Faculty of Horror

Episode 149. Bloodlust: The Last House on the Left (1972)

Wes Craven’s first feature continues to draw audiences and critics to it. By examining the production, reception, and impact of The Last House on the Left, Andrea and Alex will investigate the legacy of the rape-revenge subgenre and our evolving understanding of it.  *Apologies for the poor audio on this one, guys! We’ll catch that gremlin one day and we’ll skin him alive! Join our Patreon community!   REQUIRED READING The Last House on the Left. Dir. Wes Craven, 1972.  EXTRA CREDIT A Promising Young Woman and the End of the Girlboss Era. Ayesha A. Siddiqi’s in-depth analysis of the Emerald Fennell’s first feature.  Screams and Nightmares: The Films of Wes Craven. A thorough look at Craven’s oeuvre with insights and anecdotes from the man himself. Celluloid Crime of the Century – the full 2003 doc is on YouTube, featuring interviews with Craven, Cunningham, and select castmembers.   LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”

Episode 148. In Heaven: Eraserhead (1977)

This month, we’ve summoned friend of the show (and verified Lynch stan) Stacie Ponder to join us as we wander aimlessly into the surrealist nightmare of David Lynch’s mind. Through an exploration of his first film Eraserhead, we’ll investigate one of cinema’s most enigmatic creatives and his myths of America.  Check out Stacie’s podcast: Final Girl After Dark!  Join our Patreon community!   REQUIRED READING Eraserhead. Dir. David Lynch, 1977.  EXTRA CREDIT Who Made That Built-In Eraser? An overview of an American partnership.   The Theatre of the Absurd Martin Esslin’s critical essay that defined an undefinable movement.  Premonition Following an Evil Deed (1995) on YouTube. A very unsettling 56-second film!   LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”

Episode 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.  Join our Patreon community!   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   LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”

Episode 146. Slayride: Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

Andrea and Alex interrogate the pearl clutching that went on during Silent Night, Deadly Night‘s initial theatrical run, what it means to cultivate festive cheer, and the importance of being nice and never naughty.  Class of 2025 Merch is now available! Thanks to Caleb Milatovic and Rachelle Walker for the incredible design!    Join us over on Patreon for more content!   REQUIRED READING Silent Night, Deadly Night. Dir. Charles Sellier Jr, 1984.   EXTRA CREDIT At the Movies: Silent Night, Deadly Night. Siskel and Ebert’s review.    A Once Controversial Release, “Silent Night, Deadly Night” Gains Another Chance to Terrorize. Film at Lincoln Center’s piece on the history and importance of Silent Night, Deadly Night.    Santa Claus: The Myth in America. A look at St. Nick’s bizarre (and frankly, kind of hilarious) origin story as a folk hero and a religious icon LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”

Episode 145. In Memoriam: The Others (2001)

Mind the fog and join Andrea and Alex as they explore the dark hallways of Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others. From geopolitics to religion and the weight of motherhood, not everything in the film is as it appears.  Class of 2025 Merch is now available! Thanks to Caleb Milatovic and Rachelle Walker for the incredible design!    REQUIRED READING The Others. Dir. Alejandro Amenábar, 2001.   EXTRA CREDIT “Nicole Kidman made a horror movie about Tom Cruise and Scientology.” A video exploration of Kidman’s performance under the watchful eye of Scientology. Taken from Life: The Unsettling Art of Death Photography. The history and science of capturing images of the dearly departed.The Birth of Purgatory by Jacques Le Goff. How Catholicism decided it needed a third state between heaven and hell. LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”