Ghouls Next Door

Mar 05 2025 300 ep. 61 mins 167

Ghouls Next Door Podcast artwork

Award-winning media literacy podcast from a horror lens. Gabe & Kat discuss real-life influences on our cinematic fears every Wednesday.

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Interview with the Vampire: A Bold Reimagining of Queerness, Race & Abuse

Mar 05 2025 62 mins

Let’s break down the beauty, horror, and heartbreak of Interview with the Vampire.AMC’s Interview with the Vampire is a haunting, gothic masterpiece that redefines Anne Rice’s classic story through the lens of race, queerness, and power. This deep dive explores the tragic, abusive relationship between Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt—one built on manipulation,

Nosferatu (2024) Feminist Horror: Power, Possession & Repression

Feb 19 2025 67 mins

Is Nosferatu a cautionary tale about repression, or an empowering story of feminine defiance? Let’s dive into this gothic nightmare and uncover the terrifying truths behind the fiction.Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024) is a chilling reflection of historical oppression, medical horror, and the fear of feminine autonomy. The film’s eerie atmosphere, psychological terror, and femi

The Power of Your Monster (2024): Feminine Rage and Confronting Emotional Neglect

Feb 05 2025 57 mins

Ghouls break down the emotional depth and trauma explored in Your Monster (2024), highlighting themes of childhood neglect, feminine rage, and trauma responses like fawning. We dive into how Laura’s emotional repression—stemming from both physical and emotional neglect in childhood—shapes her adult life, relationships, and health. The film subtly explores how neglect, especia

From Grief to Gore: 'Lisa Frankenstein' Brings the Dead to Life

Jan 22 2025 62 mins

Lisa Frankenstein is a darkly comedic, neon-soaked horror film set in the late 80s, penned by Diablo Cody and directed by Zelda Williams. It explores Lisa’s journey from grief-stricken teen to self-assured misfit as she accidentally resurrects her Victorian crush and navigates a chaotic world filled with small-town gossip, body parts, and dark humor. Ghouls Next Door unpack this

The Shape of Water and America Today: Monsters, Empathy, and Division

Jan 08 2025 56 mins

Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water feels eerily relevant as we brace for a second Trump presidency. Set in a Cold War-era America steeped in paranoia, oppression, and cruelty, the film critiques the illusion of “greatness” that MAGA rhetoric glorifies. Through characters like Elisa, Giles, Zelda, and the Amphibian Man—people existing on society’s margins—it celebra

Alien: Romulus – Corporate Greed, Bodily Autonomy, and the Fight for Freedom

Dec 26 2024 55 mins

In Alien: Romulus, the latest chapter of the iconic franchise, themes of corporate greed, bodily autonomy, and systemic oppression take center stage. From Rain’s desperate fight for freedom to Andy’s struggle for personhood, we explore how the film critiques unchecked capitalism and its dehumanizing effects. With connections to real-world issues like exploitation, "othering," a

The Substance (2024): Beauty Is a Beast

Dec 11 2024 64 mins

Ghouls explore The Substance, a satirical body horror film that critiques society’s obsession with youth and beauty. Through the story of Elisabeth Sparkle, we examine the devastating impact of external validation on identity, the pressures of pretty privilege, and the pervasive stigma against aging women. From Hollywood’s unrealistic standards to personal reflections on gender

Faith, Folklore, and Agrochemicals: The Real-Life Horror in When Evil Lurks (2023)

Nov 27 2024 58 mins

When Evil Lurks is a brutal Argentinian horror film blending supernatural terror with real-life issues of faith, isolation, and environmental contamination. Follow along as Ghouls review how Demián Rugna’s tale of demonic possession taps into Argentina’s struggle with pesticide exposure, exploring how folklore and cultural fears bring a chilling depth to the film’s relentles

Beneath the Habit: Exploring Immaculate (2024) and the Catholic Church’s Dark Side

Nov 13 2024 49 mins

The Ghouls explore Immaculate, a psychological horror film that delves into themes of bodily autonomy and the dark side of faith through the story of a nun's involuntary pregnancy. We also tackle the systemic misogyny within the Catholic Church, examining how nuns are marginalized and how the Church’s stance on reproductive rights reflects hypocrisy. Join us as we unpack the chil

Late Night with the Devil (2024): Cults, Conspiracies, and Celebrity Secrets

Oct 30 2024 50 mins

Late Night with the Devil is a campy horror that cleverly intertwines reality with the supernatural. Join us as we unpack Jack Delroy’s desperate bid for ratings, culminating in a live séance that spirals into chaos. Gabe discusses the film’s bold commentary on media manipulation and our obsession with the occult, drawing parallels to real-life spiritualism. Kat uncovers the m