Monstrous Flesh

In this last episode, we sink our teeth into Abel Ferrara’s The Addiction (1995), a bleak, philosophical vampire film steeped in existential dread, moral corruption and the dark side of intellectualism. Following philosophy student Kathleen’s descent into vampirism, we explore the film’s collision of academia and addiction, questioning whether knowledge can save us from our own monstrosity — or si...

In this episode, we head into the graffiti-covered corridors of Cabrini-Green for Bernard Rose’s Candyman (1992), a haunting blend of urban legend, folklore and psychological horror. We explore Helen Lyle’s investigation into the terrifying myth of Candyman, and the film’s fascination with belief, storytelling and the ways legends take on a life of their own. But beneath the supernatural horror li...

We would like to give a content warning for this episode. We will be discussing both fictionalised and real instances of violence that may be disturbing to listeners. Listener discretion is advised. 'Give the audience what they want' In this episode, we discuss Tesis , the 1996 debut feature from Spanish film director Alejandro Amenabar (best internationally known for his 2001 film The Others ) **...

Summer’s over kids, you’ve had your fun in the sun, now it’s time to get those brain cells back into action… before they end up splattered on your mid terms paper! In this first episode, we discuss the 1998 vintage that is Urban Legend. **** Synopsis: The film follows Natalie Simon, a University student who begins to suspect that a killer is turning famous Urban Legends into reality. From the stra...

In this final episode we discuss LAKE PLACID, a film which subverts the traditional "vengeful nature" trope by exposing humanity’s absurd, possessive, and contradictory relationship with the wild. Instead of treating the giant 30-foot crocodile as an evil abomination that must be eradicated, the film turns the creature into a focal point for a clash between modern science, archaic local...

Before “toxic waste” became one of genre cinema’s favourite clichés, C.H.U.D. made it feel genuinely unsettling. There’s no glowing green sludge here, magically transforming unsuspecting victims into mutants. Instead, the film taps into something much more insidious: the fear that something dangerous is festering right beneath the city we think we know. Like The Incredible Melting Man , Alligator...

In this episode, we discuss ‘the best Jaws rip-off’ - Joe Dante’s original sci-fi horror Piranha stands out from the countless array of nature-bites-back flicks thanks to its in-your-face and unapologetic ode to genre filmmaking.  Synopsis: When two hapless teens disappear after trekking past an abandoned military compound, skip tracer Maggie McKeown is sent to find them, unenthusiastically aided...

Welcome to our summer series- Heatwave Horror. As the world quite literally burns around us, we will be exploring the use of the environment in horror cinema. In this first episode, we discuss the creature feature that started it all: Jack Arnold’s 1954 masterpiece Creature from the Black Lagoon. Synopsis: Deep in the Brazilian Amazon, an archaeological expedition uncovers the fossilized claw of a...

In this last episode of the year we discuss our cinematic highs and lows of 2025, as well as looking back at our achievements this year and a preview of what we have in mind for 2026... Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous new year!

Did you know that before the tinsel and the Coca-Cola truck, Christmas in Britain was a time for... terror? In the penultimate episode of the year (wink wink), Meg and Clelia gathered around the fire to discuss the great British tradition of Ghost Stories for Christmas. Long before the Victorian era, the winter solstice was seen as a thin place—where the veil between the living and the dead was at...

We are joined by a very special guest: Payton McCarthy-Simas , author of That Very Witch: Fear, Feminism, and the American Witch Film, to dive deep into Rob Zombie’s The Lords of Salem (2012) — a hypnotic, polarising, and deeply uncanny entry in modern witch cinema. Payton brings their expertise on American witch narratives to unpack the film’s hallucinatory imagery, its lineage in Puritan panic,...

In this last episode of the Revenge season, we discuss two cult classics bound by grief, love, and the intoxicating lure of vengeance. Join us as we explore how The Crow ( Proyas, 1994) and Mandy (Cosmatos, 2018) blur the line between mourning and madness, tenderness and brutality. *** Editing and theme music by Adam Hynes @adamnarrows Follow the hosts of Monstrous Flesh on social media @monstrous...

In our penultimate episode, we are discussing The Brood (1979) and Pyewacket (2017), two films that explore the dark, terrifying side of the mother-daughter relationship and how emotional trauma can literally manifest in monstrous ways. We'll be delving into the concept of psychosomatic horror, where unresolved anger and deep-seated familial resentment give birth to something truly terrifying, whe...

In this episode, we are discussing Carrie (1976) and Sissy (2022), two films that examine the terrifying intersection of bullying , social isolation , and the ultimate, explosive backlash from a teen pushed to her limits. We're exploring how both films tap into the profound fear of the outcast, showing the devastating consequences of relentless torment and how a desire for acceptance can curdl...

In this episode, we are discussing Ms. 45 (Ferrara, 1981) and Revenge (Fargeat, 2017), two films that take the "rape-revenge" subgenre and turn it on its head. We're looking at how these films transform a victim into a vigilante, reclaiming their agency and power through brutal, unapologetic acts of violence. We explore the catharsis and controversy of this trope, and question what i...

In this episode, we are discussing Hard Candy and Gone Girl , two films that show how the quiet, intellectual girl-next-door can become the most terrifying avenging angel. We'll be looking at how female intelligence and cunning can be weaponised in a hyper-masculine world to expose and ultimately destroy the men who seek to exploit them. We'll also explore how these films flip the script on who is...

In this episode, we are discussing Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and Morgiana (1972), two films that show how the poisonous brew of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and psychological manipulation can turn a house into a cage and a family into a battlefield. We'll be looking at how revenge is not always an external force but can fester from within, leading to a slow, methodical unraveling of the...

In this episode, we are discussing Lady Vengeance (2005) and Ballerina (2023), two films that show the immense power of female rage and the methodical, brutal lengths our heroines go to in order to seek retribution. We'll be looking at the difference between the collective and personal nature of revenge, how trauma fuels the desire for justice, and how these films challenge the traditional portray...

Welcome to Season 3, "Revenge”, exploring the many and varied motivations for Women to seek revenge in horror. This season, we’ll be looking at how revenge manifests, the different forms it takes, and importantly, we’ll be questioning why there’s been a tendency to gender this concept. In this episode, we are discussing Play Misty for Me (1971) and Fatal Attraction (1987), two films that helped de...

" The killer is a maniac . But his mind works in a semi-logical pattern. which has a reasonable meaning for him."  We're joined by Matt Rogerson, author of 'The Vatican Versus Horror Movies' (McFarland, 2024), and the upcoming Fulci’s Inferno (2025), to discuss their unique insights into the intersections of the world of horror cinema and faith. We discuss Matt's work and influences, and dissect L...

The Daylight Horror series comes to a chilling conclusion! 😱 In our final episode, we dive into the twisted depths of Funny Games and Eden Lake . Prepare for psychological torture, teenage terror, and a whole lot of uncomfortable truths about classism and violence. ☀️🔪 #podcast #horror #daylighthorror #funnygames #edenlake #podcastlife #horrorpodcast" *** Find out more about Monstrous Flesh...

We're breaking down the chilling double bill of The Wicker Man (both the 1973 AND 2006 version!) and Midsommar . Get ready for pagan rituals, twisted cults, and a whole lot of uncomfortable sunshine. ☀️💀 *** Find out more about Monstrous Flesh, our reading list for episodes and upcoming events via our website monstrousflesh.co.uk Follow Clelia (@monstrous_flesh) and Meg (@monstrous_meg) on In...

This week, we discuss the iconic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - a blood-soaked odyssey into the maddening heat of rural Texas. We dissect the film's enduring legacy, from its groundbreaking violence to its exploration of family, fate, and the American psyche. We then turn our attention to Carlota Pereda's groundbreaking debut Piggy, delving into themes of bullying, body image, and the mons...

Welcome to this Monstrous Flesh podcast mini-series, where we turn our attention to a fascinating subgenre - Daylight Horror. This week we're talking about Steven Spielberg's 1975 cult classic Jaws and Jordan Peele's UFO extravaganza Nope, from 2022. Why do these two films make a great double bill, you ask? ... Let's talk! *** Find out more about Monstrous Flesh, our reading list f...

"I believe the ladies have explained everything. Now it's up to you, whether to be a goat or a witch. If you choose to be a goat, cut the ribbon. But, if you choose to be a witch, keep your ribbon intact. Then you'll join this witch camp." In this episode, we delve into Rungano Nyoni’s poignant and powerful film, "I Am Not a Witch" (2017). This unique piece of cinema bl...