Park your snowcat, turn on your two-way radio, and pour yourself a glass of bourbon (or Jack) on the rocks. 2026 Spooky Season continues with SMU Film Professor Dr. Rick Worland returning to the pod with Rick and Trav for an extended stay at the Overlook Hotel. So come press play with us, Dear Listener...forever and ever and ever and ever.....

(00:00:55) - Introducing Dr. Rick Worland

(00:04:05) - Show Intro

(00:04:25) - Synopsis

(00:06:15) - Dr. Worland’s 1980 theatrical experience of THE SHINING

(00:14:30) - Stephen King and the novel

(00:20:05) - Overall Thoughts

(00:30:40) - Kubrickian Aura

(00:33:24) - Development

(00:37:00) - Production Notes: Working with Kubrick

(00:40:05) - Production Notes: The Steadicam

(00:42:00) - Production Notes: The Cast

(00:45:55) - The Score

(00:48:55) - Cultural Footprint & Themes

(01:00:07) - Box Office

(01:01:06) - Production Quick Hits

(01:03:41) - Scare-O-Meter

(01:05:00) - Highlights

(01:01:12) - Awards

(01:42:53) - Scream Queen / King

(01:47:05) - Halloween II (1981) next week!

The Shining (1980) with Dr. Rick Worland

Happy Spooktober! Don't lose your head over this news, but Benny Townsend returns to the pod for his third (second and a half) appearance as he joins Rick and Trav in unraveling the mystery in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow.  Listen in to hear about the Jack the Ripper of New York, Christopher Walken impressions, and an abundance of conjecture on whether Christina Ricci was just a tad too young to play Johnny Depp's love interest.

Sleepy Hollow (1999) with Benny Townsend

There's a hole at the bottom of the lake...and that's where the podcasts come from. Jane Schoenbrun is having FUN with their third feature and fellow fanfic fan / Gillian Anderson hall-passer Sarah Shady is here to break down this queer meta commentary on the slasher. Rick and Trav bring their own expertise as well, such as on The Counting Crows, the golden age of gummy candy, and identifying what an orgasm is.

(00:00:00) - 2 Disclaimers!

(00:01:53) - Rick Drives 6 Hours to See CAMP MIASMA

(00:04:02) - Horror Movie News

(00:06:45) - Intro

(00:09:16) - Hello Again, Sarah Shady!

(00:11:11) - Synopsis

(00:12:15) - Where Trav Saw CAMP MIASMA

(00:13:53) - Overall Thoughts

(00:20:26) - Themes: Jane’s Trilogy of Self Discovery

(00:26:00) - Themes: Sexual Mentorship

(00:30:40) - Themes: Cultural Neuroticism

(00:35:23) - Spoiler Alert for SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983)

(00:42:43) - Production Notes

(00:48:50) - Jane’s Love of Media

(00:53:42) - Casting

(00:57:43) - The Power of Gillian Anderson

(01:00:15) - Box Office

(01:01:01) - Scare-O-Meter

(01:03:25) - Highlights

(01:14:03) - Awards

(02:02:06) - Scream Queen / King / Royalty

(02:04:24) - Byeeeeee



Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026) with Sarah Shady

Joel joins Rick and Trav for a second week in a row, this time to discuss Zach Cregger’s RESIDENT EVIL (2026). We are JAZZED about this fun 90min speed run, so naturally we talked about it for 2 hours. Favorite cereals, DoorDash horror stories, and the great LieMax debate - we cover it all. Enjoy!

(00:00:00) - Intro Song (“Serenity” from Resident Evil 4)

(00:00:40) - Random Banter

(00:03:30) - Horror Film News

(00:05:35) - Intro to Ep. 43

(00:06:50) - Synopsis

(00:07:03) - Overall Thoughts

(00:13:43) - Video Game Adaptations

(00:17:02) - The Cinema-Going Experience for RESIDENT EVIL

(00:25:44) - Themes

(00:29:22) - Production Notes

(00:37:27) - Casting

(00:42:52) - Test Screenings / RE Fandom

(00:46:41) - Box Office

(00:47:15) - What's Next for Cregger

*SPOILER TERRITORY FROM HERE ON OUT*

(00:51:25) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:56:06) - Highlights

(01:04:30) - Awards

(01:53:43) - Scream Queen or King

(01:58:20) - Next Week

Resident Evil (2026) with Joel Myers

In preparation for Zach Cregger's much-anticipated loop release of Resident Evil (2026), Rick and Trav are joined by former T-Virus survivor, Joel Myers, as they go back to Paul W.S. Anderson's original Resident Evil film.  Video games, metal riffs, illegal research, and vulgar auteurism - no stone is left unturned.

(00:00:40) - Random Banter

(00:02:00) - Intro to Joel

(00:03:30) - Horror News

(00:09:03) - Intro

(00:12:30) - Overall Thoughts

(00:23:45) - Vulgar Auteurism!

(00:31:00) - Looking towards Cregger’s Vision

(00:34:50) - Themes (?!!)

(00:38:38) - Production Notes

(00:45:00) - Casting

(00:53:20) - Box Office

(00:54:30) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:59:42) - Highlights

(01:53:55) - Awards

(01:58:12) - Scream King or Scream Queen

(01:59:17) - Her Name is Vasquez 🤦‍♂️

(02:02:00) - Next Week



Resident Evil (2002) with Joel Myers

Rick and Trav unwrap the gruesome lore of LEE CRONIN'S THE MUMMY (2026) and discuss how it fits into the Evil Dead franchise and world of Carmen San Diego more so than the Boris Karloff franchise.

(00:01:05) - Random Banter

(00:03:15) - PSA for Buffet Infinity

(00:05:12) - Intro

(00:08:55) - Synopsis

(00:09:10) - Overall Thoughts

(00:24:30) - Production Notes

(00:30:00) - Casting

(00:32:30) - Box Office

(00:34:14) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:36:05) - Highlights

(00:43:00) - Awards

(01:17:33) - Scream Queen or King

(01:19:25) - Next Week

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)

With another Insidious movie coming out this weekend, Rick and Trav thought it best to Travel to where it all started: James Wan's INSIDIOUS (2011). In the Further, they discuss product placement, bodily fluids, and what type of suburban home a single income family on a high school teacher's salary could get you in a post-recession 2010 market.

(00:01:17) - Random Banter

(00:02:30) - Intro

(00:04:07) - Overall Thoughts

(00:09:10) - Similarities with POLTERGEIST (1982)

(00:15:20) - James Wan & Leigh Whannell

(00:23:57) - Casting

(00:28:50) - Box Office

(00:30:16) - Scare-o-Meter

(00:31:45) - Highlights

(00:36:29) - Awards

(01:22:20) - Scream Queen or King

(01:24:49) - Next Week

Insidious (2011)

Rick and Trav continue their wee pivot into earlier 2026 releases as they cover Damian McCarthy's 2026 horror film Hokum.  Rick reveals his clairvoyance in knowing every single twist in the movie, Travis expresses his concern about people who decide to take a nap while a witch is literally circling around your bed.

Hokum (2026)

Rick and Trav are stranded on Podcast Island. Luckily for this episode, covering Sam Raimi's SEND HELP (2026) starring Rachel McAdams, they are joined by the only one out of the three of them that knows how to spot a poisonous plant or properly double lash a raft, industry professional, new homeowner, and Rick's patient partner: Sarah Shady. Together the 3 of them discuss the enduring power of Blondie, how men underestimate the difficulty of domestic labor, and Dylan O'brien's ass.

(00:00:30) - Introducing Sarah Shady

(00:04:08) - Intro

(00:04:34) - Horror Movie News

(00:06:30) - Watching Movies as a Production Worker

(00:08:06) - Synopsis

(00:08:55) - Overall Thoughts

(00:13:32) - Rachel McAdams Movies

(00:15:00) - Themes

(00:24:22) - Production Notes

(00:28:50) - Casting

(00:33:18) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:37:29) - Highlights

(00:47:15) - Awards

(01:27:40) - Scream King or Queen

(01:29:22) - Next Week

Send Help (2026) with Sarah Shady

In memory of Sam Neill who recently passed on July 13, 2026, Rick and Trav honor the legendary Horror King Kiwi by covering his personal favorite of his filmography - Andrzej Żuławski's POSSESSION (1981). Starring a historical turn from Isabelle Adjani, this iconic psychological horror has confounded audiences for over 4 decades and counting - yet we keep coming back for more.... Also covered: tentacle appendages, blood sausage, and why you should be careful around older, erotic German men who also happen to be martial artists. RIP Sam Neill.

(00:02:07) - Random Banter

(00:04:10) - Horror Movie News

(00:06:45) - Intro / In Memory of Sam Neill (1947-2026)

(00:13:35) - Synopsis 

(00:14:08) - Overall Thoughts / Themes

(00:24:30) - Production Notes / Casting

(00:30:10) - Box Office

(00:33:30) - Overall Thoughts / Themes Pt. II

(00:48:10) - Scare-o-Meter

(00:50:08) - Highlights

(00:55:25) - Awards

(01:24:30) - Scream Queen or King

(01:27:15) - Next Week











Possession (1981)

Travis Talaric (@ttalaric) · Zencastr

Travis Talaric (@ttalaric)

Horror film buffs Ricky Townsend and Travis Talaric explore their favorite scary movies.  New releases, classics, and everything in between.

The Sunday Scaries