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Episode 173: BLOOD RAGE 2025 w/ special guest Valerie Morreale Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

For Thanksgiving, the Spoop Bois are joined by returning guest Valerie Morreale of the Screenage Wasteland film website and The Canon Podcast to tackle the 1980s cult holiday slasher film "Blood Rage" directed by John Grissmer. They discuss why they chose this film and what makes it perfect horror viewing for Thanksgiving. They also dig into what Val thought about the movie and her opinions on character motivations. Derek is not Aaron. Val is eating leftovers on the floor. Surprise, that's not cranberry sauce, it's a podcast (again again again AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN)! If you've read this far, congratulations and thanks.
Val's Bluesky: @val-more.bsky.social
Check out Screenage Wasteland at https://screenagewasteland.com/
They are on Twitter @SAWasteland and @SAWpodcasts
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 172: A Cure for Wellness w/ special guest Caitlin Starling Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Superstar horror author Caitlin Starling (The Graceview Patient, The Starving Saints, The Death of Jane Lawrence, The Luminous Dead, and many other works) returns to the show to discuss 2016's psychological horror film "A Cure for Wellness" directed by Gore Verbinski and written by Justin Haythe with Aaron and Derek. They get into how this movie thematically pairs well with Caitlin's new book The Graceview Patient, the pacing of gothic horror, and fears of claustrophobia and healthcare. They also talk about Mia Goth's performance vs the writing of her character, what makes this flick both ambitious and messy, the trope of a weird paternalistic doctor antagonist, and many other aspects of the movie. Caitlin wants to know why anybody would want to leave. Derek and Aaron want to know what the cure for the human condition is.
Please follow Caitlin on Instagram @authorcstarling and on Bluesky @caitlinstarling.com
Check out her works at her website: www.caitlinstarling.com
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 171: Scream w/ special guests Raf Stitt & Valerie Morreale Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

For Halloween 2025 and to wrap up the "High School Horror" Season of Spoop, Aaron and Derek are joined by Raf Stitt and Valerie Morreale of the Screenage Wasteland film website and The Canon Podcast to discuss 1996's slasher classic "Scream" directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. They talk about how "Scream" both honors and subverts slasher films, the thematic elements of mass violence in schools, and what it did in revitalizing horror in the 90s. They also get into the undertones of certain relationships between characters, the realism of Ghostface making the slasher more terrifying, all the references to other horror movies, and many other aspects of the film. Val and Raf have a favorite scary movie. Aaron and Derek's parents are going to be so mad at them.
Check out Screenage Wasteland at https://screenagewasteland.com/
The Canon Podcast can be found on Apple at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-canon-an-essential-movies-watchlist/id1680794257
On Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/5WgmNfRzvbLNtPlBC2jkD3?si=ba78aaf2a23646f0&nd=1&dlsi=5b701af83fcb4fa4
On Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@ScreenAgeWasteland
They are on Twitter @SAWasteland and @SAWpodcasts
Raff's Bluesky: @rafstitt.bsky.social
Raff'x Twitter: @rafstitt
Val's Bluesky: @val-more.bsky.social
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 170: Carrie w/ special guest Heather Murray Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

For the second "high school horror" themed Season of Spoop episode, Heather returns to the show to discuss 1976's supernatural horror movie "Carrie" directed by Brian De Palma and adapted from the Stephen King book. They get into bullying in high school, whether or not Carrie is a sympathetic character, and how this adaptation's success impacted the careers of King, De Palma, and star Sissy Spacek. They also talk about how the mother character is the true villain, why most the horror comes from the experiences of an abused teenager, and many other aspects of the film. Heather can see your dirty pillows. Derek and Aaron really like poems.
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 169: The Faculty w/ special guests Nate Boyd & Tyler McCarty Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

It's October, so 2025's Season of Spoop begins! This year the theme is "high school horror." To start off this year's series, Nate and Tyler (hosts of the Hate Speech Podcast, The Bruce Campbell Podcast and Animorphing Time Podcast) return to discuss 1998's science fiction horror film "The Faculty" directed by Robert Rodriguez with a screenplay by Kevin Williamson. They talk about what makes high school scary, the supreme late-90s nostalgia in this movie, and whether or not it still holds up. They also get into Kevin Williamson's writing, all the obvious horror movie references, what seems problematic under a modern lens, and many other aspects of the flick. Nate, Tyler, Derek and Aaron aren't aliens, they're discontent.
Nate Boyd's Bluesky: @buttzilla.bsky.social
Nate's Twitter: @BateNoyd
Tyler McCarty's Bluesky: @bearnurse.bsky.social
Tyler's Twitter: @bearnurse
Hate Speech Podcast's Twitter: @h8speechpod
Hate Speech Podcast's Bluesky: @hatespeechpod.bsky.social
The Bruce Campbell Podcast @BruceCPod : https://anchor.fm/brucecpod
Animorphing Time Podcast @animorphingtime : https://animorphingtime.com/
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 168: Race with the Devil Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

On this episode, Aaron and Derek take a road trip with 1975's road horror film "Race with the Devil" directed by Jack Starrett. They discuss RV culture, how this movie is a mix of 70s Satanic panic, road movies, car chases and hicksploitation, and the differences between Satanism in media in the 1970s vs the 80s and 90s. They also talk about the meeting of old school Hollywood and modern horror, Peter Fonda and Warren Oates' careers, the portrayal of authority and paranoia, and many other aspects of the movie. Aaron doesn't drive too well when he's asleep. Derek wants to race for $10.
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 167: Trollhunter w/ special guest Caitlin Starling Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

On this episode, acclaimed author Caitlin Starling (The Luminous Dead, The Starving Saints, The Death of Jane Lawrence, etc.) joins Aaron and Derek to discuss 2010's Norwegian dark fantasy mockumentary "Trollhunter" written and directed by André Øvredal. They talk about Caitlin's bibliography, inspirations, writing process and experiences with professional publishing. They also get into Trollhunter's blending of Norwegian culture and folktale with grounded reality, the movie's exploration of bureaucracy and lack of oversight, the effective use of found footage in the revelation of trolls and plot progression, and many other aspects of the movie. Derek and Aaron are in troll territory now. Caitlin once saw a troll try to eat its own tail.
Please follow Caitlin on Instagram @authorcstarling and on Bluesky @caitlinstarling.com
Check out her works at her website: www.caitlinstarling.com
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 166: The Mangler Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

On this episode, Aaron and Derek discuss 1995's haunted machine film "The Mangler" directed by Tobe Hooper and based off the 1972 Stephen King short story. They talk about how Hooper combined his humorous horror sensibilities with King's insane creative energy and adding more to what is an otherwise direct adaptation of the short story. They also get into Hooper's use of lighting and set dressing, the not so subtle exploration of capitalism and lack of oversight consuming everything, and how Hooper as a director always "goes for it." Derek is doing a little dance! Aaron has a little bit of that machine in him.
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 165: Frailty Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

On this episode, Aaron and Derek tackle 2001's psychological horror film "Frailty" directed by and starring Bill Paxton. They talk about Bill Paxton's creepy earnestness, how the writing cleverly handles multiple twists and reveals, and what makes this an effective horror movie without any jumpscares. They also get into McConaughey's proto-True Detective mannerisms, this flick's place between late 90s and aughts horror, and many other aspects of the movie. Aaron and Derek know that destroying demons is good.
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WatchIfYouDare
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

Episode 164: Jaws w/ special guest Damian Potesta Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Jaws," Damian returns to the show to talk the 1975 masterpiece film directed by Steven Spielberg and adapted from the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley. They discuss why "Jaws" is a horror movie first, the effect on merchandise pre-Star Wars, and how it popularized the summer blockbuster. They also get into personal experiences with the movie, the horrors of an uncaring force of nature, differences compared to the book, and many other aspects of the flick. Damian has doll's eyes. Aaron needs a bigger boat. Derek smiles.
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WatchIfYouDare
We are on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio and CastBox. Please rate, review, subscribe, and share our show. Also, check out our Spotify Music playlist, links on our Twitter and Podbean page. Our socials are on Bluesky and Facebook and Twitter @WatchIfYouDare

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