Matriarchs of Horror

In this episode I’m getting into the “good guy” trope in horror and why it never really feels as safe as it’s supposed to. I talk about how horror keeps showing us this familiar figure: the man who seems kind, steady, “different from the others”… until he isn’t. And how often that image is less about who he actually is, and more about what we want to believe about him. Later on I sit down with aut...

Hello, Matriarchs! In this episode, I’m diving into the horror of aging as a woman in Hollywood and the cultural fear that surrounds it. Using films like Sunset Boulevard and The Substance as a lens, I explore why aging men in film are often granted complexity and continued desirability, while aging women are pushed toward invisibility and ridicule.

Why do men rape women? It’s a question people have been asking for years and one that still doesn’t have an easy answer. In this episode, I’m digging into how we actually learn to recognize consent and how often that understanding is shaped by implication instead of clear communication. I start with a recent CNN article that exposed an online network of men sharing and encouraging content about dr...

In this episode I’m joined by author Rebecca Lehmann to discuss her new novel The Beheading Game, a chilling reimagining of Anne Boleyn’s story, where she rises from the dead after her execution to seek revenge on her husband, Henry VIII. We dive into the real history of Anne, the brutal realities women faced in the Tudor era, and how their stories have been distorted or sensationalized over time.

For a long time, marriage felt like something to fear rather than to desire. And historically, that fear wasn’t unfounded. In the 19th century, marriage often meant losing your independence, your identity, and your ability to leave. In this episode, I unpack the history behind marriage in the Victorian era, coverture laws, and how it shaped the way I approached dating in my twenties. I also share...

Before you press play, this episode does contain discussions on sexual assault. I examine a chilling trope that runs through horror and real life alike: when a woman’s love is weaponized. From Rosemary’s Baby to The Stepford Wives to Midsommar, I explore how devotion, trust, and emotional labor are twisted into tools of control. Then, I bring it all into the real world with Ryan Murphy’s Love Stor...

Hello, Matriarchs! In this episode, I’m unpacking the controversy surrounding Mia Ballard’s novel Shy Girl, from allegations of AI use to questions about editing and accountability. But instead of doing a typical takedown, I wanted to sit with the nuance. This situation isn’t just about Ballard or her book. It opens up bigger conversations about who gets to create, what ethical use of AI actually...

What happens when women stop trying to be likable? In this episode, I dive into the “unhinged woman” archetype in horror, and why they're often underperform at the box office. From The Bride to the cult classics that dared to center female rage, I explore why these stories are so often misunderstood. Later I’m joined by Virginia Feito, author of Victorian Psycho , to talk about repression, vio...

In this first episode of The Matriarchs of Horror, host Sandra Rose Salathe dives into the terrifying side of religion. Beginning by breaking down horror films like The Omen, The Witch , and Saint Maud , Sandra examines how each one reveals the patriarchal control lurking beneath strict religious structures. Sandra is then joined by author Linda Hamilton to talk about her upcoming feminist gothic...