When a Stranger Calls (1979)

Episode 242 — When a Stranger Calls (1979)Day 31 of 31 Days of Halloween brings Ryan and me together to discuss When a Stranger Calls—and close out our Halloween countdown!We get into the film’s first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes, which are so suspenseful and terrifying! The middle section takes a strange swerve, but those chilling opening and closing sequences make this babysitter nightmare unforgettable.Carol Kane gives a classic performance, capturing the vulnerability and terror that make this film so unnerving. And it leaves us with one question: “Why haven’t you checked the children?”Happy Halloween, everyone! Thank you for joining us for all 31 Days of Halloween! 🎃👻Spoilers ahead—watch the film, then join us!Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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Episode 241 — It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)Day 30 of 31 Days of Halloween brings Matt, Ryan, and me together to discuss It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown—a beloved holiday favorite of ours!We get into the nostalgia, humor, and heart that make this classic such an essential part of Halloween. From Linus’s faithful vigil in the pumpkin patch to Snoopy’s adventures as the World War I Flying Ace—and Charlie Brown’s unfortunate trick-or-treat haul—there’s so much to love.It’s a holiday tradition we’re always happy to revisit, and we couldn’t wait to share why it still means so much to us after all these years!Spoilers ahead—watch the special, then join us!Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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Episode 240 — The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024)Day 29 of 31 Days of Halloween brings Ryan and me together to discuss The Rule of Jenny Pen, starring John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush—and we absolutely love this film!We get into the acting masterclass these two deliver and just how deeply disturbing this story is. The horrors of growing old, losing independence, and becoming vulnerable are amplified by the worst possible resident at a personal care home.It’s unsettling, cruel, and terrifyingly human, with performances that make it impossible to look away. We couldn’t wait to talk about why this film got under our skin!Spoilers ahead—watch the film, then join us!Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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Episode 239 — Frankenstein (1931)Day 28 of 31 Days of Halloween brings Matt, Ryan, and me together to discuss Frankenstein—and how incredible this iconic film still is nearly a century after its release!We get into its unforgettable performances, haunting atmosphere, and the humanity at the heart of the monster. We also explore its lasting legacy, its influence on generations of horror filmmakers, and why its themes remain relevant today.It’s a landmark film that still has the power to move and unsettle audiences, and we couldn’t wait to talk about what makes it so enduring.Spoilers ahead—watch the film, then join us!Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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Episode 238 — Hokum (2026)Day 27 of 31 Days of Halloween brings Ryan and me together to discuss Hokum—and we both think it’s our favorite horror film of the year so far!We get into the incredible performances, the witch, and the relentless tension that kept us on edge. Neither of us knew what was going to happen next, and that feeling of being completely in a film’s hands made the experience even more exciting—and terrifying.It’s one of the best-made horror films either of us has seen in a very long time, and we couldn’t wait to talk about everything that makes it work so brilliantly.Spoilers ahead—watch the film, then join us!Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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Episode 237 — Obsession (2026)Day 26 of 31 Days of Halloween brings Ryan and me together to discuss Obsession, how much we enjoyed it, and Indy Navarrette’s absolutely brilliant performance.We also get into what a piece of shit the male character is, digging into the selfishness, entitlement, and horrifying consequences at the heart of this story.And, of course, we have questions! Does the snapping wood have anything to do with Aunt Gladys’s plant in Weapons? Could this be the same kind of magic? We compare notes, trade theories, and discuss the unsettling details that kept us talking afterward.Spoilers ahead—watch the film, then join us!Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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Episode 236 — Clown Panic (2026)Day 25 of 31 Days of Halloween takes us into Clown Panic, the Hulu documentary exploring the creepy-clown craze that swept across America—and then the world—in 2016.I found this a fascinating time capsule of a year already filled with anxiety. Looking back a decade later, through COVID, political violence, fears surrounding federal agencies, and the rise of AI, there’s something almost surreal about remembering a moment when people were terrifying one another simply by putting on clown costumes.I also reflect on the horror imagery surrounding that moment, from Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight to the portrayals that followed in Stephen King’s It and American Horror Story: Cult. But behind the masks and viral videos, the consequences were devastatingly real. The documentary introduces families on both sides of a fatal encounter involving a young person wearing a clown mask, showing how a scare could change—and end—lives.A compelling, unsettling watch about fear, viral attention, and the human cost of turning a scare into content.Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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Episode 235 — The Night That Panicked America (1975)Day 24 of 31 Days of Halloween brings us to The Night That Panicked America, a television movie dramatizing Orson Welles’s legendary 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast!Matthew and I explore the recreation of the broadcast and the frightened listeners who believed Martians were invading. With a cast including Paul Shenar, Eileen Brennan, Vic Morrow, John Ritter, and Meredith Baxter, this film brings one of radio’s most famous nights to life—a subject that has fascinated me for years!Watch The Night That Panicked America on YouTube:
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Episode 234 — Chasing the Headless Horseman with J.W. OckerDay 23 of 31 Days of Halloween brings us a special guest! Matthew and I interview author J.W. Ocker about his new book, Chasing the Headless Horseman, and explore the history, legends, and Halloween magic of Sleepy Hollow.We also discuss his other works dealing with Salem, Edgar Allan Poe, cryptids, cursed objects, and so much more. A fascinating conversation with a fascinating author—full of strange places, spooky stories, and plenty of Halloween spirit!Explore J.W. Ocker’s world and find your next spooky read:
👉 Odd Things I’ve Seen — Official Website⁠
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Episode 233 — Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)Day 22 of 31 Days of Halloween brings us to Transylvania 6-5000—a monster comedy with an incredible cast, including Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley Jr., Carol Kane, and Geena Davis!From its eccentric characters to its cartoon-like hijinks, we discuss this goofy Halloween romp and the performers who make it so much fun. Given a choice between Haunted Honeymoon and this, I’m picking Transylvania 6-5000—for me, it’s an even more entertaining ride!Join us for some monstrous mischief in Transylvania!Support The Conner & Smith Show on Patreon:
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