Welcome to the Inaugural Spookies! Our very own Sunday Scaries awards show where we celebrate and have a little spooky fun with our favorite horror films of the year - but also an opportunity to thank YOU for making this such a fun first year for us. It's chock full of gags, music samples, highlights of your social media comments, as well as interspersed listener voicemails where you tell us your pick for Best Horror Film of 2025. We are dropping this one later than anticipated this year and hope to get our 2nd Annual Spookies episode (covering the horror films of 2026) recorded soon and released in the spring! Enjoy the show and thank you for being such amazing, supportive Spooky Heads!!

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:18) - Our First Awards Show!

(00:05:28) - Honoring Rob Reiner

(00:11:00) - Horror in the Year 2025: An Overview

(00:13:35) - Top 5 Box Office Horror Films

(00:17:22) - Original Score Sample #1 (28 Years Later)

(00:18:45) - Best Indie Horror Film

(00:31:43) - Listener Voicemail #1

(00:32:45) - Best Supporting Actor

(00:37:54) - Surprise Acceptance Speech!!

(00:40:27) - Best Supporting Actress

(00:47:30) - Original Score Sample #2 (Frankenstein)

(00:48:20) - Best “Ben Gardner” Jump Scare

(00:53:45) - Best “Cantaloupe” Hard-to-Watch Scene

(01:02:50) - Listener Voicemail #2

(01:03:55) - Best Death

(01:15:01) - Original Score Sample #3 (HIM)

(01:16:12) - Best Shyamalan Twist

(01:21:16) - Best Don’t Go In There Award

(01:26:58) - Original Score Sample #4 (The Shrouds)

(01:28:18) - Best Quote

(01:34:57) - Our Favorite Listener Comments

(01:39:53) - Listener Voicemail #3

(01:41:15) - Best Lead Actress

(01:48:10) - Original Score Sample #5 (Sinners)

(01:49:53) - Best Original Score

(01:55:12) - Best Lead Actor

(02:01:10) - Listener Voicemail #4

(02:01:48) - Scariest Picture

(2:08:20) - Listener Voicemail #5

(02:10:18) - Best Picture

The First Annual Spookies: Awarding the Best Horror Films of 2025

HAPPY HALLOWEEN CLAY-HEADS! We close out Spooky Month with a special Saturday release. Joe Gaasbeck returns to the pod to discuss the DCU’s latest entry with Rick & Trav, which just so happens to be a body horror flick. They cover westerly winds, Theranos shenanigans, our favorite henchman Cadillac Sal, and Gotham’s confusing multi-sport franchise system. Enjoy!

(00:01:35) - RE-introducing Joe Gaasbeck

(00:02:38) - Intro

(00:03:30) - Other Comic Book Movie Horror Films

(00:06:00) - Synopsis

(00:06:30) - DCU? Elseworlds? Does it matter??

(00:13:05) - Overall Thoughts

(00:23:55) - Production Notes

(00:39:56) - Box Office

(00:41:33) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:44:02) - Highlights

(00:48:55) - Awards

(01:36:40) - Scream Queen or King

(01:41:40) - Next Week

Clayface (2026) with Joe Gaasbeck

Another year, another Watch-Along! This time, we stick around Haddonfield a little later and go insane with Dr. Loomis as we follow the shenanigans of Michael Myers after midnight on that fateful fall evening! Included are instructions on how to sync up the episode with your movie at home, just make sure it's the 91min theatrical cut (not the TV cut). We may not know how many sickos will listen to this....but YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT DEATH IS!

BONUS EP: Halloween II (1981) - 2nd Annual Watch-Along

Rick and Trav admit themselves to Haddonfield General Hospital as they return to the Halloween franchise with Rick Rosenthal's 1981 direct sequel.  As Dr. Loomis becomes increasingly unhinged, Michael Myers slows down his walking pace even further, and quite possibly the best Cannon Fodder death to date occurs, there is plenty to celebrate as the guys return to their annual Samhain tradition.

(00:01:20) - Clayface Talk

(00:02:52) - Horror Movie News

(00:04:53) - Intro

(00:09:55) - Synopsis

(00:10:15) - Overall Thoughts

(00:15:20) - Retcon, Reboots, Requels

(00:19:30) - Production Notes

(00:41:10) - Box Office

(00:42:40) - Scare-O-Meter

(00:45:15) - Highlights

(00:55:00) - Awards

(01:42:30) - Scream Queen / King

(01:44:36) - Next Week

Halloween II (1981)

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

(00:45:31) - The Score

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

(01:00:07) - Box Office

(01:00:45) - Production Quick Hits

(01:03:35) - Scare-O-Meter

(01:04:55) - Highlights

(01:12:15) - 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)

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