As impossible as it is to believe, this week's episode marks our 9th Anniversary here at The Fear of God Podcast. For nearly every week, for nearly a decade now, we've been trying to bring you the most thoughtfully-infused and absurdity-laced horror commentary anywhere. This week is no different.

To commemorate this occasion, we're bringing along longstanding friend of the show Vera Goudie to discuss Tim Burton's film SLEEPY HOLLOW, an adaptation of the iconic American short story by Washington Irving. Through the conversation, we dive into both the original text and Burton's film, as well as some unexpected but welcome references to the Walt Disney adaptation of the story. And although we're not quite sure Burton's film holds up the way we'd have hoped it would, this conversation is bursting with laughter and joy as we discuss it.

We have an utter blast on this episode, which also features a Patron-only segment of specially tailored games for our anniversary. Thank you to all of you who have listened to us all these years (and hopefully for many more to come) and we hope you enjoy this week's special episode!

1:10 - Introductions and Bits of Business

Patron Only Segment: Fear of God Anniversary Games

12:22 - SLEEPY HOLLOW

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It's time to curl up by the campfire for another Ghoul Scouts edition of The Fear of God! This week, Vera and Jess are joined by two favorite FoGers, Jocee Worley and Jackson Harper for an examination of a Canadian werewolf classic (that Jackson has campaigned to cover for years)... GINGER SNAPS.

Ginger Snaps tells the story of two outcast sisters, Brigitte and Ginger. When Ginger is attacked by a mysterious creature and begins to transform, Brigitte must find a way to cure her sister from the ancient curse of the werewolf. Richly layering in themes of sisterhood and a remarkably insightful approach to the subject of puberty, Ginger Snaps has been largely hailed as one of the best Canadian horror films and one of the most compelling werewolf films ever made.

We're so excited to have the Ghoul Scouts take over the pod again, complete with merit badges and campfire reflections! Also featuring a Patron-only segment with a game that'll have you guessing what it's all a-boot, this is a fun and thoughtful conversation that we really hope you enjoy!

Patron Only Segment: Who Named It Best? (a game of everyday language)

4:47 - GINGER SNAPS

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We've finally arrived at the end. Back in April, we started watching the landmark television show Twin Peaks (first viewings for both Reed and Nathan). In May, we began to make our way through the feature films of the late David Lynch.

For the next three months, we would dive deep into Lynch's work. We debated, we pondered, we puzzled, we cheered, and we often simply sat in a certain degree of anxious wonder. From Eraserhead to The Straight Story, from Lost Highway to Mulholland Drive, and all the way through the landscape of Twin Peaks... we catalogued a master at work.

So now, we reflect on our key takeaways. We examine which moments and characters stayed with us, the good, the bad, and the utterly wild. We also rank our personal selections for each of the feature films. It's a chance to breathe, a chance to unwind, and a chance to debrief. If you've been with us through this whole journey, let us know your thoughts. If you're just checking us out, let this episode serve as a primer for some of the observations and conversations over the past three months.

Either way, we hope you enjoy it. Our log has a message for you...

2:43 - That Ain't Right and That's So Right

38:48 - Our Favorite Characters

1:09 - Ranking the films of David Lynch

1:41 - Final Thoughts

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As our concluding chapter for our coverage of Twin Peaks: The Return, we invited some friends new and old to have a roundtable discussion about the themes of the show, some of its most iconic moments, and what we feel it all adds up to.

Alongside Nathan and Reed, we welcome back to the show Julie Ahern, Abby Olcese, Lindsey Dunn, and Steven Beckley for a lively and often thoughtfully vulnerable conversation about Twin Peaks: The Return. We hope you enjoy!

NOTE:

Listen to Part 1 of our coverage of Twin Peaks: The Return here.

Listen to Part 2 of our coverage of Twin Peaks: The Return here.

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Yesterday, we shared with you our final episode (previously only available to Patrons) charting our way through the third season of TWIN PEAKS (commonly known as The Return). It's now time to assess our broader feelings about its themes and interests.

Nathan and Reed sit by themselves this week for a disarmingly thoughtful and vulnerable conversation about creativity, narrative forms, and the emotional difficulties of trying to understand the story we're living right now. There are many thoughts about the nature of storytelling, the ways we engage creative material as an audience, and the faith we require to hold onto hope amidst extremely confusing and distressing circumstances.

It's an honest and open conversation about how The Return made us feel and we hope you enjoy it!

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For the past few months, as we've both ramped up for and made our way through our series on the work of David Lynch, our Patron subscribers have been hearing us make our way through his landmark series TWIN PEAKS. We covered every episode of the first two seasons before making our way through the revived third season (known as THE RETURN) from 2017.

What we have for you this week is part 1 of a three-part discussion about this third season of Twin Peaks. To start, we submit to you the episode that our Patrons heard last week, in which we dissect our immediate feelings about the final two episodes of the third season. ***Major spoiler warnings if you have not yet watched the end of Twin Peaks: The Return***

We present this to you ahead of our second part tomorrow wherein we dive deeper (and more vulnerably) into the themes of what this particular television season conjured in our hearts and minds. We'll follow that up with a very special roundtable discussion with some friends new and old who share their thoughts with us about The Return as well.

We hope you enjoy this special three-part episode presentation and we'll see you at the curtain call!

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In a somewhat unconventional episode this week, we tackle some of David Lynch's early short films. Specifically, his early works Six Figures Getting Sick (Six Times); The Alphabet; The Grandmother; The Amputee; The Cowboy and the Frenchman; and Lumiere, or Premonitions Following an Evil Deed.

In this brisk, energetic episode, we debate the value of these early works and their influence on things we would see in his later films. Also featuring a Patron-only spot where we discuss James Gunn's latest treatment of SUPERMAN, this is a breezy and laugh-filled episode this week that we really hope you enjoy.

Patron Only Segment: Superman (2025)

4:29 - The Short Films of David Lynch

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We've reached the last of the feature films for our profile of the late David Lynch with one of his earliest works. THE ELEPHANT MAN released in 1980 and followed the wildly experimental and esoteric Eraserhead with a deeply emotional story of humanity and compassion. It focuses on John Merrick (John Hurt), who suffers from severe physical deformities and spends his days as a carnival attraction for a spiteful and abusive owner. When he encounters Dr. Treves (Anthony Hopkins), he is taken into one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country and encounters kindness, generosity, and even friendship for the first time. Under the care of Dr Treves -- and against the continued ridicule and abuse of his bullying enemies -- Merrick exhibits a unique capacity for gentle wisdom, creativity, and thoughtful dignity.

The Elephant Man is a gorgeously realized film, as inspirational as it is sorrowful. We're joined by friends of the show Michael and Jori Felker to discuss the film's textured portrait of humanity and grace. It is a film overflowing with resonance and heart: one which challenges our perceptions of ourselves and our neighbors in powerful ways. We hope you enjoy this heartfelt conversation about it!

5:35 - Two Questions with new friend Jori Felker

18:25 - THE ELEPHANT MAN

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We've had the privilege of speaking with a number of unique voices during our series on the work of David Lynch. Today we have a special conversation with Dr Lindsay Hallam, an educator of film studies and prolific contributor to the broader discussion of horror cinema, about her book about TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME for the publication imprint Devil's Advocates.

In Lindsay's book, she breaks down the numerous levels on which Lynch's once divisive film operates: as a Twin Peaks film, as a trauma film, as a David Lynch film, and -- primarily -- as a horror film. We have the chance to sit down with Dr Hallam and only barely scratch the surface of this fascinating and often deeply misunderstood film.

If you're curious to read the book, you can find a copy here, or at your online retailer of choice. We hope you enjoy this special bonus conversation! 

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We have another special interview for you today for a feature film that's in theaters exclusively as of 7/11/25.

ABRAHAM'S BOYS: A DRACULA STORY tells a tale of the aftermath of the ordeal from Bram Stoker's classic horror tale. It focuses on survivors Abraham Van Helsing (Titus Welliver) and Mina Harker (Jocelin Donahue) as they struggle to move on from the fearful torment they barely survived. The story is mostly seen through the eyes of their two sons, Max and Rudy (Brady Hepner and Judah Mackey) as they begin to question what it was that once plagued their parents and whether or not it is truly gone.

Reed sits down with the writer and director of Abraham's Boys, Natasha Kermani, to discuss the perspective of adapting Joe Hill's short story and the ways in which we must all come to terms with the monsters that won't let us go. We hope you'll check out the film in theaters and we hope you enjoy this special interview!

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