The Fear of God: A Horror Movie Podcast

For the next installment of our #mixtape where we take a look at films that largely inspired the hit series Stranger Things, we explore a landmark work in animation: AKIRA. Featuring returning guest and continuity guru Steven Beckley, we unpack the myriad of ways this epic film of children with psychic powers, apocalyptic societies on the verge of collapse, and lots and lots of motorcycles has endured the test of time (while remaining eerily prophetic).  

Also featuring an appearance by Lackey the Listicle counting down the greatest bicycle scenes in film history and a Patron only discussion about STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 7 with Quarterly Queen Jess Fischli, this is a thought-provoking and lively conversation that we hope you enjoy.

5:07 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 7 (featuring Jess Fischli) #tvguideposts

9:50 - AKIRA

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It's time for the next track in our #mixtape as we make our way through some of the influences of the TV series Stranger Things. Here, we have a very special conversation as we invite guest Ian Olson to discuss THE ROAD WARRIOR, as well as his enthusiastic thoughts on the entire Mad Max franchise. What emerges from all the dust and fire and gasoline is a compelling portrait of a man who is not a hero, but constantly finds himself in situations where a choice of heroism is thrust upon him. This is distilled specifically in The Road Warrior but our dialogue carries us all the way through Thunderdome and Fury Road as well on our way to discovering that sometimes it's not about being a hero, it's just about making a difference.

Also featuring a Patron-only segment with horror enneagrammarian and Quarterly Queen Asia Swartzentruber about STRANGER THINGS Season 4, Episode 6, this is a lively and fun conversation you won't want to miss and that we hope you enjoy.

6:16 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 6 (featuring Asia Swartzentruber) #tvguideposts

7:38 - THE ROAD WARRIOR (and the Mad Max franchise)

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We're continuing our journey through Season 4 of STRANGER THINGS and its myriad of influences by celebrating a bygone 80s tradition: the mixtape. In our own little rendition, we're stacking up a handful of 80s influences starting with a classic of adventure and buried treasure where imagination never says die. It's THE GOONIES as we're joined by foreign correspondent and Quarterly Queen Vera Goudie to discuss this staple of 80s childhood films, how well it holds up in today's landscape, and tackle the daunting question of what makes a Goonie to begin with.

This is a funny and heartfelt conversation, also featuring a Patron segment on Stranger Things Season 4, episode 5 with special guest Matt Murray, that we really hope you enjoy.

8:11 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 5 (featuring Matt Murray) #tvguideposts

9:29 - The Mixtape Series

14:34 - THE GOONIES

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For this special conversation we welcome back to the show, Dr. David Gushee, who has been referred to as "one of the best Christian ethicists alive today." It's a substantive dialogue primarily centered on Dr. Gushee's most recent book, INTRODUCING CHRISTIAN ETHICS. This discussion particularly focuses on the subjects of scriptural interpretation, feminism, and truthfulness as a Christian norm. It is our hope that this discussion will hearten, chasten, challenge, and embolden you in your pursuit of faithfulness. Dr. Gushee also shares the first public insight to his next work, currently titled DEFENDING DEMOCRACY FROM ITS CHRISTIAN ENEMIES.

To find more on the work of Dr. Gushee, visit his website here.

To find more on the work of The Fear of God, visit its website here.

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We continue this week with the concluding half of our epic conversation about the work of John Carpenter and Kurt Russell featuring guest, friend, and bestselling author Matt Ruff. This week, you'll hear us dive deeper into the themes and importance of THE THING as well as a lively and light-hearted traipse through BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA before going back into all three films (including ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK) to examine the ways we can hold onto hope in the midst of often very cynical surroundings.

Also featuring a Patron segment with Vera Goudie discussing STRANGER THINGS: Season 4; episode 4, this a lively and hearty discussion that we really hope you enjoy.

Patron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 4 (featuring Vera Goudie) #tvguideposts

5:37 - THE THING

39:40 - BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA

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We have something really special for you today folks. In what is our penultimate installment in #carpenterredux, we present to you the first half of a mega conversation we had with bestselling author and returning FoG favorite Matt Ruff about the work of legendary horror master John Carpenter. Specifically, we focus on three of his iconic films starring Kurt Russell: ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, THE THING, & BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA.

The first half of this discussion zones in on Carpenter's work as a whole, including a countdown of the TEN BEST CARPENTER FILMS from Lackey the Listicle, as well as a deeper dive on the specifics of Escape from New York. This particular installment closes down just as we're starting to get into arguably his greatest and most controversial film: The Thing.

Also featuring a Patron-only segment on STRANGER THINGS Season 4, Episode 3 featuring FoGger and Stranger Things superfan Drew Pasanen, this is an epic dialogue in every sense of the word and we hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to come back next week for part two...

6:41 - Catching up with Matt Ruff (including a preview of his latest novel)

Patron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 3 (featuring Drew Pasanen) #tvguideposts

18:07 - The Work of John Carpenter

33:22 - Lackey the Listicle's TOP TEN FILMS OF JOHN CARPENTER

1:01:37 - ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK

1:27:25 - THE THING (part one)

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Continuing in our new series covering the influences of the hit show Stranger Things, and specifically revisiting more of the works of the legendary John Carpenter, we delve into the basement to find the secret of the ooze in PRINCE OF DARKNESS.

Carpenter's fascinating premise puts science and religion in direct dialogue as a group of young scientists study a recently uncovered vat of swirling green slime which might just be the physical manifestation of Satan himself. While the film doesn't quite explore the fullest extent of its potential, it offers some fascinating considerations about the nature of evil and the importance of agency, providing a chance for us to discuss the vital need we have to consider our choices -- large and small -- in the world around us.

Also featuring a Patron-only segment discussing STRANGER THINGS Season 4, Episode 2, this is a hearty and thoughtful conversation we think you won't want to miss.

7:47 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 2 #tvguideposts

9:00 - PRINCE OF DARKNESS

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We start a brand new series this week, selected by you the patrons where we revisit the work of the legendary master of horror, John Carpenter. Having previously covered his landmark films like Halloween and The Thing, we are joined by Dave Courtney to turn our attentions now to IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, his mid-90s apocalyptic vision which thrusts profound questions about the nature of influences upon reality into startling and horrific tension. It is regarded by many to be the last truly great John Carpenter directed outing and it pushes us to explore our own feelings about the power of influences, often unseen influences, upon us and how we navigate the world.

Also featuring a Patron-only discussion of STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 1, this is a  thoughtful and challenging discussion we hope you'll enjoy.

**Please note, for a portion of the discussion there is an extra special guest in the background: a lively and lovable dog whose occasional barking couldn't be edited out without hurting the overall audio quality. We hope you'll smile at his interjections as much as we did. :)

Patron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 4, Episode 1 #tvguideposts

7:24 - Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' to?

18:46 - IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS

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We are back once again friends and FoGgers with another special installment of the Quarterly Queens, this time with Asia Swartzentruber and Vera Goudie discussing the claustrophobic found footage thriller, AS ABOVE SO BELOW. This remarkably effective frightener about an ill-fated expedition through the French catacombs received largely uneven reviews when it was initially released, but Vera and Asia successfully champion the need for its reconsideration, not only as a terrifying horror entry, but also as a well-researched exploration of the horrors we subject ourselves to when our secret guilts consume us and we are unwilling to go the way because it means going ever further and deeper into what scares us most.

Also featuring a fun catch-up on Whatcha Watchin', Readin', and Listenin' to, this episode is a brisk, fun, and -- as always -- thoughtful conversation you won't want to miss.

4:06 - Business Time

6:10 - Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

13:38 - AS ABOVE SO BELOW

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We bring our series #docuscared to a close with a discussion of some of the best -- and worst -- of the creative filmmaking process. In 1990, a notorious film named Troll 2 was made and released to nearly unanimous derision. However, in the years that followed, a very specific and enthusiastic fan base arose surrounding the film. The documentary BEST WORST MOVIE, directed by one of Troll 2's original actors, explores this unique phenomena through discussions with those who made the film and the fans who love it. What emerges is a disarmingly compelling portrait of the relationship between art and audience, of the dichotomy between objective quality and subjective affection, and of the disconnect between what we desire for our lives and how we fritter them away.

This discussion also features a very sobering Patron-only segment surrounding the episodes of CURSED FILMS about the tragedies on the sets of The Crow and Twilight Zone: The Movie, and -- on a lighter note -- an appearance by Lackey the Listicle counting down some personal favorite "best worst movies". It's an episode full of challenges and encouragement, one that we really think you'll be glad you heard and that we hope you enjoy.

6:27 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CURSED FILMS: The Crow & Twilight Zone: The Movie #tvguideposts

9:29 - Lackey the Listicle's Personal Best Worst Movies

27:14 - BEST WORST MOVIE

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