Erick Wessel and Terri Rivera are the creators of The Mystic Museum and The Horror Boodega, two of LA’s most unique horror destinations.
In this episode, we trace the journey from punk rock beginnings and getting drunk in Vegas to how a small oddities shop grew into the Mystic Museum and how the Horror Boodega was built in just four months. We talk about nostalgia, wearing horror on our sleeves, and designing immersive spaces that celebrate the genre and bring fans deeper into the experience.
We get into the paranormal side of the Mystic Museum — from hauntings and séances to visitor encounters and even a true crime event tied to the building. We reflect on belief vs. skepticism, how fear of death connects to our love for horror, and why these stories resonate so deeply with fans.We also cover the state of horror film culture today: the best and worst films of the year, remakes and reboots, mean-spirited horror, critics, and the movies we defend even when everyone else hates them.
Along the way, we talk about the first horror films that shook us, casting mega-stars in horror, and the exhibits that keep the Mystic Museum evolving — from Horror High Reunion to Total Grotesque Live, their Evil Dead collaboration, and partnership with Eli Roth’s Horror Section Studios.
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00:00:00- Intro - Getting Drunk, Punk Rock
00:03:16 - The Genesis of The Mystic Museum
00:11:28 - Creating The Horror Boodega
00:20:39 - Nostalgia, Wearing Horror On Our Sleeves
00:27:24 - Building Immersive Experiences
00:34:13 - The Mystic Museum Is Haunted? Paranormal Experiences, Believing in the Paranormal, and Addressing Skepticism of the Paranormal
00:50:41 - A "True Crime" Event Happened at The Mystic Museum? Evil Spirits and The Paranormal Experiences of Visitors.
01:07:07 - Fear of Dying and How This All Ties Into Our Love For Horror
01:12:28 - Best Horror Films This Year
01:21:10 - Don't Take Horror Too Seriously
01:26:40 - Least Favorite Horror Movies of the Last Year
01:35:09 - Horror High Reunion, Films We Want to See, Where Remakes/Reboots Go Wrong, Mean Spirited Horror
01:51:40 - Film Critics - Good or Bad? Films We Love That Everyone Hates
02:02:22 - Expectations Ruining Movies, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
02:07:53 - Films That Deserve A Remake/Reboot/Spin-Off
02:21:17 - First Horror Films That Really Shook Us
02:31:42 - Casting Mega Celebrities and Horror Icons - Does it Ruin the Movie?
02:39:42 - The Mystic Museum's Exhibits: TGL, Horror High Reunion, 90s Slasher
02:48:48 - Expanding The Mystic Museum and The Horror Boodega
02:56:07 - Total Grotesque Live, Evil Dead Experience, Partnership With Eli Roth's Horror Section Studios
03:02:51 - Outro
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