Such a Nightmare: Conversations about Horror

David-Jack Fletcher| Interview (2024) | Eerie Extras

In this spooktacular Eerie Extra, Such a Nightmare co-host Katherine Troyer speaks with horror author and editor David-Jack Fletcher.

 

We discuss the significance of normalizing LGBTQIA+ identities within the horror genre. This leads to an even bigger discussion of how queer horror can both offer a space for connection and push us beyond our comfort zones. David-Jack shares the vision behind Slashic Horror, his indie horror press that he co-founded with Lee Cross James. And we talk about the magic of crossing genres and the ways his work, including his novella The Haunting of Harry Peck, present the familiar in unfamiliar ways (or perhaps the other way around) through his genre-blending writing.

 

This interview occurred on January 4, 2024; the episode first aired on January 30, 2024.

 

David-Jack Fletcher is a writer and scholar hailing from Australia. With a PhD from Macquarie University in Cultural Studies, he wrote for over a decade in an academic setting before—in his words—jumping out of academia to pursue his dream of becoming a horror author and editor. To that end, he has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Editing and Publishing from the University of Southern Queensland, and he completed an internship with Sydney-based Spineless Wonders. Additionally, he was awarded a mentorship with the Australasian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) in 2022, undertaken with award-winning author Paul Mannering. David-Jack has published short stories in several horror anthologies across the UK, the US and Canada, and has appeared in international podcasts and interviews. Furthermore, his debut gay horror-comedy, The Haunting of Harry Peck, was published by Rack & Rune Publishing in February 2022 and became an international Amazon bestseller. And his latest award-winning novel, Raven’s Creek is now available through all major retailers, published through his own imprint, Slashic Horror. For more information, visit his LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/djfletcher 

 

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com

Jason X (2001) | Episode #91

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca hop a rocket to outer space...where, of course, Jason is waiting...as they discuss the 2001 horror slasher film Jason X.

Episode Highlights: We talk about how this film is part of a slew of films in the late 90s/early 00s that sought to shock their respective franchises back to life with a journey to space. We think about how this film, despite (or perhaps because of) it's different setting, fits within the larger Friday the 13th franchise. We look at Jason X's portrayal of Jason, exploration of final girls, and presentation of slasher tropes. And, while we are clearly in a minority far from many fans and most critics, we have to admit: space was surprisingly fun!

A Dose of Scholarship: For scholarship on the Friday the 13th franchise, we (continue to) encourage to you to turn to 1) Horror Homeroom's special issue on Friday the 13th. and 2) Wickham Clayton's 2020 book SEE! HEAR! CUT! KILL! Experiencing Friday the 13th.

This podcast episode first aired on January 19, 2024.

Wielding his own machete...an editing machete that is...Jackson O'Brien once again made this episode better...thank you!

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com

Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma (2023 book by Claire Dederer) | Episode #90

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca venture into their first non-fiction book as they discuss the 2023 collection of essays Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer.

Episode Highlights: We talk about the word "monstrous" and what it means to us. We express how called out--and seen--we felt at various points in this book, particularly as fellow aca-fans wrestling with our own feelings of certain monstrous creators (like Whedon). We celebrate the memoir approach to this topic and how brave Dederer was for having such honesty. And we express our frustrations that the author's only real discussion of monstrous creative women were those who abandon children or are angry/extreme; we had hoped this would be a place to analyze further women creators like Rowling. 

A Dose of Scholarship: If you haven't read Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma, we promise you that this read will offer a lot of food for thought! In this episode, Toni references the Today, Explained podcast episode Hannah Gadsby and "Pablo-matic" Picasso. You might also check out this 2023 Vox interview with Dederer.

This podcast episode first aired on December 15, 2023.

We appreciate you Jackson O'Brien! Thanks for editing!

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) | Episode #89

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca descend to the underworld (kind of) as they discuss the 1993 horror slasher film Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday.

Episode Highlights: If we thought it took a while for Jason to make it to Manhattan, we were shocked by how long it took for him to actually go to hell! Katherine maintains that this is perhaps one of the best uses of a cold opening, and we talk about the film's quirky and odd characters. We explore the consequences--on us as viewers--of removing Jason from his own body for so much of the film. And, of course, Toni gives us the scoop on some of the background--and drama--behind the film's production. 

A Dose of Scholarship: For scholarship on the Friday the 13th franchise, we (continue to) encourage to you to turn to 1) Horror Homeroom's special issue on Friday the 13th. and 2) Wickham Clayton's 2020 book SEE! HEAR! CUT! KILL! Experiencing Friday the 13th.

This podcast episode first aired on November 20, 2023.

Jackson O'Brien: you are a hero amongst editors...thank you!

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com

Jolie Toomajan | Interview (2023) | Eerie Extras

In this spooktacular terrifying Eerie Extra,  Such a Nightmare co-host Katherine Troyer speaks with horror scholar, writer, and editor Jolie Toomajan. We discuss her research into several less-appreciated women who wrote for Weird Tales, and what she has been learning in her recent scholarship. Together we explore the complicated relationships we have with a genre that is both transgressive and conservative, and how horror manages to be both a challenging home and a perfect vehicle to explore the horrors of women, BIPOC, and queer identities. And, of course, we talk about Jolie's 2023 edited collection of short stories Aseptic and Faintly Sadistic: An Anthology of Hysteria Fiction  (this interview is relatively spoiler free). A portion of the proceeds for this edited collection will benefit the Chicago Abortion Fund.

 

This interview occurred on May 25, 2023; the episode first aired on October 16, 2023.

 

Jolie Toomajan (she/her) is a PhD candidate, writer, editor, and all-around ghoul. Her dissertation in progress is focused on the women who wrote for Weird Tales and her work has appeared in Upon a Thrice Time, Death in the Mouth, and Black Static (among other places). She is editor of the upcoming Aseptic and Faintly Sadistic: An Anthology of Hysteria Fiction, which benefits the Chicago Abortion Fund. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @JolieToomajan

 

Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare channel; Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; ALL LINKS

Maeve Fly (2023 novel by C.J. Leede) | Episode #88

In this spooktacular episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca don their mouse ears as they discuss the truly horrific and absolutely fantastic 2023 novel Maeve Fly by author C.J. Leede. 

We highly recommend you read the book before listening to this episode!

Episode Highlights: We explore how this novel serves as a love story to LA, and the ways that Leede manages to both rip off our rose-tinted glasses about the City of Angels even as she encourages us to find beauty in the asphalt landscape. Referencing Grady Hendrix's blurb that this novel is "an apocalyptic Anaheim Psycho," we talk about what it means to juxtapose this novel with Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho and how much we appreciated Leede's crafting of her female lead character. And, of course, we examine how this novel plays with the Happiest Place on Earth, and the one scene involving a mouse that we will never forget. 

A Dose of Scholarship: This is a new novel, so there is not yet any scholarship written on Maeve Fly...but there are several great interviews with C.J. Leede, including Crime Reads interview "Arianna Reiche and C.J. Leede on Weird Lit, Angry Girls, and Amusement Parks" and Paul Semel's interview with C.J. Leede.  

This podcast episode first aired on October 9, 2023.

To our editor Jackson O'Brien: thank you and we hope this one didn't scar you too bad. :-)

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) | Episode #87

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca head to the big apple as they discuss the 1989 horror slasher film Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.

Episode Highlights: This was our first time seeing the film, so we talk about our surprise at how long it takes Jason to make it to Manhattan and how this decision impacts not only our expectations as viewers but the larger narrative and themes of this film. We also explore about how this film's portrayal of New York City--as a wasteland of death and drugs--compares to and contrasts with a more recent horror film's depiction of the big apple: namely 2023's Scream VI. 

A Dose of Scholarship: For scholarship on the Friday the 13th franchise, we (continue to) encourage to you to turn to 1) Horror Homeroom's special issue on Friday the 13th. and 2) Wickham Clayton's 2020 book SEE! HEAR! CUT! KILL! Experiencing Friday the 13th.

This podcast episode first aired on September 19, 2023.

Thank you Jackson O'Brien for being the best editor a podcast could ask for!

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com

Scream VI (2023) | Film Review | Eerie Extras

In this Eerie Extra, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca review the 2023 horror film Scream VI. (Because, let's face it, as long as they make Scream films, we'll be watching Scream films.)

 

We discuss our thoughts on the latest film (to date) in the franchise and how we think that the sixth installment fits into, contributes to, and occasionally takes away from the larger Scream narrative. We talk about the awesomeness of having scream queen Samara Weaving in the cold opening, and what it was like for Katherine to watch a scene about a horror film professor having a run-in with Ghostface. We talk about "The Core Four" and how this film--much more than Scream (2022)--establishes these characters as the primary characters (rather than the newcomers) of this world. And we talk about how this film--as do all Scream films--continues to ask us to think about the slipperiness of the past, the challenges of media, and the trauma of having a family.

This episode first aired on July 28, 2023. (It was actually recorded in May 2023, but then we went on vacation.) 

 

Thank you to the stupendous Jackson O'Brien, whose editing always ensures we sound smarter for our listeners then we do in real life. 

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com

Mark N. Drake | Interview (2023) | Eerie Extras

In this delightfully terrifying Eerie Extra,  Such a Nightmare co-host Katherine Troyer speaks with cosmic horror writer Mark N. Drake. We discuss Mark's Darkisle series and how he created this particular world, what it takes to build a memorable and unique horror setting, and the power--and challenge--of blending genres such as cosmic horror, noir, and gumshoe detective. While we discuss Mark's 2020 novel The Gathering of Shadows, this interview is relatively spoiler free.

 

This interview occurred on March 15, 2023; the episode first aired on June 2, 2023.

 

Mark N Drake is a British author of Lovecraftian fiction (though he has been known to write for other genres as well). Most of his works feature his fictional creation Darkisle, a British island of dark secrets and whispered terrors. His first novel, ‘The Gathering of Shadows’, was published in 2020. It was the first in a series of Cthulhu Mythos-inspired novels centred upon the cases of private detective Jack Glennison. Based in the Northern England of the 1920s, the stories follow Glennison as he explores Darkisle and gradually learns of the ancient horrors that stalk that island... and beyond. The follow up novel, ‘Those Under The Hill’, was published in 2021, with ‘What Festers Within’ following in 2022. More in the series are planned. In 2023, ‘Shards of Shattered Darkness’ – a collection of eighteen of his horror short stories – was released. Despite a misspent youth spent seeking out Panther horror paperbacks in second-hand bookshops, Mark graduated in Applied Physics and became a defence research scientist. Later, he went on to work in Higher Education management and return to education, obtaining an MBA. Now semi-retired, he divides his time between rural County Durham and Carcassonne in southern France.

 

Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare channel; Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; ALL LINKS

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) | Episode#86

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca talk the post-modern and incredibly "meta" 2006 horror-comedy film Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. 

Episode Highlights: We discuss the film's commentary on the slasher genre and, in particular, how this movie's final girl character (Taylor Gentry) becomes a stand-in for the sometimes uncomfortable position of being a fan and scholar of horror. We examine the mockumentary style of the cinematography and when (and when not) it works for us. And we think about what this film asks us to think about when it comes to our continued fascination and love for a genre that kills us.

A Dose of Scholarship: We explore Savanna Teague's excellent analysis of the film in her 2017 article "Ahabs, Turtles, and Survivor Girls: Postmodernism in Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon" from Studies in Popular Culture. And we reference, again, Isabel Pinedo's seminal piece "Recreational Terror: Postmodern Elements of the Contemporary Horror Film." 

This podcast episode first aired on May 1, 2023.

Jackson O'Brien...you are an extraordinary editor; thank you!

ALL LINKS  Twitter/Instagram: @NightmarePod1; YouTube: Such a Nightmare;  Email: suchanightmare.pod@gmail.com; Website: suchanightmare.com