Happy Horror TIMe!

As final girl Pam MacDonald in 1981's “The Prowler,” Vicky Dawson mastered the art of running full speed in heels AND outmaneuvering a killer dressed in WWII combat gear. Tune in to hear all about making this slasher film that has developed a cult following, how Tom Savini did the FX for her explosive climax with the killer, and her thoughts on the movie's final scene.

Shark flicks have become a dime a dozen lately, thanks to stock footage and CGI. But a shark flick where the fish are less dangerous than the human antagonist? Now that's unique! Tune in to hear us break down “Dangerous Animals” — from the standout performances of Jai Courtney and Hassie Harrison, to how this film epitomized the term “cat & mouse thriller,” and that one scene that had us squirming in our seats.

Before Eli Roth's “Thanksgiving,” one of the only slasher films that took place on this holiday was 1987's “Blood Rage” starring Mark Soper as twin brothers, Terry and Todd. Tune in to hear all about how he approached playing these two characters, what it was like working with Louise Lasser (who played the very eccentric mother), whether his iconic line, “It's not cranberry sauce!” was scripted or improvised, and his interpretation of the film's wild ending.

Netflix has taken us back to Shadyside, with a standalone Fear Street film about a killer offing all the prom queen candidates in 1988. Tune in as we're joined by the creator of Fear Street Diaries on Instagram, Hiko Mitsuzuka, to break down “Fear Street: Prom Queen” — from the things that worked, to the things that didn't, and that end reveal… after reveal… after reveal.

It's been 11 years since the last “Final Destination” movie, which means Death took a lengthy break from wreaking havoc on people in the most sadistic of ways. But a new installment has arrived, and it's the family edition! Tune in to hear us break down “Final Destination: Bloodlines” — from that epic opening disaster, to the new layer it added to this existing formula, and all the misdirects that kept us on our toes.

There's just something about a killer clown that makes it the perfect horror movie villain. Now add in a midwestern setting, a chainsaw, and a major generational divide and you've got “Clown in a Cornfield.” Tune in to hear us break down all those crazy kills, that mid-film twist, and whether we'd be down to clown with more Frendo films.

Only one day after Steamboat Willie entered the public domain last year, it was announced that a horror film based on this iconic whistling mouse was in development. Tune in as we chat with Steven LaMorte (Director/Co-Writer), Amy Schumacher (Producer/Star), and Allison Pittel (Star) all about making “Screamboat,” how they turned David Howard Thornton into a mouse-sized murderer, and the NSFW kill scene that had Matt squealing like a little girl.“Screamboat” is currently available to rent on VOD or buy on DVD or Blu-Ray.

If you're looking for a gamer's perspective on how true “Until Dawn” was to its source material, well… you won't find it here. But you will find some colorful commentary on its merits as a horror film! Tune in to hear us break down all the subgenres it dabbled in, the underlying theme we got from it, and the explosive deaths that made us giddy.

As the strong and resourceful Tara, Jenna Kanell dominated the first half of the original “Terrifier,” going toe to toe with Art the Clown. Tune in to hear all about making the film that launched this franchise, how they were able to tap into that intense level of fear, their experiences on other genre films like “The Bye Bye Man,” “Renfield,” “Faceless After Dark,” and “The Buildout,” and the upcoming sci-fi flick they're writing, directing, AND starring in — “De Novo.”

Christopher Landon (Director of “Happy Death Day” & “Freaky”) is back with a new Hitchcockian thriller, and the co-hosts of Queer Cinema Catchup, Joe & Allison, dropped in to review it with us. Tune in to hear us break down “Drop” — from who we initially thought was behind those sinister messages, to what each of us would do in that situation, and of course, that jaw-dropping finale!

The story behind the murdering spree of Ed Kemper, nicknamed the “Co-ed Killer” in the 1970s, is the subject of a new true crime thriller co-written and directed by Chad Ferrin. Tune in to hear all about the making of “Ed Kemper” and how Chad goes about adapting true crime for the screen, his very inspiring attitude toward filmmaking, and a sneak peek at his next two films based on serial killers, Dorothea Puente and the Night Stalker (Richard Ramirez).WARNING: Depictions of real-life sexual violence, in reference to the film, are discussed in this interview.“Ed Kemper” is currently playing at select theaters and is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video at https://www.amazon.com/Ed-Kemper-Chad-Ferrin/dp/B0F1XG7TKL/ along with many other digital platforms. For more info on this film, please visit http://www.epic-pictures.com/film/ed-kemper

It's our 250th episode!

Over the last few decades, Julie Benz has been a part of so many of the TV series and films that have impacted the horror genre as well as pop culture. Tune in to hear all about evolving Vampire Girl #1 into Darla on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” & “Angel” and whether she'd return for the upcoming revival series, her thoughts on the legacy of “Jawbreaker,” the real story behind the decision to kill off her beloved character, Rita, on “Dexter,” and her experience being one of the only survivors of Jigsaw's traps in “Saw V.”

Lisa Kudrow, Edie Falco, and Parker Posey all in the same horror comedy? Yes, yes, and hell yes! Tune in to hear us break down “The Parenting” (now streaming on Max) — from all the crude jokes that Matt (obviously) loved, to whether there was enough balance between the funny and the scary, and how a text message with the

Former Happy Horror Time guest, Sean Nichols Lynch, is back to discuss his new found footage horror film that involves madness, mayhem, and mummification! And this time he's joined by his two Co-Writers, Chad Westbrook Hinds and John Laird, who also happen to be the stars of the film. Tune in to hear all about making “The Ceremony is About to Begin,” where the idea came from and what inspired the core characters, and stay for our spirited discussion on found footage and cult-inspired horror films!“The Ceremony is About to Begin” is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video or to stream on Tubi, Fawesome, and other digital platforms.

As perky camp counselor Annie, Robbi Morgan made history as the first present-day victim of Mrs. Voorhees… although she never even made it to Camp Crystal Lake to cook for all those kids, err children!

Osgood Perkins is back with another horror film, this time based on Stephen King's short story from the ‘80s and with a much different tone than last year's “Longlegs.” Tune in to hear us break down “The Monkey” — from all those insane deaths, to all that demented humor, and how Corey Cunningham from “Halloween Ends” factored into it all.

Kim Myers turned the tables on both Freddy Krueger AND the typical gender roles of ‘80s horror when she rescued her boyfriend at the end of “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge.” Tune in to hear all about making the first sequel in this long-running franchise, her thoughts on the film's queer subtext and Mark Patton's documentary, and that time Patrick Swayze danced with her on the set of “Letters from a Killer.”

Have you ever been watching a romantic comedy and thought to yourself – you know what this film needs? A masked killer! That's the thinking behind “Heart Eyes,” which takes the typical rom-com formula and adds a body count. Tune in to hear us break down all the brutal kills, all the laugh-out-loud moments, and whether this horror comedy was love at first fright or left us broken-hearted.

Happy Horror Time has a new team member! And to formally introduce our new companion to the world, we invited her to discuss “Companion” with us. Tune in as we break down this sci-fi thriller with our new Co-Producer, Paris Mantz — from how it stands out from other robot/AI gone rogue films, to its relevance in today's world, and how Sophie Thatcher is becoming the new Jenna Ortega.

As Editor-in-Chief of Dread Central & Co-Host of the Scarred for Life podcast, Mary Beth McAndrews had already made a name for herself in horror before directing her first film — the new indie revenge thriller, “Bystanders” (currently available on VOD). Tune in to hear why this script had such personal meaning for her, how she approached handling both the sensitive material and the violence, and what's next for her in horror.

As one of the Universal Monsters, the Wolf Man has been portrayed in multiple films over the last 80 years. But none have starred the incredible Julia Garner!

Horror fans learned what “ándale” meant after watching Brooke Bundy say it to her daughter, Kristen, as Elaine Parker in both “A Nightmare on Elm Street” 3 & 4. But, to be fair, they went over this in therapy!

As Violet, the punk rock teen with the streaked hair in “Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning,” Tiffany Helm literally dances her way to her demise. Tune in to hear all about making this “Jason-less” sequel, the original plan for Violet's death and how she influenced the way it turned out, and Tiffany teases the upcoming horror movie she's starring in with her real-life mother, Brooke Bundy.

The story of Dracula/Nosferatu is a tale as old as time, and its vampire villain has been interpreted in many different ways throughout 100+ years of existence. Tune in as we sink our teeth into 2024's “Nosferatu” — from its dreary atmosphere and settings, to the varied performances of its cast, and most importantly, our thoughts on Count Orlok's ‘70s pornstache.

From hosting Horror's Hallowed Grounds on YouTube, to co-hosting The Thing With Two Heads podcast, to representing some of the biggest names in horror through his company, Convention All Stars LLC, Sean Clark pretty much does it all when it comes to this genre. Tune in to hear all about his extensive collection of horror props and masks, some of the most exciting filming locations he's visited for his YouTube channel, and how he got Jamie Lee Curtis to attend her one and only convention.

You've probably been told to avoid creepy men in vans since you were a kid. And these warnings were especially prevalent in the ‘70s, when “The Man in the White Van” takes place. Tune in to hear us break down this thriller — from the scenes that were most effective, to how awful those parents were, and the loose end we wish had been tied up in the finale.

Y2K was one of those memorable events for people in our age group (under 30, of course

We couldn't let a Friday the 13th go by without releasing a special episode, could we? And this time the gang's all here, as we're joined by Happy Horror Time's Producer and the 3rd member of our team — Jacob Randall — to discuss “Friday the 13th Part 3.” Tune in as we break down every kill, our conflicting thoughts on the final girl, the scenes that make this film stand out, and whether it was worth it or not to bring 3D into this sequel.

With its grisly kills and unique approach, “In a Violent Nature” quickly became one of the most talked about horror films of 2024. Tune in to hear what inspired Writer/Director, Chris Nash, to tell the story from the POV of the killer, his initial plan for that lake kill and other scenes that changed from script to screen, and Chris even provides a quick update on the upcoming sequel.

Released on Shudder last month, “Doc of Chucky” takes an extensive look at the Child's Play film franchise, featuring interviews with cast and crew members from all 7 movies. Tune in to hear from Director/Co-Writer/Producer, Thommy Hutson, and Executive Producer, Mike Perez, about what goes into a project of this magnitude, their thoughts on some of the more surprising details revealed in this doc, and the star that just never showed up for their interview.

It's a storyline we know all too well — a couple on their way home takes a shortcut that leads them to trouble. But “Drive Back” adds a supernatural element to that all-too-familiar plot. Tune in to hear us break down all the twists and turns of this new VOD release, whether it accelerated our heart rates or took us on a road to nowhere, and the one-liner that fueled our laughter.

Two sweet little missionary girls knock on Hugh Grant's door to tell him more about the Church of Latter Day Saints… what could go wrong? Well, a lot, and it all starts with BLUEBERRY PIE! Tune in to hear us break down “Heretic” — from the impressive performances of its core cast, to where it had us hooked (and where it lost us), and our thoughts on that butterfly of an ending.

As horror lovers, we're quite familiar with the cliches surrounding a cabin in the woods film… and the new horror comedy, “Another Cabin in the Woods Movie,” pokes fun at all those familiar tropes. Tune in to hear from Writer/Director/Producer, Joe Bandelli, and Star, Duane Cooper, as we discuss what went into making this film, all the funny commentary and SFX added in post, and of course we had to ask Joe (who Produced all “Hell House LLC” films) for an update on the upcoming “Hell House LLC: Lineage.”Check out “Another Cabin in the Woods Movie” on:TUBI: https://bit.ly/3ChvugVPRIME: https://bit.ly/3CwyO7OSCARE NETWORK TV: https://bit.ly/3ClkgYM

A few years ago, Dave McRae and Bruce Dale released “It's Me, Billy” — an impressive fan film which serves as an unofficial sequel to “Black Christmas” (1974). And just last month, they released “It's Me, Billy Chapter 2,” bringing back the character of Jess Bradford while featuring original “Black Christmas” star, Lynne Griffin. Tune in to hear all about making both fan films, how Olivia Hussey was initially set to star in “Chapter 2” and why she had to leave the project, and what's next for these two independent filmmakers.You can watch both “It's Me, Billy” and “It's Me, Billy Chapter 2” for free at https://www.youtube.com/@davemcraeofficial

That creepy-a$$ smile is back in a sequel to the supernatural flick that made an ear-to-ear grin something to fear. Tune in to hear us break down “Smile 2” — from how it connected and compared to the original film, to our thoughts on what was reality vs. a hallucination, and of course, that flashy ending and where we think the franchise could go from here.

The “Terrifier” franchise has done wonders for indie horror, proving that an unrated flick starring a sadistic clown can be successful in theaters. Tune in to hear us break down “Terrifier 3” — from the inventive kills the series has become known for, to how they handled the return of the “final siblings” (Sienna & Jonathan), and whether we liked it more or less than the previous installments.

Many have donned the Michael Myers mask throughout the “Halloween” franchise, but only one was the original Shape — Nick Castle. Tune in to hear all about playing this iconic villain in John Carpenter's 1978 classic, the story behind his return to the franchise in Blumhouse's trilogy, and we even chat a bit about some of his writing and directing credits — “Escape from New York,” “The Last Starfighter” and “Tag: The Assassination Game.”

As Sarah in “Halloween H20,” not only did Jodi Lyn O'Keefe get to work with Jamie Lee Curtis in her first return to the series, but she faced Michael Myers in one of the most brutal and memorable scenes of the franchise. Tune in to hear all about making this 20th anniversary sequel, all the ins and outs of filming her iconic demise, and stick around as we touch on some of her other films — from horror flicks like “Devil in the Flesh 2” to the teen rom-com, “She's All That.”

“The Substance” explores how far an aging Hollywood star will go to create a younger, hotter version of herself… and how fabulous a full length yellow coat can be. Tune in to hear us break down this body horror flick — from Demi Moore's fearless performance, to our interpretation of the film's more obscure scenes, and of course, those batsh*t crazy final 20 minutes.

“Hauntology” marks the feature film debut of Writer/Director, Parker Brennon, who cast Nancy Loomis in her first film in over 40 years. Tune in to hear all about making this queer horror anthology, how Nancy got involved, Parker's approach to writing these diverse characters, and of course Matt asks Nancy several questions about playing Annie in John Carpenter's “Halloween.”“Hauntology” is now available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

Matt's 10-year-old nephew, Bix Emert-Hutner, is a major horror fan like his uncle, so we invited him on the show to revisit a spooky sequel 36 years in the making. Tune in as we break down “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” — from the new characters and plot points we loved, to the ones that may have been overkill. And if you find yourself smiling from ear to ear at Bix's touching and impressive comments, you weren't the only one.

This episode's not like a regular episode — it's a COOL episode!

“Strange Darling” is a cat-and-mouse thriller, told in 6 non-consecutive chapters, that stars Willa Fitzgerald from the “Scream” TV series and Kyle Gallner from more horror films than we can list here. Tune in to hear us break down every chapter — from the twists we didn't see coming, to the performance that deserves a ton of recognition, and the Q&A we watched after the film that was… odd.

As Tina Gray in the original “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Amanda Wyss was the first teen to encounter Freddy Krueger, meeting her demise in one of the most memorable kills in horror history. Tune in to hear all about making the film that launched this iconic franchise, the horror hacks she learned from Wes Craven, the cameo she was offered in “New Nightmare” and what happened after turning it down, and her impressive performance in the psychological horror film more people should be talking about — “The Id.”

2024 marks the 45th anniversary of “Alien,” and with a new film in the franchise newly released, we invited our friend Mark J. Parker, host of Release Date Rewind podcast, to discuss it with us. Tune in as we look back at the original “Alien” before breaking down “Alien: Romulus” — from its various ties to the original movies, to how it took liberties with some of the lore, and where we hope to see this series go in the future.

As teen jokester, Melvin Plug, in the original “Tremors,” Robert Jayne (previously known as Bobby Jacoby) battled the huge slug-like Graboids alongside the likes of Kevin Bacon, Michael Gross, and Reba McEntire. Tune in to hear all about making this 1990 horror comedy, the version (and star) of “Tremors 2” that did not get greenlit, and his idea for a “Tremors” reboot.

One of the most polarizing horror directors, M. Night Shyamalan, is back with a new thriller starring Laurie Strode's son… errr, Josh Hartnett! But did this concert-within-a-movie bring on the thrills or stir up the groans? Tune in as we break down “Trap” — from all that music (from M. Night's daughter) to all those escapes, and that ending twist that really wasn't that big of a twist.

As Sally Hardesty's boyfriend, Jerry, Allen Danziger had the esteemed honor of being one of the original five to face Leatherface in Tobe Hooper's groundbreaking horror classic, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” Tune in to hear all about making this iconic slasher, how he reacted the very first time he saw Leatherface, and his recent return to the genre and upcoming horror comedy, “The Weedhacker Massacre.”

With a scary-good marketing plan, trailers that didn't give away too much, and a creepy serial killer with Buffalo Bill vibes, Oz Perkins' latest horror film had a ton of hype surrounding its release. Tune in to hear us break down “Longlegs” — from its memorable performances to all the twists and turns the story took, and the creepiest part of all — Matt's impersonation of the Longlegs killer!

Tom McLoughlin took on the task of resurrecting Jason Voorhees in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” and ended up creating one of the most celebrated sequels in the series. Tune in to hear all about making the 6th installment in this franchise, the script he wrote as a direct sequel to “Jason Lives,” his involvement with the “Friday the 13th” TV series, and the supernatural events that inspired his directorial debut — “One Dark Night.”