What’s so scary about scary movies? In this special Halloween treat, the Dogs look to finally answer that tricky question, by turning to the ultimate masters of fear: John Carpenter and Wes Craven.
First, the latest novel from a prolific horror writer – akin to Stephen King or H.P. Lovecraft – springs to life, driving fans to insanity and threatening the apocalypse. John Carpenter’s IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (1994), a surrealist cosmic horror starring Sam Neill, explores what would happen if our creations were more than fiction, and where exactly lies that blurry line between fantasy and truth. What if, by believing in something, we can reshape reality? What even is reality?
Then, we turn to Fred Krueger and the beloved A Nightmare On Elm Street franchise with Wes Craven’s NEW NIGHTMARE (1994). Heather Langenkamp (better known as Nancy Thompson) deals with her anxieties as her past work strikes back with a vengeance, and Freddy – the real Freddy! – emerges from his fictional dreamscape to torture Heather and her family. Only Craven himself has the answer.
Both movies came out the same year (with the same effects teams!) and we of course must ask what the HELL happened that allowed for such a surreal cosmic coincidence! We’ll discuss religion and faith, trauma and healing, censorship and expression, and the philosophies that drive us rabid fans back to our favorite genre over and over again.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
“Roko’s Basilisk,” by Less Wrong
https://www.lesswrong.com/tag/rokos-basilisk
TENEBRION by James H. Longmore
https://www.amazon.com/Tenebrion-James-H-Longmore/dp/1946874035/
Up Next: TEETH (2007) / IT FOLLOWS (2014)
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Cover art by Omri Kadim. Theme by Adaam James Levin Areddy. Music featured in this episode: Haddonfield Horror by Horror Movie Synth, Bad Omen by White Bat Audio, Skeleton Dance by Myuu.