Ghouls Next Door

Dec 11 2024 293 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. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-ghouls-next-door/support

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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

Longlegs (2024): Satanic Panic, Government Hysteria, and Horror in Girlhood

Oct 23 2024 47 mins

Longlegs is a psychological thriller about a supernatural satanic panic killer, who murders without ever touching his victims. From twisted coming-of-age stories to the sinister use of dolls as instruments of control, we examine the cultural obsession with preserving and corrupting girlhood through fear, trauma, and moral panic. We delve into how government investigations mirrored

Suspiria (2018): Witchcraft, Dance, and Post-WWII Germany

Oct 16 2024 44 mins

Suspiria (2018) is a haunting exploration of power, control, and the horrors of fascism, set against the backdrop of Cold War-era Berlin in 1977. Gabe discusses the differences in the two films, unpacks the themes of facism and guilt, as well as defines the three mothers and their role in Argento's world. Kat gives us a history lesson to understand the setting of this Suspiria and

Maxxxine (2024): A Neon Drenched Video Nasty

Oct 09 2024 38 mins

Maxxxine is the final neon-soaked chapter of Ti West's trilogy, blending genres influenced by their respective decades. Gabe talks about how sexuality is explored in Ti West's trilogy and gives us a film history lesson on video nasties. Kat talks about the 1980s Satanic Panic craze. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-ghouls-next-door/support

The Witch (2015): A Folklore of Fanaticism and Family

Oct 02 2024 66 mins

The Witch is a psychological, folktale horror film that offers us a slow descent into a puritanical satanic panic. A witchy crucible tale that subverts the traditional empowering women narratives we're used to. Gabe shares what they took from the film and why a second watch left them terribly depressed. Kat gives a history lesson on Puritans, what brought them to the New World

I Saw the TV Glow (2024): A Tale of Transition

Sep 04 2024 70 mins

I Saw the TV Glow is an experimental, horror film that has audiences facing and exploring their identities. A personal tale of gender dysphoria, the film is heartbreaking and bizarre. Gabe talks about Owen's struggles with their identity, zipping yourself back up to conform to society, and why the sad ending isn't an ending at all. Kat talks about the millennial struggle fo

It Follows (2014): The Many Faces of the Monster

Aug 21 2024 61 mins

It Follows is a unique, dwelling horror film that delves into the abrupt loss of innocence after an assault. While it can be seen as a cautionary tale about STIs, its themes run much deeper. Gabe talks about MC Jay's loss of innocence, reflects on the lingering monster of trauma, and deconstructs the myth that this is a film about an STI demon. Kat talks about the meaning of th