A24's latest contribution to the horror genre is the dialogue-heavy, slightly bonkers Heretic. We discuss the Hugh Grant-starring film's unique takes on religion, pop culture and gender. Also includes discussions of Fear the Spotlight (video game, 2024), MadS (2024) and more. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgan…

CONTENT WARNING: Contains references to childhood sexual assault The scarecrow seems to be a horror icon on the surface, but this oddball's repertoire is inconsistent and relatively small. We take a look at scarecrows in a selection of horror movies and wonder why the spooky straw man seems to lack a clear identity. Includes discussions of Smile 2 …

How did this gross, cartoonish body horror movie ending up being one of the year's major film events? We discuss all the silliness and viscera of The Substance, unpacking its satirical intent and feminist themes. Does its stylisation get in the way of its characters? Does its message get lost in melt movie goo? Plus Two Spooks & a Lie featuring Aus…

Take a trip back in time to the heyday of the iconic British production company Hammer Film Productions. Between the mid-50s and the early 70s, Hammer left an indelible mark on horror, with hits that were sexy, lurid, gothic and campy. We take a look at the lasting impact and sometimes questionable politics of a small selection of Hammer Horror fil…

Subtitle haters and subtitle lovers are at odds over the new James McAvoy vehicle Speak No Evil, a remake of a film that in some circles is already a minor classic. We unpack the pitch black satire of both, very different versions of Speak No Evil. Also includes discussions of Something in the Water (2024) and Strange Darling (2024). Follow us on I…

In this episode, we take a look at movies that explore all the ins and outs of bearing a child. Turns out the beginnings of life might be not-so-secretly horrifying. What commentary can horror movies offer on pregnancy, abortion and motherhood itself? Includes discussions of In a Violent Nature (2024), Blink Twice (2024), The Phantom of the Opera (…

Everyone is talking about the latest instalment in the Alien franchise. How does the classic Alien formula of popcorn action plus compelling characters fare in this new iteration? Is Alien: Romulus a return to form or a sad attempt at recapturing the magic? Also includes discussions of The Coffee Table (2024), Woman in the Dunes (1964) and Kidnappi…

Once again, we're taking a look at the rich tapestry of movies that is white people getting stuck places. Going from microgenre to macrogenre, it feels like these movie are unavoidable and this time we've got some bangers. Where did they get stuck and where will they get stuck next? Includes discussions of Trap (2024), The Coffee Table (2024), Lord…

With the most impressive viral marketing campaign since Skinamarink, Osgood Perkins' Longlegs was a sensation long before anyone even knew Nicolas Cage was involved. We discuss the good and the bad of this fascinating and ambitious film and wonder if it ever had a chance of living up to the hype. Also includes discussions of Twisters (2024), Messia…

He's big, he's hairy and he lives in the woods. No it's not another Russell Crowe movie; it's Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the yeti, yowie, and more. We discuss some of the hairy forest-dweller's onscreen appearances, and what we've learned about Bigfoot's (and similar monsters') place in the pop culture canon. Includes discussions of A Quiet Place: Day One…

Was anyone asking for another exorcism-based horror movie starring Russell Crowe? Well, we got one anyway! This time it's a bit meta with a personal connection to a certain venerated classic. We take a look at Crowe's latest foray into the horror genre and wonder if the exorcism sub-genre is all dried up. Plus some Sydney Film Festival highlights a…

M. Night Shyamalan's breakthrough feature is twenty-five years old this year. Does the rapturous acclaim it received at release still hold up today, or has its maverick director run out of goodwill? We talk about its quirks, its lasting influence, and what makes it a great horror movie. Also includes discussions of The Witch's Mirror a.k.a El espej…

These movies might not be technically horror, but they definitely scratch the same part of our brain that wants thrills, chills and mayhem. Disaster movies pit humanity against some of its harshest challenges. What is revealed when everything is stripped away from the human spirit? Includes discussions of Tarot (2024), Sleep Has Her House (2017), D…

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of the most recognisable cult films of all time and beloved by many. We take a closer look at the themes, story, and possible problems with the radical queer musical. How does something this groundbreaking and beloved hold up and what can it offer us in the 21st Century? Also includes discussions of Slay (2024),…

We can't live without technology, but is that a good thing? The most rapidly changing facet of our existence offers fertile ground for exploring all kinds of horrifying things. We're entering the virtual world and talking about how TV, computers, robots and more define and complicate our existence. Includes discussions of The Stepford Wives (1975),…

Nearly fifty years on, The First Omen gives us a prequel to horror classic The Omen and it may surprise you to know it's really good! Turning the familiar story into an alarming feminist tale, the film grapples with some massive themes. We talk about its unique and referential take on the genre. Also includes discussions of Godzilla x Kong: The New…

In this episode, the gang takes a look behind the veil of reality into thought-provoking, madness-inducing cosmic horror. How does the vast possibility of the universe put our puny little lives into focus? What happens when humans transcend their place in space and time? How come everything is still misogynistic? Includes discussions of Inside (202…

The latest film from Blumhouse is a romp through childhood anxieties and family drama. Is this new wave of PG-horror a cynical cash grab or an important development in the horror landscape? We break down Jeff Wadlow's Imaginary through its odd story beats, excellent creature design and often bizarre visuals. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Con…

Sometimes the scariest creature is out there in the wild or living right in your house! In this episode, we're looking at some of the killer animals in the horror canon and how they relate to our experiences as humans. Includes discussions of Karen (2021), Baghead (2023), Night Swim (2024), The Beast (2023), The Birds (1963), Sssssss (1973), Grizzl…

That's right, another year has passed and we've all grown older, wiser and sexier. We celebrate the year that was by counting down our top 10 spooky movies of 2023. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.By Crystal Pettit & Scott Wallace

In our final episode for 2023, we unpack some of the horror movies set on and inspired by our favourite holidays. There are plenty of Christmas creeps, as well as bloody valentines, an April fool or two and more. Includes discussions of Leave the World Behind (2023), Poor Things (2023), Godzilla Minus One (2023), Black Christmas (1974), My Bloody V…

Eli Roth's long-gestating film is here and it might be his best work. We discuss this potential franchise-starter and its place in the slasher canon. Also includes discussions of When Evil Lurks (2023) and T-Blockers (2023). Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.…

Holy moly, these nuns are naughty. We're talking nunsploitation, the genre that explores the lives (and the sex lives) of nuns. Join us on a journey through cloisters and convents as we unpack what's so compelling about these brides of God. Static Vision and SBG co-present The Devils, Sunday November 19. Buy tickets here. Includes discussions of Th…

Happy Halloween Spookies! On this ep, we're each counting down our top 10 horror movies of all time. Also includes discussions of Things Heard & Seen (2021) and The Burning Hell (1974). Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.By Crystal Pettit & Scott Wallace

Ciao! In this episode, the gang dip their toes into the muddy waters of vintage Italian horror. Is Giallo a flash-in-the-pan, a relic of the past, or a key component of the genre we know and love? Includes discussions of Saw X (2023), Elevator Game (2023), Blood and Black Lace (1964), The Laughing Woman a.k.a The Frightened Woman (1969), Bay of Blo…

In this episode we're talking about the ultra-dumb, maybe-camp sequel to everyone's favourite giant shark movie The Meg. Is it leaning into the silliness, or too serious for its own good? Only one thing is sure - we know nothing. Also includes discussions of Pearl (2021), Talk to Me (2023) and Dracula: The Voyage of the Demeter (aka The Last Voyage…

We're discussing ghosts, wraith, spirits, spectres and phantoms. One of the cornerstones of horror, how did ghosts end up symbolising so much about the human psyche? Includes discussions of The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra (2022), Nightsiren (2022), Insidious: The Red Door (2023), The Innocents (1961), Carnival of Souls (1962), The Haunting (1963), The …

We're getting the hang of this all-nighter stuff now, but still this one nearly broke us! We stayed up all night watching the seven movies in the OG Chucky/Child's Play franchise just for you. We do it because we love you. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.…

We're tackling three very different but complementary horror movies in this Neapolitan special: The Boogeyman (2023), Infinity Pool (2023) and Huesera: The Bone Woman (2023). Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.By Crystal Pettit & Scott Wallace

The truth is out there, and we aim to find it! In this episode we're talking about extraterrestrials (a.k.a aliens) and how they contextualise and disrupt our place in the world. Includes discussions of Evil Dead Rise (2023), The Thing from Another World (1951), Lifeforce (1985), Signs (2002), Dark Skies (2013), Under the Skin (2013), Honeymoon (20…

Scream is now a horror institution, but how does the new instalment stack up? We discuss Scream VI in all its meta glory and wonder where the franchise can possibly go from here. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.By Crystal Pettit & Scott Wallace

On this episode, the gang discusses the spellbinding real life and fictional tales of witches. From historical fact to teenage TV witches, who are these powerful women and where do they fit in society? Includes discussions of Toxic Shark (2017), On the Line (2022), Pearl (2022), Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (2022), Häxan (1922) Day of Wrath (1943), Bla…

Roses are red, M3GAN is fierce, this is an episode you don't want to miss! We're discussing everyone's favourite robot babe M3GAN and hoping we can slay as hard as her. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.By Crystal Pettit & Scott Wallace

2022 was a weird year, huh? To ring in the new year, we're each counting down our top 10 horror movies of 2022. Join us to look back and maybe find some new faves. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.By Crystal Pettit & Scott Wallace

Turns out our bodies are irresistible to aliens! In this episode we unpack the slimy and sexy world of parasites and other nefarious body snatchers. Includes discussions of The Last Broadcast (1998), Violent Night (2022), I Blame Society (2020), Invaders from Mars (1953), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), I Married a Monster from Outer Space (…

CONTENT WARNING: The episode contains discussion of sexual assault. This episode brought to you by the letter B! We're talking about Zach Cregger's crazy little movie Barbarian, as well as Luca Guadagnino's Bones and All. Big spoiler warning!!! Do not listen if you don't want Barbarian and Bones and All spoilers. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook…

Simple, scary and sharp, the slasher might be the foundation of horror as we know it today. We're talking creepy, slow-moving killers from Michael Myers to Jason to some of the more obscure knife-wielding maniacs from film history. Includes discussions of Smile (2022), Nest of the Cuckoo Birds (1965), Halloween Ends (2022), Alice, Sweet Alice [aka …

Beloved by Quentin Tarantino among others, Australian cult classic Patrick is an overlooked supernatural horror pioneer. Its slyly deranged narrative is a fascinating, feminist tale of omnipotent male malice. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.…

As white people, maybe the genre that hits closest to home is the one where white people get stuck somewhere dumb. On the latest SBG, we're talking about the single-location survival movies that could take place in a sauna, a chairlift, or an abandoned bunker. Includes discussions of They See You (2022), The Woman with a Knife (1969), Fall (2022), …

David Cronenberg's return to body horror with Crimes of the Future has been as anticipated as it's been divisive. Find out what we thought about this new feature from one of our favourite directors. Also includes discussions of The Wolf House (2018), Horror in the High Desert (2021) and We're All Going to the World's Fair (2021). Follow us on Insta…

The moon is full and werewolves are on the prowl! In this episode, we unpack all the baggage that comes with transforming into a hairy, bloodthirsty monster. Includes discussions of The Love Witch (2016), The Bones (2021), Beast (2022), Cuadecuc, vampir (1970), Wolfblood: A Tale of the Forest (1925), The Wolf Man (1941), Werewolf in a Girls' Dormit…

Jordan Peele's eagerly-awaited third feature Nope is out. On this episode we break down the bizarre and magical eco-western that's dividing audiences. Spoiler warning for Nope! Also includes discussions of Glorious (2022). Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.…

In our latest ep, we're talking melty, gooey movies where the human body becomes nothing but fondue. When the human body melts, what does it say about our place in the world? Includes discussions of The Black Phone (2022), The Night (2020), Censor (2021), Showgirls (1995), The Incredible Melting Man (1977), Creepshow 2 (1987), Street Trash (1987), …

We discuss Alex Garland's much-hyped new film Men, plus a smorgasbord of goodies from the 2022 Sydney Film Festival. Includes discussions of Men (2022), Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), Family Dinner (2022), Sushi Noh (2022), Piggy (2022), Flux Gourmet (2022), Incredible But True (2022). Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@sp…

Evil inanimate objects have permeated every form of media, so we're taking a look at some of horror's most destructive doodads. Killer beds, dresses, pianos and tyres take us on a weird and wild journey into the paraphernalia of everyday life. Includes discussions of The Found Footage Phenomenon (2022), The Village (1993), Barbarella (1968), Christ…

We're going back in time to the Wild West of horror before the the Hays Code tried to bring morality to the movies, and discussing some of the weirdest, sleaziest little films we've ever seen. Includes discussions of The Unknown (1927), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), Freaks (1932), Island of Lost Souls (1932), The Most Dangerous Game (1932), …

In May 2022, two podcasters disappeared in the woods near Sydney, Australia while recording a podcast. The recordings from that day were never found... until now. Join us in the world of shaky cameras and spooky sounds as well talk the much-maligned found footage genre. Includes discussions of C'est arrivé près de chez vous (aka Man Bites Dog) (199…

Time warps, time loops, and ruptures in the fabric of reality are the topic this time as we discuss movies that make you question everything. We also caught The Northman on opening night of Fantastic Film Festival Australia. Head to our Instagram to find out how you can win one of three double passes. Head to https://www.fantasticfilmfestival.com.a…

Ants, spiders and other arthropod pals are the stars of the hour as we talk things that creep and crawl. In this episode we discuss how bugs in horror movies create a unique sense of danger and paranoia. Includes discussions of X (2022), Them! (1954), Phase IV (1974), Kingdom of the Spiders (1977), Creepshow (1982), The Fly (1986), Eight Legged Fre…

Featuring discussions of two of the most chilling films we've ever seen, we unpack all the horror of the nuclear family. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at crystal@spookybitchgang.com and scott@spookybitchgang.com.By Crystal Pettit & Scott Wallace