We’re back and we’re twiddling the tracking knob. It’s supposed to clear up the image on this old videocassette, but maybe that’s just missing the point. The static can be the most interesting part, filled with whispers, ghosts, and forbidden secrets. Compared to such beautiful nightmares, the film itself is often a bit disappointing. Then again, analogue horror seems to be more of a vibe than a form of storytelling, so maybe we should just let the static wash over us like electromagnetic waves.
Main Topic: Analogue Horror
This episode sees us explore analogue horror, trying to work out what exactly it is and how to bring it to life at the gaming table. It’s perhaps a harder genre than most to pin down, partly because it is relatively new, but also because it is arguably more of an aesthetic than a series of tropes. We ran into similar issues when discussing
Gothic horror, however, that that didn’t stop us then!
As well as delving into the origins of the analogue horror, we discuss notable media, and some of the RPGs that have drawn upon it all. And, of course, we talk about some of our own ideas for how to let it seep into our games.
Our Guest Host
We are delighted to welcome Holly back to the Good Friends, following last episode’s discussion of
horror in space! Holly co-hosts
RPG Reanimators, a podcast focusing on providing resources for GMs and players of horror RPGs. She’s also a regular on
Into the Darkness, an actual play YouTube channel. In addition to RPGs, she’s an avid board gamer, space nerd, and all-around trivia enthusiast. You can find Holly over on the
RPG Reanimators Discord.
Links
Things we mention in this episode include:
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Found footage
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The Blair Witch Project (1999)
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The Last Broadcast (1998)
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War of the Worlds radio broadcast
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Hysteria around War of the Worlds broadcast debunked
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Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
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Snuff films
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Cannibal Holocaust murder trial
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Blair Witch website on the Wayback Machine
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Butterfly Kisses (2018)
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