recover from their brawl.

Smile: Literal Generational Trauma Monster

Plug it Up is a horror movie podcast about the monstrous feminine. Host Caitlin Grant and her funny guests look at the monstrous feminine in all its forms, including: monstrous menstruation (like Carrie and Ginger Snaps), monstrous motherhood (like Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen), femmes fatales (like Jennifer’s Body and The Love Witch), black widows (like Dolores Claibore), body horror in women (like Teeth and Raw), treacherous friendships between women (like The Craft), women battling horrors (like You’re Next), and women who are themselves horrific (like Gone Girl). 

Although this show focuses on the experiences and portrayals of women in horror, it’s a gender inclusive space, and the discussion is open to people of all gender identities and presentations. It’s an explicitly intersectional feminist, trans-inclusive podcast for horror fans.

TV & Film

Film Reviews

Keith from Horror Convos joins Caitlin to discuss The Ring (2002), a groundbreaking J-horror remake that many of us found formative. We discuss all kinds of Ring-things: monstrous motherhood, cultural and psychological influences around fear, practical effects, architecture as a storytelling element, color theory, scores, performances, and more. Sillier tangents include: urban legends, breakfast foods, insects, "forever outfits," and a couple great Would You Rathers.

The Ring: Seven Days

Morgan from CandleCore and the Good For Her film screening series joins Caitlin to cover Sugar and Spice, a less-horror-more-heist comedy from 2001. We talk about sisterhood, americana, motherhood, and finding identity in archetypes in this stylized, subversive cult classic. It was very formative for both of us! Tangents include: Scream, Spice Girls, go-to breakfasts, pets, yearbooks, fireplaces vs fire pits, candles, injuries, and more.

Sugar and Spice: and Semi-Automatics

Mary and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Scream 2, a movie with an interesting production history and a star-studded cast. We talk about sequel tropes, monstrous motherhood, and the franchise entering the conversation around the effect of violent media. Tangents include: sharting, pranks, product placement, Bob Dole, spiced coke, Scream rankings, franchise kills, natural disasters, horror movie roles, sequels, a few fun WYRs, PIU guests as Twilight characters, celebrity deaths, and head size.

Scream 2: Sharted on the Dancefloor

Everybody's little brother Zach joins Caitlin to cover Slaxx, a movie about possessed pants. We talk about retail madness, the myth of "ethical" consumption, and how this movie nails horror comedy with a message. It's goofy and silly, but also affecting. We also talk about: camp counselor stories, retail work experiences, brushing teeth with twigs, being haters, jeans, pooping fruits, one hit wonders, correcting assumptions, chicken nuggets, wisdom tooth removal, beans, our dad's strange portioning, and spoons vs forks.

Slaxx: Killer Pants

Mathula joins Caitlin to cover 2003's Dogville, the first installment of Lars Von Trier's unfinished United States trilogy. It's an impressive undertaking with a unique production history and bleak plot. We talk about themes of hopelessness, arrogance, and man's tendency towards harm. It's a rough watch at times, but a really interesting movie overall. Shoutout to Mathula for mailing me the DVD and chatting with me. Tangents include: hair, goth-ness, bins of pins, dogs, HBO, changing movie endings, horror movie tropes, a bean WYR, correcting assumptions, and craft fairs. Be sure to check out Hallelujah Dystopia.

Smile: Literal Generational Trauma Monster

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