Heathers (1989): "I Could Make Her Worse"

Let us tell you something, Spookies: Busting makes us feel good. So good that it was only right to dedicate our Halloween episode to Ghostbusters (1984), one of the most classic horror comedies around. A supernatural flick with a superstar cast, this ‘80s blockbuster appealed to kids and adults alike, and that’s in no small part because it changed its target audience somewhere between the script and the screen. Actually, a lot changed during that time, including basically all the lines once actors like Bill Murray and Rick Moranis started to improvise. On our latest episode of Spooky Tuesday, we’re exploring how writers Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis brought this project to life, the way stars Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver rounded out a killer cast, and where the extended Ghostbustiverse went from here.References: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ernie-hudson-ghostbusters-difficult-movie-1235331351/YouTube: "Ghostbusters" Music Video

Well, fuck us gently with a chainsaw, Spookies, because we can’t believe we’ve never covered Heathers (1989). Thankfully, the start of Sydneypalooza, a.k.a. Sydney’s birthday episode, provided an excellent opportunity to do just that. Plus, after talking about Jawbreaker last season, we couldn’t get our minds off this high school black comedy from an even earlier era, so we knew now was the time. Starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as a couple that is quite literally toxic, this ‘80s flick may have bombed at the box office, but it’s also had a lasting impact on pop culture and is just so very very. On a new episode of Spooky Tuesday, we’re playing with the popular crew as we talk all things color theory, queen bees, and killer boyfriends.References: https://screenrant.com/heathers-behind-scenes-facts/

Part of that early aughts trend of Hollywood remaking Japanese horror, The Grudge (2004) made quite the impact on pop culture. It also decided to handle its American adaptation a little differently. Not only did the movie maintain its original setting and even some of the cast, it also kept on writer/director Takashi Shimizu to realize his same vision for a new audience. So what actually changed? On a new Spooky Tuesday, we’re spending a little time abroad as we talk about the original franchise, spooky ghost boys, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the terrifying moments that have haunted us for years.References:https://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/1iircfs/just_watched_juon_the_grudge_but_there_are_a_few/https://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/1g1s3w9/juon_the_grudge_2002_is_more_literary_than_you/

October has arrived and our witchy powers are at their strongest, Spookies, so you know what that means: It’s time for Season 7 to begin! We’re kicking off a new era of Spooky Tuesday with Resident Evil (2026), the fun, funny, and frightening new collab between writer-director Zach Cregger and his maybe-muse, Austin Abrams. A video game adaptation that legitimately feels like you’re playing along, this zombie-adjacent flick knows just how to get under your skin, whether that’s via viral outbreak or meditations on entering a new era of adulthood while grappling with your own and others’ mortality. On our latest episode, we’re celebrating the start of Spooky Season proper as we talk about all things body horror, babies, and boyfriend material.References: https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/zach-cregger-resident-evil-austin-abrams-kids-interview-1235215779/ https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1w15axg/hey_rmovies_zach_cregger_here_director_of_the/https://www.them.us/entertainment/tv-and-movies/who-is-kali-reis-the-two-spirit-sexually-fluid-actress-in-resident-evilYouTube: Resident Evil 8 Village - Giant Baby Monster Chase SceneYouTube: Resident Evil 4 - Save Game Theme Typewriterhttps://x.com/hotpriestt/status/1578789562394247169

Happy 300th Episode, Spookies!!!! We've reached a BIG milestone here at Spooky Tuesday this week, and we wanted to do a BIG episode to celebrate. A double feature felt like it might just do the trick, so we asked our Spooky Patreon Crew to vote on which one we should cover, and they chose The Stepford Wives (1975) and Get Out (2017). At first, it seemed like a daunting task — TWO thinkies in one episode?! But once we locked in, we got to work, because these flicks make for incredible back-to-back viewing. Though Jordan Peele's debut feature became an instant classic while the original Ira Levin adaptation wasn't exactly a critical success, both movies have made their mark on the horror landscape, and we're breaking it all down on a new Spooky Tuesday.  References: https://ew.com/movies/2017/10/23/the-stepford-wives-1975-history/https://esl-bits.eu/Novellas.for.ESL.Students/Stepford/03/text.html 

Did you notice we've had a sneaky theme going this month, Spookies? It may have flown a little under the radar, but so far September has been for the girls — so we decided to round out our SeptembHER lineup with Annihilation (2018). A scifi story about a grab bag group of women in STEM exploring a mysterious phenomenon known only as The Shimmer, this flick follows Natalie Portman and co (Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tuva Novotny) as they set off on a recon mission they may never return from. On a new Spooky Tuesday, we're doing our own research as we work together to uncover this movie's mysteries, messages, and CLEAR references. References: https://www.reddit.com/r/AnnihilationMovie/comments/hpmxdg/the_ending_of_annihilation/https://collider.com/annihilation-ending-explained/https://medium.com/@stefmaxko/a-spoiler-filled-interpretation-of-annihilations-themes-of-self-and-absolution-86c6bfff2c8chttps://screenrant.com/annihilation-story-explained-questions-answered-lena-shimmer/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/annihilation-movie-vs-book-adaptation-spoilers-1201929719/

A fever dream ripped straight from a 12-year-old girl's nightmare, House (1977) has some surprising origins, but no one can deny that director Nobuhiko Ōbayashi put his own spin on the story. Assembling a team of young new actresses and all the best camera tricks, this horror flick set out to make something spectacular, and it's become a cult classic over the years. In fact, it may or may not have even inspired one of your favorite emo songs — and it definitely inspired *us* to create a reality TV tagline for each teenage girl. Listen in as we break into song and workshop our Real Hausu-wives of the Japanese Countryside on a new Spooky Tuesday. References:https://www.slashfilm.com/2168242/steven-spielberg-jaws-success-creation-cult-classic-70s-horror-movie-house-hausu/

It's that time again, Spookies, but Chelsea wasn't sure what to pick for her birthday flick this year, so she decided to do a little sequel presentation. After covering Influencer back in Season 3 for the same occasion, it just felt right to take a chance on Influencers (2025), but did the risk pay off? On a new Spooky Tuesday, we went in blind as we reunited with Cassandra Naud and Emily Tennant's characters for a second showdown that featured even more blood lust and sapphic sexual tension than the first. References:https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshweiss/2025/12/12/influencers-director-on-how-lizzie-mcguire-inspired-the-sequel-rise-of-malicious-ai-that-bonkers-ending-and-more/

Black comedies may be one of the spooky genres we list in our opening spiel, but we rarely get them on the schedule — which is why it's so fun that we're starting off September with Jawbreaker (1999). This year, we're heading back to school in style as we enter the candy-colored sphere of teenage social politics. Who's hot, who's not, and who's got the power to make those decisions? Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Judy Greer, and Julie Benz may not be starring in a scary movie this time, but they've all got horror creds, and when it comes to this flick, death and destruction are not off the menu. References:https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Interview-Writer-Darren-Stein-and-Director-Matt-DiCarlo-of-JAWBREAKER-THE-MUSICAL-20260815

Spookies, how did we let 20 years go by without ever watching Hatchet (2006)? Thankfully, Swamp Ass August is here to set us straight, so we're finishing off our accidental New Orleans Three Weeks with the first flick in Victor Crowley's slasher franchise. Starring some familiar faces — like squintern Colin Fisher from Bones, Tyson from Scream 3, and Harmony from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, not to mention all those incredible horror cameos — this movie pays homage to some of the legendary series that came before it. It also features that iconic nostalgic misogyny we've come to associate with the era, prompting us to invent new portmanteaus, but we're leaving it up to you to pick your favorite on a new Spooky Tuesday. References: https://timewarriors.co.uk/2024/04/15/hatchet-a-multilayered-masterpiece/ https://research.library.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=honorsprogram_fcrh_theses https://pophorror.com/stay-out-of-this-swamp-hatchet-2006-revisited-retro-review/