Horror Joy

Latest Episodes:

A Horror Apocalypse - Meta-Horror, Masks, and Cabin in the Woods Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

This episode of Horror Joy Brian and Jeff wander the dark hallways of meta-horror and ask whether we need a genre apocalypse to get beyond tired tropes of our favorite stories. Meta-horror shines a light on the structure of horror and how this leads to questions about both the audience of horror and the genre itself.

Join us as we attempt to step back and get a broader glimpse of the house of horror:

*We’ll take a quick nostalgic trip through The Haunted Mask, an early Goosebumps title

*We’ll analyze the connections between The Haunted Mask and Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay, including the use of masks, issues of identity, and intergenerational horror

*We’ll highlight the meta-horror aspects of Horror Movie and Drew Goddard’s 2011 movie Cabin in the Woods and question whether we need to hit a horror restart button.

Join us as we attempt to exorcise the ghosts of horror past and glimpse a potential future for the genre. Come for the horror. Stay for the Joy

Post Horror by David Church

The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stein

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Cabin in the Woods, directed by Drew Goddard

“Watchers in the Woods” By Kristopher Woofer (in Reading Whedon, edited by Rhonda Wilcox, Tanya Cochran, Cynthea Masson, and David Lavery)

Emmanuel Levinas

G.W.F. Hegel

Etymology of the word “wood”

Capitalism song by Celine Tshika

Parched shop in Providence, RI is run out of The Matchbox

Philosophy warning by Epic Rap Battles of History

Horror (Un)masked: Paul Tremblay – a conversation with the author on his bestselling new release Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

This episode of Horror Joy marks our first-ever interview with a horror creator! Join Brian and Jeff as they delve into the mind of acclaimed author, Paul Tremblay, to dissect his chilling new novel, "Horror Movie."

Prepare to be enthralled as we discuss:

* Paul's personal experiences with both the joys and terrors of the horror genre.

* The profound impact the horror community has had on Paul's writing journey and career.

* The role of meta-horror and ambiguity in Paul's fiction, uncovering what sets his work apart.

* The power of horror to illuminate both societal issues and the psychology of those who consume these narratives.

So grab your cursed scripts and settle into your cozy cocoon as we navigate the rich, complex, and entertaining world of Horror Movie. Come for the horror; stay for the joy!

Paul Tremblay

John Darnielle YouTube

Hitchcock on suspense

Husker Du – Something I Learned Today

Husker Dü – Don’t Want to Know if You are Lonely

Mummenschanz

Oh, God - Religious Horror Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

This episode of Horror Joy ventures into the unsettling realm of religious horror. Brian and Jeff explore the depths of this subgenre through a chilling double feature: A24's critically acclaimed 'Saint Maud' (2019) and the recently released Neon film, 'Immaculate' (2024).

Prepare to dissect some truly horrifying themes:

*We’llanalyze how both films explore the control exerted over the female body, through spectacle in 'Immaculate' and denial in 'Saint Maud'

*We’ll delve into the contrasting ways these films utilize both physical and supernatural elements to create dread

*We’ll explore the chilling impact of institutional control within a religious framework

*We’ll work to uncover the difficult intellectual and emotional joys found in both films

So, light a candle and prepare for a haunting exploration of faith, fear, and the films that blur the line between them.

St. Maud

Immaculate

Carolyn Dinshaw – Getting Medieval

S. Trimble – A Demon Girl’s Guide to Life

St. Teresa of Ávila

Lollards

Horror Joy – We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Pod

Arizona’s 1864 Abortion Law

Opus Dei

Julia Kristeva – Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection

Plato and Augustine on the body

William Blake

Rosemary’s Baby (Ira Levin)

Affective Piety

Jaws - We're Gonna Need a Bigger Pod Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

This week on Horror Joy, Brian and Jeff dive headfirst into the churning waters of Steven Spielberg's classic, Jaws. We'll explore what makes this film a titan of terror, from John Williams' unforgettable score to the lurking dread of a small island community. But Jaws isn't just about a giant shark. We'll also be dissecting the three major themes:

*An island paradise that becomes an isolated, exclusive community

*Performing masculinity and the environmental cost of unchecked ambition.

* The ecological nightmare of a displaced predator

So grab your floaties and prepare for a clumsy chase into the unknown. Come for the horror, stay for the joy.

Judith Butler - Gender as Performance

Jen Corrigan – Three Men on a Boat

Surveillance – Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault

Sigmund Freud – The Uncanny

Christopher Neff - The Jaws Effect

Nicole Neff – The Belly of the Beast: The Uncanny Shark

Episode 1 - What is Horror Joy? Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

*In this episode we introduce the idea of Horror Joy and discuss how we have found joy in horror as professors.

*We take a trip down childhood chills with a discussion of our shared love for Goosebumps, Stephen King, and how nostalgia and joy mix.

*Jeff recounts his introduction to horror through old black and white movies and his recent viewing of Willow Creek, while Brian describes a late blooming interest in horror movies and his love for It Follows.

*The episode finishes with a brief discussion of The Blair Witch Project, exploring how our geographical backgrounds shape our reactions to horror.

*If you want to jump into our analysis, head over to episode 2 where we discuss Jaws. Otherwise, come for the horror. Stay for the joy.

Willow Creek

It Follows

The Blair Witch Project

Donna Haraway: Staying with the Trouble

Trailer May 21, 2024

Show notes

Horror Joy is a podcast by two university professors who take a deep dive into the world of horror. Join us as we seek to find joy, even in horror.