The Wicker Man (2006): "To Bee or Not To Bee"

Spookies, would you rather A) face off against a single clown in a cornfield B) take on one corn in a whole field of clowns or C) talk about Ginny and Georgia when you’re supposed to be recording a horror movie podcast? On our latest episode, we’re exploring all three of those options as we cover Katie Douglas in Clown in a Cornfield (2025). Based on a series of books from Adam Cesare, this flick is giving summer slasher in the best way, and we’re breaking down the tropes, familiar faces, and possible sequels on a new Spooky Tuesday. References: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/clown-in-a-cornfield-twist-explained-author-adam-cesare-1236396086/

We may be done with the theme months for now, but just like you can never escape death, you can't really get away from a Spooky Tuesday theme event. This week, we're throwing it back to 2022's Final Destination Summer as we cover Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025). A return to the franchise with a fresh perspective on the formula, this flick dives deep into the lore and brings back one last appearance from the iconic Tony Todd. On our latest episode, we're sharing our favorite deaths, debating the stakes, and discussing what's the deal with all those premonitions. References:Behind the Opening SequenceTony Todd FeatureEvery FD Death Explainedhttps://collider.com/final-destination-bloodlines-not-the-origin-story-no-character-overlap-explained-adam-stein-zach-lipovsky/https://www.npr.org/2025/05/24/nx-s1-5409322/final-destination-bloodlines-deathhttps://www.landofgeek.com/posts/final-destination-bloodlines-easter-eggshttps://finaldestination.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Destination:_Destination_Zero

We want it to be good for you, Spookies — which is why we left our final pick for Homoerotic Thriller Pride in our Patron's hands. To round out the month, we're ending with a bow and Black Swan (2010), a balletic horror that fulfills all your body horror (and body pleasure) fantasies. Starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis with supporting performances from Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder, this flick strives for perfection, and we dare say they just might reach it if you take all of the critical approval into account. Seriously, this Darren Aronofsky film had a decent showing at the Academy Awards, but whether it redeems him in our eyes after Mother!, well, that's up for discussion. References:https://btchflcks.com/2013/12/the-horror-of-female-sexual-awakening-black-swan.htmlhttps://www.thepinknews.com/2012/07/12/black-swans-gay-love-scene-prompts-more-complaints-than-any-other-film/https://filmschoolrejects.com/black-swan-ocd/https://medium.com/@snehanarayan/black-and-white-the-real-reason-black-swan-is-a-tragedy-0a91e969d87dhttps://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3549664/horror-queers-lesbian-hallucinations-metoo-sexual-repression-black-swan/https://www.theclassicalgirl.com/10-reasons-real-ballet-dancers-hate-black-swan/

The idea of making a movie that’s both homoerotic and thrilling is hardly new, which is why we decided to throw it back to the ‘40s for our third installment of Homoerotic Thriller Pride. On the latest Spooky Tuesday, we’re talking about Cat People (1942), a subtly sapphic creature feature about Irena, a recent immigrant who fears her passions may come with dangerous consequences. Given that this flick was made under the Hays Code, there’s a lot it couldn’t show or even really hint it, but it’s been viewed through a queer lens for decades. This week, we’re pointing out parallels and pondering the past as we dabble in cinematic history. References: https://www.horrorhomeroom.com/cat-people-1942-coding-lesbianism-via-otherness/https://wordpress.lehigh.edu/screams/2020/03/22/cat-people-1942/ https://screenqueens.wordpress.com/2019/06/27/cat-people-exploring-lesbianism-through-the-otherness/https://unimelbfilmsoc.org/2022/11/30/a-retrospective-review-cat-people-1942-and-1982/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hays_Code

When it comes to erotic thrillers, Mulholland Drive (2001) is one of the classics — and given that it opens with a serendipitous sapphic love story between a Hollywood hopeful and an amnesiac A-list actress, it felt like a must-do for this year's pride lineup. Though the 2.5 hour runtime may be daunting to new viewers, this movie earns every minute, mixing mystery with the charm of an unexpected romance. And we do mean unexpected. Known for his surrealist style, David Lynch wrote and directed a film that takes you on a journey as it examines love, loss, and the meaning of dreams. Also, Billy Ray Cyrus is there for a second, too. References:https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/mulholland-drive-explained/https://www.mulholland-drive.net/studies/swap.htmhttps://screenrant.com/mulholland-drive-behind-scenes-facts-david-lynch-hollywood-satire/https://theasc.com/articles/mulholland-drive-cinematic-journeyhttps://medium.com/outtake/in-plain-sight-the-hidden-symbolism-in-mulholland-drive-4183752813e1https://screenrant.com/interpretations-of-mulholland-drive/https://medium.com/@ashfaq.mf/metaphor-in-mulholland-drive-2dcfbb029271https://afterellen.com/importance-mulholland-drive-sapphic-cinematic-history/

Happy Pride, Spookies! It's that time of year again where we become our strongest, gayest, most fabulous selves, and this month we're celebrating with Homoerotic Thriller Pride. To kick things off, we're covering The Hunger (1983), a bloodsucking bisexual romp featuring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon. And since Pride is all about community, we also invited our pals from Queer Cinema Catchup to come help us out! Join us on a new Spooky Tuesday as we debate relationship dynamics, discuss that studio-altered ending, and inevitably start making Twilight references. Follow Queer Cinema Catchup on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Check out Allison and Joe's new episodes every Thursday on Apple and Spotify. References: https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/david-bowie/the-hunger-lesbian-vampirehttps://insessionfilm.com/the-hidden-tragedy-of-tony-scotts-the-hunger/https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3492502/horror-queers-hunger-lesbian-sex/https://btchflcks.com/2013/10/a-study-in-contrasts-the-hunger.html https://btchflcks.com/2015/10/nine-pretty-great-lesbian-vampire-movies.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekhmethttps://www.per-spex.com/articles/2020/10/25/the-hunger-and-the-bauhaus-movementhttps://dagondogs.com/posts/the-hunger-1983-arcane-visions

For our Nic May-ge finale, we saved the best for last. We're finishing off our month-long Cage Rage by delving deep with Mandy (2018), an atmospheric adventure that explores the nature of grief and revenge. Full of rich, saturated colors and '80s rock and roll bangers, this flick is the perfect mix of vibes and emotion. Plus, it also features full-frontal male nudity, drug trips, and tigers, so really what else could you need, are we right?References: https://mandysoundtrack.bandcamp.com/album/amulet-of-the-weeping-maze-from-the-mandy-original-motion-picture-soundtrackhttps://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/9g1skw/piecing_together_some_of_the_horror_influences_on/https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/ahhn4j/does_anyone_have_any_theories_on_the_meaning_of/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula_hawkhttps://nofilmschool.com/camp-film-festivalhttps://screenrant.com/nic-cage-mandy-every-80s-movie-reference-explained/https://www.revolvermag.com/culture/mandy-how-heavy-metal-inspired-2018s-most-psychedelic-action-horror-film/https://screenrant.com/mandy-behind-scenes-facts-panos-cosmatos-nicolas-cage-horror-movie/https://www.moviemaker.com/how-they-did-it-panos-cosmatos-mandy/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3515039/nicolas-cage-character-mandy-inspired-jason-voorhees/https://ew.com/movies/2018/08/10/nicolas-cage-mandy-jason-voorhees/https://www.vulture.com/2018/09/lets-talk-about-the-most-harrowing-scene-in-mandy.html

It’s that time of year, Spookies! Sydney’s back in town, and that means we get to record another very special in-person episode, and this one’s all about Drive Angry (2011). For our third installment of NIC MAY-GE, we’re focusing on a grindhouse-inspired thriller where the man of the month teams up with Amber Heard. An adrenaline-fueled adventure that sees this duo facing off against Billy Burke, this flick dials up the sex, style, and violence, and it’s one you definitely don’t want to watch with your dad — despite the father-daughter themes. Join us (and Nicolas Cage) as we hit the road at high speeds like we’re escaping from hell itself. References:

They say there's no love like the kind you get from your parents — except for maybe in Mom and Dad (2017). For our second installment of NIC MAY-GE, we're leaving the coast behind and heading deep into the suburbs... and a world where mothers and fathers are mysteriously turning on their own children. With Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair teaming up for a black comedy that turns the ~natural order of things~ on its head, this flick is a wild romp that takes less than 90 minutes (allegedly) to get through. Tune in to our latest episode as we debate poor optics, iconic visuals, and how this whole thing might work. References:https://www.filminquiry.com/interview-brian-taylor-mom-and-dad/https://rue-morgue.com/exclusive-interview-mom-dad-writer-director-brian-taylor-on-killing-kids-nicolas-cages-madness-and-more/

When one theme month ends, another begins — or at least that's the way it goes at Spooky Tuesday these days. Next up? NIC MAY-GE, a.k.a. four weeks of scary movies all dedicated to the works of Nicolas Cage. We're kicking things off with The Wicker Man (2006), an American reimagining of the 1973 folk horror, but what makes this flick most famous is a line that didn't actually make the theatrical cut. On our newest episode, we're playing compare and contrast between all the various versions as we dig into the conspiracy theory of it all, shout out some iconic quotes, and try to tell apart an island of beautiful blondes. References:Alternate Ending: https://youtu.be/rvMwSrh0aGs?si=usPemjSOs6lneKgwhttps://collider.com/why-is-the-wicker-man-2006-so-bad-nicolas-cage/https://www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/2022/2/22/the-wicker-man-is-a-gloriously-unhinged-cult-classic-thats-one-of-the-best-bad-movies-ever-madehttps://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3576363/second-chances-wicker-man-remake-misunderstood-gem-just-plain-bad/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a39510660/nicolas-cage-defends-wicker-man-bees-scene/https://screenrant.com/wicker-man-malus-bees-failed-ritual-theory/https://beeculture.com/the-wicker-man-the-eye-of-the-beholder/https://www.speakupaskanswer.com/blog/2014/07/22/the-wicker-man-2006https://decentfilms.com/reviews/wickerman2006https://www.facultyofhorror.com/2015/04/episode-26-mother-lover-matriarchy-in-the-wicker-man-1973-2006-and-paranormal-activity-3-2011/https://ttkmeup.com/blog/2020/4/24/the-wicker-man-hilariously-hating-women-since-2006