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Send us Fan Mail This week we’re unpacking Crystal Lake (2026), Episode 1: “Camp Crystal.” We examine Linda Cardellini’s portrayal of Pamela Voorhees, debate the circumstances surrounding Jason’s drowning, and dissect the premiere’s bloody turn into survival horror.  Watch the Show Crystal Lake (2026) Related Episodes 027: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) 127: Friday the 13th Part III (1982) 167: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) 213: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) 254: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) 295: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) 348: Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) 367: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) 395: Jason X (2001) 436: Freddy vs. Jason (2003) Main Episode Friday the 13th Prequel Series “Crystal Lake” Premieres October 15 on Peacock Friday the 13th (1980) Friday the 13th (2009) Halloween (1978) Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) Bride of Chucky (1998) The Mummy (1999) Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013) The Don Knotts Show Three’s Company Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re resurrecting Bride of Chucky (1998). We celebrate Jennifer Tilly’s Tiffany, dissect the film’s Bride of Frankenstein parallels, and marvel at its practical doll effects. In this episode's b-side, we debate horror’s most toxic relationships and where mutual dysfunction gives way to manipulation. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 25:09. Mentioned in the Episode Watch the Film Bride of Chucky (1998) Main Episode Chucky Creator Don Mancini on Why It Was Time to Bring Everyone’s Favorite Killer Doll to TV, Exclusive Interview NECA’s Life-Size Chucky and Tiffany Replica Dolls 394: Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Child’s Play (1988) Hellraiser (1987) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Hocus Pocus (1993) Return of the Jedi (1983) Annabelle (2014) Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) Halloween (1978) Puppet Master (1989) The Exorcist (1973) Seed of Chucky (2004) Cult of Chucky (2017) Chucky, TV Series Tales from the Crypt Sense and Sensibility Wuthering Heights The Sims B-side Halloween (2007) Dracula Possession (1981) The Invisible Man (2020) Friday the 13th (2009) Psycho (1960) Hellraiser (1987) Obsession (2025) Keeper (2025) The Conjuring Universe 217: Rosemary’s Baby (1968) 232: Pearl (2022) 206: X (2022) 102: Midsommar (2019) Men (2022) 320: Paranormal Activity (2007) Buddy (2026) Shaun of the Dead (2004) 251: The Mummy (1932) The Shining (1980) Get Out (2017) You’re Next (2011) Together (2025) Interview with the Vampire Carrie 265: Smile (2022) The Descent (2005) Scream (1996) Bones and All (2022) What Keeps You Alive (2018) It’s What’s Inside (2024) The Lighthouse (2019) 333: Orphan (2009) 194: The Lodge (2019) Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re unpacking Carrie (2026), Episode 1: “First Period.” We dissect the premiere’s documentary-style framing, explore its reimagined mother-daughter dynamic, and examine how modern bullying amplifies Carrie’s humiliation. We also connect its Stephen King Easter eggs and consider where Flanagan might take the series next. This episode contains spoilers. Mentioned in the Episode Watch the Movie Carrie (2026) Related Episodes 154: Carrie (1976 vs. 2013) 159: Doctor Sleep (2019) 139: Oculus (2013) 182: Hush (2016) 319: The Mist (2007) Main Episode This ‘Carrie’ has the bloody prom scene, but it adds a modern horror: social media Carrie, Stephen King’s novel The Shining (1980) The Shining (1997 miniseries) Firestarter (1984) The Midnight Club Castle Rock The Dark Tower, Stephen King’s book series East of Eden, John Steinbeck’s novel Stranger Things Faces of Death (1978) The Wizard of Oz (1939) Twister (1996) Harry Potter X-Men Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re reviewing Resident Evil (2026). We examine how Zach Cregger recreates survival-horror gameplay, unpack Austin Abrams’ frantic everyman performance, and dissect the film’s practical creature effects and body horror. In this episode's b-side, we consider which games should be adapted to film next. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 35:17. Mentioned in the Episode Watch the Film Resident Evil (2026) Related Episodes 242: Resident Evil (2002) 244: Barbarian (2022) 405: Weapons (2025) 137: The Thing (1982 vs. 2011) 069: The Faculty (1998) 268: Evil Dead Rise (2023) 110: Ready or Not (2019) 179: Halloween Kills (2021) 250: The Mean One (2022) 389: Until Dawn (2025) 299: Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) Main Episode Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Features a 2,000 Pound Practical Monster Puppet Built By a SFX Legend The Right Way to Adapt a Video Game Resident Evil Q&A: Director Zach Cregger Shares Inspirations and a New Film Teaser Train to Busan (2016) The Exorcist (1973) B-side Dead Space Death Troopers Dead by Daylight The Dark Pictures Anthology The Quarry Amnesia: The Dark Descent MADiSON Alan Wake Phasmophobia Friday the 13th: The Game Halloween: The Game Mortal Kombat Fallout BioShock Minecraft The Sims Movie Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a special bulletin from WHOS-13 Television. Spooky Season has officially begun, and Kris and Chel are kicking off Hack or Slash’s 2026 31 Days of Horror celebration with a trip back to the glory days of Blockbuster runs, late-night horror movies, sleepovers, trick-or-treat candy, and the memories of being a baby horror fan. This year’s month-long celebration is built around nostalgia, with themed programming every day of October, community watch parties, gaming marathons, late-night hangouts, and a brand-new interactive tracker at WHOS-13.TV. Tune in for a full rundown of this year’s calendar, learn how to track and share your 31 Days of Horror record, and get the broadcast schedule for everything happening across the Hack or Slash community this October. Use our 2026 31 Days of Horror Tracker Here Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re reviewing Buddy (2026). We dissect its collision of ’90s children’s television and graphic horror, explore Buddy’s need for love as a form of control, and praise Keegan-Michael Key’s emotional range. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 25:33. Mentioned in the Episode Watch the Movie ⁠Buddy (2026) Main Episode ⁠Casper Kelly dives into the darkness of kids’ television with ‘Buddy’ ⁠The Black List Interview: Casper Kelly on BUDDY ⁠Child’s Play (2019) ⁠The Banana Splits Movie (2019) ⁠The Wizard of Oz (1939) B-side ⁠Barney & Friends ⁠Teletubbies ⁠Blue’s Clues ⁠Pee-wee’s Playhouse ⁠Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood ⁠Sesame Street ⁠Gullah Gullah Island ⁠The Puzzle Place ⁠Dora the Explorer ⁠Zoboomafoo ⁠The Big Comfy Couch ⁠Bear in the Big Blue House ⁠The Wiggles ⁠Thomas & Friends ⁠Care Bears ⁠ALF ⁠Clifford the Big Red Dog ⁠If You Give a Mouse a Cookie ⁠Peter Rabbit Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re building the ’90s Horror Kid Starter Pack. We revisit the movies that scared us too young, retrace the video-store rituals that shaped our tastes, and celebrate the books, television, games, and toys that made horror feel like a childhood lifestyle.  Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re unpacking our first impressions of Halloween: The Game (2026). We examine how Haddonfield captures the atmosphere of the original film, dissect how playing Michael and the civilians reshapes the asymmetrical horror formula, and assess how Michael’s story expands the events of Halloween. We also weigh the game’s launch-week bugs, controversial closet mechanic, and long-term potential as the community learns how to play. Mentioned in the Episode Halloween (1978) 461: Halloween: The Game | Pre-launch Preview (2026) Halloween: Everything You Need to Know About IllFonic’s New Horror Game Starring Michael Myers IllFonic Pulls Halloween: The Game’s Closet Minigame After “Major Oversight” Dead by Daylight Halloween: The Game — Story Mode Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re previewing Halloween: The Game (2026). We unpack IllFonic’s approach to single-player and asymmetrical horror, explore how the game recreates Haddonfield and Michael Myers, and assess whether its customization and gameplay systems can give the experience lasting power. Mentioned in the Episode Watch the Day 1 Gameplay Live Stream Halloween: The Game Related Episodes 179: Halloween Kills (2021) 242: Resident Evil (2002) 315: Silent Hill (2006) 325: Silent Hill: Revelation (2012) 020: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Main Episode Halloween (1978) Nick Castle Talks Halloween Halloween: The Game Launch and Early Access Halloween: The Game — Official News and Updates Friday the 13th: The Game Predator: Hunting Grounds Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Dead by Daylight Phasmophobia Hack or Slash YouTube Hack or Slash Patreon Hack or Slash Discord Support the show Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re previewing Spooky Season 2026. We revisit the horror memories that shaped us, preview the movies and franchises returning to our lineup, and unpack our plans for Halloween: The Game and Crystal Lake. We also spotlight our community’s 31 Days of Horror themes, and share the spooky-season reviews we’re anticipating most. Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re gathering for the Summerween Bondfire. We revisit standout moments from the season, celebrate the community shenanigans that fueled Camp Hack or Slash, and answer listener questions about horror crushes, movie-watching habits, and films we wish we could experience again for the first time. We also look ahead to spooky season, preview upcoming movies and franchise throwbacks, and tease our first experiments with horror games and television coverage.  Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re ranking every version of Jason Voorhees. We break down thirteen incarnations of Crystal Lake’s most infamous killer, scoring each on his look, presence, creativity, and brutality before combining our wildly different opinions into one definitive ranking. From Sackhead Jason and the original hockey mask to undead Jason, the feral 2009 reboot, and the chrome-plated absurdity of Uber Jason, we debate which versions best capture the icon, revisit the kills that defined them, and reckon with a final ranking that surprises even us. Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re ranking Summer Camp Slashers. We debate which killers deserve legendary status, defend unforgettable camp icons against modern challengers, and sort twelve slashers into four definitive tiers. In this episode’s b-side, we explore real-life adult summer camps, imagine a Hack or Slash meetup at Camp Crystal Lake, and tease future Summerween plans. Create Your Summer Camp Slasher Tier List Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re diving into Deep Blue Sea (1999). We look back on its stacked cast, dissect its balance of creature-feature and ethical sci-fi horror, and debate how its shark approach holds up against the Jaws legacy. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 21:57. Mentioned in the Episode Watch the Movie Deep Blue Sea (1999) Related Episodes ⁠024: Scream (1996) ⁠097: Alien (1979) ⁠162: Jaws 2 (1978) ⁠222: Jaws 3-D (1983) ⁠279: Jaws: The Revenge (1987) ⁠416: Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) Sharksploitation: 50 Years After Jaws (Video) Sharksploitation: 50 Years After Jaws (Episode) Main Episode ⁠Sharksploitation: How Jaws Changed Horror and Shark Movies Forever ⁠Deepest Bluest (Shark’s Fin) ⁠How Deep Blue Sea’s Most Shocking Death Was Created ⁠Cutthroat Island (1995) ⁠The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) ⁠Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) ⁠Sharknado (2013) ⁠Frankenstein (1931) ⁠Open Water (2003) ⁠Piranha (1978) ⁠Halloween: Resurrection (2002) ⁠Dangerous Animals (2025) ⁠Genetic engineering ⁠Animal testing ⁠Alzheimer’s disease Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re drafting the best summer horror movies. We define the essential ingredients of summer horror, defend our selections across six themed categories, and assemble three competing twelve-film rosters. Mentioned in the Episode Main Episode Best Summer Horror Movies Draft - YouTube Related Episodes ⁠Episode 453: Summerween Starter Pack ⁠Episode 401: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) ⁠Episode 398: I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006) ⁠Episode 390: Honeydew (2020) ⁠Episode 386: Hell of a Summer (2025) ⁠Episode 342: The Omen (1976 vs. 2006) ⁠Episode 337: Uncle Sam (1996) ⁠Episode 334: In a Violent Nature (2024) ⁠Episode 332: Summer of ’84 (2018) ⁠Episode 292: Infinity Pool (2023) ⁠Episode 280: The Devil’s Rejects (2005) ⁠Episode 270: Piranha (1978) ⁠Episode 261: Evil Dead II (1987) ⁠Episode 254: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) ⁠Episode 244: Barbarian (2022) ⁠Episode 241: The Lost Boys (1987) ⁠Episode 232: Pearl (2022) ⁠Episode 230: Tourist Trap (1979) ⁠Episode 227: Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) ⁠Episode 222: Jaws 3-D (1983) ⁠Episode 217: Rosemary’s Baby (1968) ⁠Episode 206: X (2022) ⁠Episode 202: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) ⁠Episode 176: Fear Street Part Two: 1978 (2021) ⁠Episode 169: The Evil Dead (1981 vs. 2013) ⁠Episode 163: Rear Window (1954) ⁠Episode 144: Wrong Turn (2021) ⁠Episode 138: Wrong Turn (2003) ⁠Episode 127: Friday the 13th Part III (1982) ⁠Episode 104: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) ⁠Episode 102: Midsommar (2019) Support the show Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?  Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing. Support us on PatreonYou can also hang out with us between episodes in our community spaces. Join the Discord for watch parties, episode discussions, horror recommendations, and general spooky nonsense. Join our DiscordFollow Hack or Slash: WebsiteYouTubeRedditInstagramTikTokHave thoughts on this week’s movie? Leave a comment, send us a voicemail, or tag us online. We love hearing your thoughts on the movies we cover. Happy slashing! Music Credits: "Hack or Slash" by Daniel Stapleton