Severance, Liminality, and Analog Horror (Mandela Catalog/The Backrooms)
This week on Horror Joy, Brian and Jeff traverse the eerie corridors of liminality in horror. They kick off with a deep dive into the Apple TV series Severance, exploring how its portrayal of work-life separation raises existential and psychological questions. Is it a thriller, or horror? Moving forward, they venture into the unsettling realm […]
The Monstrous Image – Horror in Graphic Novels (Something is Killing the Children and Universal’s Frankenstein)
The Monstrous Image – Horror in Graphic Novels (Something is Killing the Children and Universal’s Frankenstein) In this episode of Horror Joy, hosts Brian Onishi and Jeff Stoyanoff explore the portrayal of monsters in the realm of comics and graphic novels. They dive into the complex narratives, dissecting the horror genre as seen in […]
Nosferatu and “First Word on Horror” with Philip Gelatt
2024 was a banner year for horror! From the chilling Immaculate to the unsettling Horror Movie and the glorious mustache of Nosferatu, we were truly spoiled. But now, it’s time to turn a new page. This year brings fresh beginnings, new anxieties, and a renewed opportunity for horror to help us navigate the complexities of […]
A Horror Joy Christmas – Black Christmas and The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we are caught in a mood of anticipation. We anticipate visits from family, a festive meal, and presents to be opened. We also look forward to the celebration of the incarnation of a god in human flesh, whose death brings about one of the greatest ghost stories ever […]
“The Kit-Bag” by Algernon Blackwood – Read by Brian Onishi
As an anticipation of our episode out on Monday (12/16), Brian reads “The Kit-Bag” by Algernon Blackwood. “The Kit-Bag,” originally published in 1908 by Pall Mall Magazine, tells the story of Johnson, a young man preparing to go on a Christmas vacation after helping to successfully defend a particularly gruesome murder case. Alone in his […]
Vampires – Dracula, Salem’s Lot, and Midnight Mass *** With Special Guest Chris McAuley of the StokerVerse
Episode Timeline **2:12-40:42 – StokerVerse and Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Chris McAuley **40:42-58:26 – Salem’s Lot **58:27-end – Midnight Mass From the gothic castles of Transylvania to the sleepy towns of Maine, vampires have captivated our imaginations for centuries. In this episode of Horror Joy, we’ll explore the evolution of the vampire mythos, from […]
Alien (1979) – An Uncanny Political Fable
In this episode of Horror Joy, we’re venturing into the cold, dark depths of space to explore Ridley Scott’s iconic sci-fi horror masterpiece, Alien. We’ll delve into the film’s terrifying themes, including: The Alien as the Ultimate Other: How the alien creature embodies our fears of the unknown and the uncanny. Body Horror and the […]
Appalachian Folk Horror – The Blair Witch Project and Old Gods of Appalachia
Sometimes, the most terrifying monsters aren’t lurking in the shadows, but in the very heart of our world. In this episode of Horror Joy, we delve into the eerie world of folk horror, where ancient myths and environmental fears intertwine. We’ll explore: The Appalachian Nightmare: How the exploitation of the Appalachian landscape has given rise […]
Halloween (1978)!
Join us as we plunge into the shadowy world of Haddonfield, Illinois. In this special episode of Horror Joy, Jeff and Brian dissect John Carpenter’s iconic 1978 slasher film, Halloween. We’ll explore: The Shape’s Morality: Is Michael Myers a terrifying villain or a moral compass? Beyond the Mask: Can we find a more subversive reading […]
Horror Nostalgia – The Rack with Tom Deady and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
A Nostalgic Nightmare: Exploring the Comfort of Horror This week on Horror Joy, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. For many of us, our love affair with horror began at a young age, fueled by Goosebumps books, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and the iconic horror paperbacks found on the revolving racks at […]