In this special anniversary episode of Horror Joy, hosts Brian Onishi and Jeff Stoyanoff reflect on their first year of celebrating the emotional and intellectual joys of horror.

They discuss their favorite moments, memorable interviews with horror figures likePaul Tremblay, S. Trimble and Stephen Graham Jones, and the impact of films like Jaws, The Blair Witch Project, and Silence of the Lambs.

The episode features an in-depth conversation with Professor Kevin Wetmore, who shares his insights on the communal and personal joys of horror, the evolving nature of the genre post-9/11, and the significance of the 'final girl' trope. Wetmore also discusses his work in theater and medieval literature, emphasizing how horror brings people together and helps them confront their deepest fears.

So, grab your favorite haunted blue book and settle in for some schooling. But don’t fall asleep, you never know where you’ll wake up.

02:06 Introducing Kevin Whitmore Jr.

06:41 The Community Aspect of Horror

13:41 Jaws: The Original Summer Blockbuster

18:47 The Perception of Horror as a Lesser Genre

24:56 Exploring Horror Post 9/11

27:45 The Impact of 9/11 on Slasher Films

30:41 Final Destination: Death as the Ultimate Slasher

33:45 Medieval Horror and Theater

38:13 The Essence of Horror in Theater and Film

44:47 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations

Men, Women, and Chainsaws by Carol Clover

Post 9/11 Horror In American Cinema by Kevin Wetmore Jr.

Eaters of the Dead – Myths and Realities of Cannibal Monsters by Kevin Wetmore, Jr.

Kevin Wetmore, Jr.

The Worm at the Core – The Role of Death in Life by Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, and Tom Pyszczynski

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

Qui Nguyen