So much better than we expected! Natalie Grace in Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (2026) ★★★★ The first half of 2026 certainly made a statement in the horror genre. Reverberations will be felt across Hollywood as studios reassess what constitutes a blockbuster. The recent critical success of Sinners, Weapons, and The Substance appears to be bearing fruit. The results may have led to a diverse slate of offerings for 2026, and it is reflected in the wide array of horror offerings so far this year. If variety is your preference, then you have been in luck, so far. The unimaginable financial and critical s
Hey kid, there’s a spider in your bed! From Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) We’re going back to horror history class with Episode 212: Slashers Come of Age and Horror Finds Religion 1975-1979. Seven years ago, in the early days of the Scariest Things, we did some horror history, diving into some of the more obscure titles that you may not be aware of. We stopped at the early seventies, and then went on a very long hiatus. But now we are back with some (maybe) forgotten gems from 1975 to 1979. Friend of the podcast Ian Parker joins Eric and Mike in this deep dive. It took a while, but we are back
Sarah (Jessika Van) and Molly (Courtney Pouroso) receive some unfortunate marketing data in Grind (2026) Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 Directed by: Brea Grant , Ed Dougherty, and Chelsea Stardust Written by: Brea Grant and Ed Dougherty Does working in today’s economy feel like you are on a treadmill that is getting too fast for you? Has your job killed your dreams? Employment in the modern world can be… a Grind. Grind is a timely anthology that is neatly stitches together how working for Mega-Corporations (TM) can erode your sense of being and may cost you more than a diminished paycheck.
Larry Fessenden’s The Last Winter (2006) BRRRRRR! It’s so cold outside! Wait, what? The thermometer reads 102? What’s the date? Ah, forget the date; this is a brain freeze for you because we decided to cool you off with some freezing cold horror films just in time for the summer heat wave! YES! Cold themes are the icy wet blanket that puts you at unease. Friend of the Podcast, Ian Parker joins the Scariest Things, as we put our parkas on for a discussion of some frozen horror treats. Enjoy! Think of this as mid-summer air conditioning by way of podcast. Granted, we considered this episode much
Friday the 69th is a horror parody asking: What if a failing porn studio tried to make a conventional slasher movie? Charming and silly. Not as raunchy as you might expect. This is an interview with the director, Alex Montilla and star Rob Zoppo. Part of the Portland Horror Film Festival slate of films.
The Horror Short Film Director Roundtable is one of the most important things that we did at the Portland Horror Film Festival. It provided an elevated platform for horror short filmmakers. Oftentimes, this is ground zero for original horror ideas. Unless you are a Hollywood nepo-director, short film creation is where you learn your chops. I wanted to give these creatives an opportunity to share their experiences in making movies, both good and bad, so that we can all learn a little more about the craft. Life as a short filmmaker can be an experience in the shadows. Your films are rarely seen
This is an interview of the director of Dracula: The Night Around Us, following its world premiere at the Portland Horror Film Festival. This is a tight, focused film that concentrates on Dr. Seward, Mina, Renfield, and Lucy. Dracula is a looming presence, but us utilized here as a threat rather than the key character. You won't see an arrogant Count, taunting and regally imposing himself on the village folk. This is a modern tale, with strong psychological horror components. Listen, and learn!
Andrea Subissati, Editor of Rue Morgue and Podcaster for Faculty of Horror The Bloody Judge for the 2026 Portland Horror Film Festival was Andrea Subissati, the Executive Editor of Rue Morgue. She is one of the most compelling voices within the horror community, and is a powerful advocate for women within the genre. Andrea was kind enough to set some time aside to talk some terror with us between feature film showings at the festival. We at the Scariest Things take our work seriously, but let’s be real. Rue Morgue is the real shit. It is a top-shelf professional horror periodical, and Andrea i
Lita (Hannah Fierman) is a dominatrix looking to get some cash on the side in The Demonatrix (2026) ★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★ Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 Written and Directed by Jeff Ferrell and Aurelio Voltaire The Demonatrix is a cheeky, lightly racy horror-comedy that reflects on the economic troubles of the time. A dominatrix looking to get some extra income turns to hosting fake séances to make ends meet. When things inevitably go awry, she turns to a priest working in a church across the street from her kink studio. It’s a silly, simple tale that features some great costumes and a couple
Adama Abramson is a bounty hunter turned vampire hunter in Landlord (2026) Intensity: 🩸🩸1/2 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 Written and Directed by Remington Smith LandLord poses the question, “If vampires can’t come into your home without an invitation, what happens if they own your housing?” A bounty hunter checks her conscience in order to save an orphaned boy from the predations of a vampire landlord consuming the tenants of a run-down housing complex. This gritty and moody debut from writer-director Remington Smith was featured at the Portland Horror Film Festival. There is a proud tradition of horro
My Bloody Valentine turns 45 years old this year. The director, George Mihalka, was the guest of honor at this year's Portland Horror Film Festival. George was kind enough to speak with the Scariest Things, who are huge fans of the film. Lost cutting room footage was recently found when the producer was absorbed by Lionsgate, allowing some of the missing gory effects to be brought back into the movie. So, it's time to revisit this movie and talk to the creator about why it remains important today.
Indie horror filmmakers Gabby Rosson and Emily Tullock are creating Trash Queen, a sci-fi horror comedy, starring Tulloch and legendary scream queen Lynn Lowery. They joined the Scariest Things to talk about what goes into developing a self-funded independent horror film. It is the journey of many an ambitious creator, and we talked about all of the joys and difficulties of crafting a horror movie. If you have ever wanted to produce a movie yourself, this may be an instructive conversation, so join us as we take a trip to the dump, for all the right reasons.
Comfort Horror. It's a thing. It keeps the fandom fed. We come back time and again to get scared, and we love it. Why? This is the third of my series of Crypticon Seattle convention panel recordings. Panels are the lifeblood of this annual horror gathering, feeding the fandom's macabre knowledge cravings. Horror movies are the bonds this community shares, and to understand why, this panel examines the lure of horror for many of us. It seems antithetical that many of us crave the experience of being scared.
Feel the sweat and the tropical breezes; it's time to discuss Tiki Terrors and its tropical horror cousins. Transport yourself to an island in the South Pacific or the Caribbean. The exoticism and the removal from "civilization" provide the grounds for some evocative scares. These movies have been with us since the Golden Age. Think King Kong, The Mont Dangerous Game, and The Island of Lost Souls, and it found its heyday in the '50s and '60s. Listen and learn from veteran Crypticon panelists as they talk all things Tiki Terror.
Crypticon Seattle, the great Pacific Northwest horror convention, has once again come and gone, but the memories linger. The panels are what make the convention feel like a class reunion. The panels are produced entirely by volunteer experts from across the region and are the ultimate in fan interaction. This is what it feels like to create a horror community, sharing our ideas and experiences with each other. This year, I decided to record some of the panels I participated in and attended to give you a sense of what happens at these events. This Pets in Horror panel was hosted by Brien Gorham
It's been twenty years, and now we are getting a sequel to Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. I had a golden opportunity to interview Nathan Baesel, to discuss the announcement of the Kickstarter Campaign for the upcoming movie.
Another year, another Overlook Film Festival, one of the premier genre festivals in the country. Unfortunately, this year, the main players of The Scariest Things were unable to attend the festival in person. Eric was able to get some of the films to stream, but, as is the norm, remote screeners were limited and did not include the showcase films. Fortunately for us, one of our loyal Patreon Contributors, Robin Marcotte, was in attendance again, and she helped fill in the gaps we missed. This year, there were a number of good films, and according to Robin, one GREAT film. This year, we watched
Sweet, sweet revenge. A subgenre best served cold, with a side of yanked intestines. It is a foundational tool for horror, both from the protagonist and antagonist perspectives. Anger, jealousy, and embarrassment create grudges that stick, and payback, she is a comin'. Listen in to our recommendations for your revenge fantasy satisfaction.
We've got 2025 in the rear view window, and Hollywood has determined to not just relegate horror movies into the fall/Halloween schedule. Springtime apparently is a good time to have a big fear injection. So, we had to get the word out on movies you can anticipate coming to a theater near you!
Here come the stinkers! It's time to discuss the Worst Horror movies of 2025. Of course, just like our favorites, our disappointments are highly subjective. You may be surprised to discover that some of the movies we didn't enjoy have received plaudits from other critics. We have some fun internal disagreements, for sure. We know you love hearing us throw shade on movies. Enjoy the hot takes!
If it's January, you know it's time for our Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025. You might think there is a group consensus, in a year that had so many good horror movies... but you'd be wrong! The best part of having a great sampler platter of movies to pick from is that there is something for everybody. This year, the box office and the awards programs agree, 2025 had a lot to offer.
Who's a good boy? Why, you are, Indy! In a monumental achievement, Indy the dog's performance in Good Boy earned him the Astra Award for Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller, beating out his esteemed human competition. In a year that has started off with so much social friction, it is amazing news like this that gives us hope. This win is for the underdog. How did Indy do it? Listen to my interview with director Ben Leonberg about how they pulled off this miraculous feat.
Consider Feel Good Horror as a palate cleanser for those of you looking for a bit of optimism and good vibes in your horror movies. For those of you who may have followed up on our recommendations from Episode 205: Mean Horror, we're making it up to you now. Triumph over evil! Protagonists for the win! Fist pumps all around. It's time for some emotional healing through horror with Episode 206: Feel Good Horror.
Great Horror movies can often be a bummer. Vicious, unrelenting, and cruel films that deny us the happy ending and the victorious fist pump. Many horror fans, and a couple of the podcasters for The Scariest Things in particular, seek these films out. We are crossing bridges too far. No punch pulling. Beware and behold Episode 205: Mean Horror.
You know? That movie was better than I remembered. How often do you tell yourself that? Or, alternately, "What was I thinking? This movie was awful!" We've all been there. The movies don't change, but we do. We get older. Our tastes change. Sometimes we weren't in the right headspace to appreciate a film for the first watch. The Scariest Things gets contemplative in Episode 204 and reviews movies that we believe should be re-evaluated... for better... or worse.
