The Fear of God: A Horror Movie Podcast

We continue our journey through #docuscared exploring horror-themed documentaries, this week examining the documented account from Daniel Lutz, who as a child lived and experienced strange phenomena in the famed Amityville house. Danny's story is a captivating but complicated one, raising several doubts about reliability while also presenting certain details which prove hard to dismiss. The resulting conversation allows for an exploration of the relationship between our own susceptibility and the residue of trauma or tragedy which can be associated with a place and its history.

Also featuring a Patron-only excursion through the episode of CURSED FILMS on The Omen and a catch-up about what we've been watching, this discussion features a lot of laughs and is one we believe you'll enjoy.

6:35 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CURSED FILMS: The Omen #tvguideposts

8:30 - MY AMITYVILLE HORROR

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Our episode this week is specially curated by our guest, Andrew Nelson. The Exorcist is arguably the most iconic landmark in horror film cinema, and in this intimate and lyrical documentary, he is given full attention to share his insights into the crafting of the film, its cultural impact, and its enduring legacy. There are remarkable observations about the mystery of faith, the human experience, and the creative process along the way. Our conversation about it takes down paths of exploring and observing the grace notes in our own lives and confronting the terrifying possibilities of the spaces where we find ourselves truly alone.

This is a vulnerable and honest conversation, but also saturated with hope. Also featuring a Patron segment about the Cursed Films episode on The Serpent and the Rainbow and a special post-credits original song by Andrew, it's one we really believe you'll enjoy and we hope you do.

8:44 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CURSED FILMS: The Serpent and the Rainbow #tvguideposts

12:19 - LEAP OF FAITH: William Friedkin on The Exorcist

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In our brand new, patron-voted mini-series for the FoG, we are covering a handful of horror documentaries, starting with a film that is arguably more frightening than any fictional film we've ever discussed. Rodney Ascher's terrifying film THE NIGHTMARE explores the mysterious and haunting reality of sleep paralysis through the stories of 8 individuals who have suffered from it. In addition to being an utterly horrifying prospect, the questions remain about why so many stories have such strong similarities and whether or not there are supernatural drivers behind the horror. After bracing ourselves for discussing the film's particulars, we then navigate into a vulnerable dialogue about the ways our restful and comforting sensibilities can be stolen from us and how we might find the courage and the power to reclaim them.

Also featuring a miniature discussion of the episode of the CURSED FILMS series about the Poltergeist films for our Patron section, this is a heartfelt discussion we believe you won't want to miss, even if you ultimately decide the film is just a bit too scary...

4:43 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CURSED FILMS: Poltergeist #tvguideposts

7:31 - THE NIGHTMARE

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It's that time once again friends and FoGgers to explore the vast and influential world of Stephen King. This week, in coordination with the recent release of a new film based upon his landmark work, we're discussing the one and only FIRESTARTER.

After having a grand old time ranking our favorite Stephen King villains (limiting ourselves to only what's been covered on the pod), we explore this story of a girl and her powers, which remains one of King's most widely recognized works. Covering the novel, the recent 2022 adaptation, and to a lesser degree the 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore, we explore the power of the main premise to display our own destructive capabilities, even if none of the story's iterations have yet to fully flesh out the ramifications of them. And in a bit of surprising turn, we find something even in what's considered to be a rather poor adaptation in the new film that is worth pondering about moving beyond the choices to merely stuff down our outrage or let loose and burn things to the ground.

As always, this is a hearty conversation full of thoughtfulness and laughter and we hope you enjoy it!

10:09 - Business Time

11:25 - Ranking Stephen King's Villains* (as covered in the FoG)

39:04 - FIRESTARTER

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We've finally arrived at Castle Dracula for the ultimate discussion of Seasons 1 & 2 of Netflix's CASTLEVANIA as our concluding conversation on #scaretoons. The series has proven to be quite subversive, particularly when considering the game franchise upon which it is based (games which get some special attention in a bonus patron segment). What the series and its approach to the iconic character of Dracula prompts is a heartfelt conversation about the needs and limitations of empathy and the difficult burden of challenging our own perceptions of people and of a changed heart and mind.

This is a conversation we greatly enjoyed having and deeply hope you enjoy hearing.

5:39 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: Castlevania Video Games RANKED

9:49 - CASTLEVANIA, Seasons 1 & 2

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In our penultimate installment of #scaretoons, we received a specially curated episode at the request of special guest and continuity guru Steve Beckley for the 1988 Japanese OVA special DEMON CITY SHINJUKU. It's a swift epic in miniature about a madman who has made a deal with the demon realm to unleash monsters upon the earth, and the only one standing in his way is a novice young man with a family legacy of waging war against evil. 

While the film has its merits (a striking visual style and genuinely compelling monsters) and its demerits (some unfortunate audio dubbing and tropes which haven't aged well), we have a surprisingly rich conversation about waging war against our own desires and the legacies, both good and evil, upon which we build our own choices.

It's a fun conversation as always, including a special Patron segment covering CASTLEVANIA Season 2, episodes 3 & 4. We hope you enjoy!

4:51 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CASTLEVANIA, Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4; Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

8:41 - Some notable additional animated horror films

23:17 - DEMON CITY SHINJUKU

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We continue on our journey through spooky animated features, #scaretoons with a conversation about an undeniable classic. In the early 80s animator Don Bluth and several of his peers left Disney to pursue different projects, the first of which was THE SECRET OF NIMH. Layered with incredible animation, outstanding vocal performances, and a genuinely thrilling and emotional narrative, The Secret of Nimh resonates powerfully -- even 40 years later -- and prompts deeply vulnerable observations from each of our hosts (including special guests Asia Swartzentruber and Jackson Harper) about courage, faith, hope, and a mother's love. 

Also featuring a Patron segment on CASTLEVANIA, Season 2, episodes 1 & 2 and a Whatcha Watchin' check-in, this is a hearty and heartfelt conversation you won't want to miss and that we hope you enjoy.

5:27 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CASTLEVANIA, Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2; Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

10:03 - THE SECRET OF NIMH

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We continue our walk through patron-voted, animated horror features by exploring Laika studios flagship film, CORALINE. We're joined once again by Vera Goudie, where we tackle the wondrous craftsmanship that goes into a stop-motion film like this before taking an honest and open-hearted look at the necessity to sometimes not receive what we want. We so desperately want to receive good things that we too often forget how quickly certain things can spoil if we let our indulgences become uncontrolled.

For the patrons, this episode also features a discussion of CASTLEVANIA, episodes 3 & 4 of Season 1, and another installment of Stump Reed! We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.

6:34 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CASTLEVANIA, Season 1, Episodes 3 & 4; Stump Reed

14:18 - CORALINE

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We begin a new mini-series this week where we look at animated frights and fantasies, some gruesome and some whimsical and some a bit of both on #scaretoons. The first entry comes from master animator Hayao Miyazaki, SPIRITED AWAY, which won the Academy Award for best animated feature and remains one of the most acclaimed animated films in history. It is stunningly rendered and is vividly imaginative, prompting some heartfelt soul-searching about the ways our own senses of self and of wonder can diminish over time and the simple, vital struggle to recover it. 

Also featuring a Patron #tvguideposts conversation about the first two episodes of season 1 of Netflix's CASTLEVANIA, this is a conversation dripping with honesty and hope and we trust you'll enjoy it!

4:57 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: CASTLEVANIA, Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2

6:27 - SPIRITED AWAY

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We close down our exploration of Nic Cage films by visiting one of his most maligned and (possibly) misunderstood films, the Neil LaBute directed remake of THE WICKER MAN. We covered the 1970s original film back on episode 55 of the show. This remake tells largely the same story, but with some noteworthy differences of the central clash which prompts a thoughtful examination of the ways we can, by pride and presumption, both consider ourselves falsely superior and dehumanize others at our own peril. 

The patron segment also features a countdown of the Top 5 Greatest Cage Rage Freakouts (with clips) that you'll have to hear to believe. We hope you enjoy this concluding installment in the one, the only #uncaged!

To view the clips referenced in the Patron segment, see below. To learn how they rank, join the Patreon!

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

The Vampire’s Kiss

Mandy

The Wicker Man

Deadfall

4:15 - Business Time

Patron Only Segment: The Top 5 Greatest Nic Cage Rage Freakouts (including clips)

11:56 - THE WICKER MAN

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