Synopsis
Welcome to Fright School, a podcast that explores horror films through the eyes of someone who is experiencing them for the first time. Each week, Joshua (the horror nerd) pushes Joe (the unsuspecting newbie) to the edge of the Mountains of Madness, as they discuss the cultural attitudes, conditions, and events that have shaped some of the most terrifying horror films. Will Joe survive his journey? Will Joshua take things too far? Join us every week for new episodes on Monday to find out! Are you ready? Class is in session.
Episodes
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155 - The Sondheim of Horror - Creepshow (1982)
29/03/2021 Duration: 01h13minWelcome to our final Fright School Special Topics: Stephen King episode! We start off by saying goodbye to PLAY MISTY FOR ME, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, and ARCHER star Jessica Walter. Her acerbic characters have filled the quotable quotes sections of a generation or two of Queer brains and we raise a martini glass (or five...) in her honor. May she rest in peace. Next we chat Drag Race because it was a train wreck this week. Joshua and Joe struggle with vicarious embarrassment for this week's sashayer awayer. We decided to end our Stephen King discussion with CREEPSHOW! It's not as deep as some of the other work we've discussed, but there's a lot of colorful pictures! Happy Joe! Sometimes you just have to take a breather with a fun, silly horror anthology. We also discuss some of our other favorite Stephen King movies that we watched while preparing for our JERSEY GHOULS March Madness episodes. Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of the overall legacy of the work of Stephen King. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter I
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154 - Artificial Dumbness (w/ Zakiya) - Cell (2016)
22/03/2021 Duration: 01h23minWelcome back to another Fright School Special Topics: Stephen King! This week we welcome back Zakiya to discuss Stephen King's CELL! Joe gives us the rundown on Zack Snyder's JUSTICE LEAGUE cut on HBOMax. Zakiya gives us some tips for getting caught up on the MCU for WANDAVISION. Joshua tries not to fall asleep just talking about the AVENGERS movies. The group discusses CELL, Stephen King's vision of the inevitable cellular zombie apocalypse. Are we already living it? We chat about technophobia, artificial intelligence, and the cultural anxiety around terrorism. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree JERSEY GHOULS MARCH MADNESS: Episode 1: Episode 129: March Madness 2021! The 32 Bracket - Part 1 Episode 2: Episode 130: March Madness 2021! The 32 Bracket - Part 2 Episode3: Episode 131: March Madness 2021! The Remaining Brackets! Recommended Reading: Original trailer CELL (2016) TECHNOPHOBIA IN CELL BY STEPHEN KING EXTRA CREDIT: WE HAVE ALL NEW TEES AND MERCH AVAILABLE! Fright School Recomme
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153 - Body Shaming a Novel - Christine (1983)
15/03/2021 Duration: 01h09sWelcome back to another Fright School Special Topics: Stephen King aka 2 Queens talking King! This week we are joined by the hilarious Joe Costal! Unfortunately, due to some technical errors, the majority of the first part of our conversation was lost. We count ourselves lucky that it's a full year into the pandemic and this is the first time we've had a technical failure of this kind. You'll have to hear our thoughts on NOMADLAND another time... We met Joe Costal during the recording of the JERSEY GHOULS' MARCH MADNESS series and had to have him come on to share his thoughts on CHRISTINE. We chat about the gothic horror of FRANKENSTEIN as an influence on King, the car culture of America, and Christine as a femme fatale. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree JERSEY GHOULS MARCH MADNESS: Episode 1: Episode 129: March Madness 2021! The 32 Bracket - Part 1 Episode 2: Episode 130: March Madness 2021! The 32 Bracket - Part 2 Find Joe Costal HERE Recommended Reading: Original trailer CHRISTINE (19
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152 - We're Two Queens Talking KING! - Silver Bullet (1985)
08/03/2021 Duration: 01h13minWelcome back to Fright School Special Topics: Stephen King aka 2 Queens talking King! First we're catching up on CLARICE, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, and RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE! We share our Snatch Game picks for when we're inevitably on the show. It will soon be illegal to be gay and NOT have been on Drag Race. We're continuing or Stephen King month in conjunction with the JERSEY GHOULS' MARCH MADNESS series! We loved visiting them and hashing out what we thought is the best Stephen King adaptation from 32 films! Make sure you listen every week in March to find out what the panel decided! Finally we talk about (or really Joshua talks AT Joe) SILVER BULLET, Stephen King's Werewolf story based on his semi-graphic novel CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF. We talk about portrayals of disability in the media and particularly King's work and the Catholic priest abuse scandal. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree JERSEY GHOULS MARCH MADNESS: Episode 1: Episode 129: March Madness 2021! The 32 Bracket - Part 1 Reco
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151 - The Ayatollah CORNmeini - Children of the Corn (1984)
01/03/2021 Duration: 01h14minWelcome back to Fright School! We kick off the episode with impressions of Gloria Swanson and James Mason. Let us know if we should do a whole episode like that! Joshua watched SUNSET BOULEVARD, hence the Miss Swanson attempt. Arrrrr! Joe offers to buy him a lamé turban. We are excited to be past the 150 mark on episodes! Thank you, Dear Listener! Joshua recounts his Melissa Etheridge experience from last week. Joe talks up BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR. We remain thoroughly bewildered by CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA and cautiously optimistic about CLARICE. We are dedicating every Monday in March to Stephen King! To start this special series we are discussing 1984's CHILDREN OF THE CORN. We chat about murderous moppets, religious fanaticism, the connections to LORD OF THE FLIES in King's work, the Folk Horror Genre, and why kids are so damn scary! Also, what does the Iranian Revolution of 1979 have to do with CHILDREN OF THE CORN? We're lost in the maize with this one... FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Ins
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150 - The Blood Weave (with Zakiya and T.J.) - Bad Hair (2020)
22/02/2021 Duration: 01h42minWelcome to another episode of Fright School! This week we wrap up our Black Horror History Month deep dive (Fright School: Black Studies?) by welcoming back Zakiya and T.J.! We get right down to business by reviewing our notes on BLACULA, on of T.J.'s favorite horror films. We chat about what is Black Horror and the intersections of the Black and Queer experience of police violence. In our second half we do try to detangle some BAD HAIR a HULU original (not part of INTO THE DARK as Joshua WRONGLY claims). Zakiya gets personal with her hair journey. We discuss assimilation, internalized colonialism, the Cult of Whiteness, and why we should maybe start smoking again... FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original trailer BAD HAIR (2020) ‘Bad Hair’ Review: That Weave Is Killer by Teo Bugbee [Bad Hair Fails the Very Audience It Seeks to Reflect By Angelica Jade Bastién] (https://www.vulture.com/article/bad-hair-review-hulu-movies-fails-its-audience.html) How Natural Black
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149 - I'll Kill Your Daddy for $20 - Eve's Bayou (1997)
15/02/2021 Duration: 01h25minWelcome back to Fright School! We're catching up on another week in the pandemic! Joe did trivia for Guam! Joshua and Joe checked out CLARICE and chat about the state of the SILENCE OF THE LAMBS property. Joshua also had a chance to see POSSESSOR. VOTE now for the FANGORIA CHAINSAW AWARDS 2021! We wonder about the veracity of Tim Burton's WEDNESDAY series. This week we discuss Kasi Lemmons' EVE'S BAYOU! We're continuing our celebration of Black History Month (and also Women in Horror month!) with this gorgeous and mystical meditation on memory and the Southern Gothic. We discuss the fears of women, the intersections of religious and spiritual practices, and the multiplicities of minority groups. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original Theatrical trailer EVE'S BAYOU (1997) Haunting Magic: On "Eve's Bayou," 20 Years Later by Seongyong Cho 20 Years Later, Eve’s Bayou Is Still a Stunning Portrait of Black American Life By Angelica Jade Bastién Terror & Horror: Eve's Bayo
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148 - Artsy! Diaphanous! INTERESTING! - Ganja & Hess (1973)
08/02/2021 Duration: 01h22minWelcome back to Fright School! We dedicate the first part of the episode to Joe and his recent appearance on THE WEAKEST LINK! We are continuing our celebration of Black Horror History Month! HORROR NOIRE (on SHUDDER!) is our guide to some of the essential and influential films that have shaped Black Horror. Today we're discussing GANJA & HESS a film that was almost lost to the ages if not for The Museum of Modern Art. We chat about Catholicism's preoccupation with blood drinking and cannibalism, the vampirism as addiction metaphor, the practicality of monogamy and heterosexuality in immortals, the incredibly weird and arresting soundtrack, and we introduce the concept of the Enduring Woman. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original Theatrical trailer GANJA & HESS (1973) GANJA & HESS: The Edge Of Extinction By PHIL NOBILE JR. DameStruck: Ganja & Hess (1973) Ganja and Hess: Vampires, sex, and addictions by Manthia Diawara and Phyllis Klotman HORROR NOIRE GUIDE: 13 ESS
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147 - Fun With Portmanteaus - Blacula (1972)
01/02/2021 Duration: 01h25minWelcome back to Fright School! We share our favorite rainy day songs after we sound checked with some Carpenters' tunes. We chat season 13 of RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE now that Joe is caught up. We choose our top Queens we want to see go all the way. We are very excited about PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN. We are celebrating Black Horror History Month! With HORROR NOIRE (on SHUDDER!) as our guide, we are viewing some of the essential and influential films that have shaped Black Horror. We're kicking things off with arguably the most famous Blaxploitation Horror film BLACULA! We analyze Prince Mamuwalde/Blacula's dual role as the hero and villain of the film, vampirism as allegory for enslavement, toxic masculinity, the casual homophobia and misogyny of horror, and identity politics at play in the film. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original Theatrical trailer BLACULA (1972) “Blacula”: A Commentary on Vampirism, Slavery and Black Male Identity by kinkedsista 'Blacula' Bites, but Nev
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146 - Economically Unsustainable - The Purge Anarchy (2014) and The First Purge (2018)
25/01/2021 Duration: 01h30minWelcome to the concluding episode of Fright School's The Purge Series! We try to keep it short, but you know how we are... Joe has been catching up on the exciting shows of 2015 like THE MAGICIANS! Joshua's Netflix is filling up with Scandinavian crime procedurals and he is here for it. THE VALHALLA MURDERS is the latest to grab his attention. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS remains one of our favorite films so we are super excited for the new CBS All Access series CLARICE coming in February. We wrap up our first ever franchise episode series with THE PURGE ANARCHY and THE FIRST PURGE. We discuss the dangerous interpersonal dynamics in the world of The Purge, the economic implications, racial politics, and exactly what each of us think we would do when The Purge inevitably becomes public policy... FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original Theatrical trailer THE PURGE: ANARCHY (2014) Original Theatrical trailer THE FIRST PURGE (2018) Why A Real-Life 'Purge' Would Be Terrible F
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145 - Inauguration Week Special! - The Purge: Election Year (2016)
19/01/2021 Duration: 01h25minThis is not a test. This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of yet another episode of Fright School's The Purge Series! We start things off by chatting about BAM BOX (this is NOT a sponsored post unfortunately...). Joshua is heading back to school full time so he's cancelling all of the things that bring him joy. Joe is doing his own interior decorating. We get caught up on Drag Race. We're casting our vote for THE PURGE ELECTION YEAR! We discuss murder tourism, White women and White Supremacy, state and religion's place in the ratification of violence, and The Capitol Riot. This is a heavy-on-politics episode and we stress that things are changing every day, so we'll continue to address this contentious time as best we can. Stay safe and sane, Dear Listener! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original Theatrical trailer THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR (2016) ‘The Purge: Election Year’ Provides a Depressingly Familiar Portrait of Race in America By Se
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144 - Binging The Purge - The Purge (2013)
11/01/2021 Duration: 01h18minThis is not a test. This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of another episode of Fright School! What a week it has been! We lay out the next few episodes dedicated to THE PURGE series. Drag Race: Original Recipe is back for the 100th season and we're in full support of the Drag Industrial Complex. Where's their stimulus package?! Joshua got a Nintendo Switch which he basically only plays NES games on. Super Mario Bros for the win! Sidescroller4Lyfe. Joe chases Pokémon! We binge on THE PURGE and chat about the history of carnivals and Saturnalia, dystopian fiction, the military and scapegoating, and the psychology of The Purge. Does a village in Peru hold the secrets to therapeutic violence? Listen and find out! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original Theatrical trailer THE PURGE (2013) The Purge – A Film Analysis by Surit Dasgupta Fighting on Christmas: brawling as self-governance in rural Peru by Edwar E. Escalante and Raymond J. March
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143 - Playing With Pronouns - Freaky (2020)
04/01/2021 Duration: 01h14minHAPPY NEW FEAR! Welcome back from Winter break! We get caught up on our respective holiday escapades and successfully avoid talking about the new strain of Coronavirus. Joshua's thoughts on Rudolph have struck a chord with some of our listeners! What other holiday classic can he piss all over? Find out when YULE school returns... at some point way in the future. We tear into the practically universally adored HAPPIEST SEASON and chat about the very tense days after the release of WONDER WOMAN 1984. Joe is reading a book: Shit, Actually The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema by Lindy West! We wanted to ring in the new year with a new movie so we're chatting about Blumhouse's FREAKY! It's a ransom letter of adoration to some of the very best of horror and comedy cinema. We chat about homages in the film, inventive kills, and body swap film tropes. Want to see our floppy anteater pics? Anyone? ANYONE?! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original Theatrical t
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142 - Reliving Trauma - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
25/12/2020 Duration: 01h02minWelcome to our first (and maybe last) ever episode of YULE School! This week the table gets flipped as Joe takes Joshua on a traumatic journey with RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER! The boys chat about their family traditions and plans for the holidays. Joshua is very triggered by Rudolph. We try to figure out exactly what Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is trying to tell us about bullying and fitting in. Please consider donating as the goal is almost met! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER (1964) EXTRA CREDIT: WE HAVE ALL NEW TEES AND MERCH AVAILABLE! Fright School Recommended Texts: The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror by David J. Skal Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film by Carol J. Clover Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror by Robin R Means Coleman Projected Fears by Kendall R. Phillips The Horror Genre: From Beelzebub to Blair Witch by Paul Wells Support FRIGHT SCHOOL by donating to their Ti
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141 - Men Don't Need Supernatural Help - Black Christmas (2019)
14/12/2020 Duration: 01h22minSeason's Grievings, Fright School! We're here with another Holiday Horror episode! First we try to share good news and stay on a happy note, but Joe can't help infect us with Covid talk. We had a blast on Geekscape's 15 Hour Live Stream for Big Brothers Big Sisters. You can catch our live segments on Geekscape's YouTube or Facebook! Joshua is in crisis because he doesn't have an actual favorite holiday film that's not horror related. We try to unpack the overstuffed stocking that is the latest incarnation of BLACK CHRISTMAS. We discuss film making in the era of WOKENESS, the patriarchy and its paranoias, the very real fears of women, and gaslighting friends and other survivors of trauma. It's fun if you make it a song! Speaking of songs, the fellas share their favorite holiday albums to wrap up the episode. We'll be back Christmas Day with a special episode... Please consider donating as the goal is almost met! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Official Trailer for BLACK
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140 - Don't Be a Shitty Person! - Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (2020)
07/12/2020 Duration: 49minScary Creepmas, Fright Schoolers! 'Tis the season to be ghoulish and we are kicking off our Scary Xmas 2020 series! First, the world remains an awful place fast approaching the plot of a Stephen King novel (soon to be a CBS All Access Miniseries!) and we just want you all to stay happy and healthy. We were both wowed by the latest incarnation of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL starring Jefferson Mays as... well... everybody. It's a fantastic one man show that echoes Dickens' own performance of his classis warning to miserly, miserable, mean old bastards. I'm sure you can think of a few of those ruining your life, Dear Listener. Check it out and help support regional theatres in your community! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: First Look! "A Christmas Carol" Unlike Any Other) A CHRISTMAS CAROL Official Site for tickets and information EXTRA CREDIT: WE HAVE ALL NEW TEES AND MERCH AVAILABLE! Fright School Recommended Texts: The Monster Show: A Cultural History of H
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139 - Shitting on Karen's Car - Blood Quantum (2020)
30/11/2020 Duration: 01h29minWelcome back to Fright School! We are discussing another Indigenous Horror film with our friend Zakiya! First we chat about everyone's Thanksgiving/Indigenous Solidarity/ Anti-Colonial dinners. We debate cranberry sauce. Joe really wants to discuss The Crown. Speaking of colonialism and horror, we unpack BLOOD QUANTUM. There is so much to.... chew on. Joshua and Zakiya give a quick history lesson to contextualize the film. We talk about blood quantum laws, Colonialism in horror, The Walking Dead, mothers, and how the Earth is "sick of our shit." Literally. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original theatrical trailer BLOOD QUANTUM (2019) The rise of Indigenous horror: How a fiction genre is confronting a monstrous reality by Alicia Elliott Incident at Restigouche directed by Alanis Obomsawin Quebec whites and Indians square off over salmon stream August 3, 1981 By David Milne The Red Nation Podcast Halloween Special EXTRA CREDIT: WE HAVE ALL NEW TEES AND MERCH AVA
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138 - Not A Review Podcast - The Smudging (2016)
16/11/2020 Duration: 01h11minWelcome back to Fright School! We start off by getting instantly off track with discussing THE CROWN. It's Gillian Anderson as Maggie Thatcher! It's illegal NOT to watch it. The holidays are coming very soon, so we thought we would take a few episodes and look at some films created by the Indigenous Horror community. First up is THE SMUDGING. We start off with a brief history of the Indian Relocation Act of 1956 to give some context for the film's setting at a Native American Cultural Center haunted by some kind of ghostly, evil presence. Hope you brought your sage grenades! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original theatrical trailer THE SMUDGING (2016) ORIGIN OF THE STORY with writer/director/star Mike J. Marin Information on Smudging from Pow Wow Power The rise of Indigenous horror: How a fiction genre is confronting a monstrous reality by Alicia Elliott EXTRA CREDIT: WE HAVE ALL NEW TEES AND MERCH AVAILABLE! Fright School Recommended Texts: The Monster Show:
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137 - An Ode to Witches (w/ Ashley and Tamanava Eden-McLintock)
09/11/2020 Duration: 01h23minWelcome back to Fright School! This week we share our LIVE episode from October 30th during the HORROR MOVIE NIGHT SCARES FOR CARES CHARITY LIVESTREAM! We were joined by our Final Gurl Ashley and practicing Eclectic Wiccan and High Priestess Tamanava to discuss witchcraft in film! Joe and Joshua do a quick intro to discuss the controversy brewing (Lol...) around THE WITCHES and advocates for people with limb differences. FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree Recommended Reading: Original theatrical trailer THE WITCHES (2020) Original theatrical trailer THE CRAFT: LEGACY (2019) Witch Movies Aren’t Just About Horror. They’re About the Fear of Female Power EXTRA CREDIT: Tamanava's Broomsticks on FACEBOOK and ETSY WE HAVE ALL NEW TEES AND MERCH AVAILABLE! Fright School Recommended Texts: The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror by David J. Skal Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film by Carol J. Clover Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror by Robin R Means Colem
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136 - 4th Anniversary Halloween Special - The Killer Sounds of Sean Keller
31/10/2020 Duration: 56minHAPPY HALLOWEEN! We wanted to drop a special bonus episode to celebrate! We had the pleasure of chatting with SEAN KELLER co-writer of Hulu and Blumhouse's ALL THAT WE DESTROY (directed by the fabulous CHELSEA STARDUST!). He is also the composer and creator of SLASHED! The Musical. We chat with Sean about his Halloween and horror history, making movies, and writing music. He gives us the behind-the-scenes making of his latest album REVENGE OF THE KILLER SOUNDS OF HALLOWEEN out on BANDCAMP NOW! Stay tuned after the episode for one of our favorite tunes from the record! FOLLOW US! Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkTree EXTRA CREDIT: FRIGHT SCHOOL 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN 2020 CLICKABLE CALENDAR WE HAVE ALL NEW TEES AND MERCH AVAILABLE! Fright School Recommended Texts: The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror by David J. Skal Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film by Carol J. Clover Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror by Robin R Means Coleman Projected Fears by Kendall R. Phill