Dark Overtones

In this episode of Dark Overtones, Kurt seeks to explore the symbols that inspired this very podcast -- the runes and symbols embedded in Ari Aster's horror masterpiece, Midsommar. Throughout the film, Aster places runes of Elder Futhark at key points, from the barracks where the main characters sleep to the cliff from which the Harga elders leap to their deaths. It seems that these symbols may ha...

This week, Kurt briefly discusses how the world messes up his best-laid episode plans. Unfortunately, as a researcher of political violence, the complete [looks up the scientific term] shitshow of the last week has forced him to field questions and advise on issues related to security. Fear not, though, dear listener! Next week, a new episode returns, along with announcements related to social med...

In the second episode of Series 1, Kurt delves into the 2015 pressure cooker, The Invitation. Part awkward dinner party, part reverse home invasion, part cultish terror, The Invitation challenges us to consider the psychology of grief and how to remain polite... even if we suspect our hosts want us dead. In this episode, I am joined by Mary Wild, who is kind enough to come back after Episode 100,...

CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of rape and sexual violence is prevalent throughout this episode. In the first real episode of Dark Overtones, Kurt is joined by two communication professors from Baylor University, Leslie Hahner and Scott Varda, to discuss It Follows. Countless articles on It Follows interpreted it as a story about STDs/STIs; but Hahner and Varda have a different interpretation - one t...

In the first episode of Dark Overtones, Kurt is joined by Freudian psychologist and horror expert Mary Wild to discuss the 12 films to be covered in the first series of Dark Overtones. The films to be discussed (in brief, with no spoilers!) are: The Witch, It Follows, The Invitation, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, It Comes at Night, Get Out, A Dark Song, Hereditary, Mandy, Midsommar, Pet Sematary,...

In this new horror podcast, host Kurt Braddock invites subject matter experts, friends, film critics, and everyone in between to analyze and decode some of the best horror and science fiction movies of the last 50 years. This trailer introduces the first series on the horror renaissance since 2015. Tune in and learn what Dark Overtones has in store...