Spooky Bitch Gang

Renowned for their low budget "mockbusters" and their absurd creature features, we take a look at the unusual place The Asylum occupies in the horror canon. What do these often bizarre, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, always unpredictable films say about art, commerce and the tastes of horror fans? Also includes discussions of Fear Street: Prom Queen  (2025),  Skincare (2024),  The Children o...

We've got our finger on the pulse as we investigate two brand new movies - Final Destination: Bloodlines and Clown in a Cornfield . The sixth instalment in a belovedly camp splatter franchise and possible franchise-starter based on a novel make great fodder for a discussion of what actually makes a good horror movie. Through Final Destination: Bloodlines and Clown in a Cornfield , we get a st...

As thanks for being a part of the Spooky cult, we're exploring the horror and mystique around cults, sects and New Religious Movements. Charismatic leaders, blind devotion and Flavor-Aid feature as we unpack the mechanisms of indoctrination and wonder if it would ever work on us. Features discussions of  Sinners (2025),  Until Dawn  (2025),  Thirst  (1979),  Santa Sangre  (1989),  Suicide Clu...

Drop , the latest film from Christopher Landon ( Paranormal Activity ,  Happy Death Day ,  Freaky ), is a nail biter in the classic sense. We talk about this rollercoaster ride's tropes on motherhood and femininity, its big reaches, and its self-dating use of memes. Also includes discussions of Lovely, Dark & Deep (2024) ,The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales  (1960), the 2025 Fantastic Film Festi...

Nothing is certain but death, taxes and going to the doctor. We investigate the ways in which the medical system has carved out its own horrifying niche in the horror canon. Surgery, sickness and sinister doctors abound.  Includes discussions of Afraid (2023), The Unholy Three (1925), Eyes without a Face (1960), The Curious Dr. Humpp (1969), Flatliners (1990), The Kingdom (1994), The Death of Mr....

This year marks the 50th anniversary of what might be the greatest Australian film of all time - Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock . Full of tantalising mystery and suggestions of dark, cosmic horror, what is the allure of this oblique dream of femininity and disappearance? We also discuss the novel and the stage adaptation. Also includes discussions of  Dead Calm  (1989) and  Se7en  (1995)...

Our fungal friends seem purpose-built for horror, but our they have only a small filmography. We investigate the creepiest, gooiest appearances by mushrooms and mould in horror movies. Includes discussions of The Watchers (2024), Spider Baby (1967), The Vourdalak (2023), The Unknown Terror (1957), Matango (1963), Splinter (2008), Superdeep (2020), Gaia (2021) and The Spore (2021). Follow us on Ins...

Oz Perkins' follow-up to last year's Longlegs is an ambitious, hilarious left turn into absurdity. We discuss this deceptively complex movie's Biblical allusions and its exploration of the inevitability of death. Also includes discussions of Heart Eyes (2025), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Notting Hill (1999) and The Barefoot Contessa (1954). Follow us on Instagram and Faceb...

You can't swing a crucifix in this town with hitting a Satanic cult, so we're taking a  look at this horror staple. Turns out Satan and his followers come in all shapes and sizes! Includes discussions of Presence (2025), Companion (2025), Faust (1926), Night of the Demon a.k.a Curse of the Demon (1957), If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? (1971), Hungry Wives (1972), The Devil&apos...

We're getting all nostalgic over what was an absolutely sick year for horror. Join us as we count down our individual top 10s of the best horror (and horror adjacent) movies of 2024. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook . Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com .

F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu went from unauthorised Dracula adaptation to one of the sacred texts of horror. We look at the 100-year-old masterpiece and the remakes by Werner Herzog and Robert Eggers, investigating the context and themes of each one. Nosferatu 's vision of vampirism is as eternal as war, plague, paranoia and death itself. Also includes discussions of  Oddity  (2024),  Black C...

It's hard out here for a biddy! We're taking a look at movies featuring older woman going psycho. Known also as hagsploitation, these movies may have a problematic view of women, but in hindsight do they reveal something empowering? Includes discussions of  Strange Darling  (2024),  Witches  (2024),  Suddenly, Last Summer  (1959), Strait-Jacket (1964), Fanatic a.k.a. Die, Die My Darling!...

A24's latest contribution to the horror genre is the dialogue-heavy, slightly bonkers  Heretic . We discuss the Hugh Grant-starring film's unique takes on religion, pop culture and gender.  Also includes discussions of  Fear the Spotlight  (video game, 2024),  MadS  (2024) and more. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook . Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang....

CONTENT WARNING: Contains references to childhood sexual assault The scarecrow seems to be a horror icon on the surface, but this oddball's repertoire is inconsistent and relatively small. We take a look at scarecrows in a selection of horror movies and wonder why the spooky straw man seems to lack a clear identity. Includes discussions of Smile 2 (2024), The Hollow Watcher (1961), Dark Night...

How did this gross, cartoonish body horror movie ending up being one of the year's major film events? We discuss all the silliness and viscera of  The Substance , unpacking its satirical intent and feminist themes. Does its stylisation get in the way of its characters? Does its message get lost in melt movie goo? Plus Two Spooks & a Lie featuring Australian horror gun Enzo Tedeschi. Also...

Take a trip back in time to the heyday of the iconic British production company Hammer Film Productions. Between the mid-50s and the early 70s, Hammer left an indelible mark on horror, with hits that were sexy, lurid, gothic and campy. We take a look at the lasting impact and sometimes questionable politics of a small selection of Hammer Horror films.  Includes discussions of David Cronenberg&apos...

Subtitle haters and subtitle lovers are at odds over the new James McAvoy vehicle  Speak No Evil , a remake of a film that in some circles is already a minor classic. We unpack the pitch black satire of both, very different versions of  Speak No Evil .  Also includes discussions of  Something in the Water (2024) and  Strange Darling  (2024). Follow us on Instagram and Facebook . Contact us at crys...

In this episode, we take a look at movies that explore all the ins and outs of bearing a child. Turns out the beginnings of life might be not-so-secretly horrifying. What commentary can horror movies offer on pregnancy, abortion and motherhood itself? Includes discussions of In a Violent Nature (2024), Blink Twice (2024), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Suckling (1990), Inside (2007), Preveng...

Everyone is talking about the latest instalment in the Alien franchise. How does the classic Alien formula of popcorn action plus compelling characters fare in this new iteration? Is Alien: Romulus a return to form or a sad attempt at recapturing the magic? Also includes discussions of The Coffee Table (2024), Woman in the Dunes (1964) and Kidnapping in the Grand Canyon (2023). Follow us on Instag...

Once again, we're taking a look at the rich tapestry of movies that is white people getting stuck places. Going from microgenre to macrogenre, it feels like these movie are unavoidable and this time we've got some bangers. Where did they get stuck and where will they get stuck next? Includes discussions of Trap (2024), The Coffee Table (2024), Lord of the Flies (1963), Lady in a Cage (19...

With the most impressive viral marketing campaign since Skinamarink , Osgood Perkins' Longlegs  was a sensation long before anyone even knew Nicolas Cage was involved. We discuss the good and the bad of this fascinating and ambitious film and wonder if it ever had a chance of living up to the hype. Also includes discussions of  Twisters  (2024),  Messiah of Evil  (1973) and more. Follow us on...

He's big, he's hairy and he lives in the woods. No it's not another Russell Crowe movie; it's Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the yeti, yowie, and more. We discuss some of the hairy forest-dweller's onscreen appearances, and what we've learned about Bigfoot's (and similar monsters') place in the pop culture canon. Includes discussions of A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), ...

Was anyone asking for another exorcism-based horror movie starring Russell Crowe? Well, we got one anyway! This time it's a bit meta with a personal connection to a certain venerated classic. We take a look at Crowe's latest foray into the horror genre and wonder if the exorcism sub-genre is all dried up. Plus some Sydney Film Festival highlights and the return of 2 Spooks and a Lie! Inc...

M.  Night Shyamalan's breakthrough feature is twenty-five years old this year. Does the rapturous acclaim it received at release still hold up today, or has its maverick director run out of goodwill? We talk about its quirks, its lasting influence, and what makes it a great horror movie. Also includes discussions of The Witch's Mirror a.k.a El espejo de la bruja (1960) and Unfrosted (202...

These movies might not be technically horror, but they definitely scratch the same part of our brain that wants thrills, chills and mayhem. Disaster movies pit humanity against some of its harshest challenges. What is revealed when everything is stripped away from the human spirit? Includes discussions of Tarot (2024), Sleep Has Her House (2017), Deluge (1933), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Subme...