Episodes

Shark flicks have become a dime a dozen lately, thanks to stock footage and CGI. But a shark flick where the fish are less dangerous than the human antagonist? Now that’s unique! Tune in to hear us break down “Dangerous Animals” — from the standout performances of Jai Courtney and Hassie Harrison, to how this film epitomized the term “cat & mouse thriller,” and that one scene that had us squirming in our seats. 👍

Before Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving,” one of the only slasher films that took place on this holiday was 1987’s “Blood Rage” starring Mark Soper as twin brothers, Terry and Todd. Tune in to hear all about how he approached playing these two characters, what it was like working with Louise Lasser (who played the very eccentric mother), whether his iconic line, “It’s not cranberry sauce!” was scripted or improvised, and his interpretation of the film’s wild ending.

Netflix has taken us back to Shadyside, with a standalone Fear Street film about a killer offing all the prom queen candidates in 1988. Tune in as we’re joined by the creator of Fear Street Diaries on Instagram, Hiko Mitsuzuka, to break down “Fear Street: Prom Queen” — from the things that worked, to the things that didn’t, and that end reveal… after reveal… after reveal.

It’s been 11 years since the last “Final Destination” movie, which means Death took a lengthy break from wreaking havoc on people in the most sadistic of ways. But a new installment has arrived, and it’s the family edition! Tune in to hear us break down “Final Destination: Bloodlines” — from that epic opening disaster, to the new layer it added to this existing formula, and all the misdirects that kept us on our toes.

There’s just something about a killer clown that makes it the perfect horror movie villain. Now add in a midwestern setting, a chainsaw, and a major generational divide and you’ve got “Clown in a Cornfield.” Tune in to hear us break down all those crazy kills, that mid-film twist, and whether we’d be down to clown with more Frendo films.

Only one day after Steamboat Willie entered the public domain last year, it was announced that a horror film based on this iconic whistling mouse was in development. Tune in as we chat with Steven LaMorte (Director/Co-Writer), Amy Schumacher (Producer/Star), and Allison Pittel (Star) all about making “Screamboat,” how they turned David Howard Thornton into a mouse-sized murderer, and the NSFW kill scene that had Matt squealing like a little girl.“Screamboat” is currently available to rent on V...

If you’re looking for a gamer’s perspective on how true “Until Dawn” was to its source material, well… you won’t find it here. But you will find some colorful commentary on its merits as a horror film! Tune in to hear us break down all the subgenres it dabbled in, the underlying theme we got from it, and the explosive deaths that made us giddy.

As the strong and resourceful Tara, Jenna Kanell dominated the first half of the original “Terrifier,” going toe to toe with Art the Clown. Tune in to hear all about making the film that launched this franchise, how they were able to tap into that intense level of fear, their experiences on other genre films like “The Bye Bye Man,” “Renfield,” “Faceless After Dark,” and “The Buildout,” and the upcoming sci-fi flick they’re writing, directing, AND starring in — “De Novo.”

Christopher Landon (Director of “Happy Death Day” & “Freaky”) is back with a new Hitchcockian thriller, and the co-hosts of Queer Cinema Catchup, Joe & Allison, dropped in to review it with us. Tune in to hear us break down “Drop” — from who we initially thought was behind those sinister messages, to what each of us would do in that situation, and of course, that jaw-dropping finale! 🥁

The story behind the murdering spree of Ed Kemper, nicknamed the “Co-ed Killer” in the 1970s, is the subject of a new true crime thriller co-written and directed by Chad Ferrin. Tune in to hear all about the making of “Ed Kemper” and how Chad goes about adapting true crime for the screen, his very inspiring attitude toward filmmaking, and a sneak peek at his next two films based on serial killers, Dorothea Puente and the Night Stalker (Richard Ramirez).WARNING: Depictions of real-life sexual v...

It’s our 250th episode! 🥂 And to celebrate this milestone, we’re changing things up a bit and reviewing a horror classic that happens to be celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. Tune in to hear us break down Alfred HItchcock’s “Psycho” (1960) — from all the brilliant setups that don’t get as much attention, to that iconic shower scene, and the character we love who often gets overlooked — Marion’s persistent sister, Lila Crane.

Over the last few decades, Julie Benz has been a part of so many of the TV series and films that have impacted the horror genre as well as pop culture. Tune in to hear all about evolving Vampire Girl #1 into Darla on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” & “Angel” and whether she’d return for the upcoming revival series, her thoughts on the legacy of “Jawbreaker,” the real story behind the decision to kill off her beloved character, Rita, on “Dexter,” and her experience being one of the only survivors of J...

Lisa Kudrow, Edie Falco, and Parker Posey all in the same horror comedy? Yes, yes, and hell yes! Tune in to hear us break down “The Parenting” (now streaming on Max) — from all the crude jokes that Matt (obviously) loved, to whether there was enough balance between the funny and the scary, and how a text message with the 🤷🏻‍♀️ emoji had us dying.

Former Happy Horror Time guest, Sean Nichols Lynch, is back to discuss his new found footage horror film that involves madness, mayhem, and mummification! And this time he’s joined by his two Co-Writers, Chad Westbrook Hinds and John Laird, who also happen to be the stars of the film. Tune in to hear all about making “The Ceremony is About to Begin,” where the idea came from and what inspired the core characters, and stay for our spirited discussion on found footage and cult-inspired horror film...

As perky camp counselor Annie, Robbi Morgan made history as the first present-day victim of Mrs. Voorhees… although she never even made it to Camp Crystal Lake to cook for all those kids, err children! 🐐 Tune in to hear all about playing this iconic role in the original “Friday the 13th,” how she filmed her death scene and who she was actually interacting with, and the stunt she did on her own due to her acrobatic skills.

Osgood Perkins is back with another horror film, this time based on Stephen King’s short story from the ‘80s and with a much different tone than last year’s “Longlegs.” Tune in to hear us break down “The Monkey” — from all those insane deaths, to all that demented humor, and how Corey Cunningham from “Halloween Ends” factored into it all.

Kim Myers turned the tables on both Freddy Krueger AND the typical gender roles of ‘80s horror when she rescued her boyfriend at the end of “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.” Tune in to hear all about making the first sequel in this long-running franchise, her thoughts on the film’s queer subtext and Mark Patton’s documentary, and that time Patrick Swayze danced with her on the set of “Letters from a Killer.”

Have you ever been watching a romantic comedy and thought to yourself – you know what this film needs? A masked killer! That’s the thinking behind “Heart Eyes,” which takes the typical rom-com formula and adds a body count. Tune in to hear us break down all the brutal kills, all the laugh-out-loud moments, and whether this horror comedy was love at first fright or left us broken-hearted.

Happy Horror Time has a new team member! And to formally introduce our new companion to the world, we invited her to discuss “Companion” with us. Tune in as we break down this sci-fi thriller with our new Co-Producer, Paris Mantz — from how it stands out from other robot/AI gone rogue films, to its relevance in today’s world, and how Sophie Thatcher is becoming the new Jenna Ortega.

As Editor-in-Chief of Dread Central & Co-Host of the Scarred for Life podcast, Mary Beth McAndrews had already made a name for herself in horror before directing her first film — the new indie revenge thriller, “Bystanders” (currently available on VOD). Tune in to hear why this script had such personal meaning for her, how she approached handling both the sensitive material and the violence, and what’s next for her in horror.

As one of the Universal Monsters, the Wolf Man has been portrayed in multiple films over the last 80 years. But none have starred the incredible Julia Garner! 💅 Tune in to hear us break down "Wolf Man" — from its pacing and visuals, to what we wished hadn’t been spoiled in trailers, and whether it reached the bar set by Director Leigh Whannell’s first Universal Monster flick, “The Invisible Man” (2020).You can also WATCH this episode (yep, we're now doing video) on our Happy Horror Time YouTub...

Horror fans learned what “ándale” meant after watching Brooke Bundy say it to her daughter, Kristen, as Elaine Parker in both “A Nightmare on Elm Street” 3 & 4. But, to be fair, they went over this in therapy! 😂 Tune in to hear all about appearing in these two Freddy sequels, what it was like working with both actresses who played Kristen, and hear more about “Catnip” — the 2025 horror movie Brooke is starring in with her daughter, Tiffany Helm.

As Violet, the punk rock teen with the streaked hair in “Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning,” Tiffany Helm literally dances her way to her demise. Tune in to hear all about making this “Jason-less” sequel, the original plan for Violet’s death and how she influenced the way it turned out, and Tiffany teases the upcoming horror movie she’s starring in with her real-life mother, Brooke Bundy.

The story of Dracula/Nosferatu is a tale as old as time, and its vampire villain has been interpreted in many different ways throughout 100+ years of existence. Tune in as we sink our teeth into 2024’s “Nosferatu” — from its dreary atmosphere and settings, to the varied performances of its cast, and most importantly, our thoughts on Count Orlok’s ‘70s pornstache.