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Send us Fan Mail Part 2 is always bigger and louder, and the Critters franchise is no exception! This week, Pete takes us through the 1988 sequel, Critters 2: The Main Course. The Crites are back, and this time instead of terrorizing a single Kansas farm, they are taking over the entire town! Brad, Charlie, and the Alien Bounty Hunters are back with help from their fellow townsfolk. But the Critters are prepared, and they too have a few new tricks up their sleeve. Join us as we discuss the value of healthy eating, the price of exotic European eggs, and how many Crites it takes to break down a door. So make your favorite meal, bring plenty of snacks, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail If you thought the Gremlins were bad news, wait until you get a load of... Critters! It's another October Franchise Breakdown, and this year Pete is bringing us one of his childhood favorites with the Critters franchise! The first film from 1986 tells the story of a gang of escaped alien monsters known as Crites (hungry little furballs that eat anyone they meet) that make their way to a small Kansas farm town on Earth and begin causing chaos. They are pursued by shape-changing bounty hunters with loose trigger fingers and no fear of collateral damage. Join us as we discuss surprisingly progressive feminism for an 80's film, the many delightful cameos of then-unknown stars, and why this makes a great double feature with Tremors! So strap in for a horror franchise so good, it starts in space! And remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail This week's movie has it all: romance, music, dancing, throat slitting, human pies! This week Sarah sings us the song of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This 2007 adaptation of the classic stage musical once again reunites director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp. Depp plays a man seeking revenge in 1800's England, who hides under the guise of a simple barber. With the help of his maniacal new friend (the always delightful Helena Bonham Carter), he kills his way through London while she bakes the victims into pies to hide the evidence. Join us as we discuss trying to imagine Angela Lansbury murdering someone, how many Harry Potter alumni were cast in this film, and just how much we love Anthony Head. So sharpen your razors, take a seat in the barber chair, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail When there's something strange in your little hamlet, who you gonna call? Ghost Constables! This week, Sarah rides with us to the 1999 Tim Burton film, Sleepy Hollow. This spooky retelling of the classic tale sees Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, a science obsessed inspector who gets called to investigate a murder and learns that magic may be more real than he imagined. A star studded cast livens up this dark and bloody gothic film that proved that Tim Burton could handle a true rated R experience. Join us as we discuss other adaptations of Sleepy Hollow, how Star Wars is all over this film, and why you should never cast the (silent) Headless Horseman with someone who is known for their voice. So light some candles, close all your windows, and make sure no one has cursed you to be hunted by a revenant. And as always: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail If I had a nickel for every time Katie Holmes starred in a 90's teen horror film that was recut by the studio and brought down from an R rating to a PG-13... I would have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but its weird that it happened twice. This week, Pete schools us on the 1999 film, Teaching Mrs. Tingle. The directorial debut of Kevin Williamson, this was an early screenplay of his that did not get picked up until after he blew up with Scream and Dawson's Creek. It tells the tale of three high school students who accidentally hold their mean history teacher hostage in her own house. A game of wits unfolds to see which party can manipulate and blackmail the other first. Can the kids save their academic careers, or will their prisoner get free and murder them all one by one? Join us as we discuss classic horror cinema appreciation, proper medieval weapon handling, and underrated 90's music gems. So sharpen your pencils, pull out those textbooks, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail When the ghosts get tough, who ya gonna call? The pope's guy! Sarah blesses us with this week's film, 2023's The Pope's Exorcist. Inspired by the real life priest with an awesome name (Gabriel Amorth) this movie details Rome's number one exorcist helping a young boy fight off possession from a demon. Amorth then uncovers a Vatican conspiracy while dealing with his own personal "demons", all while cracking jokes and kicking the devil in the ass. Join us as we discuss the best ways to trick the devil, how to get Satanic insurance for your contracting jobs, and why it is so important to do proper research into ancient religious symbols before putting them into your movie. So dust off your holy scrolls, say a few Hail Mary's, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail "Let's Encyclopedia Brown this bitch!" This week, Pete talks us through one of his favorite movies of all time, Stephen King's 1408. This 2007 film tells the story of a jaded horror author who checks in to the most haunted room in New York's Dolphin Hotel, only to find out that the stories are true, and he may never get out alive. Who will win? The stubborn alcoholic writer, or the infinite patience of a shapeless evil? Join us as we discuss parallel dimensions inside mini-fridges, how to properly maintain an HVAC system, and what not to do when an ageless evil entity steals your Wifi password. So put up the "do not disturb" sign, enjoy your complimentary chocolate, and as always: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail It's based on a book, it's got a white woman solving a mystery, it features the teachings of 18th-century theologian Emanuel Swedenborg! It's the Netflix original, Things Seen and Heard! Sarah takes us through this 2021 film (which takes places in the 80's) about a family moving into an old home in upstate New York. Weird things start happening, the husband doesn't believe the wife and is dismissive of her, and a town mystery is investigated with a good old séance. A tale as old as time. Join us as we discuss "bas husband" tropes, why you should never lie about a job interview, and you should avoid sailing in stormy weather. So grab a seat, open up your favorite art book or theological study, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail A 2000's remake of a William Castle classic starring a bunch of people not known for horror. If I had a nickel for every time that happened I would have two nickels! And this one is for Thirteen Ghosts! Pete takes us through the story of a grieving family that learns they have inherited a steampunk mansion from their estranged, ghost-hunting uncle. What should be their rescue from poverty and despair quickly becomes a night of horror as they find themselves trapped in a glass box of negative emotions... and also 13 ghosts that want to kill them. Join us as we discuss Matthew Lillard's uncontrollable spittle, why we need a horror movie cookbook, and how this is the number seizure inducing horror film of the 2000's. So grab your ghost flares, recite a protection spell, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail Dangerous imaginary friends, precocious little kids, and dark secrets from the past; that's a recipe for 2016's Lights Out! This week, Sarah walks us through this exciting horror flick that was actually expanded from a hugely popular short film from director David Sandberg. It tells the story of a family with a complicated and troubled history being haunted by a dangerous entity that can only exist in pure darkness. Secrets from the past reveal a horrifying truth about why the only way to survive is to keep the lights on at all times! Join us as we discuss Pete's annoyance with darkness-based monsters, IMDB's failure to properly give Maria Bello her dues, and how the special effects in this movie have a very special connection to a Robin Williams classic. So light a candle, keep a flashlight handy, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail Equal parts horror, comedy, homage, satire, gorefest, and anthology. That's the formula for 1988's Waxwork. When a group of yuppie college kids get invited to a private midnight showing at a new Waxwork, they are surprised to find that the exhibits are more interactive than they seem. Each scene of horrific violence is actually a portal to a pocket dimension where the most depraved souls in history reenact their most gruesome kills, over and over again. And the guests are the victims! Join us as we discuss British actors with great voices, geriatric militia groups, and why it's a bad idea to only spend three days writing your screenplay. So get your ticket, come right up, and remember: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail Two feral children living in the woods, a mysterious entity watching over them, and a punk rock Jessica Chastain. That's how you make the 2013 film, Mama! When Jaime Lannister finds his missing nieces (who have been surviving in the woods for five years), him and his girlfriend, Beverly Marsh, take them in and try to care for them. However, a strange ghost-like figure the girls call Mama is overprotective of them and will hurt anyone who tries to take the girls away. Join us as we discuss horror custody battles, the ongoing debate of practical vs CGI, and the return of getting butterfly-d! So be on the look out for evil black ghost mold, and as always: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail What do you get when Stephen Spielberg wants to produce a blockbuster-style horror movie with Jan de Bont directing? You get 1999's The Haunting! Based on the famous Shirley Jackson novel, The Haunting of Hill House, this incredibly 90's film follows a troubled woman invited to a sleep study at a spooky old haunted house in western Massachusetts. The reality, however, is that the doctor conducting the study is really writing a book on fear, and trying to get his guests to give in to the creepiness of the location. When the ghosts turn out to be real, no one is safe and no one can escape! Join us as we discuss how this was almost a Stephen King written project (and what he did instead), the intricacies of fireplace engineering, and how the marketing department completely disrespected the star of the film, Lili Taylor. So grab a nice warm blanket, start counting some sheep, and as always: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail Finally an exorcism movie that does not follow the exact same formula as all the rest! That's right, we are talking about 2022's Prey for the Devil. Sarah talks us through this exciting tale about a nun who is allowed to observe the exorcism training school of the Catholic Church. It's kind of like the X-men school for Gifted Youngsters, but normal people fighting the devil instead of mutants. The nun assists on a case about a possessed young girl whose demon seems to know secrets about the past that could mean terrible danger in the present. Join us as we discuss various psychological disorders related to eating strange things, the acting history of the wonderfully named Colin Salmon, and just how many horror movies Virginia Madsen can sneak into without anyone noticing. So grab a crucifix and some holy water, and as always: don't get too scared!

Send us Fan Mail Wait a second. Didn't we already cover a movie called The Nun, about an evil spirit in a habit that kills people in Europe?? There is more than one movie with that premise!? And it's not even in the same franchise!?  That's right folks, this week we are not discussing anything related to the Conjuring Universe or any Blumhouse production. Pete is covering the early 2000's Spanish-produced but English-speaking "The Nun". The film follows a teen girl who discovers that the evil spirit of a nun that ran her mother's childhood boarding school has been unleashed and is picking off the now adult girls one by one. The teen girl must discover how to stop the Nun, and uncover the mystery of why the ghost wants her as its final victim! This movie choice was inspired by Pete's wife who saw this movie randomly in her youth, and laughingly referred to it as "The Water Nun" because the evil spirit can only travel through bodies of water. These bodies mostly end up being toilets and sinks, making for an unintentionally hilarious set of jump scares. Join us as we discuss the perils of air travel in a horror movie, why you should always carry a spear gun with you, and the importance of a basic understanding of physics when writing your screenplay. So grab some holy water, make a secret pact with your friends, and as always: don't get too scared!