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)

Rick and Trav show their age by needing to bring in reinforcements by way of Gen Z Edie (accompanied by her dad, KB) to help unpack this latest adaptation of the popular video game franchise, Five Nights at Freddy's. We discuss wrongful allegations towards Bowling for Soup, Megan Fox's thumbs, and Josh Hutcherson's wardrobe choices in this film. 

(00:00) - Random Banter

(01:35) - Introducing Gen Z Edie & KB

(05:30) - Movie News (Netflix & WB)

(09:38) - Intro / FNAF 2 Theatrical Experience

(12:13) - Synopsis

(15:43) - Overall Thoughts

(31:21) - FNAF Lore w/ Gen Z Edie

(34:11) - Production Notes

(43:05) - Casting

(51:08) - Scare-O-Meter

-Spoilers Beyond this point!-

(55:55) - Deep Cuts

(59:05) - Highlights

(01:02:30) - Awards

(01:48:43) - Scream King / Queen Award



Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025) with Gen-Z Edie & KB

Rick and Trav share all that they're thankful for from the second best fake trailer-turned-movie (hat tip to MACHETE) in Eli Roth's 2023 THANKSGIVING.  A slasher served with questionable ethics of Patrick Dempsey's “Sexiest Man Alive“ win, a slice of Neck Glass Guy, and even a dash of tasteful cannibalism, this one has it all.

(00:00) - Teasing the 1st Annual Spooky Awards on Dec 21st

(3:25) - Intro / Synopsis / Where We Saw It

(7:44) - Overall Thoughts

(15:30) - Analysis 

(19:21) - Production Notes

(26:30) - Casting

(31:54) - The Real John Carver

(34:21) - Scare-O-Meter 

(36:06) - Deep Cuts [Spoilers here on out]

(43:39) - Highlights

(48:52) - Awards

(1:26:52) - Outro / Coming Up Next



















Thanksgiving (2023)

Rick & Trav tackle Osgood Perkins' new folk horror KEEPER, his third collaboration with Neon in two years. We discuss movie theatre etiquette, 1950's needle drops, and whether chocolate cake is overrated, underrated, or perfectly rated. 

(00:00) - Banter

(6:02) - Teasing the Annual Spooky Awards Episode

(7:17) - Intro / Theatre Experience / Overall Thoughts

(22:27) - Analysis

(28:18) - Production Notes

(32:49) - Casting

(39:01) - Scare-o-Meter Rating 

(39:43) - Highlights / Spoilers after this point!

(42:31) - Deep Cuts 

(46:44) - Awards

(01:22:18) - Outro / Coming Up Next

Keeper (2025)

In preparation for Osgood Perkins' upcoming release KEEPER, Rick and Trav slowly recover their memories of Perkins' 2024 horror hit, LONGLEGS.  Favorite Nic Cage performances, Perkins familial ties, making deals with Mr. Downstairs, and so much more to make our listeners happy as peaches.  HAIL THE SUNDAY SCARIES!

(00:00) - A Short Nic Cage Story

(03:15) Intro / Best Horror Films of 2024

(5:20) Overall Thoughts / Analysis

(13:00) Production Notes / Osgood Perkins' Influences

(32:32) Casting / Our Favorite Nic Cage Performances

(44:16) Scare-O-Meter 

(45:38) Highlights

(52:40) Awards

(01:25:37) Outro / Coming Soon

Longlegs (2024)

It's ALIVE!!!  Rick and Trav resurrect their love for gothic horror as they cover Guillermo del Toro's new take on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  We debate how common confusing Frankenstein for his monster is and come together in our disappointment that we were teased with a variant of the Creature where he has Syphilis that ultimately does not pan out.

(00:00) - Post-Halloween Banter

(05:00) - Horror Movie News

(06:40) - Intro / Where We Saw It

(14:27) - Overall Thoughts / Analysis

(30:28) - Production Notes

(47:47) - Novel vs. Movie

(50:53) - Awards

(01:37:27) - Outro / Coming Soon



Frankenstein (2025)

Why settle for a Director's commentary when you can listen to Trav and Rick provide their own shot-by-shot commentary as they watch John Carpenter's iconic Halloween (1978).  We'll tell you when to press play on the movie so that you can listen to our audio as you watch along with us.

BONUS EP: Halloween (1978) The Watch-Along

We are terrifingly honored to have scary movie expert, SMU film professor, and published author Dr. Rick Worland on the pod with us to cover John Carpenter's genre-defining slasher of all slashers - HALLOWEEN (1978).

You can find Dr. Worland's recently revised book THE HORROR FILM: AN INTRODUCTION here [https://www.amazon.com/Horror-Film-Introduction-Approaches-Genre/dp/1119715261].

(00:00) - Introducing Dr. Worland

(06:03) - Horror Movie News

(08:43) - Defining what makes a Horror Film

(15:40) - Overall Thoughts

(20:07) - PSYCHO's Influence on HALLOWEEN

(25:00) - Development (BLACK CHRISTMAS, Debra Hill, etc.)

(34:35) - Making Of (The Music, The Mask, & The Money)

(47:20) - Dr. Worland's Thematic Analysis 

(58:05) - Awards

(01:45:47) - Outro / Coming Soon

Halloween (1978) with Dr. Rick Worland

Travis is joined by aspiring podcast co-hosts Weslie and Margot (his daughters) as they cover their favorite Halloween film to watch together, The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Our highest scare-o-meter rating to date, continual requests for more apple slices, and one of the co-hosts angrily storms out halfway through the pod...you'll have to tune in to find out who it is!

MINI-SODE: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) with Margot & Weslie Talaric

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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