Happy Halloween Fright School! The Freaky Kiki Horror Ball 2 was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came or supported the ball! Joshua has returned to Stars Hollow to Joe's utter delight. This week, we pledge allegiance to the tree of Aunt Gladys by chatting all things WEAPONS! We discuss embracing the grotesque in the Trump Era, Hagsploitation, the film as Grimm's Fairy Tale, alcoholism allusions, and school shooting allegories. WEAPONS is about everything and nothing. 'Weapons' exposes the dark underbelly of American suburbia by Justin Chang ‘Weapons’: An Aimless Fable of Modern Horror by Greta Wilkinson “Weapons” — No Child Left Behind by Nicole Veneto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zefyr Lisowski is a poet, essayist, educator, and author of two poetry collections, Blood Boxand Girl Work, along with the forthcoming essay collection Uncanny Valley Girls: Essays on Horror, Survival, and Love releasing October 7th 2025 from Harper Perennial.   Joshua Napier from Fright School had the opportunity to catch up with Zefyr about her new essay collection and the impact of the horror genre in her life. In this wide ranging interview, they discuss Zefyr’s writing influences, the Queer relationship to horror films, the theme of “gay escape” in SCREAM, the trouble with werewolves as trans metaphor, and the incomparable work of the late artist Greer Lankton.   Preorder Uncanny Valley Girls: Essays on Horror, Survival, and Love here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/uncanny-valley-girls-zefyr-lisowski?variant=43555228287010 Follow Zefyr on Instagram @zefrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr  For more information and details of upcoming events visit: https://zefyrlisowski.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome back to Fright School! This week, Joshua cries Elder Millennial Abuse and continues to pine for Hugh Jackman. Joe has thoughts on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and LILO & STITCH. Joshua joined a GEEKSCAPE live to break down the new Paul Reubens documentary PEE WEE AS HIMSELF. We took a trip to our local cinema to check out BRING HER BACK! Spoilers abound! We discuss the psycho biddy genre, the cult of counseling, and grief as a means to an end. ‘Bring Her Back’ Review: A Foster Mother Like No Other The Geekscape "Pee-Wee As Himself" Discussion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Fright School! We catch up on 4 year old information about Marjorie Taylor Greene. Joe is studying the geopolitical ramifications of Eurovision. What new movies are we most excited about? This week, we take another trip with CLIMAX. This film has everything you could want in French cinema: suffering children, sexual misconduct, incest, Le Dance. This movie is like if PARIS IS BURNING took place at the SUSPIRIA dance academy after a hostile takeover by Timothy Leary. Oh, incidentally, have you heard about the FREAKY KIKI HORROR BALL? Exploring The Meaning Of Gaspar Noe's 'Climax' By Travis Bean Climax By Peter Kim George Gaspar Noé Retrospective: ‘Climax’ by Raúl Alejandro Mendoza Tatty Macleod on French Cinema Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Fright School! Joe is doing physically well while Joshua is dying of the consumption. Joshua hopped on the Geekscape YouTube channel to give his chaotic thoughts on ANDOR. Joe talks Joshua into seeing THUNDERBOLTS* because Julia Louis-Dreyfus. This week, we sink our teeth into SINNERS. Well, we take a nibble because this film is DEEP. We chat about the cautionary tales of horror, the film's rather classic take on vampires with an interesting twist on invitation, and the mind-blowing, blues soaked soundtrack. Recommended Reading: Sinners Is Bold, Ambitious, and Just Misses Greatness By Angelica Jade Bastién SINNERS: How Ryan Coogler Shook Hollywood! with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes Check out Joshua discussing ANDOR on the Geekscape Channel! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Fright School! This week, we investigate a PRESENCE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Fright School! This week, we predict how the horror genre will respond to the Trump Era. We reflect on the subject of fatness in horror after reading Dread Central's recent article on CARRIE. Joe's takeover continues with IDLE HANDS (1999). We remind our listeners that cannabis is legal for recreational use in California. We discuss the Columbine Massacre's affect on the film, overcomplicate the film with a discussion of our bodies in revolt, and pick some of our favorite teen horror films that climax at a dance! Recommended reading: Why Has a Fat Girl Still Never Been Cast as Carrie White? by Josh Korngut Charting the Dumb Charm of ‘Idle Hands’ Through its Soundtrack by Emma Garland Horror: A study on Cliver Barker part 19, The Body Politic by OJB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Fright School! This week Joe is taking over once again and we're getting lost in the weeds literally... We're examining the relationship between cannabis and horror by kicking it off with a stoner horror double feature of SCARY MOVIE and SCARY MOVIE 2! We chat about parody films, why getting high pairs well with getting scared, and 25 years of the original SCARY MOVIE! Recommended reading: Why Weed Makes Horror Movies Way Better by Nicole Flanigan Blunt Force Trauma: A Look At Cannabis In Horror by Andrew Ward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the 300th episode of Fright School! This week, our dear friend Justine joins us to catch up and discuss the show! Thank you to all of our listeners for getting us to 300! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome back to Fright School, kiddies! We discuss our DIE initiatives. Joshua and Joe recap the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary (well isn't that) Special! Joshua shares about some favorite SNL movies while Joe is first in line for tickets to The Culps comeback tour. This week, we wrap up (for now...) our Tales From The Crypt deep die-ve with THE ASSASSIN (season 6 episode 8). We interrogate the early 90s precarious, and often preposterous, depiction of Trans people in the 90s. 5 Tales of Queer Terror from TV Anthologies By Paul Lê  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Valentine’s Day, Dear Listener! This week we took a field trip to see HEART EYES! Spoilers abound so beware!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome back to Fright School! This week, we are picking back up with our TALES FROM THE CRYPT franchise deep dive! But first! Please welcome to the stage Miss Nora Virus! What are Joe's thoughts on WICKED, you ask? We chat about our feelings of musical adaptations in general. We watched two episodes of TALES FROM THE CRYPT this week: ONLY SIN DEEP and DEAD RIGHT! We discuss the dubious morality plays of TFTC, fatphobia and further villainization of fat bodies, and the double edged sword at the throats of ambitious women. Also, White people doing Voodoo in the 80s? Groundbreaking. Further Reading: Lessons of Virtue in Tales From The Crypt? by Briana Brucato. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Fright School! We start off discussing holiday presents! Joe is journaling... or trying to. Have you read A NOUN of NOUN and NOUNS by Proper Noun Initial. Initial. Proper Noun? Was it any good? Joe is building his TBR and needs recs. We prepare to enter the Drag Race Cinematic Universe (DRCU). This week, we took a trip to see the new remastered version of SE7EN in IMAX! Despite being set in Vague Metropolis, we discuss New York as a character in film. We also revisit the discussion of the apocalyptic visions of horror from way back in season 1 of FS, SE7EN's juxtaposition of apathy and hope, and explore the possible Magical Negro trope in the film as informed by HORROR NOIRE. While Joshua enjoys the relentless rain of the film, Joe gives us an update on the 7 Deadly Sins. Here at Fright School we have been very lucky to meet, talk with, and become friends with so many horror creators across the seasons of our show. Now we find that so many of our wonderful community are directly being affected by the fires burning in Los Angeles, California. Our hearts are with everyone affected and who have lost so much. Please consider helping in any way you can: Resources To Support Those Affected By The L.A. Fires Further reading about SE7EN: ‘Se7en’: A Rain-Drenched, Somber, Gut-Wrenching Thriller that Restored David Fincher’s Faith in Filmmaking By Sven Mikulec Colors and visual storytelling in SE7EN by Debaditya Sekhar Jena Writing The Horror Movie: The Inner Psychology of Se7en, Drag Me To Hell & Dawn of the Dead By Jacob Krueger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Fear, FRIGHT SCHOOL! We kick off the year venting about vaguebooking. We share our New Year's resolutions... or whatever. Joshua turned 40! This week, we kick off our January Franchise Deep Dive with a twist! Yes, Boils, Ghouls, Slays, and Grims we're crawling into the coffin with the Cryptkeeper and TALES FROM THE CRYPT! Inspired by our participation in ranking the top 10 episodes of TFTC, we're watching 5 of those episodes of the creepy classic and breaking them down as only Fright School can. Gird your loins for more macabre puns than should be legal! Geekscape's Top 10 Episodes of Tales from the Crypt Recommended reading: Tales from the Crypt: The Official Archives Hardcover by Digby Diehl  Follow the whole GEEKSCAPE horror squad: Jersey Ghouls The Monster Rally Podcast Horror Movie Night Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIGHT SCHOOL! We have so much to catch up on! We chat about WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS. Joshua is watching a serial killer’s life flash before his eyes with DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN. Joe is taking a joy ride with the LINCOLN LAWYER. We try and fail with the harmonies of the HALLELUJAH choir. This week we took a trip to the thee-ay-tuh to see Robert Eggers reimagining of NOSFERATU! We discuss the ghoulish titular vampire, Willem Defoe’s casting, and Joe conjures his own incubus.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from us at Fright School! This week we reflect on the FREAKY KIKI HORROR BALL! Joe and Joshua both started new jobs! Instead of chatting about a specific movie this week, we discuss our favorite Halloween watches and traditions. If you STAY spooky, you don't have to GET spooky! Here's to another season! Check out the Geekscape's Top 10 Episodes of Tales from the Crypt! Going to be in San Diego? Check out Backyard Renaissance's production of Stephen King's MISERY adapted for the stage by William Goldman! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Fright School! Joe and Joshua both started new jobs! We discuss censorship and horror as it relates to A SERBIAN FILM. Joe shares some American Horror Story Nostalgia. This week we sample THE SUBSTANCE. Light spoilers ahead! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices