The Sunday Scaries

With awards season just getting started, it's time to let in one of 2025's best horror, if not best overall films, in Ryan Coogler's Sinners.  Rick and Trav welcome filmmaker Ayron La'Vell Walker, as they cover customary vampire etiquette and the outsized impact this genre film has had on the culture.

Tis the season for Rick and Trav to unbox one of their favorite Christmas horror films in Bob Clark's 1974 grand daddy of slashers, Black Christmas. (00:00) - Random Banter (03:22) - Favorite Holiday Movies (05:50)- Movie News (08:03) - Intro (09:34) - Synopsis (10:54) - Overall Thoughts (16:11) - Themes (20:13) - Production Notes (26:30) - Casting (35:05) - Scare-O-Meter -Spoilers Beyond this point!- (36:22) - Highlights (42:30) - Deep Cuts (43:49) - Awards (01:11:04) - Scream King / Queen

Rick and Trav show their age by needing to bring in reinforcements by way of Gen Z Edie (accompanied by her dad, KB) to help unpack this latest adaptation of the popular video game franchise, Five Nights at Freddy's. We discuss wrongful allegations towards Bowling for Soup, Megan Fox's thumbs, and Josh Hutcherson's wardrobe choices in this film.  (00:00) - Random Banter (01:35) - Introducing Gen Z Edie & KB (05:30) - Movie News (Netflix & WB) (09:38) - Intro / FNAF 2 Theatrical Experience (12:13) - Synopsis (15:43) - Overall Thoughts (31:21) - FNAF Lore w/ Gen Z Edie (34:11) - Production Notes (43:05) - Casting (51:08) - Scare-O-Meter -Spoilers Beyond this point!- (55:55) - Deep Cuts (59:05) - Highlights (01:02:30) - Awards (01:48:43) - Scream King / Queen Award

Rick and Trav share all that they're thankful for from the second best fake trailer-turned-movie (hat tip to MACHETE) in Eli Roth's 2023 THANKSGIVING.  A slasher served with questionable ethics of Patrick Dempsey's "Sexiest Man Alive" win, a slice of Neck Glass Guy, and even a dash of tasteful cannibalism, this one has it all. (00:00) - Teasing the 1st Annual Spooky Awards on Dec 21st (3:25) - Intro / Synopsis / Where We Saw It (7:44) - Overall Thoughts (15:30) - Analysis  (19:21) - Production Notes (26:30) - Casting (31:54) - The Real John Carver (34:21) - Scare-O-Meter  (36:06) - Deep Cuts [Spoilers here on out] (43:39) - Highlights (48:52) - Awards (1:26:52) - Outro / Coming Up Next

Rick & Trav tackle Osgood Perkins' new folk horror KEEPER, his third collaboration with Neon in two years. We discuss movie theatre etiquette, 1950's needle drops, and whether chocolate cake is overrated, underrated, or perfectly rated.  (00:00) - Banter (6:02) - Teasing the Annual Spooky Awards Episode (7:17) - Intro / Theatre Experience / Overall Thoughts (22:27) - Analysis (28:18) - Production Notes (32:49) - Casting (39:01) - Scare-o-Meter Rating  (39:43) - Highlights / Spoilers after this point! (42:31) - Deep Cuts  (46:44) - Awards (01:22:18) - Outro / Coming Up Next

In preparation for Osgood Perkins' upcoming release KEEPER, Rick and Trav slowly recover their memories of Perkins' 2024 horror hit, LONGLEGS.  Favorite Nic Cage performances, Perkins familial ties, making deals with Mr. Downstairs, and so much more to make our listeners happy as peaches.  HAIL THE SUNDAY SCARIES! (00:00) - A Short Nic Cage Story (03:15) Intro / Best Horror Films of 2024 (5:20) Overall Thoughts / Analysis (13:00) Production Notes / Osgood Perkins' Influences (32:32) Casting / Our Favorite Nic Cage Performances (44:16) Scare-O-Meter  (45:38) Highlights (52:40) Awards (01:25:37) Outro / Coming Soon

It's ALIVE!!!  Rick and Trav resurrect their love for gothic horror as they cover Guillermo del Toro's new take on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  We debate how common confusing Frankenstein for his monster is and come together in our disappointment that we were teased with a variant of the Creature where he has Syphilis that ultimately does not pan out. (00:00) - Post-Halloween Banter (05:00) - Horror Movie News (06:40) - Intro / Where We Saw It (14:27) - Overall Thoughts / Analysis (30:28) - Production Notes (47:47) - Novel vs. Movie (50:53) - Awards (01:37:27) - Outro / Coming Soon

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

We are terrifingly honored to have scary movie expert, SMU film professor, and published author Dr. Rick Worland on the pod with us to cover John Carpenter's genre-defining slasher of all slashers - HALLOWEEN (1978). You can find Dr. Worland's recently revised book THE HORROR FILM: AN INTRODUCTION here [https://www.amazon.com/Horror-Film-Introduction-Approaches-Genre/dp/1119715261]. (00:00) - Introducing Dr. Worland (06:03) - Horror Movie News (08:43) - Defining what makes a Horror Film (15:40) - Overall Thoughts (20:07) - PSYCHO's Influence on HALLOWEEN (25:00) - Development (BLACK CHRISTMAS, Debra Hill, etc.) (34:35) - Making Of (The Music, The Mask, & The Money) (47:20) - Dr. Worland's Thematic Analysis  (58:05) - Awards (01:45:47) - Outro / Coming Soon

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

The boys answer the call to Scott Derrickson's follow-up to his 2022 surprise hit in this year's BLACK PHONE 2 as they cover 80's tropes, 8mm film, and the power of the ole "I'll pray for you!!!"

Our spooky special episode covering Michael Dougherty's Halloween fixture, Trick 'r Treat.  Jenna Pumpkin joins us to dive into the history of Halloween, Rick and Jenna cover the fraught release of the film and why that contributed to its cult status, and Benny Townsend joins us again as we cover our scary movie awards.  Go see Trick 'r Treat, back in theaters for only two nights this week (Tuesday, 10/14, and Thursday, 10/16)!

* This one's for the dogs!  Rick and Trav throw a bone to indie horror films as they cover Ben Leonberg's debut film, GOOD BOY (2025).  Plenty of reminiscing about their own goods boys, who both recently passed, with coverage of the film starting at 33:10.

Rick & Trav have historically done their best to avoid death and taxes. But in this episode what we can't avoid is our guest - old friend Joseph Ryan Gaasbeck AKA Juggy AKA Captain Clutch AKA Trav's former roommate AKA my former college rugby teammate, who joins us during the Awards portion of the show. Together we discuss the structural integrity of space needle buildings and rank all the kill scenes in this booming success of a legacy sequel.

Calling all Himbos, Himothée Chalamets, & Himzel Washingtons!  Rick & Trav tackle HIM (2025), a rare combo of their two favorite pastimes: football and horror. The boys get into the best fake pro football teams, why the Green Bay Packers are cursed, and troubleshoot how to rid Trav's daughters of their continued nightmares of the scariest mascot of all: Gritty.

Rick and Trav band together to walk down one of their surprise horror hits of the year, Francis Lawrence's The Long Walk (2025).  A film that may be the best analogy for this podcast, Travis ensures they keep the pace, Rick brings the soul, and amidst the struggles of watching, recording, and editing a podcast in under 48 hours, their bond of brotherhood is only made stronger. While the laughs are few and deaths are graphic, they still step through kids getting shot mid bowel movement, JoJo Rabbit, favorite Stephen King adaptations, and questionable shoe decisions.

The end of the Warrens, The Conjuring Franchise, and our Franchise series, Rick and Trav come out of retirement to cover Michael Chaves' last chapter for Ed and Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring: Last Rites.  More haunted hospital visits, some scary mirrors, Father Gordon praise, and chickens running amok at birthday parties; we cover it all.

Sometimes you just have to lift up and celebrate murderers - Rick and Trav continue their deep dive into the Conjuring franchise in preparation for the release of Last Rites, by covering The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021).  We chat about the switch to Michael Chaves at Director, dubious legal defense strategies, how far one can take "based on a true story", and waterbeds.

Rick and Trav continue our Franchise Series in preparation for the release of THE CONJURING: LAST RITES (9/5/25), as we hop across the pond and investigate James Wan's THE CONJURING 2 (2016).  We cover appropriate London montage music, ventriloquists, flooded basements, and litigate more case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Grab your rosary and an Nalgene bottle of holy water, we are kicking off a hecka new Franchise Series on THE CONJURING, that we have colloquially dubbed "If This Is Wrong, We Don't Wanna Be Rite!" This dang week we begin with James Wan's 2013 original, before working our way through the 2016 sequel next week 8/24, followed by the 3rd film from 2021 on 8/31, and finishing with the upcoming 4th and final (?) entry, THE CONJURING: LAST RITES releasing in theatres 9/5. In this gosh darn episode Ricky develops a mysterious rash, Travis becomes a believer, and we have a special guest. God Bless all of you Scary Heads!  Shout out to the following sources that helped us with research for this episode: * Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/war-conjuring-disturbing-claims-behind-a-billion-dollar-franchise-1064364/] * US Ghost Adventures [https://usghostadventures.com/americas-most-haunted-trending/conjuring-controversy-unraveling-the-warrens-legacy/] * What Went Wrong Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SUwY8WDlcfF5IF3ldfb7W?si=f7ce75baf0d24ae4] * Last Podcast on the Left [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2puwHf9uXKKsP3ETQ5rs8D?si=DZFvEIkbQjWPB1N9Ph_1cA]