Plug It Up

Rachel and Matilda from the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Network join Caitlin to cover The Ugly Stepsister, an outstanding 2025 horror release from Norway. We talk about beauty standards, dance, fairy tales, and how no one wins under patriarchy. It's a great movie and a great discussion. Tangents include: physical media, a WYR and some FMKs, first movies, VHS tapes, first books, Santa Claus, horror movies with muppets, and pride horror recs.

Zach and Brenton join Caitlin to cover the 2025 smash hit Sinners from director Ryan Coogler. We talk about themes of community and oppression, and we discuss the transcendant power of love and music. The movie lives up to the hype! Tangents include: vampires, Pokemon, homemade meals, FMKs, colonoscopies, wisdom teeth, pickles, and DoorDash.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover 2018's Calibre - a movie without a monstrous feminine theme, but one worth talking about nonetheless. We talk about themes of friendship, guilt, paranoia, and justice, and we praise the movie for its cinematography and acting. Tangents include: iPhone face, accents, Scotland, colonoscopies, smoking, firearms, hunting, movies that make us cry, themes that make us cry, fake crying, cereals, and pastries. Weigh in on the great muffin debate, and also let me know what you'd like to see out of upcoming episode 200! 

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to cover 2018's Lizzie. We talk about the Lizzie Borden case, including the sexism, classism, and racism that played into the trial and its suspects, and we discuss the merits of the movie itself. We also talk about what does and doesn't make a good lesbian period piece (i.e. buttoning up a dress, longing glances, etc). Tangents include: roller derby, magma, A24, horror books, temperatures, music, haunted locations, and a FMK for lesbian movies.

Charlie joins Caitlin to discuss the trailers for Final Destination: Bloodlines, 28 Years Later, Bring Her Back, The Ugly Stepsister, and Sinners. For skippers, the trailer review starts around minute 28:00. Tangents include: the DMV, tattoos and piercings, gardening, The Office, late night cravings, favorite vacations, hair, Mister Rogers, nostalgia, Richmond, a FMK for vampires, aligning with villains, and some Charlie + Caitlin friendship lore.

Maddie joins Caitlin to cover Red Rooms, a 2023 movie that is part horror thriller, part courtroom drama. It's one that really stuck with us, both for its masterful direction and its shocking acts of "nonphysical violence." Highly recommend. Tangents include: the Lady of Shallot, astrology (duh), Canada, eyesight, FMKs for meats and Real Housewives, cryptids in the wild, what scared us as kids, Osama Bin Laden, and pasta shapes.

Victor joins Caitlin to cover Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin, a 2013 movie about a monstrous femme alien figure. We discuss the movie's gender dynamics, sound design, use of nudity, and overall messaging, landing in a place of "discovering humanity." Tangents include: Galaxy Con, Author Con, D&D, pet peeves, alien space vampires, SPF, FMKs for gym equipment and new releases, and childhood career projections.

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover 2015's Green Room. We talk about the horror elements, excellent performances, and skillful filmmaking that go into this early A24 favorite. Tangents include: farts, Hocus, The Thermals, FMK TV show edition, favorite Plug It Up episodes, Charlie's virginity, Giada deLaurentis, ending horror franchises, desert island bands, punk music, and Lil Wayne.

Soju from the Straight Chilling podcast joins Caitlin to cover 1999's The Ninth Gate. We talk about esoteric occult knowledge, sexy satanism, and the high stakes, dangerous world of rare book dealing. Tangents include: collections, smoking, acknowledgements, book clubs, ice cream, ouija boards, and Disney. 

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover 2017's Revenge, by director Coralie Fargeat, who gave us The Substance in 2024. We talk about Fargeat's unique style, which combines realism with hyper-stylized elements, her body horror trends, and her feminist themes. We also talk about the controversy around rape revenge as a narrative structure. It's a movie we both really enjoy. Tangents include: animal vomit (aww), Faulkner, espanol, Mary Vincent, 2025 horror, names, Casey Anthony, theaters, icebreaker fun facts, ice cream toppings, Tori Amos albums, and horror duo BFFs. 

Keith of the Horror Convos Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 1995's Species, a movie that is both campy and complex. We talk about the movie's themes and production, and we cover many horror tropes: the succubus, Frankenstein monsters, monstrous menstruation, monstrous motherhood, and science gone awry. Tangents include: fighting sharks vs fighting gators, believing in aliens and/or ghosts, tarot readings, sci fi universes we'd live in, and technology we'd like to see. Be sure to check out Horror Convos!

Maddie and Colleen are back to talk horror astrology with Caitlin. On this episode, we give charts for Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, Darcy from Oddity, Chucky from Child's Play, Clarice Starling from The Silence of the Lambs, Count Orlok and Ellen from Nosferatu, Billy and Stu from Scream, Lou and Jackie from Love Lies Bleeding, Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks, and the main cast of Bodies Bodies Bodies. As always, it's a silly, fun time. Just three dumb bitches telling each other "EXAAACTLY." Tangents include: David Lynch, Top Chef, social media, horror characters we'd embody, books, cryptid favs and FMKs, Jennifer Tilly, and D&D.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover Strange Darling, a recent erotic thriller from JT Mollner. We talk about the production (specifically that it was beautifully shot on 35mm), the editing, the acting, and the score. We both really loved the movie, and we enjoyed taking a closer look at the gender themes throughout. Tangents include: Top Chef (skippers, jump to minute 11 to get to the movie review), favorite months, pet names, balloons, feral cats, horror universes to live in, horror soundtracks, and Jennifer Tilly.

Zach, Maddie, Colleen, and Mary join Caitlin to recap 2024 in horror. We each give our top five horror movies of the year, including some honorable mentions, and we dunk on the ones that disappointed us. We also talk about trends in horror as well as what we're looking forward to in 2025. Tangents include: donkeys and being "donkey drained" (TM Colleen), The Matrix, dangeous animal companions, things we learned this year, a fabled Yellowjackets podast, 2024 horror Oscar noms, preferred theater seating, scrunching vs folding toilet paper, eating digits (phalanges) and digts (numerals), best and worst Christmas gifts, tech that will fizzle, and what we'd steal from our childhood malls.

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover It's What's Inside, a new horror-adjacent comedy currently streaming on Netflix. We talk about the body swap trope, the movie's fantastic acting and editing, and what our tells would be if we found ourselves in other bodies. Tangents include: the gender divide on "big lights," Charlie's wedding, photos, horror authors, captions, The Office, brand loyalty, Christmas, and Cameo. Happy holidays!

Victor joins Caitlin to run through a list of Christmas horror movies. We look at some favorites, like Krampus, P2, and Black Christmas, and we have just as much fun exploring Christrmas horror flops. We also give superlatives for best killer Santa, most overrated Christmas horror movie, most underrated Christmas horror movie, best Christmas kill, punniest title, and best Christmas one-liner. Hopefully you can squeeze some of these movies in before Christmas. Tangents include: shipping gifts, Christmas trees, favorite ornaments, horror villains, the new American Psycho, snow, finding out Santa isn't real (spoiler alert), killer Santas, football, Die Hard, Christmas classics, and a Christmas themed FMK, 

Mathula joins Caitlin to cover Psycho 2, a sequel that came out 23 years after its predecessor. We look at monstrous motherhood, revenge, friendship, and deception as we discuss this underrated gem. Tangents include: Blockbuster, swear word rankings, preferred alcoholic spirits, favorite ice, stylish villains, brand loyalty, Christmas lists, Christmas lights, and an unhinged question from Mary. Be sure to check out Hallelujah Dystopia!

Adam joins Caitlin to cover 2022's Soft and Quiet. Inspired by the events of the 2020 birdwatching incident, Beth de Araujo wrote Soft and Quiet as a critique of the racism and white nationalism that originate specifically in white women. We talk about those themes, as well as feigned white victimhood, patriarchy, and the rise of fascism. Tangents are happier and include: pies, candles, and strangest movies of 2024. Be sure to check out Bad For Me and Adam's extensive, impressive, home-made bow tie collection! 

Fellow Richmond podcaster Josh of Super Scary Podcast joins Caitlin to discuss the most iconic masks in horror. From Jason to Michael to Leatherface and beyond, we cover all our favorite horror movie masks and what makes them so effective. Tangents include: the Richmond podcast scene, Nightmare Weekend, vacuuming vs dusting, bar vs liquid soap, movie theater seating, Thanksgiving food, and soup. Be sure to check out Super Scary Podcast! 

Christian, Mil, and Nick join Caitlin to discuss 2024's Smile 2, a box office smash with fun viral marketing. We talk about our theater experiences and discuss themes of loneliness, fame, addiction, and mother/daughter relationships. Tangents include: maps, Sex and the City, horror subgenres, sequels, smiles, FMK criteria, and our Octobers (happier times).

Bob from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to discuss their favorite PG-13 horror movies. Horror tends to live comfortably in the R rating, but with the right atmosphere, PG-13 horror can deliver some real scares. Let us know if we missed any of your favorites! Tangents include: voting, favorite characters from 2024 horror, autumn, a FMK, crocs, Youtube, our buddy Ripley, Outback Steakhouse, Australian food, and more. Be sure to check out Straight Chilling wherever you get your podcasts.

Rachel and Matilda from the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Network join Caitlin to cover The Substance, a new body horror movie from Coralie Fargeat. We talk about beauty standards, the dual self, self care vs self loathing, patriarchy, and more. It's a dense, stylized, vulnerable movie with lots to talk about. Tangents include: movies and shows that surprised us, health drinks, Terrifier, eating like no one is watching, French extremity horror, Halloween watches, HBO docuseries, and our love for one another.

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover The Conjuring 2, set in jolly old England (so prepare yourselves for our accents and impressions). We talk about Ed and Lorraine Warren becoming Christian superheroes, and we discuss the "real life" case as it played out in Enfield. It's a silly, fun time. Tangents include: Charlie's wedding, dreams, LPOTL, Paranormal Activity, books we've re-read, thirst vs hunger, worst movies of 2024, hauntings, favorite podcasts, Candy's house, chocolate, Conjuring vs Insidious movies, and a few good Would You Rathers. 

Maddie joins Caitlin to cover 2020's Becky, a horror comedy that explores the depths of tween girl rage. Lulu Wilson is great, and we get to see Kevin James in a dramatic role. It's a fun time! Tangents include: weddings, TLC, 2024 horror, fall, chaotic zodiac signs, backyard fires, Nicole Kidman, broken bones, sland, Thanksgiving, holiday decor, daylight savings, and sports uniforms. Be sure to check out My Cryptid's Keeper - available wherever you get your podcasts.

Mary joins Caitlin to cover their favorite ending scenes in horror movies. From entire end-sequences to punchy final-shots, we cover the best of the best. Standout themes include: good guys winning, bad guys winning, heart-stopping twists, harrowing bleakness, discomforting ambiguity, and the good ol' A24 stare. Tangents include: cybertrucks, quicksand, hurricanes, books and general [il]literacy, Halloween triple features, and finger liquids.

Victor joins Caitlin to discuss Oddity, a 2024 horror release from Ireland that we both really enjoyed. We talk about twins, vengeance, arrogance, and, of course, oddities. Check this one out on Shudder as soon as it's out! Tangents include: name origins, beverages, soundtracks, PSLs, porch swings vs tire swings, books, and hand replacements. 

Mathula of Hallelujah Dystopia joins Caitlin to cover The Devil's Bath, a quietly-released and beautifully-crafted 2024 horror movie. The movie touches on depression, sexuality, monstrous motherhood, and religious and old-world traditions, all while teaching us about the historical phenomenon of suicide by proxy. It's a harrowing watch, but it has rocketed up my 2024 horror rankings. Tangents include: crafts, surprise 2024 horror hits, childhood television, melancholy movies, funerary options, Schoolhouse Rock, dreams, and a slew of WYRs. You WILL forgive Helga's barks because a) she's a good baby girl, and b) it's Mathula's birthday! 

Joe from Films at First Sight and No Film Left Behind joins Caitlin to cover 1994's Serial Mom, the monstrous motherhood classic from John Waters. 2024 marks Serial Mom's 30th anniversary, and we are thrilled to revisit it. We talk about our favorite jokes, our favorite kills, and just how John-Waters-y this movie is. Tangents include: a mini review of Trap, movies we wish we could rewatch for the first time, 2024 horror, black and white movies, dream houses, prank calls, ghost activities, and Joe's pronunciation of water. 

Eric from Bloody Good Horror joins Caitlin to cover 2004's Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed. We revisit monstrous menstruation as a trope and praise the movie for being a truly excellent sequel. Tangents include: podcasting, snacks, PSLs, urban legends, easter eggs in horror movies, legs vs eyes count, werewolves vs regular dogs, soups, flaws that would save us in a horror movie, and animated movies. Be sure to check out Eric's music HY-FY, especially his new album, dropping Friday, September 13th.

Soju from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 2002's Queen of the Damned, a movie about fame, loneliness, and desire. It's got soundtrack for the ages, and it hits some of our favorite vampire tropes. We also talk about Aaliyah and the tragic circsumtances surrounding her death. Tangents are mostly vampire related, as we got a ton of great vampire questions from the audience. We also talk about card suits, good advice, body parts, and 2024 horror.

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to cover MaXXXine, the third installment in Ti West's X franchise. We are pretty critical of the movie's shortcomings, but we enjoy talking about what could've been. It's a big entry to the 2024 horror catalog regardless of where you stand. Tangents are unhinged and many, and include: our beach week t-shirt exchange, Shyamalan, McAvoy, math, horror characters, corporate bonding, coin tosses, presidential astrology, Zach's bday, wood, turning one another into Sims, spooky noises, and more. Apologies for how many times we say "pwincess."

Zach and Nick join Caitlin to discuss Tarot, a 2024, PG-13 release. We discuss fate, monstrous motherhood, astrology, and, of course, tarot. It may not make the top of any lists, but it's a perfectly serviceable horror movie for tweens with some cool kills. Tangents include: Zach's birthday, Nick's knee, horror subgenres, 2024 horror so far, Shudder, candles, brands, chores, favorite teachers, and home views.

Mary joins Caitlin to discuss Longlegs, the highly anticipated new film from Oz Perkins and Neon. We talk about monstrous motherhood and the Satanic Panic, and we address the comparisons to Silence of the Lambs and Se7en. Tangents include: pets, a "would you rather," horror trope pet peeves, Mary's podcast bumpers, favorite art items, drinks for a crisp autumn evening, house colors, animals, executions, seasons, circus roles, and piercings. 

This is a non-horror solo episode. Unless you count the trauma of growing up fat as horror (personally, I do). It's a weird and vulnerable episode where I talk about pretty privilege, thin privilege, and the frustration of wanting to reject beauty standards while feeling like you need to reach them in order to survive. It's a strange, dissonant space to exist in, but I hope it'll resonate with people like me. See my solo-sode on Body Horror for more content like this. Back to normal* horror movie reviews next time! *normal is relative

Colleen joins Caitlin to cover Bodies Bodies Bodies, a 2022 horror-comedy from A24. The movie touches on themes of technology, messy interpersonal relationships, and privilege, all while making us laugh. Forgive my goof of conflating Rachel Sennott and her character, Alice. Tangents include: Ms. New Booty, astrology, whisper singing, A24, Zach, podcasting, walking out of movies, swords, internet trends, new albums, xenomorphs vs The Thing, and a good ol' FMK.

Randy from the Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to talk about I Saw the TV Glow, a surreal new A24 movie from director Jane Schoenbrun. We talk about identity, gender, memory, nostalgia, and the importance of media. With its smart direction, melancholic tone, moody aesthetic, both universal and specific themes, and potent symbolism, it's a real accomplishment of a movie, and we have a lot of love for it. Tangents include: Fred Durst, childhood television, a Mia Goth character FMK, cryptids, first movies, pizza toppings, and, of course, edging.

Bob joins Caitlin to cover After Midnight, a relatable, romantic monster movie from Jeremy Gardner. We talk about identity, interpersonal relationships, taking inventory of the past, and looking at the future. What a cast, what a soundtrack, and what direction! A banger, start to finish. Check it out; let us know what you think. Tangents include: physical media, Last Podcast on the Left, tikki drinks, horror soundtracks, several FMKs, scary animals, moving to other countries, little presents, divisive horror movies, candy salad trauma dumps, ice cream, triple features, holding your breath, moving, and cutting sandwiches. Be sure to check out Straight Chilling Podcast and Let's Get Physical Media!

Mary joins Caitlin to count down a list of the best redemption arcs in horror movies. What makes a good redemption? A swell of courage? Alignnment of a previously skewed moral compass? Teamwork while fighting a common enemy? Sacrifice? Join us as we analyze our favorites. Tangents include: backstories in horror, things we're looking forward to, best/worst movies of 2024 so far, selling your soul, hotdogs, crackers, animal sounds, 4th of July, nudity in horror, Anaconda, and Lake Placid. And SOAK, our Skin of a Killer podcast.

I had the honor of interviewing writer, director, producer, actress, and film festival organizer Heidi Honeycutt. Heidi discusses her new book I Spit On Your Celluloid: The History of Women Directing Horror Movies, which is available for pre-order from Headpress Books. We talk about the making of Heidi's book, including her inspiration, her impressive research, and her findings. We also talk about how she became a horror fan, feminism in horror in general, lost films, and our shared love of films and filmmaking. Heidi is so knowledgeable and passionate; I can't wait to get my hands on the book. Find her on instagram at @honeycuttheidi to stay updated about her projects. 

A solo episode with mini reviews on Immaculate and The First Omen, two similar movies that came out right around the same time. I talk about why the conversation around bod[il]y [autonomy] horror is particularly relevant right now, given the rollbacks to access to reproductive healthcare. Credit to Victor for the subtitle idea! Tangents and questions include: 2024 horror, television, books recs, podcast production, my friend Sarah, my grandfather, dream podcast guests, B horror movies, farts, Dead Girl, and what makes me love horror.

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Late Night with the Devil, one of 2024's most anticipated horror movies. We all loved the movie, which is a bottle piece told in real time. We dig a little deeper into Bohemian Grove ("the grove" mentioned in the movie), the AI controversy, the effects, the acting, and the film's overall themes. Tangents are many, and include: abortion Big Gulps, talk shows, museum disasters, Last Podcast on the Left (and lots of Henry Zebrowski), Triple D, eating organs, cryptids, overhyped movies, dream podcast guests, tiktok, horror at the Oscars, villains, pet names, and tattoos. 

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to cover Love Lies Bleeding, the A24 movie "by and for the world's dyke perverts." Naturally, we loved it. We talk about themes of: obsession, rage, catharsis, gender, and loving things that are bad for you; we also discuss magical realism, body horror, and the importance of media literacy in stories like these. Oh, and our theater experience was memorable. The review starts around the 30:00 mark. Tangents throughout include: Chappell Roan, trailers, 2024 horror, AI, cryptids, hair, teeth, villains, tattoos, taxes, fandoms, Uber, pet names, charcuterie boards, and more.

Zach joins Caitlin to antagonize her, and to cover Abigail, a new release from the folks a Radio Silence Productions. It's a great horror comedy with an ensemble cast, lots of blood, and fun vampire lore. We also recount our somewhat eventful theater experience. Tangents include: trailers, 2024 horror releases, cartoon outfits, bugs, rings, taste buds, breakfast foods, and a slew of Would You Rather questions.

Keith from Horror Convos joins Caitlin to discuss The Ring (2002), a groundbreaking J-horror remake that many of us found formative. We discuss all kinds of Ring-things: monstrous motherhood, cultural and psychological influences around fear, practical effects, architecture as a storytelling element, color theory, scores, performances, and more. Sillier tangents include: urban legends, breakfast foods, insects, "forever outfits," and a couple great Would You Rathers.

Morgan from CandleCore and the Good For Her film screening series joins Caitlin to cover Sugar and Spice, a less-horror-more-heist comedy from 2001. We talk about sisterhood, americana, motherhood, and finding identity in archetypes in this stylized, subversive cult classic. It was very formative for both of us! Tangents include: Scream, Spice Girls, go-to breakfasts, pets, yearbooks, fireplaces vs fire pits, candles, injuries, and more.

Mary and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Scream 2, a movie with an interesting production history and a star-studded cast. We talk about sequel tropes, monstrous motherhood, and the franchise entering the conversation around the effect of violent media. Tangents include: sharting, pranks, product placement, Bob Dole, spiced coke, Scream rankings, franchise kills, natural disasters, horror movie roles, sequels, a few fun WYRs, PIU guests as Twilight characters, celebrity deaths, and head size.

Everybody's little brother Zach joins Caitlin to cover Slaxx, a movie about possessed pants. We talk about retail madness, the myth of "ethical" consumption, and how this movie nails horror comedy with a message. It's goofy and silly, but also affecting. We also talk about: camp counselor stories, retail work experiences, brushing teeth with twigs, being haters, jeans, pooping fruits, one hit wonders, correcting assumptions, chicken nuggets, wisdom tooth removal, beans, our dad's strange portioning, and spoons vs forks.

Mathula joins Caitlin to cover 2003's Dogville, the first installment of Lars Von Trier's unfinished United States trilogy. It's an impressive undertaking with a unique production history and bleak plot. We talk about themes of hopelessness, arrogance, and man's tendency towards harm. It's a rough watch at times, but a really interesting movie overall. Shoutout to Mathula for mailing me the DVD and chatting with me. Tangents include: hair, goth-ness, bins of pins, dogs, HBO, changing movie endings, horror movie tropes, a bean WYR, correcting assumptions, and craft fairs. Be sure to check out Hallelujah Dystopia.

Bob, Randy, and Soju of Straight Chilling Podcast join Caitlin to discuss Spring, the Benson and Moorhead body-horror-romance from 2014. We look at themes of travel, love, time[lessness], monstrous motherhood, and science. Thanks for joining, boys! Tangents include: HBO, actors, one-hit-wonders, strange addictions, celebratory meals, favorite cities, fights, dogs, hotdogs, and airports. And we agree that we're ~a little fucked up~ (*cue the most cringe 90s numetal your mind can conjure*). 

It's been a while since I've shared a solo episode, but I wanted to chat a little bit about my recent bilateral salpingectomy, in case any other folks out there had questions or wanted to learn more about the procedure. This is always something I've wanted for myself, and it means even more now post-Roe. Take charge of your bodily autonomy and reproductive health in the ways that work best for you, and support your fellow people in what works for them. Thanks for listening! 

Zach joins Caitlin to review a list of favorite horror comedies - some old, some new, and some that might just be funny to us. Let us know if you think we missed any! Just do so gently, for we are sensitive. Tangents include: Candy's house, sandwiches, cosplay, Victor meeting Bruce Campbell, white boy songs, CiCi's, spiders, and pets.