In this episode, I chat with podcaster and film festival programmer Sharon Gissy about one of our mutual faves Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971) directed by John Hancock (no, not that John Hancock). Because both Sharon and I are interested in mental health, those themes are the majority of the conversation, but we also chat about the horror movies that they show in film school, grave rubbings, “unreliable” narrators, and how we would never sell those amazing antiques. Be sure to check out Sharon’s film festival Mental Filmness if you’re in the Chicagoland area, one of the most unique and important film festivals in Chicago.
00:00-04:00- Intro / Mental Filmness Film Festival
04:00-13:00- Why Sharon Loves Horror / How We First Saw Let’s Scare Jessica to Death
13:00-37:00- Brief Synopsis / Themes (Mental Illness, Death) / Acting
37:00-58:00- Music / Title / Early 1970’s Horror Landscape / Watchalikes
58:00-01:00:00- Outro
Please note: timestamps are estimates.
References:
7 Facts About Let’s Scare Jessica to Death By April Snelling, Mental Floss, July 20, 2023
Director/Producer’s Commentary on the Shout Factory DVD
‘Let’s Scare Jessica to Death’ (1970) is a Dreamy and Terrifying 70’s Horror Film By Chrissy Stockton, Creepy Catalog, October 17, 2024
‘Let’s Scare Jessica to Death’ Deserves to Be Talked About More, Scaredy Cats, July 14, 2021 (I said that Hooptober is how I found out about this movie but I remembered it was actually Scaredy Cats! Shoutout to SC, please subscribe if you’re not already!)
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, illustrated by Stephen Gammell
Thriller- Michael Jackson music video
Find Us Online:
Mental Filmness: A Film Festival about Mental Health, October 10-11, 2025 at the Chicago Hope Academy (Sharon’s film festival)
Fur, Feather and Scale (Sharon’s art page)
B-Side Me Podcast: Ep. 1: Smashing Pumpkins (Sharon’s podcast)
Follow Sharon on Instagram.
Chloe’s Letterboxd and Instagram.
Listen to “Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. For exclusive episodes, subscribe at a paying level to my Substack. If you enjoy my stuff, this is the best way to financially support me! Thank you for listening!
