Promising that any project will “redefine the found footage genre” might set the bar a little high, but audiences were hyped for Shelby Oaks (2025). The debut feature of film critic turned movie maker Chris Stuckmann, this flick got the ball rolling with a fan-backed Kickstarter and ended with horror icon Mike Flanagan lending his name to the poster. But what happens when the word-of-mouth momentum doesn’t seem to last past the premiere date? On a new episode of Spooky Tuesday, we’re examining the tapes for ourselves and adding our voices to the fray as we discuss what worked, where things went wrong, what the casual viewer might not know about the effort that went into this demonic offering to Tarion, and where Monica’s least favorite Taylor Swift lyrics come into play. Welcome to our underworld, Spookies — it’s about to get quite dark. References:https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/how-chris-stuckmann-neon-shelby-oaks-1235956162/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/shelby-oaks-chris-stuckmann-new-ending-1236415484/https://www.indiewire.com/features/commentary/shelby-oaks-post-mortem-1235157726/https://www.polygon.com/shelby-oaks-ending-explained-chris-stuckmann-interview/

As hard as Tiffany Valentine slays, we knew we weren't going to get nearly our fill of Jennifer Tilly in Bride of Chucky — which is why Jennifer Tilly TwosWeeks continues with Bound (1996). One of the homoerotic thrillers that got just barely edged out of our Pride lineup last season, this flick has been waiting for us to circle back, and now that Spooky Season has gone back into hibernation (though, let's be real, that doesn't stop us from being spooky year round), November felt like the perfect time. Don't get us wrong, though — this Wachowski sisters project may not be a horror movie in the traditional sense, but between the mafia drama, lesbian sex, and Gina Gershon's everything, it'll definitely have your heart racing. References:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrys#Lesbian_symbolhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/jul/30/bound-the-wachowskis-immaculately-crafted-queer-thriller-was-a-test-run-for-the-matrix

Technically, Spookies, Sydneypalooza goes all the way to the end of October, and while Clowntober TwosWeeks may have come to a close, another themed event is just beginning. You may have noticed our gorgeous new episode art for Season 6(66), and you may have noticed that Sydney is all gussied up as a very iconic figure in it — which is why we figured that our Halloween episode would be exactly the right time to cover Bride of Chucky (1998). Although we’ve barely dipped our toes into the Child’s Play franchise, we’ve got a lot of love for both Charles Lee Ray and Tiffany Valentine here at Spooky Tuesday, and we’re ready to pay homage to one of horror’s hottest (and most toxic) couples as we kick off Jennifer Tilly TwosWeeks with our latest episode. References:https://screenrant.com/bride-of-chucky-behind-scenes-facts-trivia/

He’s one of the hottest new stars in horror, so you had to know Sydneypalooza Presents: Clowntober TwosWeeks would end with another little visit from Art. As we continue to celebrate our gal’s birthday, we’re heading back into the belly of the beast with Terrifier 2 (2022), the sequel that introduced those immediately iconic sunglasses. On our latest episode, we’re getting our hands dirty (and bloody and gory and covered in goop) as we explore the new additions to the lore, debate how much plot is too much plot, and give David Howard Thornton and Lauren LaVera their flowers. References: https://x.com/damienleone/status/1886453068125864114https://collider.com/damien-leone-statements-horror-movies/https://www.horrorincolor.com/politicalterrifierhttps://www.themarysue.com/be-on-the-right-side-of-history-coward-terrifier-creator-just-admitted-the-gory-horror-franchise-has-no-political-meaning-and-fans-arent-happy/

Spookies, you’re not experiencing déjà vu: We are in fact once again covering a cinematic take on Stephen King’s IT as we celebrate Sydney’s birthday. This year, we’re breaking out the balloons a little early, though, because our new episode on IT (2017) is just one half of the party we’ve humbly deemed Sydneypalooza Presents: Clowntober TwosWeeks. First up is Pennywise, and we’re heading down into the sewers with him as we talk about Taylor Swift TikTok edits, our love for the state of Maine, and how crabs are the spiders of the sea. References: https://www.tiktok.com/@stqrryeye/video/7557738245828742455

There’s something spooky in the wind, friends — and a priest just told us our new episode might carry the mark of the beast. This week, we’re kicking off Season 666 (AKA Season 6), so we thought it was only appropriate that we should start with The Omen (1976). An iconic horror classic, this flick has inspired plenty of films that followed in its footsteps, and the Final Destination franchise is not least among them. On our latest installment of Spooky Tuesday, we’re discussing crucifix decor, investigating antichrist abortions, and embodying the diabolical trinity… and we’re doing it ALL FOR YOU, SPOOKIES!!!!References:https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4hQKj3MfGfvR9sctTcdVn2d/how-i-wrote-the-omen-one-of-the-scariest-movies-of-all-timehttps://screenrant.com/omen-movies-in-order-release-chronological/https://www.cineworld.ie/static/en/ie/blog/the-curse-of-the-omen-facts-the-first-omenhttps://nofilmschool.com/how-the-omen-shaped-satanic-horror#https://collider.com/the-omen-curse-production/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-omen-forerunner-to-final-destination/https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/jews-and-the-rapturehttps://www.craiyon.com/en/image/wrLePISvR-C7fUauG6xhww

Spookies, there’s no better way to celebrate a season finale than with some serious discourse, so we figured it was about time we get into American Psycho (2000). This flick has had a major impact on pop culture over the years — but it also might be one of the most misunderstood pieces of media. For our final episode of Season 5, we decided to wade into the fray as we break down director Mary Harron’s commentary, discuss commitment king Christian Bale’s performance, and really take a magnifying glass to the details on those iconic business cards. References:https://www.out.com/film/american-psycho-gay-satire-mocking-wall-street-bros-explainedhttps://wesleyanargus.com/2024/09/30/from-book-to-scream-why-you-can-relate-to-patrick-bateman/https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/american-psycho-director-mystified-over-wall-street-bros-missing-the-films-gay-subtext/https://kairosisbyanalysis.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/american-psycho-batemans-repressed-homosexuality/https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/12/the-sad-stupid-rise-of-the-sigma-male-how-toxic-masculinity-took-over-social-mediahttps://youtu.be/MOi7gu--GDg?si=B6wUMUXIJY4K2cTZhttps://screenrant.com/american-psycho-willem-dafoe-kimball-scenes-editing/https://screenrant.com/american-psycho-ending-explained-meaning-what-happened/https://kairosisbyanalysis.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/american-psycho-batemans-repressed-homosexuality/https://italkyoubored.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/american-psycho-maybe-not-the-book-you-think-it-is/https://thetab.com/2023/01/24/sigma-face-explained-meaning-tiktok-christian-bale-american-psycho

PG-13 rating be damned, Drag Me To Hell (2009) might be one of the most horrifying movies we've covered yet. Between the flies and the mucusy sound effects and the embalming fluid, it isn't afraid to go for the gross-out factor — and the timing packed a powerful punch, too. Despite being penned a decade earlier after writer-director Sam Raimi wrapped up the original Evil Dead franchise, this flick's release landed it smack-dab in the middle of the late 00s housing crisis, something that's surprisingly relevant to the setup. On our latest Spooky Tuesday, we're diving deep into the discourse as we talk throat goats, Justin Long, diet culture, and White Phillip. References: https://quillette.com/2021/10/31/does-christine-brown-deserve-to-burn-in-hell/https://www.wickedhorror.com/features/retrospectives/10-years-later-drag-me-to-hell-retrospective/https://mr-franco.medium.com/why-drag-me-to-hell-is-more-than-a-horror-film-for-sam-raimi-39292f830b61https://1428elm.com/2019/04/15/drag-me-to-hell-turns-10-crazy-theory/https://screenrant.com/things-about-sam-raimi-drag-me-to-hell/https://horrorobsessive.com/2021/10/04/drag-me-to-hell-a-horror-comedy-with-something-to-say/

Is it just us, or are all these macho men kind of making eyes at each other? This week, we're heading into the jungle to encounter a creature we've never faced before — Predator (1987) — while armed with our hallmark homoerotic subtext goggles. That's right, these babies don't just have thermal or infrared vision, they can also pick apart all of the complicated threads of the poly relationships between Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and their ragtag crew of body building heroes from over a mile away. Join us as we talk about masculinity, mandibles, memes, and more on our newest episode of Spooky Tuesday. References:https://meathookcinema.com/2017/11/24/no-homo-john-mctiernans-predator-1987/https://screenrant.com/predator-1987s-hidden-meanings-make-it-deeper-than-you-realized/https://screenrant.com/1987-predator-rewatch-aged-well/https://screenrant.com/predator-behind-scenes-facts-arnold-schwarzenegger-john-mctiernan-movie/https://dejareviewer.com/2014/04/01/predator-is-surprisingly-deep-action-movie/https://loudandclearreviews.com/predator-1987-film-review-action-thriller/https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/Yautja_(Predator)https://www.cbr.com/predator-rocky-origin/

We know, we know, The Descent: Part 2 (2009) might just be one of the most hated sequels in horror history, but what if for Chelsea's birthday we pretend it wasn't? On our latest episode of Spooky Tuesday, we're picking up right where we left off two years ago and heading back into those unexplored Appalachian caves, where we're discovering even *more* gay subtext than we found the first time around. This episode has it all — toxic yuri, throuples, and CLEAR references to other films like Sky High and I Know What You Did Last Summer — so turn your brain pea-sized like a crawler's and simply enjoy the silliness of a movie that answers the all-important question: where exactly *do* the cave creatures poop?References: https://www.thefrightclubni.com/post/exclusive-the-descent-turns-16-interview-with-shauna-macdonaldhttps://fanlore.org/wiki/Toxic_Yaoi/Yurihttps://www.reddit.com/r/FIlm/comments/s5eg66/the_descent_2005_a_film_about_queer_childbirth/https://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/130krnn/what_was_the_point_of_the_descent_part_ii_so_they/https://x.com/spooky_tuesday/status/1706369802007351415

Can a Fifth Tuesday be the *first* Tuesday of the month? We're pretty sure we laid that groundwork over the summer, which is why we're kicking off back-to-school season with Sky High (2005), our non-spooky freebie for September. Though it definitely brings the Halloween dress up vibes, this flick may be more family friendly than fearsome, but it still stars horror icons like Kurt Russell, Bruce Campbell and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. With its empowering message, extremely pleasing color palette, and an all-time bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold performance in Warren Peace, this movie was the moment back in the day — and, 20 years later, we're talking on our latest episode of Spooky Tuesday about why it still is. References:https://screenrant.com/sky-high-movie-trivia-facts/https://www.cbr.com/sky-high-2-doomed-sequel-story-details/https://thedisinsider.com/2024/06/01/sky-high-director-reveals-plans-for-potential-sequel/https://thedisinsider.com/2024/03/06/sky-high-director-is-ready-for-a-sequel/https://screenrant.com/sky-high-almost-got-sequel-save-university/

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, several different European countries came together to make a new body horror black comedy. A fairytale retelling from the perspective of a traditional Cinderella side character, The Ugly Stepsister (2025) doesn't shy away from how gruesome those classic stories can be. This flick was also a near-winner for our quarterly Patreon poll, so we figured the best way to end Au-Guessed You Might Want Us to Continue the New Release Theme Into August would be to throw it back several centuries to the days of yore. Join us on our latest Spooky Tuesday as we talk tape worm eggs, try our hands at improv, and ponder the never-ending pressure to be young and beautiful. References:https://youtu.be/iXHCOR-FPrE?si=Q-SDIAf3Yk41oJTGhttps://youtu.be/TeEAlWSIY3E?si=gaMGpu7r7qWI-Vq8https://www.grimmstories.com/en/grimm_fairy-tales/aschenputtelhttps://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm021.htmlhttps://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/type0510a.htmlhttps://plasticsurgeryofboston.com/the-origin-of-plastic-surgery/https://www.123dentist.com/123-dentist-presents-history-braces/https://www.tiktok.com/@history_with_amy/video/7281247339480681761https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-ugly-stepsister-review-1235087462/https://www.vulture.com/article/review-the-ugly-stepsister-is-fairy-tale-body-horror.html

We did it, Spookies! We finally made it to our 249th episode, the milestone that is of course the most important and special and that all podcasts strive to reach! Given this momentous occasion, we wanted to celebrate with a bang — which is why we just couldn't wait to tackle Weapons (2025), the movie our Patrons voted for us to cover this quarter. One of the summer's biggest releases and a flick taking over the horror meme-o-sphere, Zach Cregger's latest project had audiences rushing to theaters, and here at Spooky Tuesday we were definitely part of the crowd. Join us this week as we talk about iconic cameos (Justin Long? June Diane Raphael? Aquamarine?!), narrative structure, and our new-found love for Austin Abrams. References:https://youtu.be/dzwMW6nHyhQ?si=SCugIz2vwLNcidNUhttps://youtu.be/KxUJq7BKgqw?si=EeFselZpsZ43xsAXhttps://youtu.be/xWZBtA7QuTs?si=0PcZPBLX4YjgMY9zhttps://youtu.be/gh-bYGENJz0?si=FcSPvfSgNVec2PDihttps://youtu.be/RqAWj4irMM8?si=MK_pH6ATszjLIiRthttps://fandomwire.com/zach-creggers-floating-gun-scene-in-weapons-offers-no-definite-answers-i-dont-understand-it/https://www.ign.com/articles/weapons-has-a-secret-weapon-and-thats-why-its-a-great-horror-moviehttps://thedirect.com/article/weapons-2025-movie-title-explainedhttps://gizmodo.com/weapons-spoilers-zach-cregger-gladys-amy-madigan-2000637376https://www.slashfilm.com/1934386/weapons-aunt-gladys-villain-motivation-explained/

It's any Spooky's dream to own an antiques store full of all kinds of haunted odds and ends, but Darcy is struggling with a nightmare in Oddity (2024). After the murder of her twin sister, she's determined to know more about the man who committed the crime — and her clairvoyant powers are all she needs if she can just get her hands on a few specific items. On a new Spooky Tuesday, we're sticking with our theme of new (enough) releases as we explore an Irish indie flick firmly grounded in the overlap between our world and the next. References:https://mashable.com/article/oddity-wooden-man-damian-mccarthyhttps://mashable.com/article/oddity-ending-explainerhttps://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/oddity-review-1234966875/https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/oddity-wooden-man-paul-mcdonnell-damian-mccarthy-interview-1235029113/

Spookies, Au-Guessed That You Might Want Us to Continue the New Release Theme Into August, which is why we're keeping our coverage recent with Strange Darling (2024). Though it first debuted on the festival scene in 2023, JT Mollner's out-of-order story hit theaters just last year, and it left audiences buzzing. Not only did Willa Fitzgerald and scream king Kyle Gallner deliver powerful performances as The Lady and The Demon, the nature of the narrative also lent itself to some major discourse. On top of that, it features cameos from Barbara Hershey, Ed Begley Jr., and the most intense breakfast we've ever laid eyes on, so needless to say we've got a lot to sink our teeth into on a new Spooky Tuesday. Bon appétit!References: https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/flipping-the-script-on-the-final-girl-a-conversation-with-strange-darling-writer-director-jt-mollnerhttps://saltlakefilmreview.com/2024/08/24/strange-darling-has-some-serious-problems/https://www.thetribune.ca/a-e/misogynistic-tropes-in-strange-darling-overshadow-its-thrills-10092024/https://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/1foonqt/lets_talk_about_the_sexual_politics_of_strange/https://decider.com/2025/03/04/strange-darling-ending-explained-strange-darling-end-credits-podcast-art-pallone/https://youtu.be/SSaLydxSjSk?si=lTemJrJh4BiucFXPhttps://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1eypgxs/hey_rmovies_im_jt_mollner_director_and/

You know what we did last summer, Spookies — which is why we had to bring back I Know What You Did Last 🤘 SUMMER 🤘 for the release of the newest film in the franchise. Taking a sort of Scream 5 requel approach (and borrowing a few other things from the Scream series), this flick introduced us to a new crew of Gen Z youngsters while also revisiting familiar faces. But how does it measure up against the originals? And does it even need to as long as it's better than that straight-to-video third movie? On our latest episode and the last installment of Ju-Lying If You Said You Didn't Want Us to Cover Some New Releases This July (as we've been calling it all month), we're heading back to Southport with I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025).References: https://variety.com/2025/film/features/jennifer-love-hewitt-i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-brandy-1236464471/https://people.com/lola-tung-nicholas-alexander-chavez-cut-i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-exclusive-11766135https://people.com/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-director-defends-twist-exclusive-11774571https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/07/19/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-killer-spoilers/84518416007/https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1m2q3hj/comment/n3tlksu/https://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/1m2orn9/comment/n4mrps1/?context=3https://x.com/JennKaytin/status/1947404141980225615

The new releases just keep coming, Spookies! This week we're covering Companion (2025), the hotly anticipated horoco/hocoro that stars some of the biggest up-and-comers in the genre. Featuring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid as a retro-futuristic couple — no matter how much of an oxymoron that might sound like — and with support from Lukas Gage, Harvey Guillén, and Megan Suri, this flick doesn't pull any punches on its performances. We don't want to say too much (unlike the trailers, which gave away the whole goat or whatever the saying is), but we're asking the important questions and breaking down all the best bits on the latest Spooky Tuesday. References:https://screenrant.com/companion-2-chances-unlikely-explained-drew-hancock/

If we're sticking with our sneaky theme of new releases, then we *have* to talk about Sinners (2025). One of the biggest movies to hit screens this year — and already the subject of future Oscar speculation — Ryan Coogler's latest collab with bestie Michael B. Jordan had audiences buzzing. This movie produced its fair share of both ~discourse~ and discussion, and we're adding our voices to the choir as we break down the vampire design, fall in love with Wunmi Mosaku and Hailee Steinfeld, and talk about that very important tutorial on how to eat some ice cream.  References: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-04-16/ryan-coogler-ludwig-goransson-sinners-music-blueshttps://historycanthide.substack.com/p/everything-you-missed-in-ryan-cooglershttps://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/sahel-sunjata-stories-songshttps://screenrant.com/sinners-soundtrack-song-guide/https://variety.com/2025/artisans/news/sinners-ludwig-goransson-sinners-soundtrack-ryan-coogler-1236368959/https://www.aaihs.org/the-sinners-movie-syllabus/https://www.indiewire.com/features/podcast/sinners-ryan-coogler-inspiration-explained-1235115400/https://www.spectrecollie.com/2025/04/21/pick-poor-robin-clean-one-more-thing-i-love-about-sinners/

Spookies, would you rather A) face off against a single clown in a cornfield B) take on one corn in a whole field of clowns or C) talk about Ginny and Georgia when you’re supposed to be recording a horror movie podcast? On our latest episode, we’re exploring all three of those options as we cover Katie Douglas in Clown in a Cornfield (2025). Based on a series of books from Adam Cesare, this flick is giving summer slasher in the best way, and we’re breaking down the tropes, familiar faces, and possible sequels on a new Spooky Tuesday. References: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/clown-in-a-cornfield-twist-explained-author-adam-cesare-1236396086/

We may be done with the theme months for now, but just like you can never escape death, you can't really get away from a Spooky Tuesday theme event. This week, we're throwing it back to 2022's Final Destination Summer as we cover Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025). A return to the franchise with a fresh perspective on the formula, this flick dives deep into the lore and brings back one last appearance from the iconic Tony Todd. On our latest episode, we're sharing our favorite deaths, debating the stakes, and discussing what's the deal with all those premonitions. References:Behind the Opening SequenceTony Todd FeatureEvery FD Death Explainedhttps://collider.com/final-destination-bloodlines-not-the-origin-story-no-character-overlap-explained-adam-stein-zach-lipovsky/https://www.npr.org/2025/05/24/nx-s1-5409322/final-destination-bloodlines-deathhttps://www.landofgeek.com/posts/final-destination-bloodlines-easter-eggshttps://finaldestination.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Destination:_Destination_Zero