Shows
Faculty of HorrorEpisode 147. The Fackening: 2025 Year in Review
Another year of mad fackery has come to end, so Andrea and Alex take a last look at 2025 to review our horror (and non-horror) faves of the year.
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Alex’s picks:WeaponsBring Her BackThe Ugly StepsisterFinal Destination BloodlinesCompanionGood BoyThe Occupant of the RoomMangittatuarjuk: The Gnawer of Rocks
Andrea’s picks:
Bring Her Back
Weapons
Final Destination BloodlinesHeart EyesThe Ugly Stepsister
Dangerous Animals
Him
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2026-01-271h 11Faculty of HorrorEpisode 140. Pump It Up: The Substance (2024) Live from Salem Horror Fest
Join Andrea and Alex live from Salem Horror Fest for feats of strength (!) and a discussion of the horrors of beauty standards, the weight of celebrity culture, and the algorithms that are out to get us.
More content over on our Patreon!
REQUIRED READING
The Substance. Dir. Coralie Fargeat, 2024.
EXTRA CREDIT
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism. Sarah Wynn-Williams account of her time at Facebook.
On Women. Susan Sontag’s essays on women and their physical relationships to the world.
Fran Lebowitz on Race and Racism. F...
2025-05-211h 05Faculty of HorrorEpisode 139. Labour Pains: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
Spring has sprung so it’s time to get into the greenhouse! In this episode, Alex and Andrea investigate the differences between mother and caretaker, the privilege of home upkeep, and why yuppies love windchimes.
More content over on our Patreon!
REQUIRED READING
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle. Dir. Curtis Hanson, 1992.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Unnatural History of the Nanny. The NYT’s 1973 exploration of the importance of the role in modern culture.
The Lifesaving, Horrifying History of Wet Nurses. A look at another key and intimate household role.
Querying ‘Karen’: The rise...
2025-04-301h 12Faculty of HorrorEpisode 136. Curse of Fack: 2024 Year in Review
Andrea and Alex run down their favourite horror films from 2024, share what they’re looking forward to this year and go head-to-head in trivia for Fack supremacy.
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2025-01-281h 48Faculty of HorrorEpisode 135. Family Matters: The Brood (1979)
Join us as we breakdown the isolated families of David Cronenberg’s The Brood. From family structures to the legalese of it all, we investigate why and how we cling to each other.
Last chance for our Class of 2024 merch! Artwork by the incredible Candice Purwin.
REQUIRED READING
The Brood. Dir. David Cronenberg, 1979.
EXTRA CREDIT
Cronenberg on Cronenberg. A collection of interviews with the man himself on the making and meaning of his films.
The Evolution of Pregnancy Portraits From Tudor England to Beyonce. A history of the pregnant body as spectacle.
The Brood: Sepa...
2024-12-281h 04Faculty of HorrorEpisode 134. Material World: They Live (1988)
In this episode Andrea and Alex deep-dive into John Carpenter’s cult-classic exploring the ways that materialism, Marxism, and maximalism have driven us to the edge of consumption.
Check out our Class of 2024 merch! Artwork by the incredible Candice Purwin.
REQUIRED READING
They Live. Dir. John Carpenter, 1988.
EXTRA CREDIT
“Eight O’Clock in the Morning.” Ray Nelson’s short story that inspired They Live.
The Politics of Gender Presentation – Why what we buy to wear matters.
The Films of John Carpenter. John Kenneth Muir’s examination of Carpenter’s filmography.
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2024-11-261h 14Faculty of HorrorEpisode 133. Missionary Position: The Conjuring (2013)
James Wan’s blockbuster horror offering The Conjuring thrilled audiences and created a cinematic universe but for Andrea and Alex it left an icky feeling that has nothing to do with demonic possession. By investigating the politics, means and ideology behind the film, they’ll uncover the true villains behind this narrative.
Check out our Class of 2024 merch! Artwork by the incredible Candice Purwin.
REQUIRED READING
The Conjuring. Dir. James Wan, 2013.
EXTRA CREDIT
War Over ‘The Conjuring’: The Disturbing Claims Behind a Billion-Dollar Franchise. Hollywood Reporter’s Investigation into the claims made about the real-l...
2024-10-301h 04Faculty of HorrorEpisode 132. Mother May I?: Suspiria (2018) with Stacie Ponder
For this very special back-to-school episode, Andrea and Alex are joined by the one and only Stacie Ponder to dig into the depths of Luca Guadagnino’s remake of Dario Argento’s classic. From the dance of politics to the dance of sexuality, there’s more under the floorboards of the Markos Dance Academy than meets the eye.
For more Stacie, check out her blog Final Girl, her column Devil’s in the Details in Rue Morgue, and her Twin Peaks recap podcast series with Mike Muncer, The Detective and the Log Lady.
Check out our Class of 202...
2024-09-191h 40Faculty of HorrorEpisode 129. Bad Trip: Angel Heart (1987) and Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Whether you’re ascending or descending, spiritual journeys through the afterlife are never easy. In this episode, Andrea and Alex tackle two films that share some overlapping tendencies but deviate in unexpected ways.
REQUIRED READING
Angel Heart. Dir. Alan Parker, 1987.
Jacob’s Ladder. Dir Adrian Lyne, 1990.
EXTRA CREDIT
Satanic Feminism: Per Faxneld’s book about the evolution of Lucifer as liberator.
The Book of Lilith. An investigation into the persecution and villainization of Adam’s first wife.
Temptresses. An overview of some of the most iconic evil women and why they are feared.
Falling Angel by William Hj...
2024-05-291h 37Faculty of HorrorEpisode 128. The Feral Feminine: Cat People (1942)
Coming to you live from Salem Horror Fest, Andrea and Alex prowl the darkest corners of RKO’s cult classic Cat People. From the themes of immigration and assimilation to the parallels of sex and power, we uncover how Jacques Tourneur and Val Lewton’s dark vision of 1940s America remains a prescient warning.
REQUIRED READING
Cat People. Dir. Jacques Tourneur, 1942.
EXTRA CREDIT
What history tells us about assimilation of immigrants. The paper published by Stanford University that explains the trends that followed immigration booms in the US in the first half of the 20th century.
On Female Rag...
2024-04-2957 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 127. In Plain Sight: Manhunter (1986)
In this episode, Andrea and Alex investigate how multiple characters are perceived and perceive Michael Mann’s entry into the Hannibal Lec(k)tor cinematic universe. From cops to killers and the humanity in between, these cuts go deep.
REQUIRED READING
Manhunter. Dir. Michael Mann, 1986.
EXTRA CREDIT
How Thomas Harris defined a genre and created fiction’s most likeable villain. An overview of the Hannibal Lecter saga and what made it unique.
The Tabloid that Launched America’s Obsession with True Crime. Joe Pompeo’s look back at the lasting impact of the Daily News.
Eating Blake, or an Ess...
2024-03-231h 41Faculty of HorrorEpisode 126. Bad Habits: The Devils (1971)
From the depths of Warner Bros archives, Ken Russell’s infamous film The Devils has been resurrected (ish) once more! Andrea and Alex take this opportunity to dive into the politics, contractions, and naughtiness present within one of the most controversial cult films ever made.
REQUIRED READING
The Devils. Dir. Ken Russell, 1971.
EXTRA CREDIT
Ars Erotica. Excerpt from Mario Vargas Llosa book on the influence of spectacle on the West.
Society of the Spectacle. Guy Debord’s treatise on performance and coercion.
Sex Education in the 1970s. A rundown of the controversial sex education film Growing Up.
2024-02-291h 38Faculty of HorrorEpisode 125. Fack XI: 2023 Year in Review
It’s time to look back before we scream forward! Join Andrea and Alex for horror and non-horror faves and a game that will decide their fate for 2024.
Alex’s Horror/Horror Adjacent Faves
1. Red Rooms (dir. Pascal Plante)
2. Godzilla Minus One (dir. Takashi Yamazaki)
3. Talk to Me (dir. Danny and Michael Phillippou)
4. The Curse (TV, created by Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie)
5. Poor Things (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)
6. Fall of the House of Usher (TV, created by Mike Flanagan)
7. Beau is Afraid (dir. Ari Aster)
Andrea’s Horror/Horror Adjacent Faves
1. Talk to Me (dir. Danny and Michael Phillippou)2. Poor Things...
2024-01-261h 52Faculty of HorrorEpisode 124. Death in Venice: Don’t Look Now (1973)
Andrea and Alex delve into the murky depths of Nicolas Roeg’s classic to uncover the film’s themes of mysticism, misogyny and the ethics of mourning.
Class of 2023 merch
Artwork by @thelastjohnyontheleft
REQUIRED READING
Don’t Look Now. Dir. Nicolas Roeg, 1973.
EXTRA CREDIT
Daphne du Maurier’s short story.
The Year of Magical Thinking. Joan Didion’s memoir of the year following her husband’s death.
Mysticism as a Female Path. Mary Sharratt’s look and the intertwining history of mysticism and women.
Take Some Pills for Your Hysteria, Lady. A history of men putting women...
2023-12-181h 06Faculty of HorrorEpisode 123. Love Bites: The Hunger (1983) and Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
In this episode Andrea and Alex delve into some truly long-term relationships and their lasting implications. From ageless vampires to hipster gentrification, sometimes loving someone “forever and ever” isn’t as fun as it seems.
Class of 2023 merch
Artwork by @thelastjohnyontheleft
REQUIRED READING
The Hunger. Dir. Tony Scott, 1983.
Only Lovers Left Alive. Dir. Jim Jarmusch, 2013.
EXTRA CREDIT
Not All Fangs are Phallic. James Craig Holte’s investigation of the female vampire film.
Why hipsters could be seen as modern-day colonisers. The article by Melissa Tandiwe Myambo on the political and cultural effects of gentrification.
Rising costs and gentrification for...
2023-11-271h 29Faculty of HorrorEpisode 122. Homecoming: IT Chapter 1 (2017) and IT Chapter 2 (2019)
We all float down here… or we’ll lose our minds trying to make sense of Andy Muschietti’s blockbuster horror films based on Stephen King’s classic novel. In this episode, Andrea and Alex investigate the depths of Derry’s sewer system, summer holidays and sexual awakenings.
Class of 2023 merch
Artwork by @thelastjohnyontheleft
REQUIRED READING
It Chapter 1 and It Chapter 2. Dir. Andy Muschietti, 2017 and 2019.
EXTRA CREDIT
Danse Macabre. Stephen King’s treatise on horror.
Why do Students Get Summers Off? A history of getting to play hooky in the summer.
The American Small Town in the Age of the US Empir...
2023-10-221h 44Faculty of HorrorEpisode 120. Unseen Forces: The Invisible Man (1933 & 2020)
From economic disruptors to controlling techbro exes, the unseeable has been used as a metaphor in a variety of ways. In this episode, Andrea and Alex look back at H.G. Wells’ original text, James Whale’s Universal classic and how #MeToo created a new kind of monster.
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REQUIRED READING
The Invisible Man. Dir. James Whale, 1933.
The Invisible Man. Dir. Leigh Whannell, 2020.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Invisible Man. H.G. Wells’ Victorian classic.
Simulacra and Simulation. Baudrillard continues to be worried about copies.
Evolution of Horror: Sleeping with the Enemy and Fear. Alex joins friend of the p...
2023-07-211h 18Faculty of HorrorEpisode 116. Carrying On: The Quatermass Xperiment
In this episode we look at what happens when an American experiment crash lands in the British countryside. By looking at the state of England after two World Wars, a crisis of masculinity and humanity’s shaky grasp on scientific responsibility, Andrea and Alex uncover what is truly driving innovation and our need to win.
Salem Horror Fest Info
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REQUIRED READING
The Quatermass Xperiment. Dir. Val Guest, 1955.
EXTRA CREDIT
Hammer and Beyond by Peter Hutchings. An in-depth examination of the studio and its impact.
Seeing is Believing by Peter Biskind. A definitive text for American...
2023-03-231h 01Faculty of HorrorEpisode 114. Facks: 2022 Year in Review
We cast one last glance at a year with a lot of horror highs. Featuring our best of 2022, things we can’t live without, our top 10 horror movies of all time, and, of course, some bloopers.
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EXTRA CREDIT
Alex’s Best of 2022
1. Nope
2. Barbarian
3. Prey
4. Orphan: First Kill
5. Men
6. Slash/Back
7. Fresh
8. Scream
9. What We Do in the Shadows S4
Andrea’s Best of 2022
1. Hellbender
2. The Innocents
3. Watcher
4. Men
5. Scream
6. The Harbinger
7. WNUF 2
8. Resurrection
9. Smile
10. Mad God
What Alex Can’t Live Without:
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Nike Internationalists
Dark Roast Coffee
A weighted blanket...
2023-01-252h 11Faculty of HorrorEpisode 112. Intruder Alert: Them (2006) & The Strangers (2008)
Lock your doors and check your windows because some uninvited guests are on their way. In this episode, Andrea and Alex explore the origins and hyperbole around the home invasion sub-genre and why there may be more to fear than those trying to break in.
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Class of 2022 Merch is here! Get our limited edition design with art by Laura Hokstad on whatever TeePublic can print it on.
Toronto Live Show! Come see us at The Garrison in Toronto on December 7 to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Tickets are PWYC with all proceeds going to Sistering.
REQUIRED READING
...
2022-11-221h 22Faculty of HorrorEpisode 111. Homegrown: 28 Days Later (2002)
Andrea and Alex cross the pond to revisit Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic film that brought the zombie genre back to (un)life. From virology to bodily autonomy to Brexit, there’s a lot to chew on.
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Class of 2022 Merch is here! Get our limited edition design with art by Laura Hokstad on whatever TeePublic can print it on.
Toronto Live Show! Come see us at The Garrison in Toronto on December 7 to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Tickets are PWYC with all proceeds going to Sistering.
REQUIRED READING
28 Days Later. Dir. Danny Boyle, 2002.
EXTRA CREDIT
Var...
2022-10-281h 19Faculty of HorrorEpisode 110. Fight or Flight: Final Destination (2000)
Andrea and Alex evoke the spectre of Death in their analysis of James Wong’s turn of the century ode to vibes. From risk society to the abject, Final Destination has a plan for everyone.
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Class of 2022 Merch is here! Get our limited edition design with art by Laura Hokstad on whatever TeePublic can print it on.
Toronto Live Show! Come see us at The Garrison in Toronto on December 7 to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Tickets are PWYC with all proceeds going to Sistering.
REQUIRED READING
Final Destination. Dir. James Wong, 2000.
EXTRA CREDIT
An Exper...
2022-09-261h 09Faculty of HorrorEpisode 109. Class Act: Society (1989)
The elite are literally a different breed in Brian Yuzna’s cult classic film about the perils of popularity and privilege. In this episode, Andrea and Alex dive into the mystique that surrounds the wealthy and explore why they need the rest of us to survive.
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REQUIRED READING
Society. Dir. Brian Yuzna, 1989.
EXTRA CREDIT
Generation Multiplex. Timothy Shary’s fascinating book about the language of film and its influence on teen culture.
Fran Lebowitz on Race and Racism. The iconic writer on inherited privilege.
Baby Scoop Era. The period before abortion was legalized which saw a r...
2022-07-3059 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 108. Souped Up: Blade (1998) and Constantine (2005)
Using two popular examples, Andrea and Alex look at the collision between the horror and superhero genres. From conservative leanings to taboo-breaking stories, we explore two films that deviate from the norm (and occasionally, their own source material) to embark in two very different directions.
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REQUIRED READING
Blade. Dir. Stephen Norrington, 1998.
Constantine. Dir. Francis Lawrence, 2005.
EXTRA CREDIT
How Blade created the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How Blade saved Marvel and set it up for cinematic takeover.
Super Black: American Pop Culture and Black Superheroes. Adilifu Nama’s cultural history of the Black superhero genre.
Horror Noire...
2022-06-291h 17Faculty of HorrorEpisode 106. Home Sweet Home: The Haunting (1963)
Time to walk the halls of the terrifying Hill House with Andrea and Alex as they explore what it means to be haunted, gender dynamics in times of duress and why it’s hard to remake a classic.
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REQUIRED READING
The Haunting. Dir. Robert Wise, 1963.
EXTRA CREDIT
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life. Ruth Franklin’s wonderful biography that explores Jackson’s life through her work.
Rue Morgue #170 – September 2016. Featuring a cover story and roundtable interview on Shirley Jackson’s life and influence.
The Haunting and the Power of Suggestion. An article by Pam Keesey in Monst...
2022-04-211h 08Faculty of HorrorEpisode 105. Doom Scroll: Pulse (2001) and Suicide Club (2001)
In this episode, Andrea and Alex explore two different yet eerily similar films that came out of Japan in 2001. The conversation covers where history, humanity and community end, exploring what is left in its wake and the new limitations of imagining the future.
CW: Suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones: 1-800-273-8255.
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REQUIRED READING
Pulse. Dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2001.
Suicide Club. Dir. Sion Sono, 2001.
EXTRA CREDIT
Haunted by Leo Braudy. A wide...
2022-03-241h 37Faculty of HorrorEpisode 104. Dark Ages: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and Relic (2020)
Whether you call them Hagsploitation, Psycho-Biddy or just plain Elder Horror, growing old is a scary prospect and horror has mined those depths to great effect. Andrea and Alex dive into the murky waters of gender and aging, the burden of care and whether the cycle can be broken.
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REQUIRED READING
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Dir. Robert Aldrich, 1962.
Relic. Dir. Natalie Erika James, 2020.
EXTRA CREDIT
Grande Dame Guignol Cinema: a History of Hag Horror from Baby Jane to Mother, by Peter Shelley (1962).|You Must Remember This, Episode 91. Karina Longworth’s deep...
2022-02-241h 38Faculty of HorrorEpisode 103. 2021 Year in Review: From the Book of Fack
It’s that time of year where we look back at our horror and non-horror faves from the last year and have a bit of fun while we’re at it.
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EXTRA CREDIT
Alex’s Best of Horror
Dexter: New Blood
Titane
Censor
Caveat
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched
Yellowjackets
Midnight Mass
Malignant
The Humans
Andrea’s Best of Horror
Saint Maud
Psycho Goreman
Candyman
Last Night in Soho
The Feast (Gwledd)
The Vigil
Caveat
The Sadness
Midnight Mass
Alex’s Non-Horror Faves
Wandavision
Jagged
Mare of Easttown
Succession S3
Real Housewives (Beverly Hills S11, Salt Lake City...
2022-01-262h 23Faculty of HorrorEpisode 102. Rule Breaker: Scream (1996)
Do you like scary movies? Because Wes Craven’s Scream sure does! In this episode, Andrea and Alex tackle the game-changing film, discussing its origins, impact and legacy.
Class of 2021 Merch is here! Original art by Slutfocate
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REQUIRED READING
Scream. Dir. Wes Craven, 1996.
EXTRA CREDIT
The 1990s Teen Horror Cycle: Final Girls and a New Hollywood Formula. Alex’s book on ’90s horror with a feminist gaze.
Men, Women and Chain Saws. Carol Clover’s treatise on gender in modern horror that coined the term Final Girl.
Columbine. Dave Cullen’s in-depth account of the Columbine s...
2021-12-211h 28Faculty of HorrorEpisode 101. Death Trap: Saw (2004) and Hostel (2005)
Do you want listen to an episode about Torture Porn? Well, you’re in luck! Andrea and Alex dive into the 2000s to look at the phenomenon of Torture Porn; what preceded it, what it meant, and where we can potentially place it in our collective imagination.
Class of 2021 Merch is here! Original art by Slutfocate
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REQUIRED READING
Saw. Dir. James Wan, 2004.
Hostel. Dir. Eli Roth, 2005.
EXTRA CREDIT
Saw 0.5. James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s short film made as a proof of concept for what would eventually become Saw.
Now Playing at Your Local Multip...
2021-11-241h 57Faculty of HorrorEpisode 98. House Warning: The Amityville Horror (1979) and Poltergeist (1982)
Call your bank and pack the moving truck because we’re uprooting everything we think we know about home ownership. From the Lutz’ mortgage with Devil to the skeletons in the Freelings’ closet (and backyard), Andrea and Alex unearth what lies beyond and beneath the white picket fences of American suburbia.
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Salem Horror Fest 2021 – tickets and info now available!
REQUIRED READING
The Amityville Horror. Dir. Stuart Rosenberg, 1979.
Poltergeist. Dir. Tobe Hooper, 1982.
EXTRA CREDIT
Gaylords of Darkness Amityville 4 episode. The incomparable Stacie and Anthony tackle one of the strangest movies ever made. A must-listen!
Stephen King...
2021-07-271h 52Faculty of HorrorEpisode 97. No Future: Jack the Ripper in The Lodger (1927) and From Hell (2001)
The fog of Victorian London settles on Alex and Andrea as they dive into “Ripperology”: the facts, fiction and shadow cast by Jack the Ripper over our culture. By examining how the figure is depicted in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger and The Hughes Brothers’ From Hell, we can begin to untangle the history of more than one problematic man involved in creating their own mythology.
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REQUIRED READING
The Lodger: A Story of London Fog. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1927.
From Hell. Dir. The Hughes Brothers, 2001.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Lodger. Marie Belloc Lowndes’ novella.
...
2021-06-291h 35Faculty of HorrorEpisode 96. Missing Links: Trollhunter (2010) and Willow Creek (2013)
If you go down in the woods today You’re sure of a big surprise Andrea and Alex leave the comforts of modernity and go back to nature to discover what humanity has left behind through our obsessions with cryptids and conspiracy theories. From our fascination with humanity’s evolution to our need to colonize, we have a lot of explaining to do.
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REQUIRED READING
Trollhunter. Dir. André Øvredal, 2010.
Willow Creek. Dir. Bobcat Goldthwait, 2013.
EXTRA CREDIT
Grizzly Man. Dir Werner Herzog, 2005.
The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters and Our Obsession...
2021-05-251h 26Faculty of HorrorFack Flash! Mortal Kombat (2021) – PREVIEWCHOOSE YOUR DESTINY! Andrea and Alex got unreasonably excited about the new Mortal Kombat movie, so we recorded our pre-and post-movie impressions in an all-new Fack Flash. The full episode is available to all tiers of our Patreon! Join now and gain access to the full episode, plus even more perks and extras.Become a Patron!
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2021-04-2507 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 93. Candid Camera: Perfect Blue (1997) and Cam (2018)
From pop idols to cam girls, the line between reality and perception is dangerously blurred. In this episode, Andrea and Alex delve into the world of personas, obsession and perfection with two films, released decades apart, that grapple with modern anxieties.
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REQUIRED READING
Perfect Blue. Dir. Satoshi Kon, 1997.
Cam. Dir. Daniel Goldhaber, 2018.
EXTRA CREDIT
Ways of Seeing. John Berger’s BBC series on gaze and perception.
Why We’re Obsessed with Celebrities. Psychology Today‘s take our desire for fame equating goodness.
Camgirl. Isa Mazzei’s memoir of camming.
Algorithms have already taken over human d...
2021-02-251h 56Faculty of HorrorEpisode 91. Reality Bites: Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
In our final episode of 2020, Andrea and Alex venture back in time to Franco’s Spain to face down nightmares, bravery and politics – both real and imagined – as they break down Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth.
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REQUIRED READING
Pan’s Labyrinth. Dir. Guillermo del Toro, 2006.
EXTRA CREDIT
Stuff You Missed in History Class: A look at Franco’s rise to power and his destructive decades long grip on Spain.
Spain Tackles Franco’s Ghost (again): Politico’s analysis of how Spain continues to deal with Franco’s lastin...
2020-12-221h 30Faculty of HorrorEpisode 90. Dream Within a Dream: Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)In this episode, Alex and Andrea we venture into the knowns and many unknowns of Peter Weir’s seminal Australian film. From missing white women to colonialism and purity and propriety, we tackle the many mysteries of Hanging Rock.
Class of 2020 Merch is now available!
The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
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REQUIRED READING
Picnic at Hanging Rock. Dir. Peter Weir, 1975.
EXTRA CREDIT
Gaylords of Darkness’ Episode 71: Their fantastic episode on Picnic at Hanging Rock.
The Secret of Hanging Rock: A PDF of the excised final chapter and accompanying essays.
Miranda Must Go: A campai...
2020-11-241h 04Faculty of HorrorEpisode 88. Cult Classic: The Howling (1981)
We’re *virtually* live from Salem Horror Fest this year and we’re talking about sexy werewolves and not-so-sexy wellness with Joe Dante’s The Howling. From cultish retreats to women in media, Alex and Andrea go to the darkest reaches of the p0rn theatre…
Class of 2020 Merch is now available!
The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
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REQUIRED READING
The Howling. Dir. Joe Dante, 1981.
EXTRA CREDIT
Feminist Critique of Freud. A summary of how Freud is less than friendly to women. It the privilege we envy, not the penis!
The Human Potential M...
2020-10-311h 03Faculty of HorrorEpisode 87. Mother Monster: Pyewacket (2017) and Hereditary (2018)
CW: Suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones: 1-800-273-8255.
We’re kicking off a new semester by tackling two incredibly dark films that ask the question: have you checked on your mom lately? Alex and Andrea investigate the deepest depths of grief, despair and what we stand to lose (and gain) when we forsake our family for community.
Salem Horror Fest tickets! Get ’em here!
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REQUIRED READING
Pyewacket. Di...
2020-09-281h 55Faculty of HorrorEpisode 85: Summer of Plague Pt 2. Shut In: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Time to hunker in your bunker! In this episode, Andrea and Alex tackle the issues surrounding Nice Guys, privilege, and the conservative ideology around preservation during times of upheaval.
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REQUIRED READING
10 Cloverfield Lane. Dir Dan Trachtenberg, 2016.
EXTRA CREDIT
r/niceguys. These “nice guys” aren’t nice.
Awards for Good Boys. Add some “nice guy” satire to your Instagram feed with art by Mia Mingus.
The BATCAVE. Andrea’s YouTube episode on 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Cloverfield Clues: A whole YouTube channel devoted to Cloverfield marketin...
2020-06-301h 11Faculty of HorrorBONUS CONTENT! Glossary of Gore: Cultural HegemonyOur Glossary of Gore series is normally for Patreon members, but… it’s been a week.
Here’s Andrea on cultural hegemony.
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2020-06-0810 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 84. Summer of Plague pt 1 – Contamination: [•REC] (2007) and [•REC]²(2009) What starts as a routine stop for a firefighters and a puff piece for some TV journalists descends into one of the most chilling and prescient film franchises in contemporary horror. To kick off the Summer of Plague series, Andrea and Alex delve into the nooks and crannies of Spanish history and a Barcelona apartment complex to read between the frames.
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REQUIRED READING
Rec. Dir Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, 2007.Rec 2. Dir Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, 2009.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Power of Art, P...
2020-05-2053 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 83. Follow the Bouncing Ball: The Changeling (1980)
By reminding us of the past, ghosts can shape our future, revealing hidden truths, histories and uncertainties that we’re often too scared to acknowledge. Grief and terror become inextricably intertwined in Peter Medak’s The Changeling, and Andrea and Alex untangle the metaphors, traumas and unspoken realities that have made this film a Canadian horror classic.
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REQUIRED READING
The Changeling. Dir Peter Medak, 1980.
EXTRA CREDIT
Become a Patron!
The Uncanny Child in Transnational Cinema: Ghosts of Futurity at the Turn of the Twenty-first Century. An exploration of the childr...
2020-04-2054 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 82. Vorsicht! The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) and Nosferatu (1922)
Skipping the pond and travelling back to the roaring ’20s (the last ones, that is), Andrea and Alex take a tour of interwar Germany via two of the country’s most celebrated cinematic marvels. From the Weimar Republic to the Frankfurt school, from German expressionism to antisemitism, the past presents us with creativity unfettered (and warnings unheeded.)
The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
REQUIRED READING
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Dir Robert Weine, 1920.
Nosferatu. Dir F.W. Murnau, 1922.
EXTRA CREDIT
Become a Patron!
Rights in Nosferatu – A detailed history of Nosferatu vs. the Stoker estate via...
2020-03-151h 19Faculty of HorrorEpisode 81. You Bring Me Closer to God: Se7en (1995)
From the Gothic urban landscape, to narrative switch-a-roos, to entitled male rage, David Fincher’s Se7en is much more than a morality-wielding killer with a penchant for… unboxings. In this episode, Andrea and Alex delve into the movie’s complicated moral codes, the history of detective fiction and the dangers of having a God-complex.
The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
REQUIRED READING
Se7en. Dir David Fincher, 1995.
EXTRA CREDIT
Become a Patron!
Places of Horror: Fincher’s “Seven” and Fear of the City in Recent Hollywood Film – An academic look at the fear of urbanization in...
2020-02-241h 25Faculty of HorrorFack Flash: Our Furry Familiars – PREVIEWIt’s a Fack Flash episode about our pets! Join Alex, Andrea and a feisty Pomeranian for a chat about furbabies, familiars and the auditory terrors of canine indigestion. The full episode is available to all tiers of our Patreon! Join now and gain access to the complete one-hour episode, plus even more perks and extras. Become a Patron!
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2020-02-1905 minFaculty of HorrorDecade in Review: Horror Headlines (PREVIEW)In our first Fack Flash of 2020, Alex and Andrea look back at horror’s biggest happenings and headlines of the past decade, including #metoo, Women in Horror Month, the return of Stephen King, and much more! Become a Patron for access to the full episode!
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2020-01-1207 minFaculty of HorrorCommentary – Candyman (PREVIEW)Pass the popcorn! Patrons in our Professor Emeritus tier can watch Bernard Rose’s Candyman with Alex and Andrea via a full-length commentary track. Here’s a taste!
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2019-12-1704 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 78. Blood Ties: Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Queen of the Damned (2002)
Sharpen your teeth (and your wits) because this month, we’re devouring the world of Anne Rice and her cinematic vampires. Discussing their emergence from Gothic literary fever dream to hyper-stylized incarnations on the big screen, Andrea and Alex prove that there’s still life in them yet.
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REQUIRED READING
Interview with the Vampire. Dir Neil Jordan, 1994.
Queen of the Damned. Dir. Michael Rymer, 2002.
EXTRA CREDIT
Anne Rice and Queering of Culture. A discussing of Anne Rice’s ability to subver...
2019-11-271h 48Faculty of HorrorEpisode 77. Human Nature: Under the Skin (2013)
Live from Salem Horror Fest 2019 – Andrea and Alex tackle Jonathan Glazer’s alien masterpiece. Bringing the outlying universe down to Earth, Under The Skin reveals the darkest parts of consciousness in a chilling meditation on what it means to be human.
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The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
REQUIRED READING
Under the Skin. Dir. Jonathan Glazer, 2013.
EXTRA CREDIT
VIDEO: The Making of Under the Skin. An in-depth look at the film’s production.
The Alien Gaze of Under the Skin. How Under the Skin employs an...
2019-10-241h 02Faculty of HorrorEpisode 76. Girls Trip: House (1977)
Andrea and Alex kick off a new semester with a discussion of Nobuhiko Obayashi’s House, a truly bizarre but exciting entry into the horror canon. Covering everything from witch-y house cats, to nuclear bombs to inter-generational tensions, this episode may never capture the unbridled energy of the film but it might unlock some doors…
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Salem Horror Fest – Tickets to our live show on October 5th are on sale now!
The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
REQUIRED READING
House (aka Hausu). Dir Nobuhiko Obayashi. 1977.
EXTRA CREDIT...
2019-09-111h 07Faculty of HorrorEpisode 75. Crime Spree: Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) and Zodiac (2007)
This month, Andrea and Alex pull back the veil on narrative cinema and the true-crime phenomena. From John McNaughton’s nightmarish debut to David Fincher’s gumshoe epic, the answers to our response and responsibility to real-life events is almost always more complex than they appear on the surface.
Class of 2019 T-shirts are available now at Twisted Ts!
Salem Horror Fest – Tickets to our live show on October 5th are on sale now! The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our BRAND NEW monthly newsletter!
REQUIRED READING
Henry, Portrait of a Serial Kill...
2019-07-311h 29Faculty of HorrorEpisode 74. Party of Five: The Mist (2007)
Is it the apocalypse or just the start of a new era? Can it be both? Andrea and Alex delve into everything from the military to existentialism, brought to life by Frank Darabont’s controversial adaptation of Stephen King’s novella.
Class of 2019 T-shirts are available now at Twisted Ts!
Salem Horror Fest – Tickets to our live show on October 5th are on sale now!
The Fack Dispatch – Subscribe to our BRAND NEW monthly newsletter!
REQUIRED READING
The Mist. Dir. Frank Darabont, 2007. .
EXTRA CREDIT
A Brief Histor...
2019-06-2900 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 73. Freddy Inc: A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master (1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street:The Dream Child (1989), Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), New Nightmare (1994), Freddy vs Jason (2013)
Andrea and Alex hit the hay one last time to discuss how Freddy became a marketing legend, a cultural sensation and an arbiter of taste. Transitioning from installments in the late ’80s to the ’90s to the early aughts, Freddy illustrates how slashers have evolved (or devolved) to become cultural icons.
Class of 2019 T-shirts are available now at Twisted Ts!
Salem Horror Fest – Tickets to our live show on October 5th are on sale now!
REQUIRED READING
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master. Dir. Renny Harlin, 1988.
A Nightmare on Elm Street:The Dream Child. Dir. Step...
2019-05-3100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 72. Sleeper Hit: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
Freddy Krueger may be the man of our dreams but what about his creator, the studio that sustained him, his victims and the 1980s? Andrea and Alex dive into their nightmares and beyond to explore the lasting effects of one of horror’s most beloved franchises.
Class of 2019 T-shirts are available now at Twisted Ts!
Salem Horror Fest – Tickets to our live show on October 5th are on sale now!
REQUIRED READING
A Nightmare on Elm Street. Dir. Wes Craven, 1984.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Dir. Jack Sholder, 1985.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream War...
2019-05-0100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 71. Violent Visage: Eyes Without a Face (1960)
Andrea and Alex unmask Georges Franju’s 1960 masterpiece Eyes Without a Face and peer into the damaged landscape of a post-World War II France, body modification and why sometimes, father doesn’t know best.
REQUIRED READING
Eyes Without a Face. Dir. Georges Franju, 1960.
EXTRA CREDIT
Blood of the Beasts (1949) Franju’s short documentary about the slaughterhouses on the outskirts of Paris. EXTREME CONTENT WARNING for this one: animal cruelty.
Fast Cars, Clean Bodies. Kristen Ross’ seminal book about the French desire to rid themselves of their past.
Mystery and Melodrama: A Conversation with Georges Franj...
2019-03-3000 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 70. Man Eater: Ravenous (1999)
Andrea and Alex head West to explore the notions of Manifest Destiny and the Frontier Myth in Antonia Bird’s Ravenous. Combining historical context through a modern gaze, Ravenous proves you are who you eat.
REQUIRED READING
Ravenous. Dir. Antonia Bird, 1999.
EXTRA CREDIT
Manifest Destiny – An overview of the philosophical American mandate to head West.
Cannibal (2006) – a German film based on the true story of Armin Meiwes, who ate a man he met online.
“You Are Who You Eat” – Bitch Flicks’ essay on Ravenous, with a discussion on how it handles “manpain.”
F...
2019-02-2600 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 69: The Fack Lives!: 2018 Year in Review
Andrea and Alex return for their annual year in review episode. From their favourite films of 2018 to FAQs and bloopers, few stones are left unturned… and those are probably haunted anyway.
EXTRA CREDIT
Alex’s Favourite Films of 2018:
Suspiria
Pyewacket
Annihilation
Assassination Nation
Cam
Andrea’s Favourite Films of 2018:
Suspiria
Hereditary
Assassination Nation
Tigers are Not Afraid
Summer of ’84
Alex’s Horror-Adjacent Film Faves:
Border
Sorry to Bother You
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Books mentions:
Be sure to check out the Faculty of Horror Reading List!
Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horr...
2019-01-2800 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 68. House Proud: Mother! (2017)Andrea and Alex break down the foundational elements of Darren Aronofsky’s divisive mother! From authorship to ecofeminism to sink instillation, few stones are left unturned or unexamined.
REQUIRED READING
mother! Dir. Darren Aronofsky, 2017.
EXTRA CREDIT
What is Ecofeminism? An overview of the term that rose to prominence in the 1970s.
The Death of the Author by Roland Barthes. Barthes’ influential piece on the declining importance of God-like authorship.
The Directors Cut Podcast, episode 90. Aronofsky interviewed by William Friedkin about mother!
IndieWire Filmmaker Toolkit podcast, episode 47. Aronofsky on the process and ide...
2018-12-2400 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 67. Where is my mind: The Stepford Wives (1975) and Get Out (2017)
This month, Andrea and Alex tackle two films whose hearts lie in the darkest, most secret parts of suburban utopia. In Bryan Forbes’ The Stepford Wives and Jordan Peele’s Get Out, we follow protagonists who are socialized to make room for the privileged and examine what happens when they strike back.
REQUIRED READING
The Stepford Wives. Dir Bryan Forbes, 1975.
Get Out. Dir Jordan Peele, 2017.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. The second-wave feminism manifesto that examines “the problem that has no name.”
The 21st century cult of domesticity. As relevant today as ever.
2018-11-282h 04Faculty of HorrorEpisode 66. Personal Hell: The House of the Devil (2009)
Join Andrea and Alex live at Salem Horror Fest! In this episode they tackle Ti West’s The House of the Devil and it’s reliance on the 1980s Satanic Panic movement. From modern technology to notions of the real and unreal, how much of the devil is in the details?
REQUIRED READING
The House of the Devil. Dir. Ti West, 2009.
EXTRA CREDIT
The history of Satanic Panic in the US — and why it’s not over yet Vox’s piece on the enduring impact of the Satanic Panic in the US.
Satanic Panic: Pop-Cu...
2018-11-031h 06Faculty of HorrorEpisode 65. Smells Like Teen Spirit: The Faculty (1998)
When it’s up to the misfits of Harrington High to stop the parasite-infected faculty from taking over the world, mayhem ensues. Alex and Andrea cut through the muck with a discussion on The Faculty‘s position in the ’90s teen horror cycle, the sociology of high school, and what happens when marketing partnership go awry.
REQUIRED READING
The Faculty. Dir. Robert Rodriguez, 1998.
EXTRA CREDIT
Class of 2018 t-shirts. Limited edition Faculty of Horror t-shirts are only available for a short time! Order yours today.
Salem Horror Fest. We’ll be back October 12-14! Get your tic...
2018-09-2600 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 63. Play Dead: Funny Games (1997)
What constitutes a film? What constitutes a podcast episode description? Andrea and Alex ask these questions (okay, maybe not that last one) and more in this month’s episode. By plundering the depths of filmic conventions, audience expectations and interpersonal contracts, Michael Haneke’s Funny Games asks the hard questions for which there are many answers.
REQUIRED READING
Funny Games. Dir. Michael Haneke, 1997.
EXTRA CREDIT
Class of 2018 t-shirts. Limited edition Faculty of Horror t-shirts are available until September from Twisted Ts through the end of September! Order yours today.
Salem Horror Fest...
2018-06-1900 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 62. Surveilled: Peeping Tom (1960) and Psycho (1960)
In this episode, Alex and Andrea look through an illicit peephole into the world of the mad and macabre. Both Peeping Tom and Psycho caused sensations when they were released in the same year, causing Western audiences to question the nature of evil, our proximity to one another and how many women we can watch die on screen.
REQUIRED READING
Peeping Tom. Dir. Michael Powell, 1960.
Psycho. Dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1960.
EXTRA CREDIT
Class of 2018 T-shirts – Get ’em while their hot!
Salem Horror Fest – We’ll be back October 12-14! Get your tickets now.
Visual Pleasure in...
2018-05-231h 26Faculty of HorrorEpisode 61. Stardust: Event Horizon (1997) and Sunshine (2007)
Andrea and Alex reach for the heavens and find the furthest reaches of hell with two films about space exploration and the darkness therein. Event Horizon and Sunshine explore the different reasons humankind would dare try to conquer space and the horrors that might await us there.
REQUIRED READING
Event Horizon. Dir Paul W.S. Anderson, 1997.
Sunshine. Dir Danny Boyle, 2007.
EXTRA CREDIT
Class of 2018 t-shirts! Available until September 2018 – get ’em at Twisted Ts!
Death Count: All of the Deaths in the Friday the 13th Film Series, Illustrated by Stacie Ponder.
The Makin...
2018-04-2700 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 60. Season of the Witch: Witches in Film Part 3, The Witch (2015) and The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
The past few years have seen the figure of the witch become a cultural touchstone for progressives and conservatives alike. From the resurgence of astrology, tarot, and natural healing methods to feminist rallying cry, the witch has never been more inclusive or divisive. Through analysis of two recent films, Andrea and Alex examine the witch’s new meaning in contemporary Western society, and why she remains a symbol of subversive feminism.
REQUIRED READING
The VVitch: A New England Folktale. Dir. Robert Eggers, 2015.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe. Dir. André Øvredal, 2016.
EXTRA CREDIT
Yes...
2018-03-2600 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 59. In Plain Sight: The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s terrifying cult classic stands the test of time in many regards – from the practical effects, to the performances to the storytelling, there’s little about the film that doesn’t work. Andrea and Alex tackle the film and its stances on leadership, paranoia, the notion of discovery, and more over a bottle of Jim Beam.
REQUIRED READING
The Thing. Dir. John Carpenter, 1982.
EXTRA CREDIT
Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present by Robin R. Means Coleman. An in-depth look at Black culture an...
2018-02-2600 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 57. Hard Bodies: American Psycho (2000)
In our first-ever live episode recorded at Salem Horror Fest in Salem, Massachusetts, Andrea and Alex delve into the dark and depraved world of Patrick Bateman and Bret Easton Ellis to discover what is real and what can be bought with a platinum American Express credit card. From the rise of the yuppie to contemporary parallels, American Psycho is a gift that keeps on giving and never goes out of style.
REQUIRED READING
American Psycho. Dir. Mary Harron, 2000.
EXTRA CREDIT
Salem Horror Fest! Thank you for having us!
American Psy...
2017-12-2200 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 56. Come As You Are: Let the Right One In (2008)
Winter is upon us again and what better way to embrace the cold than an exploration of Tomas Alfredson’s beloved contemporary genre classic, Let the Right One In? Alex and Andrea discuss the ties that bind and why blood is thicker than knitwear.
REQUIRED READING
Let the Right One In. Dir. Tomas Alfredson, 2008.
EXTRA CREDIT
Let the Right One In – The AV Club’s exploration of the book to film to remake journey of Eli and Oskar.
The National Theatre of Scotland – The trailer for their production of Let the Right O...
2017-12-2000 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 55. Strange and Unusual: Beetlejuice (1988)
Ghosts, possession, autonomous sculptures and that’s just scratching the surface of Tim Burton’s genre-bending cult classic, Beetlejuice. In this episode, Andrea and Alex manage to avoid saying his name three times while diving into the aesthetics, capitalist virtues and bureaucracy of the afterlife that surrounds everyone’s favourite bio-exorcist.
REQUIRED READING
Beetlejuice. Dir. Tim Burton, 1988.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Imagination of Tim Burton – An overview of Burton’s career through an aesthetic lens.
Michael Keaton on Creating Beetlejuice – The ghost with the most talks transformation.
Michael Keaton Beetlejuice Intro...
2017-11-2800 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 54. Undead Walking: Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985)Alex and Andrea go back to the zombie’s origins with George A. Romero’s original Dead trilogy. From their social roots in Haiti to their ties to the New Hollywood movement, these films make delicious brain food.
REQUIRED READING
Night of the Living Dead. Dir. George A. Romero, 1968.
Dawn of the Dead. Dir. George A. Romero, 1978.
Day of the Dead. Dir. George A. Romero, 1985.
EXTRA CREDIT
When There’s No More Room in Hell: The Sociology of the Living Dead. Andrea’s book on Romero’s early Dead films.
Passage of Darkness: the Ethnobio...
2017-10-311h 41Faculty of HorrorEpisode 53. Boxed In: Cube (1997)
Andrea and Alex tackle the mysterious and ever changing narrative landscape of Vincenzo Natali’s Canadian cult film, Cube (1997). From workers rights to torture porn to prime numbers, they try to solve it all before they succumb to the film’s traps and trappings.
Tickets for our first-ever live show in Salem, MA are available now: buy them here!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on all our announcements.
REQUIRED READING
Cube. Dir. Vincenzo Natali, 1997.
EXTRA CREDIT
Vincenzo Natali interview. Condu...
2017-09-2557 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 52. The Dark Side of Oz: Wolf Creek (2005) and The Loved Ones (2009)
Andrea and Alex head to a land down under, exploring a landscape which seems familiar but can change drastically when you head down the wrong back country road. From familial ties to an unforgiving Outback, Australia can provide a terrifying backdrop for the darkest of human psyches.
Tickets for our first-ever live show in Salem, MA are available now: buy them here!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on all our announcements.
REQUIRED READING
Wolf Creek. Dir. Greg McLean, 2005.
The Loved O...
2017-07-3100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 51. Mark of the Beast: American Werewolf in London (1981) and Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
Andrea and Alex deep dive into humanity’s literal fear of wolves, metaphorical fear of the beast within and the differences between British and French werewolves. Hint: it’s not just the accent.
Tickets for our first-ever live show in Salem, MA are available now: buy them here!
Don’t forget to enter our contest to win an autographed copy of Rue Morgue Library’s Women With Guts!
REQUIRED READING
An American Werewolf in London. Dir John Landis, 1981.
Brotherhood of the Wolf. Dir Christophe Gans, 2001.
EXTRA CREDIT
Le...
2017-06-271h 26Faculty of HorrorEpisode 50. Man Seeking Woman: Audition (1999)
Takashi Miike created one of the most infamous, beloved and decisive films when he made Audition: a story of people looking for love in all the wrong places that has influenced a generation of filmmakers and terrified audiences all over the world. Andrea and Alex take a deep dive into the international and seemingly universal fears of love, intimacy and what it means to be a “good girl.”
REQUIRED READING
Audition. Dir. Takashi Miike, 1999.
EXTRA CREDIT
Holding Back Half the Nation – The Economist’s examination of Japanese women in the work place.
2017-05-2900 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 49. Achievement Unlocked: Resident Evil (2002) and Silent Hill (2006)
Andrea and Alex combine their powers and enter all the cheat codes to analyze two of the most iconic survival horror games that were re-imagined as movies. With a look at how narratives transition across mediums and the rise in popularity of video game and nerd culture, their two-player co-op campaign attempts to unlock the mysteries of both films.
REQUIRED READING
Resident Evil. Dir. Paul W.S. Anderson, 2002.
Silent Hill. Dir. Christophe Gans, 2006.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Town That Was – A documentary on the history and lineage of the town of Centralia, Pennsylv...
2017-04-1900 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 48. Crime and Punishment: Rape and Revenge in I Spit On Your Grave (1978) and Elle (2016)The discussion of rape and sexual violence has never been in our cultural conversation as much as it is now. In this episode, Andrea and Alex look at an exploitation classic and a contemporary award-winner to parse out how rape is depicted and how revenge is achieved, if at all.
REQUIRED READING
I Spit On Your Grave. Dir. Meir Zarchi, 1978.
Elle. Dir. Paul Verhoeven, 2016.
EXTRA CREDIT
Support: Anti-Violence Centres in Canada, Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network hotline: 1-800-656-4673.
Roger Ebert’s contentious review of I Spit On Your Grav...
2017-03-2000 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 47. Caved In: The Descent (2005)
Andrea and Alex take a deep dive into Neil Marshall’s 2005 contemporary horror classic, examining the intersections of intimacy, adventure, trust and truth. Who will survive, what will be left of them and which ending will they go with?
REQUIRED READING
The Descent. Dir. Neil Marshall, 2005.
EXTRA CREDIT
Cave Ecosystems: Bones and Baskets – A concise exploration of caves and humanities on going use of them.
Ruthless Reviews – The Descent. A oppositional spin on the film’s depiction of women.
Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema by Laura Mulvey – a...
2017-02-2100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 46. Don’t You Forget About Me: 2016 Year in ReviewWhat were our favourite movies of 2016? What are your FAQs? And most importantly – is Alex or Andrea the better friend??
EXTRA CREDIT
In Praise of Paul Feig’s Beautiful Male Idiot – Sam Adams article on Paul Feig’s cinematic trope.
Emily Shoichet, Tattoo Artist – Follow the amazing artist and friend of the Faculty through her social channels listed on her website.
Marxism and Literature by Raymond Williams. Andrea erroneously called it “Marxism and Culture” in the episode, but here’s a nice synopsis.
Reel to Real: Race, Sex and Class at the Movies – bell hooks’ classic...
2017-01-1800 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 45. Monsters Ball: Gremlins (1984)
‘Tis the season to be scary! Andrea and Alex unpack all the rules that come with Gizmo and the Mogwai and what they mean to small-town America at Christmastime. Don’t get your values wet or feed them after midnight!
REQUIRED READING
Gremlins. Dir. Joe Dante, 1984.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Dir Joe Dante, 1990.
EXTRA CREDIT
Orientalism by Edward Said. A book that has only gotten more relevant since its publication 30 years ago.
Key & Peele’s hilarious full sketch on the writing process for Gremlins 2.
The...
2016-12-231h 02Faculty of HorrorEpisode 44. If I Could Turn Back Time: The Night of the Hunter (1955) and The Innocents (1961)
Andrea and Alex examine two cult classic films which explore the notions of time, childhood and misplaced nostalgia. Both films explore history’s dark secrets and the frailty of humanity but do either of them offer a truly happy ending?
REQUIRED READING
The Night of the Hunter. Dir. Charles Laughton, 1955.
The Innocents. Dir. Jack Clayton, 1961.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Great Depression – a history and overview.
Freddie Francis on The Innocents – The film’s cinematographer reflects on his work.
The Batcave’s 1,000 Subscriber Announcement – Got a question? Ask us! And don’t forget to subscri...
2016-11-291h 18Faculty of HorrorEpisode 43. Compendium of Fear: Creepshow (1982) and Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
The possibilities are endless when it comes to a good scare. The horror anthology is a rarity in the genre but when executed successfully they are beloved. Andrea and Alex do a deep dive into two infamous cult classics which deal in a variety of stories taking place around everyone’s favourite holiday.
REQUIRED READING
Creepshow. Dir George A Romero, 1982.
Trick ‘r Treat. Dir Michael Dougherty, 2007.
EXTRA CREDIT
Trick ‘r Treat: Season’s Greetings – The short that started it all.
History of Halloween. An extensive overview on how the holiday came to be.
...
2016-10-2100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 42. French Kiss: Calvaire (2004) and Martyrs (2008)Diving into the depths of France and Belgium, Alex and Andrea examine the politics and borders of New French Extremity. Confronting the complex historical narrative that France has created for itself, all is not as it appears as these films bring the repressed to light.
REQUIRED READING
Calvaire. Dir Fabrice Du Welz, 2004.
Martyrs. Dir Pascal Laugier, 2008.
EXTRA CREDIT
Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National Identity – Alex’s book on things French, filmic and extreme.
Saint Joan of Arc’s Trials – a fascinating morbid legal procedural.
Flash sale – Get your limited...
2016-09-2100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 41. Ghost Girls: Ghostbusters (2016)
After some spectacular “pre-lash” (preemptive backlash) from the online community, Paul Feig’s all-women Ghostbusters has finally hit the screens. Alex and Andrea take a break from their summer sabbaticals to reflect on their love of the original films, what this reboot means to them in terms of representation and why safety lights are for dudes.
REQUIRED READING
Ghostbusters. Dir. Paul Feig, 2016.
Ghostbusters. Dir. Ivan Reitman, 1984.
Ghostbusters II. Dir. Ivan Reitman, 1989.
EXTRA CREDIT
Reminders That Representation Really Is Important – A handy, dandy visual guide to the argument for representation.
Was ‘Ghostbusters‘ Too Expensive to Lau...
2016-08-1455 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 40. ReVamp: Fright Night (1985) and The Lost Boys (1987)
In the 1980s, vampires left their castles and European hideaways for American suburbs and small towns. In this episode, Andrea and Alex examine what happens when the monster you fear is part of your community and discuss what is to be done when they want to borrow more than just sugar….
REQUIRED READING
Fright Night. Dir. Tom Holland, 1985.
The Lost Boys. Dir. Joel Schumacher, 1987.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Growth of the Suburbs. An overview of the suburban expansion following WWII.
The Films of the Eighties: A Social History by William J. Palme...
2016-07-2800 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 39. Alienation, Part 2: Alien 3 (1992) and Alien: Resurrection (1997)
The ’90s are alive in space with the sequels which have been derided and praised in equal measure. Drawing from the complex production histories of both movies, Andrea and Alex seek to understand the competing visions of the filmmakers and themes that underpin them.
REQUIRED READING
Alien 3. Dir David Fincher, 1992.
Alien: Resurrection. Dir Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1997.
EXTRA CREDIT
Intertextuality: Hollywood’s New Currency – A video examination of Hollywood’s use of nostalgia as a tool of manipulation.
The Origins of Farce – A history of the farce theatrical movement and F...
2016-06-2200 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 38. Alienation, Part 1: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986)
Catch Jonesie the cat and keep the work loader handy because Alex and Andrea are on an express elevator to LV-426 discussing feminism, mothering, special effects and the enduring influence of classic science fiction in the Alien franchise. Stay tuned for Part 2 in June!
REQUIRED READING
Alien. Dir Ridley Scott, 1979.
Aliens. Dir James Cameron, 1986.
EXTRA CREDIT
Strange Shapes – a blog dedicated to everything Alien.
Reel Terror: The Scary, Bloody, Gory, Hundred-Year History of Classic Horror Films by David Konow.
H.R. Giger – Giger’s Necrono...
2016-05-111h 25Faculty of HorrorEpisode 37. Drawn Together: The Crow (1994) and 30 Days of Night (2007)
Hollywood is currently enamored with the comic book superheroes who have dominated the film landscape for the last several years. In this episode, Andrea and Alex go back to the earlier origins of graphic novel adaptations examining the cult followings earned by horror films based on beloved source materials (as selected by you, our listeners).
REQUIRED READING
The Crow. Dir Alex Proyas, 1994.
30 Days of Night. Dir David Slade, 2007.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Crow, written and illustrated by James O’Barr.
30 Days of Night – written by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith.
Super...
2016-04-1400 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 36. Mommy Dearest: The Babadook (2014) and Goodnight Mommy (2014)Everyone’s got mother issues, right? This episode examines the perceived and manifested strains on maternal instinct once malevolent forces enter the picture. Alex and Andrea investigate where these forces come from and what they truly want.
REQUIRED READING
The Babadook. Dir Jennifer Kent, 2014.
Goodnight Mommy. Dirs Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, 2014.
EXTRA CREDIT
Monster. Jennifer Kent’s short film on which The Babadook was based.
The Mommy Trap: Four recent horror movies by women explore the most troubling aspects of motherhood.
The Monstrous Feminine: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis by Barbara Creed.
Tal...
2016-03-1700 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 35. Body Rippers: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)
Bust out your corsets and button up your pinafores because we’re going back to the 19th century… by way of the 1990s. In this episode, Alex and Andrea examine conflicting authorial intentions, monsters and their makers and what happens when love won’t stay dead.
REQUIRED READING
Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Dir Francis Ford Coppola, 1992.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Dir Kenneth Branagh, 1994.
EXTRA CREDIT
Dracula Making-Of Documentary (Parts 1, 2 and 3) – Everything you could want to know (and more) about the making of Dracula.
De Niro Meets Frankenstein – Kenneth Branagh...
2016-02-2300 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 34. The Assessment III: Season of the Faculty
Andrea and Alex dive back into the virtual mailbag to reassess everything covered in 2015, from the highs to the lows and everything in between.
EXTRA CREDIT
Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National Identity. Alex’s book is now available for pre-order!
The Neo-Gothic Horror of James Wan. Alex’s piece on horror impresario James Wan.
Split Lip. Sam Costello’s anthology of short horror comics – we recommend!
The Canadian Horror Film: Terror of the Soul. Many great essays on Canuck horror, including Andrea’s chapter on Po...
2016-01-2000 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 33. All Work and No Play: Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980)
Alex and Andrea take a tour of the Overlook Hotel examining Stanley Kubrick’s seminal film, the spectre of Stephen King’s book and the complexities of family life under the American dream.
REQUIRED READING
The Shining. Dir Stanley Kubrick, 1980
EXTRA CREDIT
Kubrick Goes Gothic. A preview piece from American Film anticipating the release and impact of The Shining.
The Overlook Hotel. This comprehensive Tumblr has all your Shining-related needs covered.
The Making of The Shining. Vivian Kubrick’s candid behind-the-scenes documentary should really be required reading!
Studie...
2015-12-2100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 32. I Want Your Sex: David Cronenberg’s Shivers (1975)
Alex and Andrea are joined by Paul “Canuxploitation” Corupe to deconstruct the architecture and isolation of David Cronenberg’s first feature, SHIVERS, within the context of the Canadian film industry. So grab your favourite parasite, check on your neighbours and listen in.
To enter the HORRORWOOD NORTH giveaway – use #Horrorwood and tag us (@FacultyofHorror) with your favourite Canadian horror film (contest open internationally).
To enter the SATANIC PANIC giveaway – use #SatanicPanic and tag us (@FacultyofHorror) with your favourite Satanic film (contest open internationally).
REQUIRED READING
Shivers. Dir David Cronenberg, 1975.
EXTRA CREDIT
They Came...
2015-11-1900 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 31. The Power of Christ Compels You: The Exorcist (1973)
Keep a crucifix close and put some pea soup on the stove because Alex and Andrea are confronting their demons to talk about The Exorcist and why the scariest things are sometimes the most personal.
REQUIRED READING
The Exorcist. Dir William Friedkin, 1973.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty.
The 1949 Washington Post piece on an exorcism in Mt. Rainier. The news article that inspired Blatty to write the best-selling novel.
History Today article on The Exorcist. Nick Cull explores how the smash-hit horror film exploited all the issues that most...
2015-10-281h 00Faculty of HorrorEpisode 30. Born to Run: Battle Royale (2000)
Andrea and Alex grab their randomly assigned weapons and try to survive the danger zones of Kinji Fukasaku’s turn of the millennium classic while discussing the film’s emphasis on generational divides and the construction of adolescence.
REQUIRED READING
Battle Royale. Dir Kinji Fukasaku, 2000.
EXTRA CREDIT
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami.
The Japanese High School: Silence and Resistance – A thorough overview of the Japanese high school system and its cultural impact.
You Must Remember This Podcast – Karina Longworth’s episodes on Charlie Manson’s Hollywood are great. Highly recommended l...
2015-09-1700 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 29. Jesus Wept: Hellraiser (1987) and Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Andrea and Alex open a puzzlebox to unpack the history, mythology and impact of Clive Barker’s iconic series.
REQUIRED READING
Hellraiser. Dir Clive Barker, 1987.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Dir Tony Randel. 1988.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Hellbound Heart – Clive Barker’s novella that spawned the franchise.
“Fire, Brimstone and PVC: Clive Barker’s Cenobites as Agents of Hell” – Andrea’s chapter in The Undead and Theology looks at how the Hellraiser series suggests a modernized depiction of hell, morality and punishment.
The Hellraiser Podcast – They’ll tear your ears apart!
COURSE NOTES...
2015-07-2100 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 28. Horrorwood: The Haunting (1999) and World War Z (2013)
Blockbusters are as much a part of summer as sunburns and mosquitoes. In this episode, Andrea and Alex explore what it means when the billion dollar industry that is Hollywood casts its evil eye on the horror genre during their most profitable time of the year.
REQUIRED READING
The Haunting. Dir Jan De Bont. 1999.
World War Z. Dir Marc Forster, 2013.
EXTRA CREDIT
Brad’s War. Vanity Fair’s in-depth look at the plagued production of World War Z.
Conclusion to Culture and Society by Raymond Williams. The conc...
2015-06-1800 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 26. Mother Lover: Matriarchy in The Wicker Man (1973 & 2006) and Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
Andrea and Alex talk about sisters doing it for themselves as women run communities, islands and families with sinister intentions. Are they better, worse or the same as communities run by men? Have they developed an immunity to bee stings and Bloody Mary?
REQUIRED READING
The Wicker Man. Dir Robin Hardy. 1973
The Wicker Man. Dir Neil LaBute. 2006
Paranormal Activity 3. Dir Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman. 2011
EXTRA CREDIT
The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory. The first chapter from Cynthia Eller’s book which discusses the second wave feminism fascination with a...
2015-04-2700 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 25. I Thought There’d Be Stars: The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Andrea and Alex return to the outskirts of civilization with Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods. Looking at archetypes, genre tropes and the limits of humanity, the Faculty ponders the fate of horror and if it should survive.
REQUIRED READING
The Cabin in the Woods. Dir Drew Goddard. 2012.
EXTRA CREDIT
The Cabin in the Woods: The Official Visual Companion by Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon.
Literature’s Greatest Fools. A look at famous fools from across literature.
The Stanford Prison Expe...
2015-03-2700 minFaculty of HorrorEpisode 1. Halloween (1978) Vs Black Christmas (1974)
Join horror journalists and occasional academics Andrea Subissati and Alexandra West as they discuss the seminal Canadian proto-slasher Black Christmas, as well as John Carpenter‘s immortal classic Halloween.
REQUIRED READING
Black Christmas. Dir. Bob Clark. 1974. [DVD] [Blu-Ray]
Halloween. Dir. John Carpenter. 1978. [DVD] [Blu-Ray]
LISTEN
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2012-12-3100 min