The gang continues with their discussion of "Some Will Not Sleep," Adam Nevill's debut short story collection. We have the soaring highs of "Yellow Teeth," where we all get to luxuriate in our shared hate of terrible roommates. We get the sinking lows of "What God Hath Wrought," i.e. grunting men shooting quasi-zombies in the Old West, and while that may sound cool, the story is a bit of a slog. And we end on the creamy middles of "Doll Hands," your 'future freaks' type of story.
Episode 56 - Some Will Not Sleep, Part 1
The gang begin their discussion of "Some Will Not Sleep," Adam Nevill's debut collection of short stories. Adam Nevill is mainly known for his novels, so we see how his short stories fare, covering four of these nasty little suckers. We got extra frothy milk, albino freaks, a dog named Schnapps, both a piggy thing (and a fat momma) with extra teats, pigeon feces, xenophobic Kiwis, and 14,000 warning signs blaring either DO NOT GO INTO THAT HOUSE or NOW THAT YOU ARE IN THAT HOUSE, YOU SHOULD PROMPTLY LEAVE.
Episode 55 - Sean M Thompson, Massachusett's Favorite Son
We chat it up with Sean Thompson, author of the collection "Too Late" and co-host of the Mistakonic Musings podcast, about self-publishing, self-loathing, self-doubt, abrasiveness, and why he's a writer of horror fiction, not "weird" fiction. Be forewarned: there is a general spewing of hate. Also, and this is important, Derek introduces a slide whistle.
Episode 54 - Clown Month 3: Clown
From Jon Watts, director of the upcoming Spider-man: Homecoming, we bring you: Clown, the 2014 horror film about a father who puts on a clown costume to entertain his son, only to find out, oops, it is actually a possessed skin that turns you into a demon. Who did the "demon item" story better: Clown, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, or Goosebumps? Joking aside, don't let the negative IMDB score or the Eli Roth association deter you, this is an underrated, vicious little movie. After we watched it we yelled out "Give this man the third iteration of a tired Marvel franchise!"
Episode 53 - Clown Month 2: Stitches
The gang discuss Stitches, the 2012 Irish film about a wildly incompetent bum of a clown who comes back from the dead to take revenge upon kids who sort-of-but-not-really caused his death. An odd movie, with an unexplored but interesting clown mythology, a weird mix of tones, a misplaced narrative focus, bouts of idiocy and illogic, and some surprisingly brutal and "fun" kills (i.e. fun if you hate children, like we do). Before the movie begins, J.R. imagines a film premise that would really make use of the title "stitches", and afterwards Derek learns us about Liches at D&D school.
Episode 52 - Clown Month 1: Killer Klowns from Outer Space
So it's come to this: the gang goes into endless detail about Killer Klowns From Outer Space. And to think, we started with so much potential. Surprisingly, the movie is better than it needs to be and there is fun to be had, especially when you watch a free version on Youtube with Polish subtitles. Enjoy the controversy as our hosts take issue with what a KKFOS fan site named the movie's worst line. Where do YOU stand on the issue?
Episode 51 - Ana Kai Tangata, Part 4
Is the fun already over? The last episode covering Scott Nicolay's collection Ana Kai Tangata covers the short novel, Tuckahoe, that concludes the collection, and lo and behold, this one is an actual story, not just a grab bag of random things until a monster pops out. But don't worry, that grade A Nicolay sex writing is in there. Coroners with vomit-mouth hitting on hot assistants and the infamous doughnut game . . . check it out if you dare!
Episode 50 - Ana Kai Tangata, Part 3
Oh boy, this episode's a winner alright. We review the next two stories in Scott Nicolay's Ana Kai Tangata, which are either the apex or the nadir, depending on you view. Blow job obsessions, "forested mons," cunnilingus while bloodied-nose, big boils, prancing around in used spandex you found on the street while your friend videotapes you yelling "shake it bitch" while you really need to take a giant shit. Who couldn't relate! Plus, you know a story was written a long time ago when there's an OJ reference that DOESN'T refer to him being a murderer. And by the way, these stories are considered "serious" literature. Join the fun!
Episode 49 - Ana Kai Tangata, Part 2
The gang slog on with their second episode of Scott Nicolay's collection Ana Kai Tangata! Like that story of that jerk falling into a well? Well now here's a jerk falling into a hole in a mall! Plus, caves, incest, Ronnie Raygun, mannnn!, gratuitous destruction of cars and "a mangy spider monkey perched on the end of his hammock, methodically jacking off its skinny pink pencil dick as it stared straight into your face with a look of concentrated hate."
Episode 48 - Ana Kai Tangata, Part 1
The gang begins its four episode review of Scott Nicolay's debut collection Ana Kai Tangata, which translates to 'self-absorbed men who hate women and all die the same way in every story.' The perfect book for readers who love random stuff happening and also hate parentheses! It also dawns on us that despite being presented as a modern collection of weird fiction, every story was actually written around 1992, so come play spot-the-antiquated reference! You too can be the Pete Rose of cunnilingus! Zappa Rules!!!!!
Episode 47 - Daniel Mills 2: Vermont Boogaloo
Daniel Mills returns to finish what he started! Meaning, we discuss his new novel Moriah, moving past religious doubt, Jesus' assumed resurrection, the sad saga of hymnals, dead children, operatic despair, his embarrassing ignorance of basic Die Hard trivia, and other rosy subjects.
Episode 46 - Benson/Moorhead 2: Spring
The gang talk about Spring, the 2014 horror film advertised as Lovecraft meets Linklater and delivers … ummm … stems cells that turn a girl into a squid-dog-jack rabbit for a week every 20 years or so? Uhh, sure, stem cells, pregnancy, oxytocin, whatever you say. Plus, the surprise appearance of horrorcore rapper Cage Kennylz.
Episode 45 - Benson/Moorhead 1: Resolution
The gang talk about Resolution, the 2012 horror debut by Justin Benson and Aaron Scott Moorhead. Ignore the terrible poster and check out this film that demonstrates that there are some original ideas still out there. And no, it's not really like Cabin in the Woods at all except for, well, there is a cabin......
Episode 44 - David Nickle, Toronto's Favorite Son
The gang chat with David Nickle, the rare author who is actually productive. They discuss why some people create art, the awe and appeal in horror, getting attacked by knife-wielding drug addicts, HP Lovecraft controversies, eugenics, and having an artist for a father. You know, the usual stuff.
Episode 43 - Mortality, Part 2
What is more suited for a horror podcast than death? Answer: nothing. Enfant terrible Christopher Hitchens got a terrible diagnosis of esophageal cancer, and shared his thoughts on his affliction in his book Mortality. We cover his essays on losing his voice, the lie of "what kills you make you stronger," and torture. This one actually is as bleak as it sounds.
Episode 42 - Mortality, Part 1
What is more suited for a horror podcast than death? Answer: nothing. Enfant terrible Christopher Hitchens got a terrible diagnosis of esophageal cancer, and shared his thoughts on his affliction in his book Mortality. We cover his essays on entering Tumortown, dealing with over-sharers, cancer etiquette and taking time out of his remaining days to bash theists. Don't worry, the podcast isn't as bleak as it sounds (it's bleaker).
Season 2 Teaser
We drop the teaser for Season Two of The Horror of Nachos and Hamantaschen!
Episode 41 - Merry Christmas 3: Krampus
Finally, Derek gets to wax poetic on the lore and majesty of the Krampus. We also, not coincidentally, discuss Michael Dougherty's Krampus (2015), which exists in a moral universe where the reward for having a dysfunctional family is to be terrorized by demons. The Krampus as depicted here might have also instigated Kristallnacht. The movie is pretty good, so if you don't listen to our podcast you should at least watch go the movie.
Episode 40 - Merry Christmas 2: Rare Exports
The gang reviews the 2010 Finnish horror movie Rare Exports, and the two short films that inspired it. This movie is rated R, which is weird since it lacks violence. Maybe it's all the naked old men. Much like the experience of seeing a naked old man, this movie begins intriguing and exciting and ends up kind of disappointing and deflating.
Episode 39 - Merry Christmas 1: Silent Night, Deadly Night
Garbage Day? Nope, this is the first Silent Night, Deadly Night. Join us, and find out why some kid got a random “story by” credit for a non-existent story. Join us, and relive the controversy around this film: yup, that’s right, there’s a Santa on the poster going down the chimney with an axe, but no such scene in the actual movie. That’s what everyone was protesting, right? Good thing those protesters never heard of the movie Christmas Evil.