Smile 2 (2024): "Entrepreneurial Demon"

Pop Star Horror Month wouldn't exist without this fourth movie's recent release, so of course we had to close out our theme event by covering Mother Mary (2026). Starring Anne Hathaway as the titular character and Michaela Coel as her former friend and costume designer, David Lowery's newest flick for A24 proclaims that it's both not a ghost story and not a love story — but there's definitely something haunting about a homoerotic friendship that has long since fallen apart. Though its propensity towards poetry over plot might not grab you on a first watch, this story is worth a second look, and there's a conversation to be had about whether you can ever truly get a second chance. References:https://www.polygon.com/mother-mary-director-interview-david-lowery/https://www.slashfilm.com/2155642/mother-mary-director-david-lowery-interview/https://yourbodyhastheanswer.com/palm-chakras/palm-chakras/https://eastvillagedental.ca/cultural-beliefs-and-practices-wisdom-teeth/https://genius.com/albums/Anne-hathaway/Mother-mary-greatest-hitsMOTHERMARY Band: https://www.instagram.com/mothermarymusic/

Spookies, it doesn't get more pop star or more horror than Smile 2 (2024), which is why this flick *had* to be up next in our Pop Star Horror Month lineup. Packed full of genuinely catchy music and insanely theatrical visuals, the second movie in the Smile franchise makes sitting through the first film totally worth it, even if that sort of feel-bad-bleakness isn't your style. Starring Naomi Scott as troubled singer Skye Riley with cameos from horror kings Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, and Ray Nicholson, this sequel raises important questions about the lore we're working with here, but more importantly, it also teaches some important lessons — like don't summon a demon if you don't want to deal with a demon. References:https://screenrant.com/smile-2-curse-victims-guilt-connection-op-ed/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/560785/rumor-parker-finn-might-wipe-the-smile-off-smile-3/

The buzz around Opus (2025) may have been more build-up than pay-off in the horror fandom, but it's time to give this flick the attention it deserves, Spookies. For our second installment of Pop Star Horror Month, we're heading out to Moretti's private compound with budding music journalist Ayo Edebiri, and we're ready to do our research on the lore while paying attention to all the small touches that make John Malkovich's star power shine. Though this movie may not be perfect, between its cast full of familiar faces and a soundtrack made up of bangers, there's a lot here to applaud. References:https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/the-facets-of-tribalism-a-conversation-with-opus-writer-director-mark-anthony-greenhttps://www.levelman.com/mark-anthony-greens-journey-from-gqs-style-guy-to-horror-auteur/https://screenrant.com/opus-guests-invited-by-moretti-reasons-explained/https://people.com/music/halsey-apologizes-world-trade-center-joke/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Justin_Tranter

Spookies, it feels like we've been waiting forever to work this theme month into our schedule, but one could also argue the genre was only invented in 2024. Nonetheless, we'd like to welcome Pop Star Horror Month to the stage, and we've invited Trap (2024) to be our opening act. A true daddy-daughter film where Josh Hartnett plays a doting father who moonlights as a serial killer, this flick also features a collab between writer-director M. Night Shyamalan and his own double act offspring, Saleka Shyamalan. Come join the concert with us on our newest Spooky Tuesday as we talk tunes, mommy issues, and more. References:https://people.com/all-about-m-night-shyamalan-kids-8691825https://consequence.net/2024/06/trap-saleka-interview-lady-raven-release/https://www.theringer.com/2024/08/05/movies/trap-movie-concert-music-lady-raven-m-night-shyamalan-salekahttps://ca.rollingstone.com/music/trap-m-night-shyamalans-daughter-saleka-as-lady-raven-shares-first-song-from-dads-new-film/https://bloody-disgusting.com/music/3823462/saleka-releases-lady-raven-with-special-guest-kid-cudi-listen-now/https://www.nylon.com/nylon-nights/saleka-shyamalan-trap-premiere-interview

We've got a lot to celebrate this week, Spookies! Not only is it our very own Monica's birthday, it's also a Fifth Tuesday and the sneaky unofficial start to a new themed month — so of course we had to cover The Phantom of the Opera (2004). A luxe movie musical that captures the theatrical flair of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway show and pairs it with the camp sensibilities of director Joel Schumacher, this flick practically jumps out of the screen when that first booming note hits. On a new Spooky Tuesday, we challenge you not to sing along as we talk all things score and book lore. References:https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/did-minnie-driver-and-emmy-rossum-feud-on-the-phantom-of-the-opera-set.html/https://x.com/driverminnie/status/1275219191323217920https://x.com/JohnTylerJRT/status/884599605601738752https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/how-to-explain-trumps-love-for-the-musical-catshttps://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2015/11/29/why-it-sucked-the-phantom-of-the-opera

Pitching itself as The Substance meets Mean Girls, Slanted (2026) is the hot new high school body horror hitting the scene — but if you go in expecting either of those movies, you're not setting yourself up for success. A slower-paced but sharply-fanged satire, this flick looks at life in America with fresh eyes as it explores themes of immigration and assimilation. With Shirley Chen and Mckenna Grace sharing one race-swapping role as Joan-turned-Jo, Amy Wang's first feature examines one way to try and remove racism from your life, and we're digging into the details on a new Spooky Tuesday.   References: https://joysauce.com/slanted-director-amy-wang-wants-you-to-confront-your-asian-shame/ https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/real-life-inspirations-behind-new-horror-movie-slanted Interview with Slanted Cast and DirectorInterview with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Amelie Zilber, and Amy Wang

Did a certain recent release have you longing for a little more David Arquette? Then you might be on the same page as our Patrons, because when it came time for them to pick a flick in our Quarterly Vote, they went with Eight Legged Freaks (2002). A creature feature that takes creepy crawlies and gives them the classic toxic waste treatment, this monster movie dares to ask if there's anything scarier than a spider. The answer, BTW? Two hundred spiders that are all really big. Join us on a new Spooky Tuesday as we talk squashing bugs, Scarlett Johansson, government conspiracies, and 4DX effects. References: https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/mind/2021/are-spiders-intelligenthttps://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-daddy-longlegs-wouldhttps://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/transmission/2023/10/31/is-it-true-that-you-sometimes-swallow-spiders-in-your-sleep/https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/spitting-spider-guidehttps://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Spiders_(Eight_Legged_Freaks)https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3551125/eight-legged-freaks-remains-criminally-overlooked-horror-comedy/https://sarahalbeebooks.com/reel-bugs-8-legged-freaks/https://pophorror.com/ten-fun-facts-about-ellory-elkayems-eight-legged-freaks-2002/

In the horror community, opinions are majorly divided when it comes to Scream 7 (2026) — and that holds true here at Spooky Tuesday. Throwing it back to our Day 1 roots, we're tackling the newest collab between Neve Campbell, Kevin Williamson, and our boy Matthew Lillard as we evaluate what sort of place this flick has in the larger Ghostface franchise. Join us on our latest episode as we talk commentary and kills while waxing nostalgic about Scream movies past.  References:https://www.joblo.com/scream-7-review-a-second-opinion/https://www.decodingeverything.com/scream-7-review-artistic-failure/

If you love a movie with a twist or just one that's twisted, Se7en (1995) is probably at the top of your list. A serial killer crime story that stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the admin from your favorite medical shows as five-second side characters, this fucked up flick draws inspiration from the seven deadly sins — and potentially a secret eighth one if you buy into those theories. With its torturous death tableaus, it also reads as a clear precursor to John Kramer's Saw traps, and we're discussing all those details and more on a new Spooky Tuesday. References:https://screenrant.com/se7en-hidden-details-never-noticed-movie/https://filmobsessive.com/film/film-analysis/one-key-detail-will-change-the-way-you-watch-se7en/https://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/1f5ogv/se7en_john_doe_was_not_the_killer_somerset_was/SE7EN : Deleted Scenes, Alt. Beginning & Ending (w/edits) Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth PaltrowDeleted Scenes with Commentary | Se7en

Sorry, Spookies, we didn't mean to pick a flick that was impossible to see in theaters — but if you can manage to hunt down a showing of Cold Storage (2026) near you, it's definitely worth the watch. Starring Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, and Liam Neeson, this horror comedy tackles the zombie genre in ways that are both familiar and fresh. With CLEAR references to films like The Return of the Living Dead, Train to Busan, and Alien, David Koepp's smart new book-turned-screenplay is very much in conversation with the genre, and we're pointing out parallels and parsing the different kinds of pastries on a new Spooky Tuesday. References:https://www.nasa.gov/history/45-years-ago-skylab-reenters-earths-atmosphere/Zombie Ant Fungus Explained