Such a Nightmare: Conversations about Horror

Halloween Ends (2022) | Episode #78

In this special Halloween episode (recorded in person and unedited!), hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca talk about the conclusion (at least for now...) of the Halloween franchise as they discuss the 2022 horror slasher film Halloween Ends. 

Episode Highlights: We look at the ways that this film attempts to explore the nature/nurture dichotomy of evil before ultimately arriving at the same largely affirmative conclusion upheld by much of the franchise. We unpack the Michael Myers/Corey bromance plotline and discuss why exactly this story development both weighed down the narrative and felt out of sync from the 2018 and 2021 films. And we talk about the missed opportunity make more of the film about Jamie Lee Curtis, err...Laurie Strode...and Michael Myers. 

A Dose of Scholarship: The film is too new to have any critical reception written about it yet, but we encourage you to explore existing scholarship on slasher films in general and the Halloween franchise more specifically. 

This podcast episode first aired on October 31, 2022. Happy Halloween!

We recorded this episode in-person and it is (for better or worse) unedited! 

 

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

Jaysen Buterin, Kevin Kangas, Ron Riekki | Interview (2022) | Eerie Extras

In this very exciting Eerie Extra, co-host Katherine Troyer talks with some masters of clownish horror: Jaysen Buterin, Kevin Kangas, and Ron Riekki. Buterin (writer and director of the film Kill Giggles) and Kangas (writer and director of Fear of Clowns 1 & 2) are featured in Riekki's 2022 edited collection The Many Lives of Evil Clowns. We talk about our shared love of the genre and why clowns are a terrifying and ubiquitous part of horror. If you want to know more about being an indie horror filmmaker, hear about the awesomeness of horror festivals, and just listen to a bunch of cool dudes talk horror...this is the interview for you! Listen as a podcast or watch the video interview on YouTube.

 

This interview occurred on June 15, 2022; the episode first aired on October 20, 2022.

 

JAYSEN BUTERIN is the writer/director of award-winning indie film fare such as the Tarantino-meets-Twilight Zone trilogy, “The Gospel According to Booze, Bullets & Hot Pink Jesus,” the on-the-road thriller, “Between Hell and a Hard Place,” and the sinister stay-at-home horror hits “Don’t Let the Light In” and “The Corner.” He’s currently awaiting the Hollywood studio release of his very first feature-length film, the coulrophobia-courting/clown-killing thrilling goodness of KILL GIGGLES, while also prepping a series of screenplays to go into production once the Apocalypse finally goes away!!! His website is madonesfilms.com and you can learn more about his films at killgiggles.com and youtube.com/madonesfilms. Follow him on Facebook: facebook.com/madonesfilms Twitter:  twitter.com/madonesfilms Instagram: instagram/com/themadonesfilms and on the CB Radio: Clown Killer 666

 

KEVIN KANGAS is is the writer/director of seven feature films, including the cult-classic Hunting Humans, the Lionsgate features Fear of Clowns 1&2, and the hit anthologies Terrortory 1&2. He's also published a novella about vampires called "With Teeth" and a book that's more a love-letter to Halloween called Halloween: The Greatest Holiday of All. His website is http://www.kangaskahnfilms.com and you can check out his IMDb page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1292971/. Want to see his films? Check them out at https://bit.ly/kkftubi

 

RON RIEKKI is an author, poet, editor, actor, and more. His books include My Ancestors are Reindeer Herders and I Am Melting in Extinction (Apprentice House Press), Posttraumatic (Hoot ‘n’ Waddle), and U.P. (Ghost Road Press).  Riekki co-edited The Many Lives of The Evil Dead and The Many Lives of The Twilight Zone (McFarland) and Undocumented (Michigan State University Press), and edited The Many Lives of Scary Clowns and The Many Lives of It (McFarland), Here and And Here (MSU Press, Independent Publisher Book Award), and The Way North (Wayne State University Press, Michigan Notable Book).  His story “America,” published in decomp, was turned into a film by mc² film in Romania, winning awards at the Red Rock Film Festival and Tres Court International Film Festival and was distributed throughout Greece.  His story “Teeths,” Pushcart nominated and published in Santa Barbara Literary Journal was turned into a film by the same production company, winning awards at the Dracula Film Festival, Rockport Film Festival, and Tres Court International Film Festival and screened at over one hundred theaters in France.  Riekki played the title role in the horror film Flesher (directed by John Johnson), receiving a Crimson Screen Horror Film Fest nomination for Best Actor in a Feature Film.  He also acted in the movie Short Straw (directed by Steve Balderson), starring Joe Pantoliano and Sarah Clarke. You can follow him on Twitter @RiekkiRon

 

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

Nope (2022) | Episode #77

Jordan Peele is a horror filmmaker that helped inspire this entire podcast. So, in this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca talk the 2022 Western/sci-fi/horror film Nope.

Episode Highlights: We agreed to disagree about many of our conclusions on this film, even as we both decided that the other person was making some truly excellent points. We explore the narrative as we turn to pacing, the film's bigger themes, character development, and the horse-named chapters. And we also work through the film's form, as we talk about acting, cinematography, sound design, and alien special effects. Thinking about the film's individual components allows us to ultimately frame our discussion of this film through the lens of gestalt theory (where the whole is different from the sum of its parts). 

A Dose of Scholarship: The film is too new to have any critical reception written about it yet, but we encourage you to explore existing scholarship on a range of related topics including black horror, genre theory, Jordan Peele, and gestalt theory. 

This podcast episode first aired on October 10, 2022.

Thank you Jackson O'Brien for being an amazing editor! 

 

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

Ash vs. Evil Dead (2015-2018) | Episode #75

In this exciting milestone of an episode (75 episodes...what!?!), hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca discuss not one, not two, but three seasons of the horror comedy TV show Ash vs. Evil Dead (2015-2018).   

Episode Highlights: We celebrate the awesomeness that is three seasons of watching Ash Williams fight off Deadites. We talk about each season of the show and what we felt were the seasons' respective strengths and weaknesses. We also examine the show's larger narrative arc and think about the exciting ways that the show expanded in terms of its mythos and worldbuilding. And while we, of course, discuss at great length Bruce Campbell and his fantastic performance as Ash, we also focus on one of the show's best aspects: its incredible supporting cast who bring to life interesting and diverse characters that manage to hold their own against Bruce Campbell/Ash Williams.

A Dose of Scholarship: In this episode we return to some of the scholarship we referenced in our episodes on other works in the Evil Dead franchise. (So go back and listen to those episodes!) In particular, we highly recommend checking out the edited collection of essays The Many Lives of The Evil Dead: Essays on the Cult Film Franchise, edited by Ron Riekki. 

This podcast episode first aired on August 30, 2022.

Thank you so much Jackson O'Brien for being a rockstar editor (and for saying you particularly liked this episode)!

 

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

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) | Episode #74

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca discuss a classic that is also a remake of a classic...the 1979 horror film Nosferatu the Vampyre (German title: Phantom der Nacht). 

Episode Highlights: We talk about the tone-setting (albeit odd) cold opening of the mummies and how, even if--as Toni proves--it is meaningful, Katherine kind of hated it. We explore the ways the film pays homage to as well as deviates from the 1922 film (and the original Dracula narrative), and how Herzog created a film that serves as both a powerful remake and a unique film in its own right. We look at the film's examination of the chaos of a plague/pandemic, the beautiful and haunting shots of rats and empty streets, and the characterization of Lucy. And Katherine suggests that this might be one of the gayest films ever...

A Dose of Scholarship: In this episode we referenced Lloyd Michael's essay "Nosferatu, or the Phantom of the Cinema" in the 1998 book Play It Again, Sam: Retakes on Remakes. We also mention S.S. Prawer's examination on Nosferatu published as part of the book series on BFI Modern Classics.

This podcast episode first aired on July 1, 2022.

Awesomeness, thy name is Jackson O'Brien--thank you Jackson for being our podcast editor!

 

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

Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) | Episode #73

In this episode published one day after Monday the Thirteen, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca continue their discussion of the beloved camp-filled and campy franchise by discussing the 1981 horror slasher film Friday the 13th Part 2.

Episode Highlights: We talk about how much we enjoyed this film's cold opening (perhaps the first cold opening we've liked!) and how this opening scene allowed us to further examine the idea of the Final Girl as a trauma survivor, particularly in light of Adrienne King's real-life stalker. We explore the ridiculousness that is the idea of camp (who gives children bows-and-arrows?) and how this film explores the ideas of camp in interesting ways by setting the narrative at a camp for camp counselors. And we discuss how we would have liked to have seen more of Muffin...perhaps as Jason's furry, evil sidekick. 

A Dose of Scholarship: Although we did not discuss any specific scholarship in this episode, we highly encourage you to check out Horror Homeroom's first special issue "Friday the 13th at 40"  if you are interested in digging deeper into this franchise.

This podcast episode first aired on June 14, 2022.

Greatest of thanks to our editor Jackson O'Brien!

 

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

Nosferatu (1922) | Episode #72

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca discuss a classic...the 1922 silent horror film Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror). 

Episode Highlights: We explore the magic of this film as we look at everything from the realism of the set to the fantastic make-up to the practical special effects. We examine the character of Orlock as a supporter of technology and discuss the differing views on whether he serves as an anti-Semitic metaphor. We look at some of the film's reception at the time of its release, including opinions that this film would deteriorate the intelligence of "the common man." And finally, we look at how this film offers us a foundation for all future vampire films.  

A Dose of Scholarship: In this episode we referenced the following books: Jörg Waltje's Blood Obsession: Vampires, Serial Murder, and the Popular Imagination; David J. Skal's 2004 Hollywood Gothic: The Tangled Web of Dracula from Novel to Stage to Screen; and Stacey Abbott's 2009 Celluloid Vampires: After Death in the Modern World.

This podcast episode first aired on May 31, 2022.

Greatest of thanks to our podcast editor Jackson O'Brien!

 

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

“Thank God It’s Friday” by Ice Nine Kills | Song Analysis with Mark Garrett (2022) | Eerie Extras

In this incredibly special Eerie Extra, Such a Nightmare co-host Katherine Troyer sits down with Mark Garrett to discuss the music and the horror of Ice Nine Kill’s 2018 song “Thank God It’s Friday.” Join us as we break down and analyze this Friday the 13th-inspired song.

Mark is the vocalist of the band Kardashev and works as a metal voice coach. His YouTube channel for Kardavox Academy features reaction/analysis videos and interviews. 

Check out more about Mark, Kardashev, and the Kardavox Academy:

https://kardashev.bandcamp.com/album/liminal-rite
https://kardashevband.com/
https://www.metalblade.com/kardashev/

linktr.ee/kardavoxacademy

 

This episode was recorded on May 25, 2022; the episode aired on June 4, 2022.

 

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

 

 

Friday the 13th (1980) | Episode #71

In this episode published on Friday May 13, 2022, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca turn to a new franchise... That's right, we discuss the film that started it all: the 1980 horror slasher film Friday the 13th.

Episode Highlights: We talk about the great use of practical effects and the terrific music of this film. We examine how this film explores issues of gender--from its depiction of Alice as a final girl, to its surprising lack of gendered violence, to the consequence of having a slasher film where the final showdown is between two women. Looking at the film's location, we look at how Friday the 13th establishes itself within an existing conversation in American culture about the fear of the wilderness and what looks there. And we discuss whether or not this film should be classified as affirmative or disaffirmative. 

A Dose of Scholarship: We highly encourage you to check out Horror Homeroom's first special issue: "Friday the 13th at 40," which we reference in this episode. We also discussed James B. Weaver III's 1990 article "Are 'Slasher' Films Sexually Violent? A Content Analysis;" Hayley McCullough's 2019 article "Evaluating the Integrative Complexity of Main Characters in Horror Films;" and the 2015 article "Embodying the Moral Code? Thirty Years of Final Girls in Slasher Films" by Angela Weaver, Dana Menard, Christine Cabrera, and Angela Taylor.  

 

This podcast episode first aired on May 13, 2022.

Who is amazing? Jackson O'Brien: the editor of this podcast episode!

 

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

5.10.22 Play-by-Plays | Bleeder Boards Monster MAYhem

This is an audio recounting of the battle play-by-plays that went live on May 10, 2022. The battles included are:

Merry Barrett vs. Angela Vidal (Final Girls Bracket)

Ash Williams vs. Needy Lesnicki (Final Girls Bracket)

Brady Hartsfield vs. Jack Torrance (Stephen King Bracket)

Happy Toyz Truck vs. Henry Bowers (Stephen King Bracket)

the ghosts vs. the strangers (Monster Crews Bracket)

Firefly family vs. Jupiter clan (Monster Crews Bracket)

piranhas vs. Judas' Breed cockroaches (Creatures of the Deep Bracket)

spiders vs. Gill-Man (Creatures of the Deep Bracket)

You can read these battle play-by-plays (and find links to all references resources) at bit.ly/3P53CP4.

You can also find more information about the resources mentioned at bit.ly/3ytO5m8. 

You can follow along in the official game bracket at bit.ly/3PaoOmD.

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

Monster MAYhem is a public humanities project created and directed by Katherine A. Troyer, PhD. An incredible team of Trinity students, staff, and faculty; artists, horror creators and lovers, web designers, and social media gurus made this project possible. This work was supported by The Humanities Collective, The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Comparative Literature program, and the Communication department at Trinity University (in San Antonio, TX).

Credits for the music: BlueJay Studio — "Haunted House-No Ghost Version" — Provided by Jamendo