Our groovy road finally reaches it's destination, as Rick and Trav talk about Sébastien Vaniček's 2026 newest installment in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Burn.  If you have the palette to distinguish fresh mashed potatoes from frozen, this one's for you.

Evil Dead Burn (2026)

Rick & Trav take on a domestic deadite in EVIL DEAD RISE (2023). In the process they cover Otis-sanctioned elevator weight limits, Lee Cronin’s Lee Cronin-isms, and the true horror of dropping a box of pizza.

We are also dedicating this episode to Ricky’s neighbor Bob and his dog Xena, who he lost in a recent house fire. Gofund Me can be found here if you’re interested in helping Bob get back on his feet: https://gofund.me/875d60181

(00:02:10) - GoFundMe for Bob

(00:05:04) - Lee Cronin’s Lee Cronin Segment

(00:10:20) - Overall Thoughts

(00:18:00) - Themes

(00:21:12) - Production Notes

(00:26:17) - Box Office

(00:27:26) - Cast and Crew

(00:29:22) - Connective Tissue

(00:35:40) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:38:28) - Highlights

(00:45:20) - Deep Cuts

(00:48:00) - Awards

(01:19:20) - Scream Queen or King

(01:21:20) - Next Week

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Rick and Trav continue their demonic trip down The Groovy Road to Evil Dead Burn as they cover Fede Alvarez's 2013 revitalization of the franchise with EVIL DEAD.  Warning: Drugs, deadites, and dogs named 'Grandpa' lie ahead.

(00:02:57) - Intro

(00:04:40) - Synopsis 

(00:05:25) - Overall Thoughts

(00:21:55) - Production Notes

(00:27:25) - Jane Levy!

(00:31:45) - Box Office, Scrapped Sequel Plans, & Rights Issues

(00:38:02) - Rest of the Cast

(00:40:35) - Scare-o-Meter

(00:43:00) - Highlights

(00:43:07) - Awards

(01:30:22) - Scream Queen or King

(01:32:25) - Next Episode













Evil Dead (2013)

The Groovy Road to EVIL DEAD BURN continues with the inconceivably batshit insane ARMY OF DARKNESS, the third installment of the Evil Dead franchise. Rick and Trav cover this movie’s connections to Hannibal, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986), why it wasn’t titled MEDIEVAL DEAD, why the “Ash vs. Evil Dead” TV show can’t reference this film, and the louder-than-a-boom-stick history of Sun Chips. This is Bruce Campbell at his most Bruce Campbell. Hail to the king, baby.


(00:00:55) - Random Banter

(00:02:36) - Horror News

(00:05:08) - Intro

(00:09:21) - Synopsis

(00:10:10) - Overall Thoughts

(00:16:10) - Production Notes

(00:26:20) - Cast & Crew

(00:31:30) - Highlighting Bruce Campbell

(00:32:30) - Box Office

(00:37:12) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:37:55) - Awards

(01:07:55) - Scream Queen or King

(01:11:33) - Next Week

Army of Darkness (1993)

In anticipation of the release of EVIL DEAD BURN (2026), Rick and Trav begin their trek through the entire franchise, starting with a first for the podcast, a DOUBLE FEATURE, diving into the lore and cultdom of Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD (1981) and EVIL DEAD 2 (1987). Welcome to The Groovy Road to Evil Dead Burn.

(01:42) - Movie News

(06:05) - Introducing our new franchise series: The Groovy Road to EVIL DEAD BURN

(14:40) - Our Relationship to Evil Dead 

(20:57) - Synopsis

(21:15) - The History of THE EVIL DEAD’s Production

(42:00) - The History of THE EVIL DEAD’s Distribution

(50:15) - The Brief History of EVIL DEAD 2 & Continuity Questions

(56:42) - Cast & Crew

(01:01:40) - Scare-o-Meter

(01:06:08) - Awards

(01:36:15) - Scream King or Queen

(01:38:57) - Next Week

DOUBLE FEATURE: The Evil Dead (1981) / Evil Dead 2 (1987)

Rick & Trav get lost in a litany of liminal linguini creepypasta. From the electrical spend of an infinite set of backroom (rooms?) to Real Life therapists no-clipping their way into a suspended license, the Duo of Dread talk all things Analog Horror, Uncanny Valley, and where Kane Parsons sits amongst next Gen(Z)eration of spooky filmmakers. 

(01:00) - Random Banter

(03:52) - Intro

(04:20) - State of the Union of Horror Movies in 2026

(05:23) - Is horror back? Was it ever gone? 

(08:22) - The Terror of Generative A.I.

(10:04) - Synopsis

(10:35) - Our Viewing Experiences (sponsored by AMC A-List)

(15:45) - The Origin Story of BACKROOMS

(20:48) - Overall Thoughts

(28:11) - Box Office 

(31:40) - Kane Parsons and Production Notes

(35:55) - Production Design & Cinematography

(38:22) - Casting

(42:55) - Scare-O-Meter Rating

(45:33) - Highlights

(47:37) - Deep Cuts & Flea Market Montgomery 

(50:14) - Awards

(01:17:38) - Scream King or Queen

(01:20:18) - Coming Next Week

Backrooms (2026)

This week we reach back into the vault for an episode recorded back in January this year, but we're just now releasing. Don't be scared, this one is worth the wait, as Nia DaCosta's The Bone Temple is quite possibly the best installment in the franchise to date.

(01:44) - Intro

(04:45) - Synopsis

(05:18) - What 28 DAYS LATER franchise movies do you need to see beforehand?

(10:38) - Travis' D-BOX experience (!)

(12:20) - Overall Thoughts

(18:25) -  Box Office

(20:10) - Production Notes

(26:55) - Casting

(35:13) - Return of the Hanging Dong 

(38:11) - Rick the Theatre Hero

SPOILER WARNING FROM HERE ON OUT

(40:52) - Themes

(47:53) - Deep Cuts

(57:00) - Scare-O-Meter

(57:39) - Highlights

(01:04:40) - Ranking the 28 DAYS LATER Franchise

(01:07:32) - Awards

(01:51:25) - Scream King or Queen

(01:53:45) - Outro









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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

Rick and Trav are back, and they've brought backup. This week we're covering Curry Barker's debut wide release film, Obsession.


(00:00) - Meet Amanda Woman

(04:06) - Bone Temple PSA

(05:00) - Intro

(06:55) - Synopsis

(08:10) - Viewing Experience

(13:37) - Curry Barker’s Comic Roots

(16:55) - Overall Thoughts

(36:20) - Casting

(44:00) - Production Notes

(48:44) - Scare-O-Meter

(51:11) - Highlights

(54:35) - Awards, Pt 1

(01:16:40) - Our One Wish Willows

(01:28:45) - Awards, Pt 2

(01:32:00) - Scream King / Queen

(01:41:00) - Outro

Obsession (2026) with Amanda Woman

With awards season just getting started, it's time to let in one of 2025's best horror, if not best overall films, in Ryan Coogler's Sinners.  Rick and Trav welcome filmmaker Ayron La'Vell Walker, as they cover customary vampire etiquette and the outsized impact this genre film has had on the culture.

Sinners (2025) with Ayron La’Vell Walker

Tis the season for Rick and Trav to unbox one of their favorite Christmas horror films in Bob Clark's 1974 grand daddy of slashers, Black Christmas.

(00:00) - Random Banter

(03:22) - Favorite Holiday Movies

(05:50)- Movie News

(08:03) - Intro

(09:34) - Synopsis

(10:54) - Overall Thoughts

(16:11) - Themes

(20:13) - Production Notes

(26:30) - Casting

(35:05) - Scare-O-Meter

-Spoilers Beyond this point!-

(36:22) - Highlights

(42:30) - Deep Cuts

(43:49) - Awards

(01:11:04) - Scream King / Queen

Black Christmas (1974)

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

Travis Talaric

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