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Drawn to Darkness

Carol-Anne

Do your friends think you're weird because you rattle off facts about serials killers and watch horror movies to relax? We're here for you! Drawn to Darkness is a biweekly podcast where two best friends take turns discussing our favorite horror and true crime.

Our cover art is by Nancy Azano. You can find her work on instagram @nancyazano.

Our intro and outro music is by Harry Kidd. Check him out on instagram @HarryJKidd.

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#45
October 27 · 1 hr 17 min
John Carpenter's Halloween (1978)
Send us Fan Mail In this Halloween episode of Drawn to Darkness, we're going back to where it all began with John Carpenter's iconic 1978 slasher Halloween. And we've brought along a special guest, Steve from Horror Makes Us Happy, to help us decide whether Michael Myers is still terrifying nearly 50 years later. We discuss the birth of the modern slasher, Laurie Strode as the ultimate Final Girl, the rules of surviving a horror movie, and whether Michael Myers is more frightening with or without a motive. We also unpack the Boogeyman as a figure of social control, the sexual politics of horror, the representation of mental illness, suburban fears, incompetent authority figures, and Carpenter's simple score and slow-building dread. Along the way, we question the babysitting practices of 1970s teenagers, Dr. Loomis's psychiatric qualifications, how on earth Michael learned to drive and move impossibly heavy gravestones, and why nobody in Haddonfield seems particularly interested in helping a screaming teenage girl. And, most importantly, if you stab a masked murderer, WHY WOULD YOU DROP THE KNIFE? Content & Spoiler Warning: Murder, stalking, stabbing, violence against teenagers, sexual activity and nudity, dog deaths, institutionalisation, stigmatising representations of mental illness, references to real-life serial killers, child sexual abuse, and discussions of violence and self-defence. And, as always, we spoil Halloween (1978) completely, along with some discussion of its sequels and other horror films. Palate Cleanser: Caroline recommends Canadian Bacon, a surprisingly relevant comedy and the standout from her rainy-weekend movie marathon. Recommendations: Halloween H20: 20 Years Later - for Josh Hartnett's questionable haircut, Michelle Williams' pencil-thin eyebrows, and our favourite LL Cool J. The Thing - Annie and Steve's favourite John Carpenter film, but please, leave the dogs alone John! The Fog, Escape from New York and Big Trouble in Little China - more Carpenter classics. What Went Wrong - the podcast episode about the making of Halloween, its shoestring budget, and how a low-budget independent film became a horror phenomenon. Psycho – for mother daughter scream queens Jamie Lee Curtis and Janet Leigh. Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, Alien, Scream, You’re Next, X, MaXXXine and Heretic for both classic and original takes on the final girl. Men, Women, and Chainsaws by Carol J. Clover - for an academic exploration of gender, violence, and the Final Girl. Morbid: Let's Boogie - The Boogeyman Around the World, Volume I - for folklore about the figures we invent to frighten children into behaving themselves. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson - for a brilliant exploration of what happens when the monster turns out to be you. Read the book, because the adaptations miss the point! Widow's Bay - for Boogeymen, Patricia's excellent survival instincts, and making sure the bad guy is actually dead. Exhumed by Aaron Mahnke - for the Mercy Brown vampire panic, corpse medicine, and the strange things humans have believed about the dead. Joseph Campbell's The Four Functions of Mythology - for why societies create and perpetuate myths, including the Boogeyman. The Cask of Amontillado - for the five stages of grief, courtesy of Edgar Allan Poe. Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda, True Lies and Freaky Friday - for more Jamie Lee Curtis, and the vintage John Cleese Schweppes commercial - because Steve remembers it from the A Fish Called Wanda VHS, and apparently it has never left him. Anything involving Christopher Guest, because apparently he and Jamie Lee Curtis are married! Always Best in Show. Star Trek - because Michael Myers's terrifying white mask began life as a Captain Kirk mask. Star Wars - for Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and Annie's childhood Jawa costume. The Peanut Butter Solution - for neighbourhood houses that children are terrified of. Check out our guest appearance on Grave Tone Podcast. Annabelle - because Laurie's Raggedy Ann doll reminded Annie of another unsettling doll. When Harry Met Sally - because Harry is from Haddonfield, New Jersey, which is a good enough excuse to recommend a classic rom-com. And, of course, Horror Makes Us Happy - Steve and Chris's podcast exploring the lives, experiences, and lifelong horror obsessions of horror creators. Check out Annie's September 2026 interview and their conversations with other horror writers and filmmakers. Homework: Watch Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, the HBO documentary series about Amy Carlson and the extraordinary beliefs and practices of the Love Has Won cult. We're returning to the themes of motherhood, reincarnation, and spiritual belief from Incidents Around the House, only this time the horror is real. Caroline has watched a lot of true crime documentaries, and this might be the wildest one yet. Don't forget. Cardio is key, trust your instincts, don't trap yourself in a closet, and if you've managed to stab the Boogeyman, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T DROP THE KNIFE. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art. Find her on Instagram at @nancyazano. Thanks also to Harry Kidd for the opening and closing music. Find him on Instagram at @harryjkidd and on Spotify.
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#44
October 13 · 1 hr 6 min
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Josh Malerman’s shiver-inducing 2024 horror novel Incidents Around the House, a deeply unsettling story about a relentless entity known as ‘Other Mommy’ who asks again and again “Can I go into your heart?” In this episode, we unpack the child narrator, Bella and the effectiveness of horror seen through a child’s limited perspective, parental guilt, bad parenting decisions, the traumatising consequences of family secrets, infidelity, exorcisms, what exactly Other Mommy is, and how this book somehow manages to pull off an actual jump scare. Content & Spoiler Warning: Supernatural horror, demonic or paranormal entities, possession, a child in danger, stalking, death, infidelity, family secrets, references to sexual coercion and grooming, guilt and emotional manipulation, exorcism, religion, and references to real-life deaths associated with exorcisms. There are dogs, but don’t worry. Nothing happens to them. And, as always, we spoil Incidents Around the House completely. Palate Cleanser: Go see a band or artist you loved when you were younger, preferably with the friends you originally listened to them with (Caroline recently saw Salt-N-Pepa with her high school friends). And we are both currently enjoying Dungeon Crawler Carl! Recommendations: For more Josh Malerman: Bird Box - both the novel and the Sandra Bullock adaptation. The Talking Scared and Horror Makes Us Happy interviews with Josh Malerman. For creepy children, possession and things in the house: Poltergeist The Exorcist The Exorcist TV series - for another persuasive supernatural entity that slowly reveals how monstrous it really is. Hereditary — for things lurking in corners, possession, and family trauma Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor – for long monologues (basically anything by Mike Flanagan). Come Closer by Sara Gran - another unsettling exploration of demonic possession. Gerald’s Game by Stephen King - for one of the only other books Annie can remember genuinely jump-scaring her. For relentless supernatural threats and curses: It Follows and The Ring For creepy things pretending to be something safe: The “Humans Can Lick Too” urban legend, which has probably permanently damaged several generations of children. For difficult mothers and complicated families: Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke - especially because family members participated in the documentary. Sins of Our Mother - about Lori Vallow, featuring her son Colby. For women, motherhood and being allowed to be flawed human beings: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Little Women Random Connections: Othello - no Drawn to Darkness episode is safe from Shakespeare! Beetlejuice - because surely the supernatural world should come with some kind of instruction manual. The Little Mermaid – Ursula knows to get your supernatural contracts in writing! Inside Out - for Grandma Ruth’s idea that we decide which emotions and grudges we allow to take up permanent residence inside us. Monsters Inc – for monsters in the closet, obviously. Never Let Me Go - for children accepting deeply abnormal circumstances because they have never known anything else. Now and Then - for parents who throw a lot of parties. The Birdcage, The Birds, and Portlandia’s “Put a Bird on It,” solely because once Bird Box entered the conversation, we got silly about birds. Disney’s Robin Hood - for vultures, who deserve better representation and are actually useful members of the ecosystem. Homework: Watch John Carpenter’s original 1978 Halloween. We’re doing a horror double header and heading back to where Michael Myers and Laurie Strode began, with relentless stalking, an inescapable presence, and the Boogeyman coming home. Don’t forget. Communication is key, you can’t stab a demon, and don’t thin the veil. And if you are going to make a sandwich, take the extra two minutes and make a good sandwich. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art. Find her on Instagram at @nancyazano. Thanks also to Harry Kidd for the opening and closing music. Find him on Instagram at @harryjkidd and on Spotify.
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#43
September 29 · 1 hr 19 min
The Lady of the Dunes: Hunting a Cape Cod Serial Killer
Send us Fan Mail This week, we discuss Oxygen’s The Lady of the Dunes: Hunting a Cape Cod Serial Killer. For almost 50 years, the woman found brutally murdered in the dunes outside Provincetown in 1974 was known only as the Lady of the Dunes. Three generations of investigators became obsessed with giving her back her name, surviving lost evidence, institutional resistance, red herring suspects. Eventually, forensic genetic genealogy did what decades of traditional investigation could not: identified her as Ruth Marie Terry. And once Ruth had her name back, the mystery of who killed her became considerably less mysterious. Because, once again: it was probably the husband. We discuss his suspected crimes, his unhinged cookbook and why you don't want to marry a sociopath. We also focus on the detectives who wouldn't give up, like Meredith Lobur, whose determination to identify The Lady of the Dunes cost her her career. There are plenty of detours along the way: Tony “Chop Chop” Costa, Hadden Clark, Whitey Bulger, a woman who apparently sawed her way out of prison and vanished forever, outrageously expensive 1970s dental work, a possible connection to Jaws, why you should never throw away cold-case evidence in the name of minimalism, and whether genetic genealogy is an incredible crime-solving tool and/or a dystopian privacy nightmare. More than anything, though, this is a story about what it means to restore someone’s identity. Ruth Marie Terry spent almost five decades reduced to a nickname based on the place where her body was found. The documentary finally gives the story back to her, ending with the family, journalists and investigators gathering to remember the person behind the mystery. Spoiler Alert and Trigger Warning: In addition to spoiling the documentary and revealing the identity of both the Lady of the Dunes and her suspected killer, we discuss domestic violence, murder, disappearances, unidentified bodies, decomposition, dismemberment, decapitation, mutilation, sexual assault, abuse, child abuse, serial killers, missing children, suicide, wrongful convictions, homophobia, misogyny, racism and failures within law enforcement and the justice system. The documentary repeatedly shows crime-scene images of Ruth Marie Terry’s body, and we discuss the extreme injuries inflicted on her, including damage to her skull and the removal of her hands. Recommendations: Jaws because Joe Hill suggested that the unidentified Lady of the Dunes might have been the extra wearing a blue bandana. If you are that woman, please come forward! I’ll Be Gone in the Dark -for another case transformed by advances in genetic genealogy. Buried Bones with Paul Holes - for more forensic investigation, historical cases and the painstaking work required to revisit old evidence. Gattaca - where I got my dystopian fears about the misuse of DNA. The Devil in the White City - because Guy Muldaven made us think of H.H. Holmes ’Salem’s Lot - for another evil antique dealer The Crucible - for the importance of our names Superbad - for the most scientifically inaccurate discussion of DNA databases in cinema history Lady in White - another unsettling title involving a mysterious woman Crime of the Truest Kind podcast episode on Rory Gene Kesinger if you'd like to know more about her True Crime Obsessed also covered the Lady of the Dunes case. Dawson’s Creek - because Cape Cod! And Widow's Bay because 'Fuck Cape Cod!' Palate Cleanser: Billy Madison, Although it has aged as gracefully as you would expect from a 1990s Adam Sandler comedy, but Caroline's kid declared it the best movie he had ever seen. Homework: Next up: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. The upcoming adaptation, Other Mommy, is on the way, so now is the time to meet Bela, Other Mommy and one of the creepiest imaginary friend horror novels ever. Warning: if you listen to the audiobook, you might struggle with the child narrator (or it might enhance the scares). Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art. Find her on Instagram at @nancyazano. Thanks also to Harry Kidd for the opening and closing music. Find him on Instagram at @harryjkidd and on Spotify.
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#42
September 7 · 1 hr 27 min
Widow's Bay with guest Liz Sower from Ghosts in the Burbs
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we head to the foggy shores of Widow’s Bay with very special guest Liz Sower of Ghosts in the Burbs. This Emmy-winning Apple series follows widowed mayor Tom Loftus, who is determined to transform his economically struggling New England island into the next Martha’s Vineyard. Unfortunately, local fisherman Wick insists the island is cursed, Tom’s teenage son Evan is sassing him, and the town appears to be cursed as increasingly bizarre supernatural events suggest that Wick may be right. We discuss why Widow’s Bay somehow manages to be spooky, hilarious and strangely cosy all at once; its wonderfully specific New England setting; and the enormous collection of horror influences lurking beneath the weathered shingles. There is Jaws, The Fog, The Shining, Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, haunted hotels, slashers, sea hags, creepy clowns, small-town folklore and possibly something Lovecraftian living beneath the island. We talk about the show’s strange relationship with time, anachronistic old televisions and video cameras, board games nobody should ever play and why this town feels simultaneously like somewhere you should absolutely flee and somewhere we would quite like to attend a cocktail party. Expect discussion of Evan’s teenage snark, Patricia’s party anxiety and status as the most sensible final girl in horror, and Ruth’s unexpectedly complicated place at the centre of the island’s history. Content & Spoiler Warning: This episode includes discussion of fraught father-son relationships, traumatic childbirth and pregnancy complications, suicide, a woman being committed to a mental asylum, being buried alive, accidental consumption of psychedelic drugs, vomiting, ritual sacrifice, supernatural violence, frightening clowns, haunted hotels, slashers, witchcraft and the various horrors associated with living on a cursed island. And, of course, we spoil Widow’s Bay extensively, including the finale. Go watch it. Palate Cleanser: Caroline recommends Ted Lasso as part of that lovely category of heartwarming comedy that gives you a little faith in humanity and hopefulness. Liz’s current happy place is Dungeon Crawler Carl, which involves aliens stripping Earth of its resources while the surviving humans are forced to compete in a televised reality-game-show-style dungeon crawl. Recommendations: The ’Burbs - for another darkly funny story about a community of eccentric neighbours who have to come together when something strange arrives in their neighbourhood. The Beast in Me and The Americans- for more Matthew Rhys. Office Space - for more of the actor who plays Wick. Anything by Stephen King - because his influence is all over this island. Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery – if you’ve seen the final episode, you know. Midnight Mass - for another deeply unsettling isolated island community. Never Let Me Go - for a literary exploration of people accepting something deeply abnormal because it has always been presented to them as normal. Ghosts in the Burbs - Liz Sower’s own extremely Ghostly-New-England podcast, and an obvious companion to Widow’s Bay. Stephen King’s short story The Reach about an elderly woman who has never left her New England island. Shaun of the Dead, What We Do in the Shadows, and Cabin in the Woods - for more horror comedy. Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None - because putting a group of people on an island and then having things go terribly wrong is apparently always a good idea. Homework: Keeping with the New England setting, we are moving into true crime with a three-part docuseries Lady of the Dunes about the longest cold case in Massachusetts history, which was solved very recently thanks to genetic genealogy (and has a Jaws connection) Coming Up After That: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. So start reading! And remember: keep your taser charged, stick together, talk to each other, trust your gut, maybe stop keeping horrible family secrets, question suspicious self-help books, and stay out of the water.
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#41
September 1 · 1 hr 16 min
Dr. Death with Joshua Jackson
Send us Fan Mail This week, we swap fictional scientists playing God for a very real doctor doing harm as we dive into Dr. Death, the TV series based on the Wondery podcast about Christopher Duntsch, a Dallas neurosurgeon who, over roughly two years, operated on 38 people, maimed 33 and killed two. And no one stopped him. Joshua Jackson trades Pacey Witter's charm for terrifying narcissism as Duntsch, who was charismatic but catastrophically bad at surgery. But the question hanging over the entire series is even more disturbing: was he unbelievably incompetent, or or a sociopath trying to do harm? Luckily, Christian Slater's cowboy-boot-wearing Dr Randy Kirby and Alec Baldwin's far more restrained Dr Robert Henderson become the medical world's answer to Brody and Hooper, one politely making phone calls while the other is looking for a scalpel to stop Duntsch from ever operating again. We dig into Baylor Plano's letter that allowed him to move on, the Texas Medical Board's painfully slow response, the hierarchy that made nurses struggle to be heard over surgeons, tort reform that left victims with few avenues for compensation, and a healthcare system where hospitals are businesses and neurosurgeons are money. Duntsch may be the monster in the operating room, but a disturbing number of people and institutions helped keep the door open. Spoiler Alert and Trigger Warning In addition to spoiling the show, we discuss surgeries gone catastrophically wrong, blood, scalpels, bones being hammered and broken, severed nerves and spinal structures, paralysis, permanent disability, surgical equipment and materials being left inside patients, infected wounds, pus, death, domestic abuse, narcissistic and abusive behaviour, depression following life-changing injuries and the wider emotional impact on victims and their families. Some of the descriptions venture firmly into body-horror territory. Recommendations Dr. Death podcast and Season Two for another wild medical story involving supposedly revolutionary 3D-printed body parts. Scrubs and Secrets - a new indie podcast with two nurses discussing healthcare crimes and the emotional weight of working in medicine. Real Crime Profile for more discussion of Christopher Duntsch and whether his behaviour fits that of a serial offender. Dopesick - The book and TV series for more on the collateral damage of a for-profit healthcare system. Misery - for another story about being completely helpless under the care of a very bad medical professional. The Pitt - if you need to see imperfect but competent doctors doing their best inside a flawed system. 30 Rock - For Dr Spaceman So I Married an Axe Murderer because of Duntsch's snapping poetry scene Friday Night Lights - for more football Heathers, True Romance and Interview with the Vampire, Chupa, and Mr. Robot - Because there is always room for another Christian Slater recommendation. Office Space - with the actor who plays Dr Sassani. True Blood because Arlene plays Duntsch's lawyer. The Royal Tenenbaums - For soothing Alec Baldwin narration. Palate Cleanser: Caroline recommends jumping straight into Season Three of The Comeback for a surprisingly lovely story about a good person while also exploring AI's arrival in Hollywood. Homework: For our next episode, we're heading to Widow's Bay. There's a cranky doctor, a character using drugs to supposedly open his mind (giving Christopher-Duntsch-doing-“stem-cell-research”-while-high) and the series has received 19 Emmy nominations. Even better, we'll be joined by Liz Sower from Ghosts in the Burbs. And if you want to get ahead on future homework, start looking for Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. The upcoming Other Mommy adaptation looks horrifying, and the book is scary enough to make nighttime trips to the bathroom a serious strategic decision. As always, send us your recommendations for TV shows, podcasts, movies or books you'd like us to cover. Find us on Instagram, Facebook and Threads; like, subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify; or email us at drawntodarknesspod@gmail.com. Most importantly, tell a like-minded friend who is also drawn to darkness. Until next time: research your doctors, listen to nurses, trust that bad vibe, take the trip, and never order a red wine milkshake. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art. Find her on Instagram at @nancyazano. Thanks also to Harry Kidd for the opening and closing music. Find him on Instagram at @harryjkidd and on Spotify.
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#40
August 18 · 1 hr 14 min
Renny Harlin's Deep Blue Sea
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Renny Harlin’s gloriously ridiculous, surprisingly good 1999 shark thriller, Deep Blue Sea. We talk genetically modified super-smart sharks, questionable science, the ethics of experimenting on animals, the film’s connections to Jaws and Jurassic Park and whether the sharks are actually the villains, or prisoners staging an elaborate escape from “Alcatraz for sharks”. Expect discussion of Samuel L. Jackson’s legendary mid-speech demise, Stellan Skarsgård’s extraordinarily no good very bad day, Thomas Jane’s unexplained shark-wrangling skills, whether Saffron Burrows deserved her fate, and Michael Rapaport’s unconvincing claim that he spent four years at Caltech. And let’s not forget about sharks who can read blueprints, recognise guns and cameras, predict mechanical failures, and operate ovens. Perhaps most importantly, we also celebrate LL Cool J’s lovable Preacher and his two-egg omelette philosophy. Content & Spoiler Warning: Severed limbs, bloody injuries, a character deliberately slicing open her palm, prolonged underwater sequences and breath-holding, claustrophobia, shark attacks, people being eaten, a parrot being eaten, animal experimentation and captivity, sharks being killed, including one being stabbed in the eye, and discussion of dementia and dying with dignity. And of course we will be spoiling Deep Blue Sea, including one of the movie’s most famous and shocking deaths. So go see it! Palate Cleanser: Hacks Season 5 (though trigger warning for anyone affected by terminal illness) The TikTok empty chair trend: “When Netflix calls me for a documentary about…” Sheep Detectives if you want to laugh, cry, and laugh so hard you cry. Recommendations: For More Deep Blue Sea and Shark Talk: Deep Blue Sea: The Podcast -if one movie simply is not enough and you would like an hour of discussion for every few minutes of Deep Blue Sea. Evolution of Horror has an episode on Deep Blue Sea. How Did This Get Made? is a must listen to get the origin for Stellar Skateboard. See Jurassic Right with Steven Ray Morris for episodes interviewing shark scientists The Chris Hemsworth and Anthony Mackie shark documentaries on Disney, especially if you like the idea of Chris Hemsworth surfing and staring pensively at the Australian ocean. Toys and Lip Sync Battle for Tom Holland performing “Umbrella” for more LL Cool J. Andor and Good Will Hunting because of Stellen Skarsgard The Mist, The Punisher, and Arrested Development for more Thomas Jayne. You Season 3 – the best season stars Saffron Burrows. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - historical fiction about the matriarchal society of Korean divers who can really hold their breath for a long time The Exorcist – for crucifix clutching For Survival, Disaster & Nature Trying to Kill You: Yellowjackets Alive The Perfect Storm Titanic The Poseidon Adventure The Rich Man’s House FantasticLand Stranded by Nikki Shannon Smith - a middle-grade survival novel about a Black girl from New York who loves nature despite pushback from her family and friends. Chef and The Bear – for Chefs Homework: In keeping with the episode’s themes of neuroscience and science crossing ethical boundaries, the next discussion will focus Season 1 of Dr. Death, the TV miniseries starring Joshua Jackson, Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin. And remember: Don’t genetically modify apex predators to make them smarter. Don’t stand too close to the edge of a shark tank. Don’t dangle your feet in shark-infested water. Don’t slice open your palm when you need blood.And, most importantly, do not put milk in your omelette. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art. Find her on Instagram at @nancyazano. Thanks also to Harry Kidd for the opening and closing music. Find him on Instagram at @harryjkidd and on Spotify.
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#39
August 4 · 1 hr 5 min
Radio Rental with Terry Carnation
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we enter the unsettling world of Radio Rental, the horror anthology podcast that presents supposedly true encounters through the fictional setting of a video rental store. Presiding over the tapes is Terry Carnation, played by Rainn Wilson who breaks up stories of serial killers, possible stalkers, doppelgängers, disturbing childhood memories and glitches in reality with comments on rewinding tapes, Jane Fonda workouts and Hot Sauce for Tots. We cover Volume One, episodes one through seven, examining why stories such as “404 Not Found”, “Laura of the Woods” and “The Babysitter” linger long after they end. Along the way, we discuss unreliable narrators, the fallibility of memory, the Mandela Effect, simulation theory and why unresolved dread is often more frightening than seeing the monster itself. We also examine the privilege involved in responding to strange encounters with curiosity rather than caution, particularly when several of the male storytellers ignore warning signs that many women are conditioned to recognise immediately. Content and Spoiler Warning Discussion of serial killers and their victims, stalking, being stalked, followed, and watched, terrorism, child death, grief, possible abduction or organ harvesting, homophobia, threatened hate crimes, murder, unreliable memories, doppelgängers and an existential discussion of simulation theory. We also spoil the major stories Radio Rental Volume One, season 1 and discuss plot details from several horror films, television series and books. Palate Cleanser Desperately Ever After by Laura Kenyon, a comic novel imagining the lives of familiar fairy-tale heroines after their supposed happy endings. Think princesses, friendship problems, romantic chaos, sleepovers and Desperate Housewives or Sex and the City energy. Recommendations The Phantom Tollbooth audiobook, narrated by Rainn Wilson Parks and Recreation, Season 5, Episode 16, “Bailout”, for another eccentric video-store owner The Royal Tenenbaums Legally Blonde because it was played after the attempted shoe-bombing The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule (mentioned by one of the storytellers) Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card John Mulaney’s stand-up routine about accidentally frightening a woman while running for a train The Yogurt Shop Murders for the dangers of being a teen in retail Murder in Glitter Ball City Penpal by Dathan Auerbach, for a similarly relentless creepypasta atmosphere Hereditary, Pet Sematary and Bring Her Back for stories about grief affecting a parent’s psychology Psycho for wig-wearing impersonation and fractured identity The Black Tapes, NoSleep, Spooked and Madam Strangeways for more supposedly true or unexplained encounters “Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom” by Ted Chiang for alternate realities and branching possibilities “The Life of Chuck” by Stephen King We Used to Live Here for glitches, distorted memories and Mandela Effect unease Black Mirror: “San Junipero”, “Hang the DJ” and “White Christmas” to question whether we're in a simulation The Matrix (for glitches in the matrix) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Loki for the multiverse “The Last Question” by Isaac Asimov, available through The Great Stories podcast Snakes on a Plane and Station Eleven for inescapable danger aboard a plane. The Office, because there can never be too much Dwight Schrute As Terry Carnation reminds us: trust your paranoia. Dread can be a powerful intuitive tool. Homework The attempted plane bombing in Radio Rental ties in to Snakes on a Plane with Samuel L. Jackson, who stars in Deep Blue Sea. So that's what we're covering! Prepare yourself for smarter sharks, questionable science and LL Cool J’s omelette recipe. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art. Find her on Instagram at @nancyazano. Thanks also to Harry Kidd for the opening and closing music. Find him on Instagram at @harryjkidd and on Spotify.
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#38
July 21 · 1 hr 13 min
Scott Derrickson's The Black Phone
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we continue our accidental-but-now-definitely-intentional basement series with Scott Derrickson’s 2021 supernatural horror-thriller The Black Phone, based on the Joe Hill short story. We unpack the film’s very Stephen “Kingian” mix of coming-of-age trauma, small-town fear, ghostly intervention, and very bad decisions approaching weirdos in windowless vans. We discuss Finney and Gwen’s bond, the horror already inside their home, the 1970s stranger-danger atmosphere, Ethan Hawke’s deeply unsettling performance as The Grabber, and why the film works so well by leaving some of its worst horrors implied rather than shown. We also talk about how clever this film is in the way the many failed escape attempts become useful later, and why every clue in this basement escape room matters. Content & Spoiler Warning: This episode includes discussion of child abduction, family violence, alcoholism, bullying, physical violence involving children and teenagers, murder, grief, suicide references, ghosts, confinement, implied harm to children, and frightening basement imagery. We also discuss domestic abuse and substance use in a way that recognises the harm caused without reducing those issues to simple villainy or suggesting that one dramatic event can magically “fix” addiction. And of course, we spoil The Black Phone. Palate Cleanser: For sports fans, keep hope alive. Sometimes the Knicks win, sometimes Lewis Hamilton wins his first race with Ferrari, sometimes Queensland wins State of Origin, and sometimes your team actually gives you a reason to believe in something other than dread, basements and serial killers. Also, go back and watch The Hills or The Soup for a dose of early-2000s pop culture chaos. And for something more meaningful, read “Millions of Women Are Left Out of Menopause’s Moment” from The New York Times, written by a friend of Caroline’s. Recommendations: For more Ethan Hawke: Reality Bites Sinister The Purge Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight Dead Poets Society Gattaca Boyhood For more Scott Derrickson horror: The Exorcism of Emily Rose Sinister Black Phone 2 - not as clean or strong as the first film, but still worth a watch if you want more of Ethan Hawke as the Grabber. For more basement horror, kids with powers, and “beneath the surface” dread: See our earlier episodes on Mindhunter, The Silence of the Lambs, Penpal by Dathan Auerbach, The Devil in the White City, The Cask of Amontillado, The Sixth Sense, and Stranger Things. We haven’t covered these yet (all on the list), but they fit the theme: The Babadook The Orphanage The Texas Chain Saw Massacre The Shining It Toy Story 4 — yes, somehow, for the creepy doll energy. For coming-of-age survival stories with Stephen King or Spielberg energy: Stand by Me E.T. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King Boy Swallows Universe — novel or Netflix series, with bonus Brisbane connection. For more true crime and profiling connections: Dateline’s “True Confession” episode on the Angie Dodge case Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart The Witness Cases connected to John Wayne Gacy, Jacob Wetterling, Etan Patz, and the Rochester Alphabet Murders (trigger warning: these are real cases involving children). Random Connections: Home Alone for basement fear and sprinting up the stairs like something is behind you. Dazed and Confused for the 1970s atmosphere and very punchable bullies.. Return to Oz and The Secret of NIMH for childhood films that had no business being as scary as they were. The Wire for a more grounded depiction of substance use and recovery. Homework: Listen to Radio Rental, Volume One (episodes 1-6). We are moving from supernatural basement phones and 1970s child abduction into true creepy stories, eerie encounters and the kind of “this happened to a friend of a friend” dread that makes you check your locks twice. And remember: do not approach the black van. Do not help the magician with his groceries. Do not go to the second location. And if a disconnected phone starts ringing in a murder basement, answer it.
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#37
July 7 · 1 hr 32 min
David Fincher's Mindhunter
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we examine David Fincher’s tragically incomplete Netflix series Mindhunter. Set in the late 1970s, the show follows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, along with Dr Wendy Carr, as they begin interviewing imprisoned serial offenders in an attempt to understand patterns of behaviour, develop the science of criminal profiling, and prevent future violence. We discuss why Mindhunter remains one of the most frustrating cancellations in television history, how the show turns conversations into scenes of dread, and why its slow-burn tension is more unsettling than most on-screen violence. We also unpack our feelings on Holden (is he a narcissist?) the 1970s period details, the sickly yellow lighting, the motel rooms, the click of Dr. Carr’s heels, the Quantico basement, the rise of true crime culture, and the difficult question at the centre of the series: what happens to the people who spend their lives studying human cruelty? Content & Spoiler Warning: This episode includes discussion of serial murder, sexual violence, violence against children, child abduction, domestic abuse, coercive control, suicide, animal death, misogyny, stalking, racism, institutional failure, abusive parenting, trauma, and the psychological impact of investigating violent crime. We also discuss real crimes and real victims throughout the episode, including the Atlanta Child Murders, Ed Kemper, the Son of Sam, and other historical cases. And of course, we spoil both seasons of Mindhunter. Palate Cleanser: For something lighter after all that behavioural science and basement dread: The MCU, especially if you want a long, familiar, superhero-heavy reset. Also rewatching Stranger Things with someone who has not seen it before, because introducing people to things you love remains one of life’s great joys. Recommendations: Tickled (and The Dollop episode on Tickled) - because of the tickling principal Look into My Eyes- about a principal who was doing sleep hypnosis on students, Real Crime Profile, True Crime Garage, Mindhunter Companion - more podcasts discussing Mindhunter Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, Whoever Fights Monsters by Robert Ressler and Tom Shachtman, and the many books by Ann Burgess, especially if you want more of the victim-focused and research-based side of this history. For FBI agents and detectives, Twin Peaks, The X-Files, True Detective, and Silence of the Lambs, The Wire Se7en, Zodiac, Gone Girl, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Fight Club - for more David Fincher masterpieces Minority Report and 1984 - For predicting crime. We Need to Talk About Kevin and The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden to explore young sociopathy Inside the Manosphere, The Crash, Mean Girl Murders - more true crime docs The Cabin at the End of the World, Hamilton, and Frozen - because we all need more Jonathon Groff The Backrooms - because the BSU basement looks like the backrooms Interview with the Vampire - for dangerous interview subjects Dawson’s Creek, because Joey Potter’s dad was in Mindhunter! . Homework: Watch The Black Phone. We are continuing the basement series with Scott Derrickson’s 2021 supernatural horror-thriller, based on the Joe Hill short story. It is set in the 1970s, stars Ethan Hawke, and follows a child abducted by a masked killer and trapped in a basement with a disconnected phone that may not be as disconnected as it seems. And remember, stay away from the Pacific Northwest (joking), don't hitchhike, store your glasses upside down to avoid dust, and don't trust strangers with record deals and modelling contracts. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#36
June 23 · 1 hr 12 min
Jonathan Demme's Silence of the Lambs
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Jonathan Demme’s classic and deeply unsettling 1991 psychological horror-thriller, Silence of the Lambs. We unpack the film’s use of dread over jump scares, the power of what is left unseen, the terrifying precision of Anthony Hopkins’ performance, Jodie Foster’s Clarice navigating the male gaze in a man’s world, and why Catherine Martin deserves more credit for being a total badass. We also discuss the book, the film’s real-life serial killer inspirations, the horror of charming and sophisticated monsters, the questionable logistics of pens and temporary cages, and why the final basement sequence remains absolutely harrowing. Content & Spoiler Warning: Violence, blood and gore, skinning and flaying, transphobia, kidnapping, serial murder, references to cannibalism, a dog in peril, bugs, a decapitated head, bloody fingernails, suicide, childhood trauma, and the male gaze. We also have a serious discussion upfront about the film’s harmful impact on the trans community, including how intent does not erase impact, how the movie tried and failed to distance Buffalo Bill from trans identity, and why representation matters when marginalised groups are repeatedly portrayed as jokes, deviants, or killers. And of course we spoil The Silence of the Lambs. Palate Cleanser: Jessica Jones - if you feel like a Marvel binge. Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 - James Van Der Beek playing a ridiculous version of himself, and a much lighter viewing experience after Buffalo Bill’s basement. Recommendations: For related podcasts, try the Unspooled episode on The Silence of the Lambs with Paul Holes and That Aged Well, and The Wine and Crime episode on cannibalism For more serial killers, detectives & dark investigations: Red Dragon, Criminal Minds, and Hannibal the TV show Psycho and Texas Chainsaw Massacre - for other killers loosely inspired by Ed Gein Seven Zodiac True Detective Season 1 and Night Country with Jodie Foster Longlegs for a more recent comparison with a creepy lead performance For Queer Joy & LGBTQ+ Representation to offset the transphobia: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Heated Rivalry Scary Basements and horror beneath the surface: Home Alone The Black Phone Barbarian The Ring Random Connections: Home for the Holidays, directed by Jodie Foster Old Gods of Appalachia for Clarice’s West Virginia background Stranger Things Season 4, especially Nancy and Robin visiting Victor Creel American Horror Story: Asylum Love Actually for unreasonable standards of thinness Super Troopers for the state trooper connection Oklahoma! because Lecter says, “People will say we’re in love” When Harry Met Sally for “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” Homework: Watch Mindhunter. We’re discussing both seasons, so get as far as you can. Prepare for discussion about criminal profiling, Ed Kemper, the Behavioral Science Unit, and what makes a monster. And remember: Beware of strangers in slings. Watch your pens. And do not turn your back on Hannibal Lecter. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#35
June 9 · 59 min
The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we celebrate one year of Drawn to Darkness by raising a glass to Edgar Allan Poe’s revenge-soaked classic, "The Cask of Amontillado", a story about wounded pride, wine snobbery, and one extremely committed masonry project. Expect talk of Poe’s tragic life, literary feuds, mysterious deaths, buried-alive panic, Freemasons, creepy crypts, and why you should never follow a frenemy to a second location. We also discuss the unsettling question the story refuses to answer: what exactly did Fortunato do? Was this revenge for a real wrong, a thousand tiny slights, or one fragile man’s fantasy of perfect punishment? Spoiler and Content Warning: Content includes revenge, murder, claustrophobia, being buried alive, darkness, damp crypts, bones, chains, alcoholism, death, possible mental instability, and the horrible realisation that someone who smiles at you might also be planning to wall you up. We also spoil the "The Cask of Amontillado". So go read it this 1846 classic, and come back. Palate Cleanser: For a lighter trip into the macabre, try black comedies and dark-weirdo classics like Clue, The Craft, Heathers, The Addams Family, Beetlejuice, or Drop Dead Gorgeous. They let you enjoy the creepy, strange, and morbid without trapping you in an underground wine murder dungeon. Also, the podcast That Aged Well, to revisit beloved films and asks how well they hold up; The Basement Yard, for silly green-flag-guy energy. And don't forget to take a moody evening walk while listening to Poe short stories, if your idea of self-care involves dusk, dread, and nineteenth-century guilt spirals. Recommendations: Poe stories including The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Raven, The Premature Burial, Berenice, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Murders in the Rue Morgue His Hideous Heart, a YA anthology of contemporary Poe retellings Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher Wine and Crime episode on being buried alive The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror adaptation of The Raven The Princess Bride, because Count Rugen knows when to run from vengeance Goodfellas, especially the manipulation and “go into the scary second location” energy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, for the danger of politeness overriding instinct Speak No Evil, for another brutal lesson in ignoring red flags The Descent, for being trapped underground in the dark Interview with the Vampire, for a particularly horrible buried-alive fate Buried, starring Ryan Reynolds CSI, the Nick-buried-alive episode, for peak 2000s TV trauma Immaculate, for a brief but memorable buried-alive horror moment Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, especially “Graveyard Rats” Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, for the Well of Souls Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, for bone-lined crypts in Venice Macbeth, because “false face must hide what false heart doth know” is basically Montresor’s entire personality Homework: Next up: The Silence of the Lambs. We’re moving from Poe’s damp catacombs to Buffalo Bill’s basement, with more second-location danger, more manipulation, more dungeon-like spaces, and Clarice Starling walking one of horror’s most memorable corridors. Watch or rewatch before our next episode. And after that: Mindhunter. We are officially in our basement era. Until then, do not follow anyone into a damp, bone-lined crypt for a drink, no matter how rare they say it is. We’ll see you next time on Drawn to Darkness. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#34
May 26 · 1 hr 13 min
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Send us Fan Mail Devil in the White City by Erik Larson In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, a packed, fact-filled account of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the terrifying crimes of H. H. Holmes. Along the way, we unpack Daniel Burnham’s impossible project management nightmare, Frederick Law Olmsted’s dramatic hatred of flowerbeds, power boats, and mediocre gravel paths, the invention of the Ferris wheel, the rise of Kodak snapshots, Juicy Fruit, Cracker Jack, the dishwasher, spray paint, zippers, Shredded Wheat, and far too many things that apparently came from one fair. But beneath the White City’s glowing spectacle is Holmes’ so-called murder castle: a labyrinth of rooms, corridors, chutes, gas lines, hidden spaces, and a basement that feels straight out of Silence of the Lambs. We discuss Holmes’ charm, aliases, fraud, manipulation, blue eyes, possible small ears of vice, and his horrifying ability to sense vulnerability “the way another man might capture the trace of a woman’s perfume.” We also ask the important questions: would you rather go to an event at Harvard or Yale? Is Chicago deep dish actually pizza or a casserole? And how many red flags does a man need to wave before someone checks the basement? Content & Spoiler Warning Serial murder, fraud, gaslighting, grave robbing, gassing, botched or illegal abortions, the horrors of life without modern dentistry and vaccines, and the intense stress of impossible project management. We also spoil The Devil in the White City, including the crimes of H. H. Holmes. Palate Cleanser After all that murder and fraud, watch Maul on Disney+ for the Star Wars completists, and Daredevil in preparation for the next Spider-Man movie, and Stranger Things with the kids. Recommendations: Erik Larson’s other books, including Dead Wake and Isaac’s Storm. The Wager for more novelistic nonfiction that will make you annoy everyone around you with historical facts. The Alienist for an old-timey hunt for an 1890s serial killer. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll for a fictionalised challenge to the idea that Ted Bundy was some criminal genius. The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. The Five, about Jack the Ripper’s victims. If you want to know more about H.H. Holmes, check out Last Podcast on the Left’s episode on H. H. Holmes and Lore's episode “The Castle.” And for more information about the era, try the Dollop episodes on the Pinkertons, Tesla and Edison, and “Cereal Men” with Patton Oswalt. Titanic for Gilded Age vibes, plus the book’s Titanic connection. Loving Frank for Frank Lloyd Wright-related drama. Heretic, Barbarian and Black Phone for scary basements. American Psycho and The Talented Mr Ripley for monsters with a facade. Horns by Joe Hill, inspired by Holmes’ own claim that his head and face were becoming devil-like. Instant Dream Home on Netflix for stressful, probably-not-real renovation timelines. Weezer’s Pinkerton. And always: Arrested Development, because Buster Bluth was also a mama’s boy, as H.H. Holmes claims, and Olmsted has Lucille Bluth-level dramatic energy. Parks and Recreation, because of the Harvest Fest, Leslie Knope-level organisation, and Ben Wyatt-style cost-cutting. Homework Horror double feature. Amontillado wine features twice on menus at the fair, so read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” and watch Silence of the Lambs because the real Buffalo Bill performed at the fair. And remember: Beware of charm, aliases, suspicious life insurance requests, and men who need a shovel to bury “potatoes” in the cellar. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#33
May 12 · 1 hr 10 min
Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we ask the important questions: Is Jurassic Park actually horror? And would not having a favourite dinosaur be a dealbreaker? We dive into Steven Spielberg’s iconic dinosaur summer blockbuster, from trembling cups of water and bloody goat legs to whatever chaos theory is, Chekov’s electric fences, and Jeff Goldblum’s unbuttoned shirt. Along the way, we unpack the film’s blend of adventure, horror, and sci-fi, discuss whether the dinosaurs were scientifically accurate (spoiler alert: no), and debate the ethics of cloning extinct creatures, billionaire hubris, and scientists “playing God.” We also talk about childhood dinosaur obsessions, the trauma of The Land Before Time, why the T-Rex attack sequence and velociraptor attack qualify as horror, and how Spielberg balances awe, suspense, humour, and terror. Expect deep dives into practical effects vs CGI, the terrifying implications of AI and unchecked technology, casual ’90s sexism, theme park capitalism, and how “clever girl” has become a part of our family vocabularies. Content & Spoiler Warning: Dinosaur attacks, jump scares, graphic injuries, severed limbs, electrocution, animal deaths (including a goat and a cow), children in peril, broken glasses, and people being eaten by dinosaurs (obviously). We also discuss sexism, commenting on appearance in professional settings, scientific ethics, AI anxiety, and of course we spoil Jurassic Park. Palate Cleanser: After all that dinosaur-fuelled chaos and billionaire recklessness: Watching TikTok collectively lose its mind over a businessman being served enormous glasses of wine at a Courtyard Marriott in Westbury, New York. Big Mistakes on Netflix - dark crime comedy featuring Daniel Levy and Laurie Metcalf. Spielbergian Recommendations: Spielberg’s E.T, The Goonies, Hook (justice for Hook), and of course Jaws. Creature Features & Survival Horror Deep Blue Sea for Samuel L. Jackson Rogue for another creature feature that will make you pull your feet up. The Birds – because they descended from dinosaurs. Science, Ethics & Playing God: Gattaca M3GAN King Kong Westworld (especially Season 1) Never Let Me Go Klara and the Sun Frankenstein Project Hail Mary Dinosaurs & Paleontology: See Jurassic Right podcast (for truly dedicated Jurassic Park fans) Jurassic Park Minute podcast The Shortest History of Dinosaurs by Riley Black Dinosaur Train and Night at the Museum for the kids Toy Story for short T-Rex arms Friends — because Ross Geller was a palaeontologist. Go to Universal Studios Jurassic Park attractions and The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles Actor Appreciation Corner: The Big Chill and Ragnarok for more Jeff Goldblum Law & Order: SVU for BD Wong fans Big Little Lies for Laura Dern fans Homework: Read The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. We’re heading into the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and an exploration of murder, ambition, architecture, and historical chaos.. And remember: Don’t underestimate wild animals. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#32
April 28 · 1 hr 11 min
Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, the “glorious,” “classic” mob epic that somehow feels both iconic and unsettling. From razor-blade-sliced garlic in prison to cocaine-fuelled paranoia and helicopter chases, we unpack the rise and fall of Henry Hill, a kid who always wanted to be a gangster, and ended up a broke, bored “schnuck” in witness protection. We explore the film’s unforgettable characters (Jimmy the Gent, Tommy the loose cannon, and Karen, our MVP), iconic scenes (Funny how?), and the uneasy tension between glamour and brutality. Expect deep dives into the insular world of the mafia, the real Lufthansa heist, cult dynamics, toxic masculinity, and why this isn’t actually the bro movie some people think it is. We also what our mafia nicknames would be and discuss all the cameos and familiar faces. Content & Spoiler Warning This episode contains discussion of graphic violence (shootings, beatings, strangulation), drug abuse (especially cocaine), emotional and domestic abuse, and gaslighting. It also includes full spoilers for Goodfellas and references to other crime and horror media. Palate Cleanser After all that coke-fuelled chaos and mob violence: Company Retreat (Jury Duty Season 2) - a mockumentary where (almost) everyone is in on the joke. “Delightful,” absurd, and a much-needed reset. Saying “Hey—oh!” like you’re in The Sopranos (very quotable). Recommendations Mafia & Crime: The Godfather, The Sopranos, A Bronx Tale The Prince of Providence by Mike Stanton for corruption in Providence. Mob Wives (for chaotic reality TV energy) Crime Town podcast - organised crime beyond the usual cities (and dedicated to Annie’s uncle) Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi (the book about Henry Hill’s life that inspired Goodfellas) True Crime & Culture: Adolescence and Inside the Manosphere (Louis Theroux) for confronting toxic masculinity Sweet Bobby – both Goodfellas and this have witness protection (or do they?) Films & TV: The Night Of for addiction when incarcerated Stir of Echoes - underrated Kevin Bacon thriller featuring Illeana Douglas, Tommy’s girlfriend in Goodfellas Stand By Me for kids that find a body The Studio for a Scorsese cameo Unexpected Connections: Mean Girls - because Tommy is basically Regina George with a gun Parks and Recreation - questionable interior design parallels Sing - for a very different “My Way” experience When Harry met Sally for another movie with the director's mom. Homework: Watch Jurassic Park – is it horror? Maybe. We’re continuing with a ‘90s classic that helped shape our love of film (and Ryan Coogler’s), with a surprising connections to Goodfellas (hi Samuel L. Jackson). And after that: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Keep your temper. Trust your gut. Don’t do coke. Don’t piss off psychopaths. And don’t marry into the mafia. We’ll see you next time on Drawn to Darkness. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#31
April 14 · 1 hr 28 min
Ryan Coogler's Sinners with guest Makeda Pennycooke
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a genre-bending vampire period drama set in 1930s Jim Crow Mississippi. Joined by special guest Makeda Pennycooke, life and anti-racism coach, we unpack a film that is as gorgeous as it is unsettling, layering horror, history, and music. We break down vampire lore, our favorite characters, standout performances (Michael B. Jordan playing twins), the transcendent musical moments, and the symbolism woven throughout, from religion and ancestral knowledge to systems of white supremacy, power, and assimilation. Content & Spoiler Warning This episode contains full spoilers for Sinners and our discussion includes reference to violence, gore, and body horror (it’s a vampire movie). Some of the deeper horrors include racism, white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, lynching, and child loss. There’s also a snake that gets killed and drool. Really really gross drool. Palate Cleanser After all that intensity, Caroline and Makeda’s cure? TikTok’s National Parks content (also dubbed “Only Parks”) Passages with Amanda Jacobson from Wine & Crime (Twilight season recap) Recommendations Films & TV: Eight Mile for more from Omar Miller (Cornbread). Friday Night Lights and The Wire for early Michael B. Jordan and Raising Dion - lighter Michael B. Jordan content for the kids. What We Do in the Shadows - always WWDITS Blade, Interview with the Vampire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), Let the Right One In, Abigail, Dracula, Midnight Mass for more vampire picks The Haunting of Hill House, Fall of the House of Usher for layered horror storytelling with a director who likes actors and sticks with them. Get Out for themes of appropriation and identity. Lovecraft Country for horror grounded in racial history. Across the Spider-Verse for Hailee Steinfeld fans Books & Reading: The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone A History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter Passing by Nella Larsen The Reformatory by Tananarive Due Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett A Discovery of Witches (book series) by Deborah Harkness Ted Chiang’s Story of your Life and Others for the melding of time. Podcasts & Other: Reel Conversations with Britt and Bree for black women’s perspectives on Sinners The Next Best Picture Podcast Sinners episode for lots of background info. Horror Joy podcast episode on Sinners and The Reformatory Time Bandits for questioning who writes history Documentary/True Crime: Lost Women of Alaska - produced by Octavia Spencer Homework: Goodfellas - a lighter pick with a Chicago Mafia connection And Start reading The Devil in the White City - another Chicago-based story blending crime and history And remember, if someone asks to be invited in, say no! We’ll see you next time—only on Drawn to Darkness. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#30
March 31 · 1 hr 23 min
Amy Berg's West of Memphis with Gillian Pensavalle
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Drawn to Darkness. This week, we are joined by special guest Gillian Pensavalle from True Crime Obsessed to discuss West of Memphis (2012), Amy Berg’s documentary that revisits the case of the West Memphis Three. In 1993, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were murdered and with little evidence and rising panic about satanic rituals, police quickly focused on three local teenagers: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelley. Despite inconsistent confessions, lack of physical evidence, and alibis, all three were convicted, and Echols was sentenced to death. West of Memphis follows the nearly 20-year fight to free and exonerate them. Meanwhile, the real perpetrator remains unidentified. We unpack wrongful convictions, moral panic, police misconduct, what Damien is like in real life, and the long, exhausting fight for justice. We explore how three teenagers were targeted as “weird kids,” how fear of satanism shaped a narrative with no evidence, and why decades later they may be free from prison, but still aren’t exonerated. Spoiler + Content Warning This episode and the documentary include discussion and imagery of the murder of children, child abuse, castration, false confessions, prison abuse, solitary confinement, systemic injustice, wrongful convictions, and satanic panic. We also spoil the documentary. Palate Cleanser True Crime Obsessed – if you like a laugh along with your true crime. Spending time with family (as simple as ice cream or Del’s Lemonade) Recommendations Bob Ruff’s Truth & Justice podcast (Season 5) Mara Leveritt’s Devil’s Knot (deep dive into courtroom details) Wrongful Conviction podcast (featuring interviews with Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin) Satan Wants You (documentary about Satanic Panic) Sarah Marshall’s podcast You’re Wrong About + The Devil You Know Stranger Things (Eddie Munson inspired by Damien Echols) Mindhunter (John Douglas appears in the case) The Crucible (mass hysteria and scapegoating) Stand By Me, The Goonies, It (kids, innocence, and loss) The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell for a Medical Examiner who knows what she’s doing. The Hurricane with Denzel Washington for more wrongful convictions The Craft and The Perks of Being a Wallflower - for the “weird” kids Lord of the Rings and listen to Pearl Jam (support the celebrities who championed the West Memphis 3) Damien Echols’ books, podcast, and Patreon Homework Next episode, we’ll discuss Sinners before shifting gears slightly with: Goodfellas The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (it’s a book, so start now!) And remember, always insist on a lawyer! Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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March 24 · 50 min
Chatroom: Bedguard with Josiah Furcinitti
Send us Fan Mail In this bonus “Chatroom” episode of Drawn To Darkness, I (Annie) chat with horror author Josiah Furcinitti to discuss his chilling short story Bedguard, featured in the anthology Lies Beyond, a horror anthology exploring death, fear, and the unknown. In Bedguard, Anna is at first only worried about the growing distance between herself and her husband David. But when he starts suffering from terrifying nightmares, seeing mysterious scratches on his body, and falling violently out of bed, Anna realises too late that something unspeakable is targeting them. Listen to me read Bedguard, then stick around for our conversation on horror tropes (something under the bed, creatures that feed on fear, creepy kids, dolls), our horror origin stories, deeper fears, and our some of our favourite books and movies. We also discuss the ambiguity of storytelling and what happens to a story when it’s released into the world, and the relationship between anxiety and horror consumption. Meanwhile, we gush over the media that scared and shaped us, including Revival, It, The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, Pet Semetary and Carrie by Stephen King, as well as The X-Files, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Midsommar, Sinners, Candyman, and Peter Jackson’s King Kong. But it’s not all horror. Josiah also loves Parks and Rec. Where you can find Lies Beyond: You can find Lies Beyond on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark. Follow Josiah on Instagram on @authorjosiahfurcinitti. Homework for Next Episode Watch: West of Memphis Our next episode will feature Gillian Pensavalle from True Crime Obsessed and The Hamilcast to discuss the West Memphis Three, and the ongoing fight for their full exoneration. Then, back to horror with Sinners, featuring Choctaw vampire hunters and 16 Academy Award nominations! Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#29
March 17 · 1 hr 6 min
Sugarcane by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the National Geographic documentary Sugarcane, which investigates the legacy of St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in Canada. Prompted by the discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites, the film follows members of the Williams Lake First Nation, including Julian Brave Noisecat and his father Ed, as they search for truth about what happened to children forced to attend the school. Through survivor testimony, archival material, and difficult conversations within families and communities, the documentary reveals the profound and ongoing consequences of the residential school system, where Indigenous children were separated from their families in an attempt to erase their culture. While Sugarcane does not shy away from the horrors of the system, including abuse, missing children, and institutional cover-ups, it also highlights resilience, cultural reclamation, and the long process of healing and accountability within Indigenous communities. Content & Spoiler Warning: Child sexual abuse, institutional abuse, infanticide, unmarked graves, suicide, cultural erasure, genocide, and systemic racism connected to the residential school system in Canada. We also spoil Sugarcane. Palate Cleanser Need something a little lighter? Heated Rivalry – surprisingly moving hockey romance Sugarcane transcript The Office - or introduce your favourite old sitcom to your kids. Recommendations: Podcasts: Surviving St. Michael’s (Connie Walker) – Deep investigation into abuse at another residential school. Finding Cleo (also Connie Walker) -Explores ripple effects of residential schools through the story of one family. Behind the Bastards – Canada’s Darkest Secret: Residential Schools (2020 episode) Historica podcast - Residential Schools Television & Film Reservation Dogs – funny and heartwarming series about Indigenous teenagers The Lost Women of Highway 20 – Explores cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The Last Ice – A National Geographic documentary about Inuit communities and environmental change. Newsies for shining a light on people who are being abused Rabbit-Proof Fence – about Australia’s Stolen Generations, another example of forced child removal. The Sapphires – A lighter film about an Indigenous singing group touring Vietnam during the war. Spotlight and The Keepers – More investigations into abuse by the Catholic Church. 1923 (Yellowstone spinoff) – Includes a storyline about a young Indigenous woman at a residential school. Books The Only Good Indians and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – Horror novels by Stephen Graham Jones The Broken Girls – A paranormal boarding-school mystery by Simone St. James. We Survive the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat – A blend of memoir, Indigenous history, and storytelling. Homework for Next Episode Watch: West of Memphis Our next episode will feature our first guest, Gillian Pensavalle from True Crime Obsessed and The Hamilcast to discuss the West Memphis Three, and the ongoing fight for their full exoneration. Then, back to horror with Sinners, featuring Choctaw vampire hunters and 16 Academy Award nominations! Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#28
March 3 · 1 hr 13 min
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we descend into Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s 2020 bestselling novel set in 1950s Mexico. When glamorous socialite Noemí Taboada receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who claims she’s being poisoned in her new husband’s remote mountain mansion, she travels to High Place to investigate. There she finds a crumbling English manor transplanted into the Mexican countryside, steeped in decay, silence, and red flags. Catalina is wasting away under the watchful eye of her sinister husband Virgil, his ancient patriarch Howard, and the sanctimonious housekeeper Florence. The house reeks of rot, the wallpaper pulses, and mushrooms bloom in the foggy graveyard. Mexican Gothic explores inherited trauma, the stain of colonialism, eugenics, and the horror of being reduced to a vessel. We discuss gothic tropes, gaslighting, fetishisation, how we feel about dream sequences and complicity v. victimhood. Content & Spoiler Warning: This novel and our episode includes discussion of sexual assault, incest, coercion, eugenics, racism, fetishisation of women of colour, colonial exploitation, gaslighting, medical abuse, cannibalism, body horror (including bile and vomiting), disturbing dream sequences, and reproductive coercion. We also fully spoil Mexican Gothic. Palate Cleansers After all that bile, we recommend: The new Muppet Show (Disney+) - joyful chaos, nostalgia, and Seth Rogen involvement. Encanto – also explores intergenerational trauma and a characters repeats, “Open your eyes.” Recommendations Talking Scared - Interview with Silvia Moreno Garcia (the novels include Certain Dark Things & The Bewitching) The Yellow Wallpaper (episode 15) - a big inspiration Rebecca - all the gothic tropes Rosemary’s Baby - for gaslighting, reproductive horror The Shining - isolation and atmosphere of dread The Others – sheets over furniture in unused rooms The Skeleton Key - no spoilers, just watch it Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough – quite a twist Venom, Stranger Things, The Last of Us, The Girl with All the Gifts, What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher – fungal and hive mind horror Midnight Mass - corrupted communion ritual Get Out - fetishisation & bodily appropriation The Portrait of Dorian Gray - immortality and decay The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter- gothic fairytale retellings Wuthering Heights & Jane Eyre – gothic classics Ghostbusters - When someone asks if you’re a god, you say yes.” The Crow - “It can’t rain all the time.” The Fall of the House of Usher - a creepy crypt Starling House by Alix E. Harrow &Old Gods of Appalachia (podcast) - mining horror Always Mean Girls, Blue, Andor, and Arrested Development Homework” Watch: Sugarcane (National Geographic documentary, available on Disney+) We’ll be examining residential schools, colonisation, cultural erasure, and the lingering trauma of eugenic ideology, continuing our discussion of how history haunts the present. Until next time: clean your black mould, trust your red flags, and when someone warns you to leave while you still can… take the hint and GTFO. Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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#27
February 17 · 1 hr 6 min
Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we pivot back to true crime with Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, a three-part docuseries about the kidnapping of Steven Stayner and the traumatic ripple effect. We’ll discuss Steven’s story, how he was abducted at age seven while walking home from school and held captive for seven years by Kenneth Parnell. What makes the story even more unsettling is how “normal” his life appeared from the outside. Steven attended school, played sport, and yet could not free himself from his abuser until Parnell kidnapped five-year-old Timmy White. Refusing to let another boy endure what he survived. Steven heroically escaped, saving Timmy and himself. We discuss the psychological barriers that kept him from escaping sooner, the media’s obsession with a “happy ending” and its impact on Steven’s recovery, and the tragic fatal motorcycle accident that ended Steven’s life. Just when you think the story must be over, the Stayner curse delivers one more twist: Steven’s older brother Cary becomes the Yosemite Killer, turning this into a story not only about captivity, but about generational trauma and murder. Content & Spoiler Warning: This episode includes discussion of child abduction, pedophilia and child sexual assault, intergenerational trauma, serial murder, and a fatal motorcycle accident. We also spoil Captive Audience and the made-for-TV miniseries I Know My First Name Is Steven. Palate Cleanser: After something this bleak, we recommend something more fun: Derry Girls, Caroline’s comfort-watch of choice, Heated Rivalry, and The Mummy, because Evie and Rick are adorable. Recommendations: Adolescence - mandatory viewing if you’re raising a boy Wild Crime -another national park–focused docuseries Park Predators -for more on crime in wilderness spaces Murdoch Murders: A Southern Scandal - another cursed-family true crime saga Six Schizophrenic Brothers - a different kind of family horror Bloodline and The Perfect Couple - fictional family darkness My Favorite Murder Episode 30 - their early coverage of this case Media Pressure (Julie Murray’s podcast) -on family tragedy and public obsession I Know My First Name Is Steven — the original 1989 miniseries that shaped the family’s story Untamed with Eric Bana for a Yosemite murder mystery. Also Free Solo and The Dawn Wall for that stunning Yosemite setting. Stephen King’s The Dead Zone because Parnell is giving Greg Stillson as a Bible salesman. The 1990s The Stand mini-series, with Corin Nemec as Harold All Around The Town by Mary Higgins Clark Weapons because of a scary gas station scene and a child keeping a secret at school California True Crime, Timesuck, Casefile, and Last Podcast on the Left if you want to know more about these crimes. Homework: Next episode, we continue our run of cursed families, but through gothic fiction rather than documentary. Read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Special thanks to Nancy Azano for the podcast cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for the opening and closing score (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).
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