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Troy and Roger crank up the volume and dive into Green Room (2015), the brutally intense thriller where a punk band’s gig goes very, very wrong. They break down the film’s relentless tension, grounded realism, and the terrifyingly calm villains that make every moment feel way too real. It’s a raw, nerve-shredding ride, and the guys dig into what makes it hit so hard and why it sticks with you long after the credits roll.

This week on Dark Night of the Podcast, Roger is joined by guest co-host Bret Laurie to revisit the gloriously over-the-top 2006 witchy teen thriller The Covenant. Set in a world where shirtless prep school warlocks rule the halls, the film serves up a perfect storm of CGI chaos, brooding stares, and powers that seem to work whenever the plot needs them to. Roger and Bret lean all the way into the camp, breaking down the movie’s early-2000s aesthetic, its very obvious (and very entertaining) homoerotic energy, and a villain who clearly never met a mirror he didn’t love. They also talk magic rules that make absolutely no sense, fight scenes that look like supernatural Abercrombie ads, and why this movie somehow remains ridiculously watchable. It’s cheesy, it’s dramatic, and it might just be the ultimate time capsule of mid-2000s teen horror. Buckle up… the Sons of Ipswich have entered the chat.

Troy and Roger scrub in for the 2006 low-budget horror oddity Candy Stripers, where a quiet hospital suddenly becomes ground zero for alien parasites, murderous nurses, and some truly questionable decision-making. What starts as a routine shift quickly turns into a chaotic mix of body horror, rubbery effects, and characters who probably should not be working in healthcare. Along the way, the guys talk about the film’s ultra-cheap charm, its very strange take on hospital life, and the moments that feel more unintentionally hilarious than terrifying. There are alien infections, plenty of over-the-top gore, and a story that seems to wander the halls almost as much as the characters do. It’s messy, weird, and exactly the kind of late-night horror curiosity the podcast loves digging into. Grab your scrubs and prepare for one very bizarre shift. Interested in bonus content? Check out our Patreon at www.patreon.com/darknightofthepodcast

Troy and Roger head to Camp Manabe for Return to Sleepaway Camp, the long-delayed sequel that somehow manages to be louder, meaner, and way more chaotic than the original. At the center of it all is Alan, quite possibly one of the most aggressively awful campers ever put on screen, whose nonstop whining and rage-fueled meltdowns make you almost root for the killer. The guys break down the film’s bizarre tone, its obsession with gross-out humor, and the body count that feels both over-the-top and weirdly low-energy at the same time. They compare it to the original classic, question some truly baffling creative choices, and try to figure out who exactly this sequel was made for. Between plot holes, questionable comedy, and characters you cannot wait to see leave the screen, there is plenty to unpack.

Troy and Roger carve into the frosty chaos of the 2003 snowbound slasher Shredder. Set at a remote ski resort with a dark local legend hanging over it, the film sends a group of bickering twenty-somethings straight into a blizzard of bad decisions and surprisingly mean-spirited kills. The guys unpack the early-2000s energy, the soap-opera-level relationship drama, and a twist reveal so convoluted it practically needs its own flowchart. They debate whether the movie is secretly fun or just aggressively confused, especially when it comes to pacing and character motivation. Between icy chase scenes and head-scratching logic, there is plenty to laugh about. It is snowy, slashy, and just self-serious enough to make the commentary even better.

Join Troy and Roger on a ski lift as they discuss Frozen, a survival horror that turns a simple ski trip into a full blown nightmare. They talk through the film’s minimal setup, the escalating panic, and how quickly friendship is tested when the temperature drops and help is nowhere in sight. The guys dig into the characters’ choices, the film’s harsh realism, and the moments that are genuinely hard to watch. They also discuss how nature itself becomes the villain, with cold, height, and hunger doing most of the damage. Equal parts tense and bleak, Frozen sparks a conversation about survival, fear, and why maybe one last ski run was a bad idea.

Troy and Roger dust off the backpacks and revisit the 2006 vacation-from-hell horror flick Turistas. What starts as a sun-soaked party movie quickly spirals into a sweaty nightmare full of bad decisions, questionable locals, and a vibe that’s doing some heavy lifting with xenophobia. The guys dig into the film’s chaotic tone shifts, paper-thin characters, and the way the marketing promised one kind of horror while delivering something very different. They break down the infamous organ-harvesting turn, debate whether the gore actually lands, and wonder why no one ever stops to ask better questions. Along the way, they talk final girls, missed opportunities, and an ending that somehow feels both rushed and exhausted. It’s a lively breakdown of a film that wants to scare you straight out of traveling abroad… and maybe straight into rebooking your flight home.

Happy Holidays indeed! Troy and Roger finally tackle Silent Night, Deadly Night 3, the sequel that somehow feels like it wandered in from a completely different movie franchise. They break down Ricky’s return, now mute, scarred, and communicating through intense staring, while the film leans hard into psychic visions, dream logic, and a whole lot of slow pacing. The guys have plenty to say about the baffling lack of gore, the wildly underused grandmother character, and a plot that never seems very concerned with urgency or holiday cheer. They also unpack Laura’s psychic connection to Ricky, which should be interesting but mostly just raises more questions than answers. From awkward deaths to an ending that feels less climactic than confusing, this one gives the hosts plenty to vent about. It’s a messy, strange entry in the franchise, and the guys have a lot of fun figuring out how it all went so wrong.

Troy and Roger hang out on an almost completely deserted college campus to talk about the 2014 home-invasion style thriller Kristy. They dig into the very bad idea of staying on campus over Thanksgiving break, the creepy strangers who show up uninvited, and how quickly a quiet holiday turns into a full-on survival situation. The guys chat about the film’s tense chase scenes, its not-so-subtle commentary on privilege, and the oddly modern horror of being targeted just for existing. They also track Justine’s transformation from stressed college student to resourceful final-girl-in-training. While the movie has a few pacing hiccups and some “why would you do that?” moments, it still delivers solid suspense and a surprisingly mean streak. If you enjoy lonely settings, masked weirdos, and Thanksgiving vibes gone very wrong, this one’s worth the discussion.

Troy and Roger escape the holiday madness by diving into the chaotic slasher antics of 1984's Splatter University. They laugh through the film’s awkward character relationships, uneven storytelling, and the way no one on campus seems remotely concerned that staff and students keep turning up murdered. They break down the mix of effective scares and unintentionally hilarious moments, all wrapped in pure 80s low-budget charm. Even with its many flaws, they agree the movie is bizarrely fun and exactly the kind of school experience they are glad they never had.

It’s the season of giving thanks! While Troy and Roger took the week off from recording to celebrate Thanksgiving, they didn’t want to leave you without an episode. So they dove into their extensive Patreon vault and pulled out the perfect title. With Wicked for Good dominating the box office, the guys are sharing their own journey to Oz as they discuss the dark, often terrifying 1985 sequel to The Wizard of Oz : Return to Oz. Follow Troy and Roger down the crumbling yellow brick road as they revisit this often-forgotten sequel. And to get access to over 100 exclusive Patreon episodes, subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/c/darknightofthepodcast

Troy and Roger crack open the gloriously unhinged 1983 horror oddity Mausoleum, where family curses, glowing green eyes, and an honestly staggering amount of on-screen breasts collide. They dive into the film’s spicy mix of demonic possession, over-the-top sexuality, and soap-opera-level relationship drama, all delivered with the kind of earnest camp only the ’80s could provide. Along the way, they marvel at the movie’s commitment to practical creature effects, especially the ones that seem to appear out of nowhere and vanish just as quickly. The guys also puzzle over the characters’ baffling decisions, the demon’s oddly specific powers, and the plot threads that never fully connect but somehow still entertain. It’s a spirited, sarcastic, and surprisingly affectionate breakdown of a film that proves sometimes the messiest horror is the most fun. Find out more at https://dark-night-of-the-podcast.pinecast.co

Troy and Roger pack their bags and head to winter break with The Dorm That Dripped Blood, a slasher that asks the important question: how much are these students being paid to clean out an abandoned dorm during their Christmas break? They chat about the film’s surprisingly moody atmosphere, its grungy campus setting, and a cast of students who maybe should’ve taken the strange noises a little more seriously. The guys break down the film’s standout kills (including one involving a pressure cooker—yes, really), along with its slow-burn build-up to a reveal that firmly roots it in early ’80s slasher territory. They also touch on the confusing motive of the killer and the delightfully bleak tone the movie leans into. It’s gritty, it’s low-budget, it’s a campus horror time capsule, and the hosts are here for every last blood-spattered hallway echo. Find out more at https://dark-night-of-the-podcast.pinecast.co

Roger and Troy take a deep dive into the murky waters of the 2000 made-for-TV thriller Cabin by the Lake. Judd Nelson stars as a screenwriter who moonlights as a serial killer because apparently, “write what you know” took on a whole new meaning. The guys unpack the film’s mix of dark humor, low-budget tension, and Lifetime-movie energy, all while questioning whether this lake has seen more bodies than fish. They discuss the surprisingly eerie atmosphere, some questionable creative choices, and why the movie somehow manages to be both creepy and cozy. Tune in for plenty of laughs, shivers, and speculation about who thought this would be perfect for Sunday night TV. Find out more at https://dark-night-of-the-podcast.pinecast.co

This week, Roger and Troy tackle Woodchipper Massacre, a backyard horror “classic” that proves you don’t need a budget, logic, or even good audio to make a movie. They unpack the film’s chaotic family dynamic, questionable acting choices, and the surprising lack of, well, woodchipper massacres. From overacting kids to scenes that drag on like a home movie gone wrong, the guys find plenty to laugh (and groan) about. They debate whether it’s so-bad-it’s-good or just plain bad, all while appreciating the strange charm of DIY ‘80s horror. It’s low-budget lunacy at its finest, and somehow, you can’t look away. Find out more at https://dark-night-of-the-podcast.pinecast.co