What if the thing you're most afraid of isn't really the monster?

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine head to Derry, Maine, for a deep dive into Andy Muschietti's 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's IT — a film about childhood, fear, friendship and the things that follow us long after we grow up.

We meet the Losers' Club, return to the storm drains and come face-to-face with Pennywise, the Dancing Clown. But beneath the balloons, jump scares and supernatural horror lies something considerably darker: a town where terrible things seem to happen again and again.

We'll look at how Pennywise turns childhood fears into weapons, why Derry itself may be just as frightening as the creature hiding beneath it, and how the film uses its 1980s setting to create a distorted version of childhood nostalgia.

But there's another story hiding beneath IT.

Stephen King's fictional Derry was inspired by his real-life home of Bangor, Maine. And while writing IT, King was affected by the 1984 murder of Charlie Howard, a young gay man who was attacked by teenagers and thrown from a bridge in Bangor. That real-life tragedy became the inspiration for Adrian Mellon's story in King's novel — a connection that would eventually make its way onto the screen in IT: Chapter Two.

We'll also look at the darker cultural history surrounding the image of the killer clown and the often-repeated comparisons between Pennywise and John Wayne Gacy's infamous "Pogo the Clown" persona — separating what is documented from what has become horror folklore.

Because perhaps the most disturbing thing about IT isn't the creature in the sewer.

It's the reminder that sometimes the real monsters are human.

One town. Seven children. One ancient nightmare.

Welcome to Derry.

Join the Conversation:

What are your thoughts on Pennywise?

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Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

Love, obsession and manipulation collide in this unsettling true story of a relationship that became anything but romantic.

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine explore the documentary A Toxic Love Story and the disturbing events at its centre. What begins as a story of love and attraction gradually reveals a much darker reality, raising questions about control, obsession, manipulation and how toxic relationships can escalate.

We look beyond the documentary itself to examine the people involved, the events that inspired the film, and the warning signs that can become lost beneath the idea of a passionate love story.

In this episode:

• The story behind A Toxic Love Story
• The relationship at the centre of the documentary
• Obsession, manipulation and control
• The real events behind the story
• How the documentary presents those involved
• The darker reality behind the romance
• Our thoughts on the documentary and its portrayal of events

Content warning: This episode discusses toxic relationships, abuse, violence and disturbing real-life events.

Listen to the episode and step beyond the screen as we uncover the troubling true story behind A Toxic Love Story.

Join the Conversation:

What are you views on how the case was handled for Michelle?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine dive into one of the most iconic horror films of all time — Jaws (1975) — and explore the real-life events that potentially influenced the story: the terrifying Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916.

Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, Jaws transformed the shark from a creature of the ocean into one of cinema's most enduring monsters. But the fear surrounding sharks didn't begin with the movie.

In the summer of 1916, a series of shark attacks along the New Jersey coast left four people dead and one seriously injured. The attacks shocked the public, generated widespread fear, and contributed to a growing fascination with the possibility of sharks attacking humans.

Join the Conversation:

Would you go into the water knowing there was a shark roaming free?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

What happens when a terrifying horror movie begins with something that feels far too real?

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine take a dark journey into Jeepers Creepers (2001) — the cult horror film that introduced us to The Creeper, a creature that awakens every 23 years to hunt for 23 days.

But before we get to the monster, we’re taking a closer look at the disturbing real-life case that bears an uncanny resemblance to the film’s opening.

In 1990, siblings Ray and Marie Thornton were driving through rural Michigan when they witnessed a man disposing of what appeared to be a bloodied body wrapped in a sheet behind an abandoned schoolhouse. The case became part of a police investigation and was later featured on Unsolved Mysteries.

That man was Dennis DePue.

We’ll explore the DePue case, what happened to his wife Marilyn, the terrifying encounter witnessed by the Thorntons, before examining the similarities between those real events and the opening scenes of Jeepers Creepers.

Then it’s time to get back on the road with Trish and Darry.

We’ll dive deep into the 2001 film, from that unforgettable opening sequence and the mysterious Creeper, to the escalating sense of dread as the siblings realise they are being hunted.

Because sometimes the most disturbing horror stories aren't completely fictional.

Join the Conversation:

How would you try and escape The Creeper?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Let us know your thoughts by contacting us on one of the following:

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Email - [email protected]

Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine take a look at Slender Man (2018), the supernatural horror film inspired by one of the internet's most enduring urban legends, created by Victor Surge. We discuss the movie but also the controversy surrounding the film's release and its connection to real-world events.

If you're a fan of horror movies, creepypasta, supernatural thrillers, and deep-dive film discussions, this episode is for you.

Join the Conversation:

Do you believe in the Slender Man and would you watch the video?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Let us know your thoughts by contacting us on one of the following:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theroomwentdark_

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Email - [email protected]

Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine dive into one of the greatest crime films ever made: Goodfellas.

Based on the true story of mob associate Henry Hill and adapted from Wise guy. Goodfellas offers a brutally honest look at life inside the American Mafia. We explore how director Martin Scorsese transformed real events into cinematic history, and how closely the film follows the facts behind Hill's rise and fall within the criminal underworld.

Join the Conversation:

How accurate was Goodfellas?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Let us know your thoughts by contacting us on one of the following:

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Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine examine The Crash, Netflix's controversial true-crime documentary about the 2022 Ohio case involving Mackenzie Shirilla, who was convicted of murder after driving a car into a building at approximately 100 mph, killing her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan.

The documentary revisits the evidence, trial, and aftermath while giving Shirilla her first extended interview from prison. It also explores how social media, public perception, and generational misunderstandings may have influenced the narrative surrounding the case.

Join the Conversation:

Did the documentary change your perspective on the case, or reinforce what you already believed?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Let us know your thoughts by contacting us on one of the following:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theroomwentdark_

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Email - [email protected]

Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine dive into Annabelle (2014), the supernatural horror film that expanded The Conjuring universe and introduced audiences to one of modern horror's most recognisable cursed dolls. We discuss the film's origins, story, scares, performances, and its place within the larger franchise. This is the true story behind Annabelle

• Key characters and performances
• The film's atmosphere, tension, and jump scares
• Differences between the movie and the real-life Annabelle legend
• Belief in the supernatural?

Join the Conversation:

What did you think of Annabelle and do you believe the doll was possessed ?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Let us know your thoughts by contacting us on one of the following:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theroomwentdark_

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Email - [email protected]

Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine examine the enduring appeal and controversy of Dirty Harry, the film that introduced audiences to Harry Callahan and helped define the modern cinematic vigilante.

"Before he became the Scorpio Killer on screen, he was America's most feared unidentified murderer. We uncover how the Zodiac Killer inspired one of cinema's greatest crime thrillers."

Released in 1971 and directed by Don Siegel, Dirty Harry follows San Francisco police inspector Harry Callahan as he pursues a sadistic serial killer known as Scorpio. The film became a major box-office success and sparked decades of debate about policing, justice, civil liberties, and the balance between the rights of suspects and the protection of victims.

Topics Discussed

Harry Callahan is presented as a cop willing to bend rules in pursuit of violent criminals. We discuss:

• Why audiences were drawn to Harry's uncompromising approach.
• Whether Harry represents common-sense justice or dangerous vigilantism.

Scorpio is one of cinema's most unsettling villains:

• His apparent lack of remorse.
• His manipulation of the legal system.
• The fear and frustration he creates among both citizens and law enforcement.

What did you think of Dirty Harry and his vigilante approach ?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Let us know your thoughts by contacting us on one of the following:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theroomwentdark_

Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theroomwentdark

Email - [email protected]

Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

In this episode of The Room Went Dark, Amalie & Lorraine dive into The Exorcist (1973), the groundbreaking horror film that redefined the genre and terrified audiences around the world. We explore the real-life inspiration behind the story, the creation of William Peter Blatty's bestselling novel, and the extraordinary series of accidents, setbacks, and strange events that led many to label the production "cursed."

From alleged demonic influences to on-set injuries and unexpected tragedies, we separate fact from legend while examining how these stories contributed to the film's enduring mystique.

Was The Exorcist based on a true story?

Who was Roland Doe?

What did you think of The Exorcist and all the controversy surrounding it ?

Thank you for listening and please rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Let us know your thoughts by contacting us on one of the following:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theroomwentdark_

Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theroomwentdark

Email - [email protected]

Music:

Track: Caverns Of Madness -

Artist: Darren Curtis

https://www.darrencurtismusic.com/-