Faculty of Horror

Grab your zero gravity suit and lock in as Andrea and Alex delve into the sweeping mindscapes of Tarsem Singh’s striking debut feature. With its Silence of the Lambs influences to its stacked cast and extreme artistic influences, we discuss why this film remains so singular and explore the traces of DNA it carries from its predecessors.    Get the “Fix Your Hearts or Die” Merch b...

Andrea and Alex investigate the mysterious happenings in Stuart Gordon’s foray into the dark side of academia and science fiction in his first feature. Through the modernized adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s tales, they’ll uncover how class, opportunity, and gender factor into the film version.    Get the “Fix Your Hearts or Die” Merch by Goblin Purwin  this June at our...

Behind the door of a seemingly normal American home lies something evil. Something that’s been waiting. No, it’s not a demon – it’s a heteronormative relationship with a total douchebag!  Join Alex and Andrea for a dive into the murky waters of demonology, tech bros, and home security with Oren Peli’s feature film debut.    Join our Patreon community!   REQUIRED READING Par...

Wes Craven’s first feature continues to draw audiences and critics to it. By examining the production, reception, and impact of  The Last House on the Left , Andrea and  Alex  will investigate the legacy of the rape-revenge subgenre and our evolving understanding of it.  *Apologies for the poor audio on this one, guys! We’ll catch that gremlin one day and we’ll skin him alive ! J...

This month, we’ve summoned friend of the show (and verified Lynch stan) Stacie Ponder to join us as we wander aimlessly into the surrealist nightmare of David Lynch’s mind. Through an exploration of his first film Eraserhead , we’ll investigate one of cinema’s most enigmatic creatives and his myths of America.  Check out Stacie’s podcast: Final Girl After Dark !  Join...

Another year of mad fackery has come to end, so Andrea and Alex take a last look at 2025 to review our horror (and non-horror) faves of the year.  Join our Patreon community!   Alex’s picks: Weapons Bring Her Back The Ugly Stepsister Final Destination Bloodlines Companion Good Boy The Occupant of the Room Mangittatuarjuk: The Gnawer of Rocks   Andrea’s picks: Bring Her Back Weapons Fin...

Andrea and Alex interrogate the pearl clutching that went on during  Silent Night, Deadly Night ‘s initial theatrical run, what it means to cultivate festive cheer, and the importance of being nice and never naughty.  Class of 2025 Merch is now available!  Thanks to Caleb Milatovic and Rachelle Walker for the incredible design!    Join us over on Patreon  for more content!   REQUIRED READING...

Mind the fog and join Andrea and Alex as they explore the dark hallways of Alejandro Amenábar’s  The Others . From geopolitics to religion and the weight of motherhood, not everything in the film is as it appears.  Class of 2025 Merch is now available!  Thanks to Caleb Milatovic and Rachelle Walker for the incredible design!    REQUIRED READING The Others . Dir. Alejandro Amenábar, 2001.   E...

It’s almost time kids, the clock is ticking! Andrea and  Alex explore the strange world of Halloween III: Season of the Witch, uncovering tricks and treats in the history of holiday, Celtic rituals, and our evolving relationship with our TVs.  Class of 2025 Merch is now available!  Thanks to Caleb Milatovic and Rachelle Walker for the incredible design!    REQUIRED READING Halloween III: Sea...

In this episode Andrea and Alex delve into the dark side of masculinity with the film adaptations of Apt Pupil and We Need to Talk About Kevin to explore the manosphere, motherhood, and the complexities of anger. Please note: this episode was recorded September 5, 2025. Class of 2025 Merch is now available.  Thanks to Caleb Milatovic and Rachelle Walker for the incredible design!    REQUIRED READI...

Buckle up and keep your eyes on the road because we’re chatting about the teen slasher thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer . From morality and justice to small town trappings, we unearth a murky past that refuses to stay buried! More content over on our Patreon !   REQUIRED READING I Know What You Did Last Summer . Dir. Jim Gillespie, 1997.    EXTRA CREDIT Behavioral Risks during the Tr...

Pack your car and mind the detours because we’re kicking off summer with an episode on The Hills Have Eyes . From familial tensions to political warfare in the original and the remake, there’s a whole host of darkness to be found under the summer sun.  More content over on our Patreon !   REQUIRED READING The Hills Have Eyes . Dir. Wes Craven, 1977. The Hills Have Eyes. Dir. Alexandre...

Join Andrea and Alex live from Salem Horror Fest for feats of strength (!) and a discussion of the horrors of beauty standards, the weight of celebrity culture, and the algorithms that are out to get us.  More content over on our Patreon !   REQUIRED READING The Substance . Dir. Coralie Fargeat, 2024.    EXTRA CREDIT Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism . Sarah Wyn...

Spring has sprung so it’s time to get into the greenhouse! In this episode, Alex and Andrea investigate the differences between mother and caretaker, the privilege of home upkeep, and why yuppies love windchimes.  More content over on our Patreon !   REQUIRED READING The Hand that Rocks the Cradle . Dir. Curtis Hanson, 1992.    EXTRA CREDIT The Unnatural History of the Nanny.  The NYT’...

Log on to this episode where we go deep with the film adaptation of the cult video game  Detention . From totalitarianism in Taiwan and beyond, the ghosts of our past often have dire warnings about our present and future that we should heed.  More content over on our Patreon !   Catch us LIVE at Salem Horror Fest!   REQUIRED READING Detention . Dir. John Hsu, 2019.    EXTRA CREDIT Does Historical...

Join us as we delve into the lineage and legacy of Tod Browning’s pre-code horror classic. From the morality police to representation of disability to community building through murder, we discuss why  Freaks  remains a unique and unrepeatable entry in the horror canon. More content over on our Patreon !   REQUIRED READING Freaks . Dir. Tod Browning, 1932.    EXTRA CREDIT Spurs . Tod Robbins...

Andrea and Alex run down their favourite horror films from 2024, share what they’re looking forward to this year and go head-to-head in trivia for Fack supremacy.  Join our Patreon community!   LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”

Join us as we breakdown the isolated families of David Cronenberg’s  The Brood . From family structures to the legalese of it all, we investigate why and how we cling to each other.  Last chance for our  Class of 2024 merch ! Artwork by the incredible  Candice Purwin .   REQUIRED READING The Brood . Dir. David Cronenberg, 1979.    EXTRA CREDIT Cronenberg on Cronenberg . A collection of inter...

Christmas came early for the profs this year, with an advance screening to Robert Eggers’ hotly anticipated adaptation of Nosferatu! We recorded our immediate reaction at the cinema for our Patreon, but we wanted to spread the good cheer for the film’s wide release. Hear our raw reactions – but beware spoilers if you don’t want details! Join our Patreon community for more c...

In this episode Andrea and Alex deep-dive into John Carpenter’s cult-classic exploring the ways that materialism, Marxism, and maximalism have driven us to the edge of consumption.  Check out our  Class of 2024 merch ! Artwork by the incredible  Candice Purwin .   REQUIRED READING They Live . Dir. John Carpenter, 1988.   EXTRA CREDIT “Eight O’Clock in the Morning.” Ray Nels...

James Wan’s blockbuster horror offering The Conjuring thrilled audiences and created a cinematic universe but for Andrea and Alex it left an icky feeling that has nothing to do with demonic possession. By investigating the politics, means and ideology behind the film, they’ll uncover the true villains behind this narrative.  Check out our  Class of 2024 merch ! Artwork by the incredibl...

For this very special back-to-school episode, Andrea and Alex are joined by the one and only Stacie Ponder to dig into the depths of Luca Guadagnino’s remake of Dario Argento’s classic. From the dance of politics to the dance of sexuality, there’s more under the floorboards of the Markos Dance Academy than meets the eye. For more Stacie, check out her blog  Final Girl , her colum...

Pack your bags and leave your conception of the social fabric that binds us behind because we’re going to two private islands in this episode! From the darkness of Dr. Moreau’s experiments to John Hammond’s capitalist enterprise, these journeys into the human desire for control rarely end well for anyone involved.    REQUIRED READING Island of Lost Souls . Dir. Erle C. Kento...

Pack your bags and your partner because this episode leaves the comforts of civilized society far behind. In this episode we unpack the need for serenity, the heritage of toxic masculinity, and why a bear might actually make a great boyfriend.  REQUIRED READING Eden Lake. Dir. James Watkins, 2008.  Backcountry . Dir. Adam MacDonald, 2014.    EXTRA CREDIT Overall Crime Down 44% Since 1995 . The Gua...

Whether you’re ascending or descending, spiritual journeys through the afterlife are never easy. In this episode, Andrea and Alex tackle two films that share some overlapping tendencies but deviate in unexpected ways.    REQUIRED READING Angel Heart. Dir. Alan Parker, 1987. Jacob’s Ladder . Dir Adrian Lyne, 1990.    EXTRA CREDIT Satanic Feminism : Per Faxneld’s book about the evo...