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Charge your flashlight, lock the basement door, and welcome back to The THING About Films.

This week, Ambrose and Kelly are calling on The Conjuring (2013) and asking the big questions:
How did a “little” haunted house movie turn into a horror empire? Where does the real Perron family story end and the Hollywood version begin? And what happens when your “based on a true story” comes with real people, real trauma, and a very real old farmhouse that will not stay quiet?

They break down why this movie still creeps people out, what makes the Warrens such compelling on-screen guides, and why smart, slow-burn scares hit harder than buckets of gore. Then they pull back the curtain on the true story that inspired it all and talk about the messy, uncomfortable stuff the movie leaves in the dark.

If you’ve ever watched The Conjuring and thought, “Okay, but how much of this actually happened?” this episode is your rabbit hole.

Hit play, keep your feet off the floor, and remember: just because it says “true story” on the poster doesn’t mean the real horror made it to the screen.

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This week we crack open It Follows, the modern slow-burn nightmare that turned a simple idea into pure anxiety. We dig into the real childhood dream that sparked the story, why the world of the film feels “out of time,” how the camera work makes you paranoid on purpose, and how Disasterpeace built that pulse-raising score in a wild three-week sprint. We also talk box office glow-up, the pool finale, and where things stand with the sequel, They Follow.

What we cover

• The original nightmare that inspired the “it just walks” concept
• Why the movie’s mix of decades (’60s houses, ’80s fits, fake e-reader) keeps your brain on edge
• Deep-focus shots, slow 360 pans, and how the camera turns you into the lookout
• Disasterpeace’s synth score: influences, the rush to Cannes, and why the music is “too loud” on purpose
• Michigan locations, the “border” of Eight Mile, and that perfect abandoned house layout
• Maika Monroe’s performance and the cast choices that made the entity feel personal
• Themes: inevitability, guilt, and dread that doesn’t care what year it is
• The finale’s “DIY” plan, the dad reveal, and why the ambiguity sticks
• Sequel check-in: They Follow updates and what “ten years later” could mean

Critic’s Crypt Ratings

• Ambrose: 4 out of 5 Coffins
• Kelly: 3.5 out of 5 Coffins

Spoilers
Yep, we discuss plot details, the pool scene, and the final shot.

Content warnings
Stalking, sexual implications, brief nudity, violence, anxiety themes.

Segment guide (no timestamps)
Cold open banter • What the curse is and why it works • Production design and that timeless vibe • Cinematography that makes you scan the frame • Disasterpeace’s score story • Detroit/Michigan locations • Cast notes and character beats • Finale breakdown • Sequel talk • Critic’s Crypt verdicts & sign-off

Grab-bag trivia

• The tall hallway scare was played by 7'7" Detroiter Mike Lanier.
• Yara reading The Idiot ties the movie to the fear of inevitable fate.
• That pink “seashell” e-reader was built for the film so nothing would date the story.

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🕯️ Episode Summary

This week, Ambrose and Kelly crack open one of the most disturbing modern horror films — Ari Aster’s Hereditary. From the gut-wrenching screams of Toni Collette to that unforgettable attic scene, they dig deep into the film’s raw exploration of grief, guilt, and fate. It’s family trauma turned into full-blown occult horror — and we’re not holding anything back.

The duo dives into behind-the-scenes stories, production details, and the performances that left both cast and crew emotionally wrecked. You’ll learn why Hereditary crawls under your skin, how the dollhouse visuals turned into a metaphor for control, and what makes Aster’s refusal to offer closure so brilliantly cruel.

Then, in the Critic’s Crypt, Ambrose and Kelly trade thoughts on what worked, what didn’t, and how Hereditary manages to make dinner conversations scarier than demonic possession.

🔦 Highlights

• Why Hereditary’s real horror is grief, not demons
• Toni Collette’s performance that shook audiences (and maybe deserved an Oscar)
• Alex Wolff’s intense method acting and on-set injuries
• The miniature sets that symbolized control, fate, and family doom
• Ari Aster’s obsession with precision and emotional pain
• The attic scene that haunts even the cast
• Final Coffin Salute ratings: Ambrose – 4/5, Kelly – 3/5

💀 In the Critic’s Crypt

Ambrose and Kelly go head-to-head on pacing, symbolism, and the infamous cult ending. Is Hereditary a masterpiece of psychological terror or an emotional mugging disguised as art? Either way, it leaves you checking your ceiling before bed.

🕯️ Final Thoughts

Is King Paimon the real villain—or is the true curse the trauma we inherit?
 Grab your flashlight, Survivors. We’re heading back into the dark.

🎧 Listen Now

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your scares.
 Join the conversation — what’s your Hereditary moment that still haunts you?

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This week on The THING about Films, we are stepping into the telekinetic terror that started it all. Stephen King’s Carrie did not just launch one of horror’s most tragic characters. It launched Stephen King himself into the pop-culture stratosphere.

We break down the journey from King’s debut novel in 1974 to the iconic 1976 film adaptation that made prom night a blood-soaked cautionary tale. Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie brought Carrie and Margaret White to life with performances so intense they both landed Oscar nominations. Not too shabby for a movie where the gym literally explodes.

We also dig into the creative crew that shaped the film’s nightmare energy:
 • Director: Brian De Palma
• Screenwriter: Lawrence D. Cohen
• Composer: Pino Donaggio (after Bernard Herrmann passed away)
• Art Director: Jack Fisk
• Cast Highlights: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, John Travolta (yes, that John Travolta), Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles

De Palma leaned into Hitchcock influences hard, especially Psycho. Even the sound stage has history. Parts of the movie were filmed at Culver City Studios, including the same location where Gone With The Wind staged the burning of Atlanta. Swap flames for pig’s blood and you get the idea.

We also walk through Carrie’s legacy. There have been:
• The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)
• Carrie: The Musical (1988)
• TV movie remake in 2002
• Feature film remake in 2013
• Upcoming Mike Flanagan limited series for Prime Video arriving in 2026

Yes, Mike Flanagan is back at it. The new cast is already exciting:
 • Summer H. Howell as Carrie White
• Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White
• Matthew Lillard as Principal Grael
• Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen

Flanagan adapting King again. A tale as old as time. A prom dress as red as… well, you know.

Favorite Pull Quotes

"The violence isn't triggered by some ancient evil. It's triggered by relentless bullying and horrible abuse."

"Her saving those pages literally changed modern literature."

"It perfectly captures Carrie's brief moment of pure happiness and acceptance... makes the fall even harder."

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Ambrose and Kelly break down how IT evolved from King’s doorstop novel into the 1990 TV classic, the R-rated 2017/2019 films, and the upcoming prequel Welcome to Derry. We talk fear, friendship, why Derry feels “alive,” and why Pennywise still wrecks our nerves.

Highlights

• Derry as a character, not a backdrop
• Two timelines and why that’s hard to adapt
• 1990 ABC constraints vs. big-screen freedom
• Tim Curry’s charm vs. Skarsgård’s inhuman menace
• Chapter Two’s heart: Richie, Eddie, and Stan’s letter
• What a prequel should reveal without killing the mystery

Quick Timestamps

0:00 Cold open, red balloons
 7:00 Book scale, dual timelines
 15:00 1990 miniseries: what works, what creaks
 28:00 2017: reset to ’89, R-rated stakes
 41:00 Chapter Two: cast, grief, endings
 52:00 Welcome to Derry: hopes and worries
56:00 Critic’s Crypt ratings

Critic’s Crypt — Coffin Salute

• IT (1990): 3/5 (both)
• IT (2017): Ambrose 5/5, Kelly 4/5
• IT Chapter Two (2019): Ambrose 3.5/5, Kelly 3/5
• Welcome to Derry: TBD

Join In

Got thoughts or Derry lore? Email [email protected]. If we read it on air, you get a sticker pack.

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🎧 Summary

This week, we dig into Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat — the horror anthology that turned Halloween night into a rulebook for survival. From studio setbacks to cult status, we break down how Sam, the burlap-masked spirit of Halloween, became an icon and why this film deserves its annual spot in your spooky season lineup.

🕸️ Key Topics

Michael Dougherty — Writer and director of Trick ‘r Treat and its upcoming sequel. His earlier short Seasons Greetings (1996) introduced Sam and inspired the film’s non-linear comic-book style, influenced by Pulp Fiction (1994).

Samhain (“Sam”) — Halloween’s enforcer in burlap and buttons. His kills aren’t random — they’re payback for breaking the rules.

The Film’s Journey — Shelved by Warner Bros. for two years before finding new life on home video and becoming a cult phenomenon. Arrow Films later released a stunning 4K remaster.

2025 Revival — Fathom Events will re-release Trick ‘r Treat in theaters with Seasons Greetings included. Plus, Trick ‘r Treat 2 is in active development at Legendary Pictures.

Character Spotlight — Dylan Baker’s Principal Steven Wilkins remains one of horror’s most unsettling “nice guys.”

🩸 Pull Quotes

“This film has become a real phenomenon—mandatory viewing every Halloween.”
 “Sam’s violence isn’t random. He’s enforcing the rules.”
 “Is Trick ‘r Treat a horror film… or a twisted modern fairy tale?”

🧛 Corrections

No unclear sections found; all facts verified against known details about the film.

🔗 Links

• Trick ‘r Treat (Streaming + 4K Edition by Arrow Films)
• Fathom Events 2025 Re-Release
• Email us your thoughts at [email protected]
  — if we read yours on air, you’ll get a free Scream Team Sticker Pack!

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Starring Betsy Palmer as Pamela Voorhees and Adrienne King as Alice, this landmark slasher film helped cement the genre’s place in mainstream cinema. The special effects were handled by Tom Savini, whose practical gore effects became legendary for their shocking realism.

Produced on a modest budget of roughly $550,000–$650,000, the film went on to gross nearly $60 million worldwide, proving that independent horror could be a serious box office force. It effectively legitimized the slasher genre as a profitable Hollywood formula.

The story unfolds at Camp Crystal Lake, a fictional setting filmed at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick, New Jersey — a real campground that still offers Jason-themed tours for fans.

The eerie “Ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma” sound effect — often mistaken for Jason’s whisper — was actually inspired by Mrs. Voorhees’ line, “Kill her, Mommy!” Composer Harry Manfredini recorded and distorted the phrase to create the now-iconic horror cue.

The film’s unforgettable final jump scare, where a young Jason bursts from the lake, was suggested by Savini himself, drawing inspiration from Carrie (1976).

Behind the scenes, success came with a dark side. Actress Adrienne King faced a real-life stalker after the film’s release, prompting her to step away from acting for several years.

Although Jason Voorhees appears only briefly as a child in this original installment, he went on to become one of horror’s most enduring icons — even earning an MTV Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992 as the genre’s most prolific killer.

Pull Quotes

• “It wasn’t about careful artistic planning at all. It was pure commercial audacity.”
• “That one desperate move saved the scene and basically made horror history.”
• “Critics hated it, but it was a massive hit, both commercially and culturally.”

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This week, Ambrose and Kelly dig into Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects — the brutal, blood-soaked follow-up to House of 1000 Corpses. It’s not just gore and chaos; it’s a dusty road trip through Americana, revenge, and the ugly heart of violence itself. We’re breaking down the Firefly family’s twisted journey, Sheriff Wydell’s descent into obsession, and why this movie feels less like a horror sequel and more like an outlaw Western turned inside out.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• How Rob Zombie flipped from campy horror to raw grit.
• The Firefly family’s evolution from cartoon villains to tragic antiheroes.
• Sheriff Wydell’s transformation into something even darker than his prey.
• The film’s grindhouse aesthetic: 16mm grit, sweat, and outlaw rock.
• Cameos, cult casting choices, and why this movie cemented its place in horror history.
• That unforgettable ending set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird — and why it still hits like a gut punch.

Key Takeaways:

• The Devil’s Rejects isn’t just about blood and mayhem — it’s about how horror can blur the line between villain and victim.
• Rob Zombie brought 1970s road movie grit into the horror genre and left his mark.
• This is a film that forces you to look at violence, grief, and vengeance in a way that’s messy, human, and deeply uncomfortable.

Pull Quotes from the Episode:

• “It shifts from that closed-set Gothic thing into this wide-open, existential road film.”
• “Wydell becomes the bigger evil because his cruelty is sanctioned.”
• “The music tricks you into feeling the tragedy of their end.”

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Some movies you watch. Others you survive. William Friedkin’s The Exorcist wasn’t just a horror film — it was a cultural earthquake. Pea soup, spinning heads, fainting audiences, whispers of a “curse,” and a box office run that rewrote the rules of cinema. Half a century later, this nightmare still hasn’t let go of us.

In this episode of The THING about Films, we peel back every layer of The Exorcist — from its real-life inspirations to the chaos of its production, and the deep questions it still raises about science, faith, and evil itself.

Here’s what we dig into:

• The real 1949 exorcism case that inspired William Peter Blatty’s novel.
• Why the film’s medical realism is more terrifying than the supernatural.
• The cultural hysteria: fainting audiences, walkouts, and worldwide controversy.
• Behind-the-scenes stories: set accidents, Friedkin’s extreme methods, and the so-called “curse.”
• How sound design, lighting, and editing pushed the boundaries of horror craft.
• The battle between Friedkin and Blatty over the film’s message — shock vs. spirituality.
• Why Father Karras, not Merrin, may be the true heart of the story.
• And of course, our final verdict in the Critic’s Crypt.

The Exorcist isn’t just scary — it’s complicated, uncomfortable, and unforgettable. And we’re breaking it all down so you don’t have to watch it alone in the dark.

👻 New episodes drop every Friday!
Hit subscribe so you never miss a trip into horror history.

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Some horror movies fade the second the credits roll. The Entity (1982) isn’t one of them. This controversial classic drops you straight into a nightmare: a single mother terrorized by an unseen force. But it’s more than supernatural scares—it’s about trauma, institutional gaslighting, and the terrifying question of what happens when no one believes you.

In this episode, we break down:

• The shocking opening that set the tone for one of horror’s most unsettling films
• Barbara Hershey’s powerhouse performance and why critics called it her comeback
• The real case of Doris Bither that inspired the story—and how Hollywood twisted it
• Stan Winston’s practical effects wizardry that made the invisible feel horrifyingly real
• The cultural debates around exploitation, belief, and how horror portrays violence
• Why The Entity still resonates in the #MeToo era, and what its lasting legacy tells us about horror

From cult status to controversy, from folklore to true crime inspiration—this movie refuses to stay buried.

🎙️ Buckle up. This isn’t popcorn horror.

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