The Conner & Smith Show

Day 14 – Episode 164: The Innkeepers (2011) On Day 14 of The Conner & Smith Show’s 31 Days of Halloween, Ryan and I check into Ti West’s The Innkeepers (2011) — a modern ghost story that proves atmosphere and slow-burn tension can be just as scary as jump scares. Set in the real-life Yankee Pedlar Inn, the film follows two quirky hotel employees during the inn’s final weekend before closing, as th...

Day 13 – Episode 163: Session 9 (2001) On Day 13 of The Conner & Smith Show’s 31 Days of Halloween, I’m flying solo with one of the creepiest psychological horror films of the early 2000s - Session 9 (2001). This slow-burn nightmare follows an asbestos cleanup crew working in an abandoned mental hospital, where paranoia and dread begin to consume them all. What makes it even more chilling? It was...

On Day 12 of The Conner & Smith Show’s 31 Days of Halloween, I’m joined by Ryan Dean Halbrook as we dive into Brian De Palma’s Carrie (1976). Nearly fifty years later, this chilling adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel still holds up as one of the greatest horror films ever made. From Sissy Spacek’s haunting performance to Piper Laurie’s unhinged turn as her mother, Carrie remains a masterclas...

On Day 11 of our 31 Days of Halloween, I’m flying solo with Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). This is the only one in the whole series that I find even halfway scary—until the infamous ending, when the inflatable mom gets yanked through the front door window and all the terror goes right out with her. Still, there’s no denying that Freddy Krueger’s debut remains one of horror’s most i...

On Day 10 of our 31 Days of Halloween, episode 160, I’m flying solo with Clive Barker’s Hellraiser (1987). This one is pure nightmare fuel, yet I can’t help but admire the gorgeous grotesque artistry of it all. From the unforgettable Cenobites to the exquisite gore, Barker creates a world that’s both bleak and strangely beautiful. This is horror that doesn’t just scare—it mesmerizes, leaving you c...

On Day 9 of our 31 Days of Halloween, I’m flying solo again with Adam Wingard’s Blair Witch (2016). I know it’s considered blasphemous in the horror community, but honestly—I kind of like this one. There’s something strangely satisfying about finally seeing something in the woods, and seeing it in full color. While it doesn’t capture the raw, groundbreaking energy of the 1999 original, it expands...

On Day 8 of our 31 Days of Halloween, I go solo again to cover David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows (2014). I think this one is brilliant—an eerie, slow-burn horror that redefines the rules of dread with its simple but terrifying premise. I’ll explore its haunting atmosphere, striking visual style, and the ways it taps into universal fears about mortality and intimacy. This modern classic proves tha...

On Day 7 of our 31 Days of Halloween, I go solo with Jennifer Kent’s modern horror classic The Babadook (2014). While the film is often praised for its psychological depth and chilling metaphor for grief, I’ll be honest—it isn’t one of my favorites, largely because of the upsetting dog violence. Still, I explore its lasting cultural impact, unforgettable performances, and why it continues to spark...

On Day 6 of our 31 Days of Halloween, Ryan, Matt, and I dive into Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic Poltergeist. This suburban nightmare about a family haunted by restless spirits is one of our all-time favorite horror films, blending heart, humor, and hair-raising terror. We share our love for its unforgettable characters, groundbreaking special effects, and eerie moments that still...

On Day 5 of our 31 Days of Halloween, Ryan and I discuss M. Night Shyamalan’s haunting classic The Sixth Sense (1999). This supernatural thriller became a cultural phenomenon, blending chilling atmosphere with one of cinema’s most unforgettable twist endings. We explore Haley Joel Osment’s powerful performance as a boy who “sees dead people,” Bruce Willis’s understated turn, and how the film redef...

On Day 4 of our 31 Days of Halloween, I take a look at James Wan’s breakout horror film Saw (2004). This low-budget psychological thriller changed the landscape of 2000s horror, introducing audiences to the twisted games of Jigsaw and kicking off a franchise that would define the “torture horror” era. While I dive into its cultural impact and the film’s infamous final twist, I’ll also be honest—th...

On Day Three of our 31 Days of Halloween, Stephen is joined by Ryan Dean Halbrook for a terrifying deep dive into James Wan’s supernatural smash hit The Conjuring (2013). We explore the film’s spine-chilling atmosphere, its basis in the real-life investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, and how Wan revitalized the haunted house genre with his masterful direction. From the unforgettable “hide and...

On Day Two of our 31 Days of Halloween, Stephen is joined by co-host Ryan Dean Halbrook for a chilling deep dive into Alejandro Amenábar’s gothic horror masterpiece The Others (2001). We unravel the film’s haunting atmosphere, masterful use of suspense, and unforgettable twist ending. From Nicole Kidman’s riveting performance to the film’s exploration of grief, faith, and the supernatural, we brea...

We’re kicking off the 31 Days of Halloween with a chilling deep dive into Jordan Peele’s modern horror classic Get Out (2017). Stephen is joined by co-host Ryan Dean Halbrook as we explore how Peele’s razor-sharp blend of social commentary and suspense reshaped the horror genre. From the film’s iconic symbolism (the Sunken Place, teacup hypnosis) to its cultural impact and Oscar-winning script, we...

The Sound of Henry James – Part 2 Performances begin this Thursday, and Matt is back with more music from our new adaptation of The Turn of the Screw. This time, he shares the rest of the score—unveiling the melodies and moods that shape Henry James’s ghost story for the stage. Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ConnerandSmith?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan

What does Henry James sound like when set to music? In this episode, Matt shares tracks from our new musical inspired by The Turn of the Screw and walks us through how he found the melodies, moods, and motifs that bring James’s words to life. We explore the sparks of inspiration behind the score, the challenges of capturing James’s haunting ambiguity in song, and how music transforms the ghostly a...

In this episode, we put our own script for The Turn of the Screw to the test — running it through ChatGPT for a side-by-side analysis with Henry James’s original novella. What did we preserve from James’s haunting classic, and where did we take creative liberties? From framing devices to ghostly ambiguity, we explore the choices that make our adaptation uniquely theatrical while staying true to th...

In this episode, we’re giving you Henry James 101 — a crash course in the life, style, and legacy of one of literature’s most complex storytellers. From his mastery of psychological nuance to his lasting influence on modern fiction, we’ll unpack what makes James essential reading. Then, we pivot to the stage with a sneak peek into our latest production of his chilling classic The Turn of the Screw...

In this episode, we wrap up Summer 2025 — from the personal milestones to the cultural moments that defined the season — and look ahead to what’s coming this fall. From highlights that made the summer memorable to the events and projects on the horizon, it’s part reflection, part preview, and all conversation. Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/ConnerandSm...

In this episode, we take on the headlines of the day — not with seriousness, but with satire. From the absurd to the all-too-familiar, we lampoon the news cycle, poking fun at the stories that dominate our feeds and laughing at the way they’re told. Think of it as a real-time roast of the world’s current events, with our own twists, tangents, and plenty of humor along the way. Support The Conner &...

In this episode, we dive into what’s trending on TikTok — from the videos filling our For You pages to the oddly specific corners of the app that pop up in our own feeds. Along the way, we compare notes on our personal algorithms, laugh at how different (and sometimes eerily accurate) they can be, and even roll with an unexpected phone call that briefly interrupts the recording (don’t worry, we’re...

In this episode, we switch things up with a grab bag of surprise questions — each written in secret and revealed on the spot. From dream vacations to the movies and documentaries we’ve been watching lately, no topic was off-limits. The result is a funny, freewheeling conversation full of unexpected tangents, shared stories, and plenty of laughs. If you’re into spontaneous, unfiltered chats that wa...

In this episode, we dive headfirst into our love for the groundbreaking 2001 film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. From its punk-rock heart to its soul-baring storytelling, we explore what makes this cult classic so enduring—and so personal to us. We unpack the mythology behind “The Origin of Love,” dig into the dual versions of “Wicked Little Town,” and share how Hedwig shaped our own creative journeys...

Broadway performer and creative force PJ Adzima joins us for a lively conversation about his journey from The Book of Mormon to launching Stage Time, a late-night cabaret series that celebrates spontaneity and self-expression. We explore the origins of this after-hours tradition, the joy of building community through performance, and the many ways PJ continues to nurture creativity on and off the...

Join Matt and me for Episode 140 as we catch up with our friend, fellow Shenandoah University alum, and Broadway star J. Robert Spencer! You may know him from Jersey Boys and Next to Normal, but today he’s here to talk about hosting the upcoming Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre benefit concert on August 3rd. Plus, we’ll let you know how you can score two FREE tickets to the show! Don’t miss this fu...