Horror Joy

Latest Episodes:

Cult Horror - Hereditary and Midsommar Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Horror Joy, Jeff and Brian delve into cult representations in Ari Aster's popular horror films 'Hereditary' (2018) and 'Midsommar' (2019). They emphasize the intricate storytelling and thematic parallels between the two films, providing in-depth analysis on toxic masculinity, folklore, and community care as portrayed in Aster's works.

They discuss:

· The nature of cult horror

· Family dynamics

· The supposed safe space of the home

· The psychological exploration of grief and trauma within these narratives

· the unsettling allure of cults and how these films reflect broader societal issues.

· Toxic masculinity and horror

So, grab your favorite tunic and ceremonial candle, and make sure to listen for the faint click of a tongue. But don’t get left behind, lest you get sacrificed and left to the cycles of bloom and harvest for which we give thanks to our deity of reciprocity.

Cary Elza, "'Do You Feel Held?': Gender, Community, and Affective Design in Midsommar."

Aviva Briefel. "The Terror of Very Small Worlds: Hereditary and the Miniature Scales of Horror."

Stacey Anh Baran. "‘Once upon a Midsommar…’: Nature, nationalism and the Swedish folkloresque."

Robert Pogue Harrison. The Dominion of the Dead.

M. Night Shyamalan. The Village. 2004.

Robin Hardy. The Wickerman. 1973.

03:06 Deep Dive into Hereditary

27:09 Introduction to Midsommar

52:44 Finding Joy in Horror Films

Faith Horror - Heretic and Universal Harvester Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Horror Joy, Brian Onishi and Jeff Stoyanoff unpack the discomforting narratives of John Darnielle's Universal Harvester and A24's Heretic, examining how faith fuels both profound peace and unsettling horror. We'll trace the emotional arcs of these characters, exploring the role of belief in their lives and in our own.

We’ll discuss:

· The role that expectation plays in what we are willing to believe and what we reject

· The impact narrative has on meaning, community, and discourse

· The horrors of manipulating someone’s beliefs for the sake of power and control

· The sweet sadness of family, loss, and time

· And the nostalgia for a time organized and documented by VHS tapes

So, light your favorite candle and join us as we dig deep into the world of faith and belief. But check the tapes before we go, lest you get lost in the labyrinth of iterations.

03:17 Heretic

35:55 Universal Harvester

57:30 Finding Joy in the Mundane

01:07:01 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Heretic

Universal Harvester – by John Darnielle

Rhetoric, Hermeneutics, and Translation in the Middle Ages by Rita Copeland

Horror Tropes and Human Sadness in Universal Harvester by Carmen Maria Machado

Horror and the Death of God by Simon Marsden, in Horror and Religion – New Literary Approaches to Theology, Race, and Sexuality

Dan Maclellan

Shock Induction by Chuck Palahniuk

Chekhov’s Gun

Hermeneutics

The Call of the Eco-Weird in Fiction, Film, and Games – edited by Brian Hisao Onishi and Nathan M. Bell

The Devil Made Me Do It - The Silence of the Lambs and Longlegs Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

This week on Horror Joy, Jeff and Brian wrestle with the dualities of fear in Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs and Osgood Perkins' Longlegs. They dissect the psychological and gender horrors lurking within The Silence of the Lambs, contrasting it with the mythological and satanic elements of Longlegs.

They examine the tangled webs of desire, identity, and rationalization, revealing:

· The transphobia in The Silence of the Lambs and how thoughts on gender have changed

· The rich material world of Jonathan Demme’s film

· The failed mythology of Longlegs and The connection to the satanic panic in its Devil-Made-Me-Do-It tale

· Whether Longlegs lives up to the comparisons to The Silence of the Lambs (it does not)

So, grab your badge and join us as we follow the cryptic trail of evasive mass murderers. I heard there will be a party at the end. Just avoid the fava beans and chianti and put the lotion in the basket.

Glorious Bodies by Colby Gordon

The Matter with Pantheism By Mary-Jane Rubenstein

Longlegs Exemplifies American Horror’s Inability to Speak to the Moment By Jade Bastien

https://www.vox.com/culture/22281548/silence-of-the-lambs-cultural-impact-legacy-feminist-transphobia

Queer Play: The Cultural Work of Crossdressing in Medieval Drama by Claire Sponsler and Robert Clark

Oz Perkins’ Longlegs as Folk Horror by Dawn Keetley

Filleting Gender and Sexuality in The Silence of the Lambs by Christina H. Hodel

07:26 Gender Dynamics and Transphobia in 'The Silence of the Lambs'

27:18 Psychological Horror and Class Elements

32:12 Transition to 'Long Legs'

34:45 Critique of 'Long Legs'

37:31 Analyzing Gender Performance in Longlegs

38:11 Critique of the Mythology in Longlegs

39:51 Comparing Longlegs to Other Horror Films

41:09 The Role of Nostalgia and Mythology

42:27 Exploring the Folk Horror Elements

47:46 Pan and the Satanic Panic

52:22 Final Thoughts and Joy in Horror

01:06:03 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Body Horror in The Substance and Olga Tokarczuk's The Empusium Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

This week on Horror Joy, Jeff and Brian delve into the unsettling world of body horror, examining how it reflects societal pressures and personal anxieties. They dissect Coralie Fargeat's 2024 film, The Substance, starring Demi Moore, a biting critique of female beauty standards and the male gaze. They also explore Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk's novel, The Empusium, a health resort horror story exposing the misogynistic views of the early 20th century and the body dysmorphia of its protagonist.

We discuss:

·The destructive nature of beauty standards on female bodies

·The predatory male gaze

·The horror of tuberculosis and terrible health politics in the United States

·The importance of catching our breath in troubling times

·The self-othering of gender dysmorphia

So, grab your favorite scalpel and join us for a more than skin deep conversation about aging bodies, failing lungs, and ephemeral mountain beings. Remember to keep breathing and try not to get chewed up along the way.

00:00 Introduction to Body Horror

01:31 Exploring 'The Substance'

04:52 Themes of Female Beauty and Aging

10:34 Critique of the Male Gaze

17:19 Cultural Commentary and Societal Critique

32:29 Transition to 'The Empusium'

33:51 Exploring Misogyny and Body Horror in the Novel

35:43 Voynich's Body Dysmorphia and Other Characters

42:08 The Role of Breath and Tuberculosis in the Story

45:00 Intersex Bodies and Historical Context

51:42 Philosophical Conversations and Gender Essentialism

01:00:28 Final Thoughts and Finding Joy in Art

Severance, Liminality, and Analog Horror (Mandela Catalog/The Backrooms) Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

This week on Horror Joy, Brian and Jeff traverse the eerie corridors of liminality in horror. They kick off with a deep dive into the Apple TV series Severance, exploring how its portrayal of work-life separation raises existential and psychological questions. Is it a thriller, or horror? Moving forward, they venture into the unsettling realm of analog horror, with a focus on YouTube creators like Kane Pixels and Alex Kister.

Join us as we travel deeper in the backrooms of liminal horror and the analog threat:

·We’ll discuss how liminality works in Gothic literature

·We’ll analyze what Severance tells us about the value of labor and the role that religious language plays in the trust/fear/disgust of corporate overlords

·We’ll question how authenticity is found in the gritty videos of analog horror and the terror of a found footage retelling of Biblical stories

·We’ll find joy in the mystery box of Severance and the labor of love of analog horror

From grainy VHS aesthetics to biblical retellings, they examine how these themes distort reality and evoke a primal fear of the unknown. Join them in exploring the blurred lines of identity, the nature of labor, and the unsettling nostalgia of analog media.

Severance

Killer tapes and Shattered Screens by Caetlin Benson-Allot

The Backrooms

The Mandela Catalog

Exploring Liminal Spaces in Gothic Literature: The Role of Transition and

Boundary in Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Works of Edgar Allan Poe by Mariyam Farzand

Arts of Wonder by Jeffrey L. Kosky

“What Is Analog Horror? The Subgenre of 'Skinamarink' Explained.” By Samuel Williamson. Collider. 7 Feb. 2023

The Ritual Process by Victor Turner

Walter Benjamin

Alienation in labor

Limbo

00:00-02:18 Hosts Introduction and Episode Overview

02:19 Deep Dive into Severance

03:52 Liminality in Gothic Literature

05:27 Severance: Themes and Analysis

07:12 The Horror of Modern Workspaces

16:23 Rituals and Symbolism in Severance

24:51 Helly R's Role and Corporate Religion

27:30 Exploring the Horrors of Severance

28:40 The Liminality in Severance and Analog Horror

30:45 Analog Horror: A Dive into the Genre

35:08 The Mandela Catalog and Biblical Narratives

37:28 Medieval Drama and Modern Analog Horror

47:23 Finding Joy in Horror

52:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Monstrous Image – Horror in Graphic Novels (Something is Killing the Children and Universal’s Frankenstein) Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

The Monstrous Image – Horror in Graphic Novels (Something is Killing the Children and Universal’s Frankenstein)

In this episode of Horror Joy, hosts Brian Onishi and Jeff Stoyanoff explore the portrayal of monsters in the realm of comics and graphic novels. They dive into the complex narratives, dissecting the horror genre as seen in James Tynion IV's 'Something is Killing the Children' and Michael Walsh's 'Universal Monsters: Frankenstein'.

In this episode we:

· Revisit the gothic elements of Robert Eggers' 2024 film Nosferatu, pointing out the underlying themes of predation and power

· Identify major themes of childhood, power, and authority in “Something is Killing the Children” and “Frankenstein”

· Discuss how these stories reflect societal fears, the current political landscape, and the power dynamics in contemporary America

· Share the joy they find in these graphic narratives, highlighting the importance of art and imagination in provoking thought and emotional engagement

00:00 Introduction to Monsters in Comics

01:01 Exploring 'Something is Killing the Children'

01:28 Universal Monsters: Frankenstein's Perspective

02:17 Welcome to Horror Joy

02:48 Nosferatu and the Gothic Elements

08:47 Frankenstein: The Gothic and Modern Anxieties

20:42 Frankenstein's Creation and Ecological Allegories

26:40 Upcoming Release: The EcoWeird

26:44 Diving into 'Something is Killing the Children'

27:21 Why This Comic Stands Out

29:04 Teaching the Comic: Student Reactions

31:31 Plot and Themes of 'Something is Killing the Children'

37:33 Comparisons and Cultural Reflections

39:19 The Real Horror: Societal Issues

47:42 Finding Joy in Graphic Novels

52:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Nosferatu and "First Word on Horror" with Philip Gelatt Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

2024 was a banner year for horror! From the chilling Immaculate to the unsettling Horror Movie and the glorious mustache of Nosferatu, we were truly spoiled. But now, it's time to turn a new page.

This year brings fresh beginnings, new anxieties, and a renewed opportunity for horror to help us navigate the complexities of our world.

To kick off 2025, Jeff and Brian welcome horror author and creator, Philip Gelatt, to the show. We'll discuss his fascinating new series, First Word on Horror, which offers a unique glimpse into the minds of horror creators.

Then, we'll delve into Robert Eggers' Nosferatu, exploring its racial and sexual politics, the philosophical implications of sunlight, and how it compares to classic vampire tales like Dracula, Salem's Lot, and Midnight Mass.

Did Eggers successfully translate the essence of Nosferatu for a modern audience? Or did he succumb to the Count's hypnotic allure?

Join us as we embark on a chilling journey into the heart of darkness. Bring your sharpest stakes and try not to succumb to the allure of the unknown.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:15 Phil Gelatt's Career Highlights

01:15 Discussing 'First Word on Horror'

01:31 Joy and Horror: A Complex Relationship

03:38 Stephen Graham Jones' Story and 'First Word on Horror' Details

05:13 The Making of 'First Word on Horror'

08:10 Horror Genre's Reputation and Rehabilitation

14:08 Analyzing Robert Eggers' Nosferatu

25:23 Ellen's Symbolic Sacrifice

26:38 A Loveless Film: Exploring Orlok and Ellen's Fate

27:42 Missed Opportunities and Visual Delights

28:47 Atmosphere and Visuals: The Film's Strengths

32:16 Plato and the Sun: Philosophical Insights

37:27 Final Thoughts and Joy in Horror

First Word on Horror

Rise of the Golden Idol (video game)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Dracula: Dead and Loving it directed by directed by Mel Brooks

Thomas Ligotti

Stephen Graham Jones

Laird Barron

A Horror Joy Christmas - Black Christmas and The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we are caught in a mood of anticipation. We anticipate visits from family, a festive meal, and presents to be opened. We also look forward to the celebration of the incarnation of a god in human flesh, whose death brings about one of the greatest ghost stories ever told. Rephrased, the story of Christmas is already a kind of horror narrative.

Join us for a chilling exploration of the darker side of Christmas. In this episode of Horror Joy, we'll delve into the unsettling underbelly of holiday cheer.

We'll discuss:

Algernon Blackwood's "The Kit-Bag": A disturbing tale of anticipation and dread.
Black Christmas: This iconic slasher film reimagines the holiday season as a time of terror.
The Horror of Consumerism: How the holiday season can become a source of stress and anxiety.
Loneliness at the Holidays: How the holiday season increases the chances for loneliness, and how the slasher magnifies this loneliness.

So, grab your eggnog and prepare for a frighteningly festive journey. Remember, even Santa Claus has a dark side.

Second wave feminism

Julia Kristeva Abject

Split directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Michael Cisco

Body, Telephone, Voice: Black Christmas (1974) and Monstrous Cinema by Morten Feldtfos Thompsen

Foucault and surveillance

Psycho directed by Hitchcock

Rosemary’s Baby (1968) Directed by Roman Polanski

The Holdovers directed by Alexander Payne

The Call of the Eco-Weird in Fiction, Film, and Games edited by Brian Hisao Onishi and Nathan M. Bell

"The Kit-Bag" by Algernon Blackwood - Read by Brian Onishi Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

As an anticipation of our episode out on Monday (12/16), Brian reads "The Kit-Bag" by Algernon Blackwood.

"The Kit-Bag," originally published in 1908 by Pall Mall Magazine, tells the story of Johnson, a young man preparing to go on a Christmas vacation after helping to successfully defend a particularly gruesome murder case.

Alone in his apartment, Johnson begins to experience strange noises and visions. Is it his drunk lodger bringing in the mail? Is it another tenant of the building? Or is it a sinister figure invading his home via his borrowed suitcase (the titular kit-bag). Like an perverse telling of Santa Claus, listen to "The Kit-Bag" find out what's haunting Johnson and whether or not he ever makes it to his promised vacation.

Vampires - Dracula, Salem's Lot, and Midnight Mass *** With Special Guest Chris McAuley of the StokerVerse Dec 02, 2024

Show notes

Episode Timeline

**2:12-40:42 – StokerVerse and Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Chris McAuley

**40:42-58:26 – Salem’s Lot

**58:27-end – Midnight Mass

From the gothic castles of Transylvania to the sleepy towns of Maine, vampires have captivated our imaginations for centuries. In this episode of Horror Joy, we'll explore the evolution of the vampire mythos, from Bram Stoker's iconic Dracula to modern interpretations like Salem's Lot and Midnight Mass.

We'll discuss:

The Vampire's Enduring Appeal: Why this ancient creature continues to fascinate us.
Dracula's Dark Legacy: The cultural impact of Stoker's masterpiece and its influence on subsequent vampire stories.
Small-Town Horror: How Salem's Lot reimagines the vampire myth for a suburban American setting.
Faith, Fear, and the Undead: The religious undertones of Midnight Mass and its exploration of community and belief.

Join us as we explore the creaking coffins of vampiric narratives. Make sure to bring along your best silver and your favorite stake. But keep an eye on the horizon, lest we let the sun go down before we’re done.

StokerVerse

Jacques Lacan

Virtue Ethics

Dracula and colonialism

The Dark Tower Series