As we prepare for the end of the year -- and for the imminent release of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu -- we're doing a mini-series run through the previous versions of this story. We start by going way back to the silent era of filmmaking with NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR from 1922. In all practical measures, F. W. Murnau's film is an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula with names and key details changed. However, a devastating lawsuit at the time all but obliterated most prints of the film from being shown again. Despite these obstacles, it has not only been a classic cherished for decades by horror fans, but one of the most influential horror films ever made. From Count Orlock's iconic look to the tone and structure of its story, it's almost impossible to ignore the impact of this film.

Also featuring a Patron-Only segment where we discuss our thoughts about the recent movie musical blockbuster WICKED, this is a brisk and fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!

Patron Only Segment: WICKED (part one)

5:16 - NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR

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Before we draw our slate of 2024 episodes to a close, we wanted to highlight a creepy, atmospheric chiller from Damien McCarthy called ODDITY. Intimate in scope but provocative in its implications, Oddity takes some familiar elements and configures them in decisively unconventional ways. It's a revenge thriller, it's a murder mystery, it's a ghost story, it's a haunted house tale, it's a witchy-golem-slasher-cannibal monster movie, and most of all it's a fascinating creeper. Anchored by strong performances and a sharp script, it subverts expectations and has a unique power to linger with you even after it has finished.

We're joined by Gorey Gamer Matt Murray for a Patron-only "Whatcha" segment and to discuss all things Oddity. We hope you enjoy!

Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

4:13 - ODDITY

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When we covered our series on Frankenstein-inspired horror films earlier this year, we capped it off by looking at The Curse of Frankenstein, the foray into classic horror from Hammer Studios. This week, although deferred a bit from our Dracula series, we're doing the same thing with a conversation about HORROR OF DRACULA. This was notable for being the first time the legendary Christopher Lee with bare the fangs of the iconic count, but certainly not the last (Lee would play Dracula 9 more times). We dive into what makes an older film like this so charming and brush up against the sensibilities that might even make them a bit inspiring as well.

Also featuring a Patron-only segment of FoG Your Consideration where we share our thoughts on Smile 2, Speak No Evil, and Cuckoo, this is a brisk and fun conversation that we hope you enjoy!

Patron Only Segment: FoG Your Consideration (Speak No Evil, Smile 2, Cuckoo)

9:16 - HORROR OF DRACULA

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After taking a slight detour last week, we're back to close off our Spooky Season (AHHH!) franchise run of the Alien film series with an epilogue looking back at some of our key takeaways, favorite moments, and finally solidifying the Kills Hall of Fame for Xenomorphs.

Kick back, relax, and enjoy our wrap up of all things face-huggy and chest-bursty. We hope you enjoy!

7:57 - Key Takeaways from the Alien Franchise

23:00 - Our 3 Favorite Scenes from the Franchise

36:54 - Highers and Lowers (which films rose or fell in our esteem)

42:47 - Ranking the 7 Alien Films

59:45 - The Xenomorphic Kills Hall of Fame

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Due to some scheduling adjustments and coinciding with some proximal current events, we bring to you a very different episode this week. Each week, we explore what scares us in order to find what saves us. This week, we're digging a little deeper on the last part of that motto.

Whether you are burnt out, stressed, worried, anxious, fearful, saddened, burdened, confused, lonely, or all of the above and more, we hope to offer you just a few words of encouragement and hope this week.

Reed is joined by friends of the show Andrew Nelson, Vera Goudie, and Dave Courtney for an open-hearted conversation about what we turn to when we're seeking hope or strength. From the simple practice of finding something to do with our hands to the creative meditations of a story or song, we're offering up a few things that we hope will make you feel just a little bit better and a little bit less alone.

We'll be back next week with our regularly scheduled programming, but for this week we want you to take a moment to breathe and we hope this episode helps you feel just a little bit better. Thank you for listening.

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We have finally arrived at the primary reason we chose to march through the Alien franchise this spooky season (AHHHHH). As we've made our way through #halloweylanyutani, we've had the 2024 release of the latest installment in our minds. So now, after all the facehugging, chestbursting, and j-j-j-j-jaw-dropping conversations, we have finally arrived at ALIEN: ROMULUS.

We sit down with two old friends, Blake Collier and Andy Whitfield, while all nestled together in a cabin in the California mountains to discuss why this film seems to have successfully reinvigorated the franchise 7 years after Alien: Covenant, what works and doesn't about this return to form, and the compelling way this particular entry explores our relationship with our technological and artificial companions.

It's an earnest and thoughtful conversation and we really hope you enjoy it!

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This week we feature our second Redux episode in the Alien Franchise run for Spooky Season (AHHHHH) #Halloweylanyutani. Redux episodes feature films we've covered on the show before but with fresh takes, new voices, and lots of renewed perspectives. This time around we're joined by friends of the show Vera Goudie and Matt Ruff to unpack the often frustrating specifics of ALIEN: COVENANT. Following the more polarizing response to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant feels like a deliberate correction -- perhaps an overcorrection -- away from the more thematic, existential questions the franchise was posing to get back to more xenomorphic carnage. The result is a film that abounds in wasted potential, though not without its moments.

Also featuring a Patron only segment with our final Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode for this year, this is a hearty, lively, and thoughtful discussion we really hope you enjoy!

Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XV

5:48 - ALIEN: COVENANT

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We continue our Spooky Season (AHHHH) run through the iconic Alien franchise (#Halloweylanyutani) with the film that saw the return of Ridley Scott to the film series that he had originally launched. PROMETHEUS initially played things a bit light on whether or not it actually was an Alien film, choosing instead to go for philosophical and existential ideas exploring our origins and our purposes within the framework of alien worlds.

We invite friends of the show Jess Fischli, Andrew Nelson, and Steve Beckley for a wonderful and hearty conversation full of thoughtful questions, poignant observations, and an absurd amount of laughter. Also featuring a Patron only segment covering The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XIV, this is an extremely fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!

Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIV

9:52 - PROMETHEUS

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