Podcast appearances and mentions of reed lackey

We're continuing our series on the films of David Lynch this week with what is arguably his most unusual entry: THE STRAIGHT STORY. Lynch had built a reputation on bizarre works like Eraserhead and Lost Highway. His films were often filled with graphic sex and violence as in Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, or even Wild at Heart. So, when his gentle, elegant, G-rated Disney film was released, it turned more than a few heads and earned him some of the most broadly universal acclaim of his career.The Straight Story tells of Alvin Straight, an elderly and ailing man who learns that his brother has suffered a stroke. Unable to drive a car, he determines to set out on a nearly 400-mile journey to visit his brother on a riding lawnmower, embarking upon an episodic journey filled with interesting characters and beautiful landscapes. It is a remarkably spiritual journey of potent wisdom and uncommon grace, offered up with a degree of humanity that perhaps could have only been expressed by the late David Lynch.We're joined by Andrew Nelson and Matt Murray to discuss the film's finer details as well as debate the wisdom of Alvin Straight's quest and explore just how far we might go in order to put things right. It's a thoughtful, funny, and vulnerable conversation that we really hope you'll enjoy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have something a bit unique for you this week. For the past few months, our Patron subscribers have been listening to us make our way through the classic series TWIN PEAKS, seasons 1 and 2. This week, we're presenting brief selections from those chats, currently only available in their entirety to our Patron subscribers. We share our variety of thoughts on the mystery of Laura Palmer, the quirky inhabitants of Twin Peaks, and the haunting, mysterious nightmares of the Black Lodge. It's all of that and everything in between. We'll be back next week with another installment in our David Lynch series. Meanwhile... please enjoy this sampling of our Patron-only chats and for the full conversations, join us on Patreon!7:25 - Twin Peaks Pilot16:39 - Season 1, episodes 2 & 328:01 - Season 1, episodes 4 & 538:08 - Season 1, episodes 6 & 746:52 - Season 1 finale53:42 - Season 2 premiere1:00:20 - Season 2, episodes 2 & 31:09:16 - Season 2, episodes 4 & 51:12:55 - Season 2, episodes 6 & 71:21:11 - Season 2, episodes 8 & 91:28:35 - Season 2, episodes 10 & 111:38:15 - Season 2, episodes 12 & 131:45:50 - Season 2, episodes 14 & 151:56:56 - Season 2, episodes 16 & 172:05:52 - Season 2, episodes 18 & 192:15:59 - Season 2, episodes 20 & 212:25:48 - Season 2 finaleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Continuing our journey through the work of the late David Lynch, we finally arrive at what is often considered his finest film. MULHOLLAND DRIVE brought Lynch some of the largest and most universal acclaim of his career. Its Los Angeles-centric mystery traverses the territories of dream logic, identity, ambition, envy, and the elusive way we all try to find ourselves. It featured a star-making performance from Naomi Watts and was nominated for numerous awards.We're joined by friend of the show Sarah Welch-Larson (author of Becoming Alien) and new friend of the show Abby Olcese (author of Films for All Seasons) to dive deep into the spirit and the mind of all that happens on Mulholland Drive. It's a hearty and thoughtful conversation that we really hope you enjoy!5:41 - Two Questions with Abby Olcese15:23 - MULHOLLAND DRIVESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our series examining the films of the late David Lynch by tackling one of his most elusive and bleak visions of sex and violence: LOST HIGHWAY. We're joined by special guest Matt Cosper to unpack the surrealist fever dream of a man trapped between two lives, two minds, and perhaps even two souls. It's a compelling portrait of the inability to cope with who we are and what we've done, traversing through wishes and memory as only David Lynch could do it. Although the film's focus on the darker shades of human nature is sometimes challenging and even potentially offensive, it's also a rich exploration of the mental, emotional, and even spiritual landscapes that sit within each of us.Head with us as we head 90 miles an hour down a dark and frightening road and we really hope you enjoy the ride.4:42 - Two Questions for Matt Cosper25:35 - LOST HIGHWAYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We arrive in our series on David Lynch at what is widely considered to be one of his greatest films. BLUE VELVET acted as a creative and cultural palate cleanser for Lynch following his strong disappointment and frustration with Dune. It sits quite effectively at the intersection of Lynch's more eccentric qualities and his more accessible qualities, offering up a story that it both elusive and coherent. We're joined this week by Father Josh Bowron -- last heard on our Midnight Mass Clergical Roundtable episode -- who is a longstanding Lynch fan and offers up some keen insights into both this film and Lynch's broader creative processes.We go to some rich and thoughtful places in this episode and we really hope you enjoy it!4:23 - Two Questions with Father Josh Bowron14:30 - BLUE VELVETSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Frank Herbert's landmark science fiction novel has become more culturally central thanks to the recent blockbuster films by Denis Villeneuve adapting the story. But as we make our way through our series on the late David Lynch, we had to stop by Arrakis and grapple with his much-maligned adaptation from 1984. Featuring a massive budget (which came with lots of production demands as well), a star-studded cast, and classic 1980s sets and effects, Dune did everything it could to capture an epic space-opera vibe.We discuss how successful or not it was alongside friend of the show Julie Ahern and new friend of the show Nicole Amato. This is a hearty, fun, thoughtful conversation that also wrestles with Dune's unique themes subverting our prominent concepts of destiny and heroism. We enjoyed tremendously discussing this film and we hope you enjoy it as well!3:32 - Getting to know Nicole Amato19:10 - DUNE (1984)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see. One chants out between two worlds... fire walk with me.When David Lynch's megahit series Twin Peaks was cancelled after two seasons, people eagerly awaited the announced feature film. Responses were decidedly mixed, however, on the finished film, controversial as it was for missing lots of key series regulars and for focusing almost exclusively on the last week of Laura Palmer's life. Despite an outstanding performance from Sheryl Lee and Lynch's signature stylistic flourishes, Fire Walk with Me was greeted with mostly negative feedback.This week, we continue our Lynch series by revisiting that film and trying to uncover its value in light of its subject matter. We're joined by friend of the show Steven Beckley and feature a Patron-only segment featuring a chat between Reed and Nathan about episodes 8 & 9. Whether you've been following our chats from the beginning or whether this is your biggest prompt yet to do so, we hope you enjoy this look at "who killed Laura Palmer" and the legacy of Twin Peaks.Patron Only Segment: Twin Peaks, Season 2, Episodes 8 & 94:41 - TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH MESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey friends, we have a very brief additional interview to share with you for the upcoming film CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD, in theaters as of May 9th. Director Eli Craig sat down with us for a few minutes to discuss his upcoming film. It's a brief chat, but one we hope you'll enjoy!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In January 2025, the iconic visionary filmmaker David Lynch passed away. His films invite numerous interpretations about humanity, creativity, dreams, fears, and they seem to have given entire generations of people open permission to be weird. Since we had never covered him on the show before, we decided to make David Lynch's films the centerpiece of this year's creator profile.We start with his first feature film, ERASERHEAD. It's a film that took him nearly five years to make and has invited countless debates and interpretations in the years since for its sparse, nightmarish interests. We're joined by Matt Ruff and Vera Goudie this week as we kick off an entire run through David Lynch's catalogue.We're glad you're here and we hope you enjoy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Available publicly for a limited time, we present an exclusive Patron B-Side!We have a special surprise for you this week that we'll bet you didn't "see" coming. ("See" what I did there?) Ok, enough of the Matt Murdock puns, we have a special conversation between Nathan Rouse and Brandon Grafius all about our favorite Hell's Kitchen lawyer-by-day-dispensing-justice-by-night superhero: DAREDEVIL!Nathan and Brandon share their histories with this longstanding Marvel character, why he remains so compelling, and their personal favorite comic stories featuring him. Then they share their somewhat complex feelings about the recent MCU season 1 of DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN, offering some poignant reflections along the way about why the character remains a beacon of hopeful resilience while also presenting some troubling portraits of our fractured times.It's a vibrant and thoughtful conversation that we hope you enjoy!Special Note: This episode is available to our Patron Subscribers only and is available here for a limited time. To enjoy all of our bonus Patron content, visit Patreon.com/thefearofgodpodcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have another special interview for you this week, this time with director Felipe Vargas, whose new film ROSARIO hits theaters on Friday, May 2nd.Rosario is a richly textured paranormal horror story about a woman who, during a severe snowfall, must spend the night with her deceased grandmother's body while she waits for the ambulance to arrive. But when she discovers a hidden room filled with religious, ritualistic items, she begins to be haunted by supernatural occurrences and must come to terms with her family's buried secrets, confronting the sacrifices and choices they have made.It is a thoughtful and creepy film, but also surprisingly funny and colorful film as well. We had a wonderful conversation with the Felipe and we hope you check out Rosario and enjoy this conversation!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes you just have to face your worst fears, like public speaking, or flying, or rapidly replicating creeping, crawling spiders. Infested is a French horror film about residents in a tenement building who suddenly find themselves facing a massive quarantine inside their building as it is overrun by countless arachnids with swift, predatory, lethal power. Although the film offers up lots of squirming terror, it also smartly focuses on some disarming character relationships and points to an important observation about our relationship with the natural world.Also featuring a Patron-only segment where Reed and Nathan share their thoughts on the recent blockbuster film from Ryan Coogler, SINNERS, this is a fun and thoughtful episode that we really hope you enjoy.Patron Only Segment: SINNERS8:48 - INFESTEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a special surprise for you today, an interview with award-winning author Adam Cesare about his novel Clown in a Cornfield and its forthcoming film adaptation, which will be exclusively in theaters on May 9th.Clown in a Cornfield is a remarkably thoughtful and accessible book while also being scary, provocative, and an insane amount of fun. Director Eli Craig of Tucker and Dale vs Evil fame has adapted Adam's book with an equally thoughtful eye towards its tone, its inspirations, and fun. It works as a funny and thrilling popcorn slasher film while also providing some compelling threads of thoughtful themes.We hope you go check out the film when it hits theaters (again, May 9th) and we hope you enjoy our discussion with author Adam Cesare!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have something a bit different this week that we hope you'll enjoy. For more than two decades, a community known as Arts & Faith have been writing about and curating films (and other media) of great spiritual significance. On at least six different occasions, the community put together a Top 100 Films list, with the most recent endeavor taking place in 2020.This week, Reed is joined by friend of the show and host of the podcast "1ofmystories", Lindsey Dunn. Both of them participated in the selection of the forthcoming 2025 edition of the Top 100 Films list. They discuss the history of the community, the selection and voting process for the films, a handful of films from the 2020 list, and also ways that you could become a part of the community if you're interested.We hope you'll check out artsandfaith.com for more details and we hope you enjoy this week's special conversation!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the first installment of The Fear of God: Ghoul Scouts Edition! This week, Reed and Nathan are lost in the shadows as Vera Goudie and Jess Fischli take over the show with a discussion of the infamous thriller from Karyn Kusama and writer Diablo Cody: JENNIFER'S BODY.Starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer's Body tells a subversive and darkly comic tale of codependency, possession, and good, old-fashioned revenge. The film, originally pitched to audiences as a kind of feminine slasher, is a far more interesting and layered piece than its first audiences recognized.Also featuring a Patron-only "Whatcha" segment, this is a lively and thoughtful discussion that we really hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?3:23 - JENNIFER'S BODYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We close a loop from last year this week by covering the concluding chapter in Ti West's provocative horror trilogy that started with X and Pearl: MAXXXINE. We invite back friend of the show JR Forasteros to help us unpack our decisively uneven feelings about a trilogy which started strong, proceeded to get even better, and then possibly completely fumbled the ending.Also featuring a Patron-only segment where we play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon -- with ourselves! -- this is a laugh-filled and fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy.Patron Only Segment: Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon9:07 - MAXXINESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Keeping an accidental trend of looking back at some of the most unconventional horror films of 2024, we offer you a conversation about Tilman Singer's CUCKOO. We're joined this week by two friends from Van Ryder Games, AJ Porfirio and Julie Ahern, to discuss this strange and occasionally befuddling examination of exploration of fractured relationships and twisted scientific exploitation. While opinions on the film were decidedly mixed, the conversation is lively and thoughtful as we unpack the myriad of themes we think this film is attempting to explore.Also featuring some fun conversation about the Van Ryder Games tabletop sensation Final Girl, this is a hearty but fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy.4:58 - Getting to know Julie Ahern18:40 - Updates on Final Girl39:10 - CUCKOOSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Easily one of the most unconventional films of last year was the French throwback to folk horror tales of the 1970s: THE VOURDALAK. Set in the 18th century, it follows a Marquis who becomes displaced after being robbed and finds his way to the shelter of a strange family. To say too much more would be to rob this unique, surprising, and disarmingly potent film of its fun -- and its terror. It features a vintage aesthetic, outstanding performances, and a monster that will absolutely not be what you're expecting.It also features some profound observations about the insidious nature of power pursuits, the creeping dread of control that pretends to be love, and the necessity of remembering our capacity to change. It's also a fun, gory chiller perfect for a dark and stormy night. We're joined by author and friend of the show Sarah Welch-Larson for a lively and thoughtful conversation that we really hope you enjoy.Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To8:30 - THE VOURDALAKSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the Christian, and the formerly so; for the hopeful and the heartbroken; for the grieving and the teeth-gritted; for the beloved and the bedraggled; for the pissed off and the prayerful...Submitted humbly is a conversation between Nathan Rouse and Dr. David Gushee -- Christian ethicist, professor, pastor, and friend. It examines the sensibilities of the last few months, the efforts that were taken to chart a different course, and the importance of faith and hope and action as we look to what's next.If you find yourself confused, distressed, lamenting, or weary in heart, this discussion is for you. If you find yourself apathetic, curious, detached, or adrift, this discussion is for you. And if you find yourself wishing that a kindred spirit would hold out a hand and sit with you while we gather the strength to move forward, this discussion is most definitely for you.We hope it encourages you. Amen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let us begin by saying thank you to our listeners. This week we published our 400th episode! We can hardly believe it. From nearly 9 years ago when the idea of discussions about faith and fear was little more than a fun thought experiment, to sitting now at 400 episodes (and more than that when we count bonuses and interviews), we're so grateful for the little community we've grown together.So, to celebrate 400 episodes, we solicited lists from more than 40 friends and listeners of what they considered the greatest horror films of all time. Then, we gathered together a group of long-standing FoGgers (Vera Goudie, Andrew Nelson, Jackson Harper, Jocee Worley, Dave Courtney, and Matt Murray) to discuss, debate, and finalize what among those were the 10 Greatest Horror Films of All Time.Along the way, we discuss what qualities make a horror film great, whether it matters if a film is broadly popular or higher in intensity, and much more. It's a hearty and thoughtful conversation about why we love horror movies, their value to our lives, and -- most especially -- which ones are the best of the bunch.Thank you SO much for listening to us over the years and supporting us for more than 400 episodes examining what scares us in order to find what saves us. As always, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but not the end of the conversation. In that spirit, we encourage you to fear nothing else and be on your way rejoicing. Thank you again.6:29 - How we collected the nominees8:14 - The Wild Card Picks20:54 - What makes a horror film great?31:06 - Number 1038:15 - Numbers 6 - 955:28 - How much does a horror film's intensity matter?1:04:06 - Numbers 3 - 51:19:44 - Popularity vs Quality1:26:26 - The Top 2 FilmsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last year was an eclectic assortment of styles, subgenres, and themes in the horror genre but perhaps one of the most stylistically unconventional was a film called IN A VIOLENT NATURE. On its narrative surface, In a Violent Nature is a pretty standard slasher. But the very big distinction is that nearly all of the film is shown from the vantage point of the steadily-stalking killer as he encroaches upon his prey. It's extremely gory, contains no musical score, and is constructed with several lengthy scenes of natural, predatory patience. It didn't resonate with everyone (even on our episode) but those who loved it find it haunting, meditative, and provocatively thoughtful. Those who didn't find it tedious, puzzling, and not at all fun.What IS fun however, is our conversation. We invite back friend of the show Leland Merritt to help us unpack all of the things this film has on its mind and the ways it can reflect our own meditations on the way we engage with and in habitat the often-dangerous environment and landscape around us. We hope you enjoy it!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our look back at some of the most compelling horror films of 2024 with an unconventional enigma. RED ROOMS took the festival circuit by storm with its haunting, unnerving examination of obsession, technology, and commodified violence. It tells the story of the trial of Ludovic Chevalier, on trial for the hideous murders of three teenage girls, whose deaths were filmed and sold on the dark web. While some enthusiastic fans believe he is innocent, Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariepy) holds a strange and extreme fascination with the case and will stop at nothing to obtain the elusive footage of the third victim. We are joined by friend of the show, writer-director Michael Felker to unpack the myriad of complex interpretations of this film and the ways it shines an uncomfortable light on our tendencies to stare endlessly at the ugliness we do to one another.Also featuring a special FoG Your Consideration where we share our brief thoughts on Strange Darling, I Saw the TV Glow, Immaculate, and The First Omen, this is a thoughtful and fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: FoG Your Consideration8:02 - RED ROOMSSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our look back at some of the most interesting horror films of 2024 by examining a haunting, dread-soaked thriller from Oz Perkins, LONGLEGS. Starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage (in a completely unhinged performance), Longlegs tells the story of an FBI agent in the mid-90s investigating a series of murders that all appear to be connected to someone who wasn't even there when they happened. We're joined by friends of the show Matt Ruff and Blake Collier, as well as first-time guest Scott Tynes-Miller to discuss the differing experiences with this film, its myriad of theological and sociological interests, and our varied interpretations of its haunting ending.Also featuring a Patron-only "Whatcha" segment, this is a hearty and thoughtful conversation that we really hope you enjoy.Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?5:40 - Troubadour Booksellers15:49 - LONGLEGSSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our look-back at some of the most interesting horror films of 2024 with a conversation about Heretic. Heretic has a fantastic premise, featuring Hugh Grant as a charismatic but unsettling man who invites two young Mormon missionary ladies (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) into his home for a conversation about religion. The ladies quickly realize that their situation is more perilous and sinister than they initially suspected. It's a film that tackles big ideas about religion and why we believe what we believe. It features an incredible sense of dread and three fantastic performances.We're joined by friends of the show Brandon Grafius and Jackson Harper for a thoughtful and heartfelt discussion about the complex nature of faith and why the way we choose to live out our faith can sometimes matter as much, if not more, than what we put our faith in.Also featuring a Patron-only segment wherein we propose possible sequels to Heretic, this is a fun and open-hearted conversation that we really hope you enjoy.4:09 - HORROR COMICS AND RELIGION, edited by Brandon Grafius and John W. MoreheadPatron Only Segment: What's the Sequel?15:21 - HERETICSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our slate of episodes looking back at the films of 2024 by covering two films at once! SPEAK NO EVIL was a Dutch horror nightmare written and directed by Christian Tafdrup that shook audiences with its bold, horrific narrative in 2022. Last year, James Watkins adapted an American remake starring James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis that drastically changed the final third of the story and reframed some differing themes.We're joined by friend of the show, writer and director of last year's What You Wish For, Nicholas Tomnay for a thoughtful and insightful discussion of the film's fascinating and complex themes, including our unwillingness to speak up when we're in awe of charismatic figures and our inability to break free from clear and present danger when we're worried about social norms.Also featuring a Patron-only segment where Lackey the Listicle counts down the 8 greatest horror remakes of all time, this is a hearty and fun conversation that we hope you all enjoy.Patron Only Segment: Lackey the Listicle on The Greatest Horror Remakes6:54 - SPEAK NO EVIL (2022 & 2024)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to 2025 everyone! We are kicking things off with a couple of big announcements, a few special guests, and an over-sized episode about one of the most fascinating horror films of the last few years: Coralie Fargeat's THE SUBSTANCE. Starring Demi Moore in possibly a career-best performance, The Substance is about an aging fitness starlet who takes an experimental drug to create a younger, "better" version of herself. Things do not go according to plan.At its heart, The Substance is a bold, exceptionally crafted exploration of cultural stigma around aging and appearance. But along the way, it has some profound observations to make about our relationships with ourselves and the ways our perceptions of our bodies can lead us down dark and destructive paths. We're joined by friends of the show Vera Goudie, Jess Fischli, and Jocee Worley for a vulnerable, thoughtful, and occasionally hilarious discussion about the multitude of fascinating things this film has on its mind.Also featuring a Patron-only "Whatcha" segment, this is a hearty and heartfelt conversation that we really hope you'll enjoy.5:24 - A Few Brief AnnouncementsPatron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?12:41 - THE SUBSTANCEFind Reed and Tyler's book Valley of the Shadow: The Spiritual Value of Horror here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have something special for you while we're on our top of year break. Friend of the show and bestselling author Grady Hendrix is releasing a new book this week (available as of 1/14) called Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. It's set in the 1970s and follows a series of young teens who are expectant mothers and get sent to a maternity home to await their deliveries. While there, they soon stumble upon an old book detailing spells and witchy rituals. When they try it out, complications ensue...The book is not only a page-turning dramatic thriller, it's also a layered exploration of power struggles, motherhood, systemic control structures, and the cost that comes with exercising power -- or showing mercy. Grady sat down to talk with Reed about his new book, as well as a history of cultural views on witches and witchcraft through the decades. We hope you'll enjoy this interview, and we hope you'll check out Grady's new book!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've come to the conclusion of another year. And as we do, we also conclude our mini-series covering the three distinct versions of Nosferatu. First, we covered the original silent F. W. Murnau film from 1922, then the Werner Herzog directed remake from 1979. This week, we dive into visionary director Robert Eggers' take on the gothic horror tale. Atmospheric and saturated with ominous shadows, Eggers lends his unique sensibilities (bolstered by two powerhouse performances from Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgard) to make this tale as haunting as possible. He also layers in some new thematic shades than we've seen before (particularly revolving around the character of Ellen) and amplifies the terror evoked from the character of Count Orlok.We explore all this and more, along with a Patron-only segment which includes our thoughts on recent awards contenders Anora, A Complete Unknown, and Sing Sing. We hope you all have enjoyed this year's episodes and we hope you have a safe happy New Year!5:31 - Looking back on Fear of God 2024Patron Only Segment: FoG Your Consideration: Anora, A Complete Unknown, Sing Sing11:25 - NOSFERATUSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hello friends and FoGgers, we want to wish you a very special Merry Christmas with a unique release this week that we hope you'll enjoy.Several years ago, I (Reed) wrote a handful of short stories for Christmas. One of them involved a shepherd and his young boy sitting and talking on a quiet hillside one uneventful, starlit night. Because of its dialogue-heavy structure, I asked my son if he would like to record a version of it with me. What you are about to hear is that recording.I will resist the urge to provide too many details about the story's meaning. The story should speak for itself, if it speaks at all. But I hope it sparks something for you as you hear it. Perhaps it will make you remember a far-away moment to which you'd like to return. Perhaps it will make you dwell upon a hoped-for dream on the horizon.But most of all, I hope it urges you to pause for a moment -- right where you are, perpetually on the verge of whatever comes next -- and take it all in. All the hope, all the pain, all the mystery. Take a look around. You're in this story too... I promise.Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us Everyone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's that time of year again folks! We're keeping up with a recently minted tradition of covering a different version of Charles Dickens' immortal classic A Christmas Carol by discussing the wonderful adaptation by none other than The Muppets. THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is not only full of all the laughter, whimsy, and heartfelt sentiment that have come to be synonymous with the Muppet gang, but it's also one of the most directly faithful adaptations of Dickens' tale ever put to film.We share our favorite moments from the film as well was dive into why its unique interpretation of the story is particularly special. Also featuring a Patron-only section where we discuss the 1987 holiday special THE MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS -- which, if you've never seen it, it's available on YouTube and extremely worth your time -- this is a warm and joyful conversation that we really hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: THE MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS5:10 - THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROLSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Continuing our trio of episodes this week about the films which adapt Dracula in a very specific but different kind of way. F. W. Murnau's 1922 silent film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror was remade in 1979 by now legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog into a contemplative, grim, and lush presentation he called NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE. Distinguishing itself in many ways from its predecessor while still keeping the primary story intact, Herzog's Nosferatu is saturated with a dim and often oppressively bleak outlook. It's given power by a trio of strong performances in the main roles but also has an overt despair that permeates the entire story. Despite that tone, we have a surprisingly laughter-filled conversation about it.Also featuring a Patron-only discussion about the recent awards contender, CONCLAVE, this episode is a disarming amount of fun and we hope you enjoy it.Patron Only Segment: CONCLAVE4:52 - NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we prepare for the end of the year -- and for the imminent release of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu -- we're doing a mini-series run through the previous versions of this story. We start by going way back to the silent era of filmmaking with NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR from 1922. In all practical measures, F. W. Murnau's film is an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula with names and key details changed. However, a devastating lawsuit at the time all but obliterated most prints of the film from being shown again. Despite these obstacles, it has not only been a classic cherished for decades by horror fans, but one of the most influential horror films ever made. From Count Orlock's iconic look to the tone and structure of its story, it's almost impossible to ignore the impact of this film.Also featuring a Patron-Only segment where we discuss our thoughts about the recent movie musical blockbuster WICKED, this is a brisk and fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: WICKED (part one)5:16 - NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORRORSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before we draw our slate of 2024 episodes to a close, we wanted to highlight a creepy, atmospheric chiller from Damien McCarthy called ODDITY. Intimate in scope but provocative in its implications, Oddity takes some familiar elements and configures them in decisively unconventional ways. It's a revenge thriller, it's a murder mystery, it's a ghost story, it's a haunted house tale, it's a witchy-golem-slasher-cannibal monster movie, and most of all it's a fascinating creeper. Anchored by strong performances and a sharp script, it subverts expectations and has a unique power to linger with you even after it has finished.We're joined by Gorey Gamer Matt Murray for a Patron-only "Whatcha" segment and to discuss all things Oddity. We hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?4:13 - ODDITYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When we covered our series on Frankenstein-inspired horror films earlier this year, we capped it off by looking at The Curse of Frankenstein, the foray into classic horror from Hammer Studios. This week, although deferred a bit from our Dracula series, we're doing the same thing with a conversation about HORROR OF DRACULA. This was notable for being the first time the legendary Christopher Lee with bare the fangs of the iconic count, but certainly not the last (Lee would play Dracula 9 more times). We dive into what makes an older film like this so charming and brush up against the sensibilities that might even make them a bit inspiring as well.Also featuring a Patron-only segment of FoG Your Consideration where we share our thoughts on Smile 2, Speak No Evil, and Cuckoo, this is a brisk and fun conversation that we hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: FoG Your Consideration (Speak No Evil, Smile 2, Cuckoo)9:16 - HORROR OF DRACULASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After taking a slight detour last week, we're back to close off our Spooky Season (AHHH!) franchise run of the Alien film series with an epilogue looking back at some of our key takeaways, favorite moments, and finally solidifying the Kills Hall of Fame for Xenomorphs.Kick back, relax, and enjoy our wrap up of all things face-huggy and chest-bursty. We hope you enjoy!7:57 - Key Takeaways from the Alien Franchise23:00 - Our 3 Favorite Scenes from the Franchise36:54 - Highers and Lowers (which films rose or fell in our esteem)42:47 - Ranking the 7 Alien Films59:45 - The Xenomorphic Kills Hall of FameSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Due to some scheduling adjustments and coinciding with some proximal current events, we bring to you a very different episode this week. Each week, we explore what scares us in order to find what saves us. This week, we're digging a little deeper on the last part of that motto.Whether you are burnt out, stressed, worried, anxious, fearful, saddened, burdened, confused, lonely, or all of the above and more, we hope to offer you just a few words of encouragement and hope this week.Reed is joined by friends of the show Andrew Nelson, Vera Goudie, and Dave Courtney for an open-hearted conversation about what we turn to when we're seeking hope or strength. From the simple practice of finding something to do with our hands to the creative meditations of a story or song, we're offering up a few things that we hope will make you feel just a little bit better and a little bit less alone.We'll be back next week with our regularly scheduled programming, but for this week we want you to take a moment to breathe and we hope this episode helps you feel just a little bit better. Thank you for listening.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have finally arrived at the primary reason we chose to march through the Alien franchise this spooky season (AHHHHH). As we've made our way through #halloweylanyutani, we've had the 2024 release of the latest installment in our minds. So now, after all the facehugging, chestbursting, and j-j-j-j-jaw-dropping conversations, we have finally arrived at ALIEN: ROMULUS.We sit down with two old friends, Blake Collier and Andy Whitfield, while all nestled together in a cabin in the California mountains to discuss why this film seems to have successfully reinvigorated the franchise 7 years after Alien: Covenant, what works and doesn't about this return to form, and the compelling way this particular entry explores our relationship with our technological and artificial companions.It's an earnest and thoughtful conversation and we really hope you enjoy it!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we feature our second Redux episode in the Alien Franchise run for Spooky Season (AHHHHH) #Halloweylanyutani. Redux episodes feature films we've covered on the show before but with fresh takes, new voices, and lots of renewed perspectives. This time around we're joined by friends of the show Vera Goudie and Matt Ruff to unpack the often frustrating specifics of ALIEN: COVENANT. Following the more polarizing response to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant feels like a deliberate correction -- perhaps an overcorrection -- away from the more thematic, existential questions the franchise was posing to get back to more xenomorphic carnage. The result is a film that abounds in wasted potential, though not without its moments.Also featuring a Patron only segment with our final Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode for this year, this is a hearty, lively, and thoughtful discussion we really hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XV5:48 - ALIEN: COVENANTSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our Spooky Season (AHHHH) run through the iconic Alien franchise (#Halloweylanyutani) with the film that saw the return of Ridley Scott to the film series that he had originally launched. PROMETHEUS initially played things a bit light on whether or not it actually was an Alien film, choosing instead to go for philosophical and existential ideas exploring our origins and our purposes within the framework of alien worlds.We invite friends of the show Jess Fischli, Andrew Nelson, and Steve Beckley for a wonderful and hearty conversation full of thoughtful questions, poignant observations, and an absurd amount of laughter. Also featuring a Patron only segment covering The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XIV, this is an extremely fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIV9:52 - PROMETHEUSSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a fun October Surprise for you this morning. We invited now-frequent guest and friend of the show Dr. David Gushee to discuss with us his newly released book, THE MORAL TEACHINGS OF JESUS: Radical Instruction in the Will of God.The book focuses on 40 unique moral teachings of Jesus from throughout the gospels and can be read as intermittent devotions, as a scholarly text, as a community of dialogue with friends and peers, or as a means to challenge yourself with the astonishing relevance, power, and gravity of the teachings of Jesus for our current world.We dive into how the book came to be and why such a text is so important, perhaps now more than ever, and then we open up a listener mail bag to explore thoughtful questions about politics, theology, church community, and faithfully walking in the way Jesus taught us.This is a conversation we are very grateful to have had, and we hope you enjoy it!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our Spooky Season (AHHHHH) run through the Alien franchise with unquestionably the silliest and most absurd entry in the franchise: ALIEN: RESURRECTION. After Ellen Ripley is cloned centuries following her death, she is forced to unite with a renegade group of space pirates to destroy the newest iteration of the Xenomorph species, including facehuggers, Xenomorphs, a queen, and a new monstrous hybrid creation unlike anything she'd ever seen. We're joined by friends of the show Drew Pasanen and Jackson Harper to laugh, critique, defend, and generally dissect all of the "very 90s" nooks and crannies of this gonzo installment.Also featuring a Patron-only segment about THE SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XIII, this is a lively and fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIII5:15 - ALIEN: RESURRECTIONSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our Spooky Season franchise run of the Alien films (#Halloweylandyutani) with an examination of the notoriously troubled production and polarizing finished product that was David Fincher's directorial debut: ALIEN3. We're joined this week by friends of the show and fellow podcasters Lindsey Dunn and Blake Collier (hosts of the shows 1ofmystories and Fly By Films respectively). Together we try to make sense of what this film was trying to be and how well (or not) it succeeded.Also featuring a Patron-only segment where Reed and Nathan dive into The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XII, this is a really fun discussion and we hope you enjoy it!Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XII5:55 - ALIEN3See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have another special interview episode for you this week featuring writer/director Michael Felker talking with us about his new film THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT. The film is released to theaters and VOD as of October 4th, and we had the chance to sit down with Michael to discuss its lush production, its innovative and thought-provoking premise, and its often profound emotional qualities.The film centers on two estranged siblings who, following a robbery, evade the authorities by hiding in a unique house which permits them to be displaced in time. While there, sudden unexpected challenges push their familial bond to its devastating limit. We had a wonderful discussion with Michael about his film's production, its themes, and -- remarkably -- the Legend of Zelda.It's a fun discussion and an excellent film. We hope you'll check out the film and our chat and we hope you enjoy them both!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our spooky season franchise run (#Halloweyalnd-utani) with the next stop in the Alien franchise: ALIENS. Writer/Director James Cameron took inspiration from Ridley Scott's horror/sci-fi landmark and expanded both the scope and the possibilities with his own vision of a more action-packed, brisker paced thrill ride. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley, accompanied by a host of gun-stacked space marines, a corporate shill, and an android she cannot bring herself to trust. Cameron's vision opened the storytelling possibilities for this franchise and arguably made it possible to continue with any further sequels at all.Joining us to unpack all of the thematic, aesthetic, and narrative layers of Aliens is Sarah Welch-Larson, author of the excellent book, Becoming Alien (which we highly recommend you check out). Also featuring a Patron-only segment covering the laughs and joys of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XI, it's a thoughtful and fun episode that we really hope you enjoy!5:13 - Two Questions with guest, Sarah Welch-Larson19:43 - Becoming Alien: The Beginning and End of Evil in Science Fiction's Most Idiosyncratic Franchise by Sarah Welch-LarsonPatron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XI26:47 - ALIENSSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's almost Spooky Season once again at The Fear of God and this year, we're keeping the annual tradition alive of marching through a whole franchise by tackling deep space, where no one can hear you scream. That's right, we'll be making our way through the entire ALIEN franchise through the rest of September and October, and we start this week with a Redux conversation about the landmark original by Ridley Scott.We're joined aboard the Nostromo by friends of the show Brandon Grafius and Matt Murray to unpack why this franchise is not only still captivating and relevant, but why it also seems to stand apart from its peers as respected beyond the trappings of its genre.Also featuring a Patron-only chat about the recently released ALIEN: ROMULUS, this is a hearty, lively, and thoughtful discussion that we hope you enjoy!Patron Only Segment: ALIEN: ROMULUS14:36 - ALIEN REDUXSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We close down our march through a handful of recent Dracula-inspired films by taking a look at last year's RENFIELD. Starring Nicholas Hoult and Akwafina, Renfield is an energetic, humorous, and remarkably thoughtful take on codependency, oppressive relationships, and rampant injustice. Oh.... and Nic Cage plays Dracula.We're joined this week by FoGers and friends, Vera Goudie and John Viinalass to unpack all the mayhem, all the laughs, and the disarming amount of depth this film carries with it. Also featuring a "Whatcha" Patron-Only segment, we really hope you enjoy our conversation!Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?8:02 - RENFIELDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our series of recent takes on the Dracula mythos by examining last year's THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER. Nestled in the first third of Bram Stoker's original novel is the tale of a ship which unknowingly carried Dracula from his homeland to London, losing crew member after crew member along the way. Until now, that specific chapter had never been given a deeper cinematic exploration. The result, directed by Andrew Ovredal, has a sleek production, competent performances, and a well-structured script. But we are joined by FoG friend Dave Courtney to debate how well the film captures the themes it's so clearly interested in.With apologies for the slightly late release, we hope you enjoy this week's episode!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have another special interview for you this week, this time with Mikael Hafstrom, director of 1408, The Rite, and his latest film, SLINGSHOT (in theaters August 30th). Slingshot tells the story of an expedition into deep space, where a small crew must execute a risky slingshot maneuver propelling off of Jupiter's orbit. When the mission's security becomes questionably compromised, one particular crew member (Casey Affleck) must fight to maintain his grip on reality amidst possible hallucinations, potentially faulty equipment, and fellow crewmates possibly more precariously compromised than he is. While the film's space narrative proceeds, we also witness the blossoming romance Affleck's character left back on earth, and the relationship between the two experiences may prove more consequential than he could have imagined.Slingshot is a love story, a mind-bending science fiction drama, and an existential exploration of isolation and the importance of connection. It's an excellent film that we hope everyone checks out and we hope you enjoy our conversation about it with director Mikael Hafstrom.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our series this week on recent interpretations of Dracula with a subversively entertaining new thriller from the Radio Silence boys: ABIGAIL. When a motley crew of kidnappers take captive a young girl, they are locked in a mansion for 24 hours while the man who hired them seeks ransom. Little do they know, but quickly do they discover, that this is no ordinary job and they're holding captive no ordinary girl.We're joined by recurring guests Jackson Harper and Jocee Worley for a laugh-filled chat about this highly enjoyable film that may have some quibble-worthy elements but is overall a simply fantastic time at the movies. This conversation was a real blast and we hope you enjoy it!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We kick off a brand new mini-series this week all about the most infamous bloodsucker in all of culture. Earlier this year, we drilled down on some recent films which were inspired by Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. Coincidentally, the same thing has been happening with Bram Stoker's original classic vampire tale, inspiring a handful of films in the last year or two based upon different aspects of the Dracula story.So we start this series with a direct adaptation, one which forever influenced the way vampires were depicted in pop culture entirely. 1992's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a lush and excessive production full of gothic grandeur and theatricality. It features incredible performances from Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins and a script which drills in on the concept of lost love, abandonment of faith, and the nature of appetite and longing. We're joined this week by fellow film critic and host of the "1 of my Stories" podcast, Lindsey Dunn, to discuss the film's rich tapestry of religious symbolism, desperate romance, and -- of course -- bloodsucking vampires.Also featuring a Patron-only segment where we catch up on our "Whatchas", this is a fun and hearty episode that we really hope you enjoy.6:24 - Getting to Know Lindsey DunnPatron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?15:52 - BRAM STOKER'S DRACULASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.