Sitting in the Dark

What does it actually take to make a horror film that matters? Not a studio green light. Not a VFX budget. Not a catering line.This month, Chelsea Stardust curates three films that answer that question on their own uncompromising terms. Jeremy Gardner's The Battery strips the zombie apocalypse down to two former baseball players, a Discman, and a friendship slowly coming apart at the seams. Starry Eyes follows a young actress as the machinery of Hollywood ambition grinds her into something unrecognizable — and possibly exactly what she always wanted to be. And Hellbender, made by a real family in their real backyard, turns the mother-daughter relationship into a folk horror inheritance no one asked for and no one can refuse.Together, these three films share a preoccupation with death and rebirth — not as plot mechanics, but as the thing transformation actually costs. Chelsea, Pete, Kynan, and Tommy dig into what it means to make something from almost nothing, and why the best low-budget horror isn't resourceful so much as honest.Featured FilmsTonight's Triple Feature:The Battery - Apple TV | Amazon Starry Eyes - Apple TV Hellbender - Apple TV | AmazonView Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(03:34) - The Battery(28:49) - Starry Eyes(50:01) - Hellbender(01:09:23) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Chelsea | Kyle | Kynan | Pete | Tommy Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

This month on Sitting in the Dark, we go big: big monsters, big fear, and big systems that respond to catastrophe with the confidence of a guy who just Googled “what is monster” on his way into the meeting. Kynan, Chelsea Stardust, Tommy Metz III, and Pete Wright take on three modern giant-creature films—Bong Joon-ho’s The Host (2006), André Øvredal’s Troll Hunter (2010), and Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One (in its Minus Color presentation)—and find a weirdly consistent thread across wildly different cultures: when the giant thing shows up, the institutions mostly don’t.The Host kicks things off with tonal whiplash as a feature, not a bug. The film’s mix of grief, comedy, and political bite becomes its own kind of monster, and the conversation circles what Bong is really lampooning, what still lands, and what hits differently on a rewatch. The creature design gets its due too—full daylight, hard to pin down, impossible to “know”—but what lingers is the movie’s sense that people become collateral long before anything with teeth arrives.Troll Hunter shifts the vibe without letting you off the hook. The group gets into the found-footage push-pull—shaky cam, “why are you still filming,” all that—then pretty quickly agrees that Hans, the deadpan troll hunter, is the secret weapon. The film’s charm is how seriously it takes the ridiculous premise: folklore becomes logistics, mythology becomes fieldwork, and the jokes don’t erase the danger. It’s one of those movies that makes you laugh… then reminds you you’d die immediately.Godzilla Minus One brings it home with a version of Godzilla that’s less “spectacle” and more “reckoning.” The group talks about the postwar setting, the human story at the center, why the black-and-white presentation changes the feel of the effects, and how this movie earns its impact through quiet scenes as much as destruction.Across all three films, the episode keeps returning to the same uncomfortable idea: these are blue-collar fights. The people who do anything meaningful aren’t the polished experts. They’re ordinary, exhausted, under-resourced, and improvising. Which might be the scariest part.Next month, Chelsea flips the table for her birthday picks with an ultra low-budget lineup: The Battery (2012), Hellbender (2021), and Starry Eyes (2014).🎬 Featured Films🍿 Tonight's Triple Feature:The Host - Apple TV | Amazon Trollhunter - Apple TV | Amazon Godzilla Minus One - Apple TV | Amazon📋 View Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(05:21) - The Host(28:30) - Trollhunter(50:28) - Godzilla Minus One(01:21:27) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Chelsea | Kyle | Kynan | Pete | Tommy Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

This month, Sitting in the Dark smiles politely, locks the door, and then asks you to reconsider every coping mechanism you’ve ever trusted. Tommy Metz III is joined by filmmaker Chelsea Stardust and Pete Wright to excavate the uneasy trilogy formed by Smile, Smile 2, and the short-film patient zero, Laura Hasn’t Slept, all courtesy of writer-director Parker Finn—a man who looked at the concept of healing and said, “Yes, but what if absolutely not.”The conversation begins with Laura Hasn’t Slept, a short film so assured it feels like a résumé quietly slid across the table while maintaining unsettling eye contact. Therapy, dreams, and sleep deprivation collide in a space that should feel safe and instead feels like a trapdoor with a co-pay. The group wrestles with the idea that this story may not be a beginning at all, but a closed loop—what it looks like once the monster has already moved in and started redecorating.From there, the episode moves into Smile, a film that takes the metaphor of trauma and strips away subtlety. It’s tired of pretending this is going to end well. Broken promises pile up. Authority figures fail spectacularly. “Safe space” becomes an ironic term at best. The panel digs into the film’s clinical color palette, its fixation on mirrors, and its unrelenting thesis: awareness is not protection, healing is not guaranteed, and sometimes the best you can do is not make things worse for the next person.Then Smile 2 kicks the door off its hinges. By shifting the curse to a global pop star, the sequel swaps quiet dread for public spectacle without sacrificing cruelty. Addiction, celebrity, parasocial obsession, and relentless visibility all become accelerants, pushing the franchise into its most confident—and most punishing—form. Naomi Scott’s Skye Riley is surrounded by people at all times and still utterly alone, a neat trick the film performs while tightening the noose.Across all three entries, the episode circles the same bleak conclusion: these movies aren’t interested in defeating trauma. They’re interested in how efficiently it spreads, how convincingly it blends in, and how easily it convinces you that you’re doing just fine. Smile for the camera.🎬 Featured Films🍿 Tonight's Triple Feature:Laura Hasn’t Slept - Daily Motion | LetterboxdSmile - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdSmile 2 - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📋 View Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(01:31) - All Smiles(04:43) - Laura Hasn't Slept(12:21) - Looking Out the Window(14:17) - SMILE 1(26:37) - Smile 1(27:09) - Smile 2(27:55) - Smile 3(28:15) - Smile 4(28:29) - Smile 5(28:51) - Smile 6(29:03) - Smile 7(41:43) - SMILE 2(51:43) - Smile 8(52:13) - Smile 10(52:33) - Smile 11(58:29) - HS 1(58:47) - HS 2(59:15) - Smile Necklace(59:51) - Smile Mug(01:00:47) - Smile 12(01:01:25) - Smile 13Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

The 1980s were a golden age of VHS horror excess — when night was the time to party, die, or both. This month, Chelsea Stardust takes the hosting reins and brings us a triple feature of midnight mayhem: Night of the Comet (1984), Night of the Creeps (1986), and Night of the Demons (1988). What begins with a Christmas-morning apocalypse of Valley Girls and zombies spirals into brain-slug infestations and ends in a demon-filled funeral-parlor rave that only the most caffeinated teenagers could survive.Pete, Kynan, Tommy, and Chelsea pull each film apart like a possessed VCR — celebrating Comet’s pastel apocalypse and genuinely progressive sister-heroes, Creeps’ mix of alien parasites and B-movie heart, and Demons’ glorious, unhinged chaos.  Expect debates over whether these movies actually knew they were camp, why 1980s “fun horror” felt lighter even when dripping in blood, and how mall culture, frat parties, and Halloween nights all became stages for teenage empowerment and bad decisions.They also crown the best survivor of the trilogy (spoiler: justice for Roger!), nominate the worst audio mix in horror history, and reveal which lipstick trick broke Pete’s brain.  Plus, Tommy announces next month’s pick — the Smile franchise, beginning with the short Laura Hasn’t Slept — proving that even in 2025, we’re still chasing trauma through the dark with a flashlight and a laugh.🎬 Featured Films🍿 Tonight's Triple Feature:Night of the Comet - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdNight of the Creeps - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdNight of the Demons - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📋 View Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(00:43) - Night of the 80s(03:05) - Night of the Comet(24:19) - Night of the Creeps(39:45) - Night of the Demons(01:00:58) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

In the beginning, God said, “Let there be light.” But then, apparently, He got bored and switched it off just to see what would happen. Welcome to Sitting in the Dark, where this month Kynan, Chelsea, Tommy, and Pete explore what happens when filmmakers yank away humanity’s favorite nightlight. Their lineup: Wait Until Dark (1967), Don’t Breathe (2016), and Pitch Black (2000)—three films that remind us that darkness isn’t just the absence of light, it’s the presence of bad decisions.We start with Wait Until Dark, in which Audrey Hepburn, recently blinded, gets harassed by Alan Arkin and a few other men who apparently missed the memo about “don’t terrorize vulnerable women.” Then we stumble into Don’t Breathe, where three young idiots break into the wrong house and discover that Stephen Lang’s blind war vet has taken “home security” to a level that can only be described as “OSHA violation.” Finally, the crew rockets to Pitch Black, where Vin Diesel proves once again that he can growl through any lighting condition. It’s a film so early-2000s it practically comes with a Nu Metal soundtrack and a free AOL disc.So grab your flashlights, blow out your candles, and maybe keep one bulb unbroken… you know, just in case.Featured FilmsTonight's Triple Feature:Wait Until Dark - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdPitch Black - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdDon’t Breathe - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdView Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:05) - Between Light and Dark(04:33) - Wait Until Dark(25:44) - Don't Breathe(47:20) - Pitch BlackSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Sometimes horror doesn’t need a killer in a mask—it just needs gravity, leaky plumbing, and a loose screw. This week Pete, Tommy, Kynan, and Chelsea dive headlong into the beautifully deranged contraptions of fate in the Final Destination series. We zero in on films one, two, five, and six, skipping the middle entries (with Chelsea reluctantly leaving her beloved roller coaster behind) to track how the franchise evolved from eerie paranoia to glossy spectacle—and sometimes back again.What makes these films so uniquely unnerving? They erase the safe distance of supernatural slashers and drop death right in our kitchens, on our highways, and even at the optometrist. From the infamous log truck pile-up in Final Destination 2 to the unexpectedly brilliant twist of Final Destination 5, the series keeps daring us to see everyday objects as lethal Rube Goldberg machines. Along the way, we debate the rules of death (are they rules or just improv?), celebrate Tony Todd as the connective tissue of the franchise, and wrestle with whether the overpolished look of Bloodlines makes its gore more cartoonish than chilling. And yes, we all pick our favorite kills—expect airbags, bathtubs, and gymnastic mats to come up in conversation.It’s a franchise that’s as much about philosophy as phobia—existential dread wrapped in popcorn horror, where the fun lies in watching fate toy with its victims like a sadistic game master. Whether you love the paranoia of not knowing which object will strike next or the catharsis of absurd spectacle, Final Destination has a death with your name on it. Join us, as we laugh, squirm, and admit how these movies have ruined car rides, kitchen appliances, and even snow globes forever.Featured FilmsTonight's Quadruple Feature:Final Destination 1 - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdFinal Destination 2 - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdFinal Destination 5 - Apple TV| Amazon | LetterboxdFinal Destination Bloodlines - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📋 View Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:26) - Final Destination(11:49) - Final Destination(22:27) - Final Destination 2(36:18) - 3 & 4(37:16) - Final Destination 5(45:21) - "Death Edging" — Tommy(48:01) - Final Destination Bloodlines(01:05:05) - Favorite Kills(01:10:19) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Out in the remote villages of South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand, belief isn’t just tradition—it’s infrastructure. In this month’s episode of Sitting in the Dark, guest host Andy Nelson takes Pete Wright, Tommy Metz III, and Kynan Dias on a journey into three modern horror films that weaponize spiritual legacy: The Wailing (2016), Impetigore (2019), and The Medium (2021). Each film presents a different lens on the collision between folk belief and contemporary life, and none of them offers easy answers.The panel dives deep into the disorienting tone shifts of The Wailing, where slapstick cops and demonic rituals clash with devastating consequences. They unpack the haunting beauty and brutal tradition behind Impetigore, a film that begins in a toll booth and ends in generational damnation. And The Medium, with its immersive mockumentary format, challenges our understanding of family, fate, and whether gods actually have your best interests at heart.What unites these films? An unnerving thesis: belief might not protect you—it might damn you. These aren’t stories of good versus evil. They’re stories about what happens when spiritual systems—old and new, global and local—overlap and collapse. And in the end, maybe the most terrifying realization is that all these spirits, deities, and curses… simply don’t care what you believe.Join us this month as we stare into the spiritual void, question the value of ritual, and contemplate the horror of legacy itself.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:The Wailing: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdImpetigore: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdThe Medium: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:19) - Asian Horror with Andy!(15:13) - The Wailing(31:21) - Impetigore(49:27) - The MediumSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Some horror films end with a twist. These films start with a premise, wait until you’ve buckled in, and then swerve into oncoming traffic. Welcome to Rug Pullers, the subgenre where the story you thought you were watching was the bait. This week, Tommy, Pete, Kynan, and guest Chelsea Stardust tear into three films that gleefully yank the floorboards out from under you: Ghostwatch (1992), the BBC broadcast that gaslit an entire country into thinking their telly was haunted; Barbarian (2022), a movie that weaponizes airbnbs; and Strange Darling (2023), a predator–prey thriller that rearranges itself so often it could qualify as Lego.We debate whether Barbarian’s “mother” is a monster or the most tragic character in the film, whether Ghostwatch’s bumbling TV presenters are brilliant or just British, and whether Strange Darling’s chapter titles are clever or just yelling at you in big fonts. Chelsea Stardust brings a filmmaker’s take on horror tropes, Kynan grapples with whether rug-pulls are honest shocks or cinematic pranks, and Pete wonders if humanity should collectively agree never to go into creepy basement-basements again.These movies sucker punch. They remind you that horror isn’t about the monster in the dark, it’s about the floor that you’re standing on... and how you never noticed that it is made of quicksand.Featured FilmsTonight's Triple Feature:Ghostwatch - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdBarbarian - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdStrange Darling - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdView Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(03:02) - Introducing Chelsea Stardust!(04:18) - Rug Pullers(05:55) - Ghostwatch(09:07) - GW1(09:29) - Ghostwatch(25:08) - GW2(25:41) - Ghostwatch(31:21) - GW3(31:51) - Barbarian(55:01) - Strange Darling(01:16:23) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Dracula may never stay dead, but his film incarnations sure evolve—or devolve—across decades. In this episode, Kyle Olson guides Pete Wright, Kynan Dias, and Tommy Metz III through three flavors of Dracula: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Dracula 2000, and Dracula Untold.They dig into Coppola’s sweaty gothic melodrama, where Oldman chews the scenery and Keanu Reeves gets chewed out. Then it’s on to Dracula 2000, where Gerard Butler’s vampire has some serious history, and finally Dracula Untold, where Luke Evans broods his way through a Marvel-ified antihero origin story.The team debates: Is Dracula sexy? Is he even supposed to be? Is he best as a metaphor for carnal desire, theological vengeance, or medieval honor? And what happens when you declaw the monster in hopes of building a cinematic universe?Kyle signs off with a legacy worthy of the Count himself, and Tommy reveals next month’s theme: rug-pulling horror films with Barbarian, Strange Darling, and the legendary British TV special Ghostwatch.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdDracula 2000: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdDracula Untold: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdThe Drac Pack(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(03:07) - Bram Stoker's Dracula(29:07) - Dracula 2000(45:02) - Dracula Untold(01:03:37) - The Drac Pack(01:10:09) - But Kyle promised immortality!(01:12:08) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

This Pride Month edition of Sitting in the Dark shines a lavender light on the long-standing but often invisible relationship between horror cinema and queer identity. Host Kynan Dias traces horror’s appeal to outsiders—particularly LGBTQ+ viewers—who find coded representation in monsters, victims, and the margins of genre storytelling.The episode dives deep into three genre-defining films.The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)James Whale’s campy sequel is reevaluated as a foundational queer text. The panel explores how Whale, an out gay director, infused the film with coded themes of same-sex companionship, rejection, and theatricality. From Dr. Pretorius’s foppish villainy to the Bride’s brief, iconic scream, the film is bursting with subtext—much of it retroactively interpreted through the lens of queer longing and societal othering. The group also riffs on Whale’s tonal whiplash, Elsa Lanchester’s cultural impact, and why “We belong dead” might be the most tragic queer line in horror history.A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)Often derided as a messy sequel, this film is now embraced by many as a camp classic of queer horror. The conversation covers the now-notorious creative denials around its subtext, the dynamic between actor Mark Patton and the filmmakers, and the striking presence of a “final boy” whose journey blurs lines between possession, repression, and queer awakening. The film’s overt homoeroticism—locker rooms, leather bars, and sweaty dance sequences—is discussed not just for laughs, but as meaningful queer coding in the Reagan-era horror landscape. The panel also reckons with Freddy as a metaphor for internalized shame, and what it means when a horror film can’t quite let its subtext become text.Titane (2021)Winner of the Palme d’Or and easily the most divisive film of the trio, Titane pushes the panel into complex conversations about gender fluidity, body horror, and the relationship between performance and identity. Is this a trans allegory? A critique of binaries? Or just a deeply weird tale of trauma and transformation? The hosts wrestle with the film’s ambiguity, discussing its uncompromising visuals, unexpectedly tender surrogate father-son relationship, and what it means to build a chosen family amidst radical bodily change. Some saw it as alienating; others, transcendent. All agreed: this one will be analyzed for decades.This episode doesn’t wrap everything up with a rainbow bow—and that’s the point. Horror isn’t tidy, and queerness rarely comes with clean lines or clear labels. But if you’ve ever felt like the monster, the final someone, or the person who’s just a little too into the firetruck, this conversation might feel like coming home. Or at least like sitting in the dark with people who see what you see.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:The Bride of Frankenstien: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdA Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdTitane: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(01:33) - Coded Queer Horror(04:31) - Dealing with the Morality Police(10:49) - Bride of Frankenstein(29:42) - A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge(48:23) - Titane(01:16:14) - Coming Attractions: The Drac PackSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Pete Wright hosts a brutally personal Mother’s Day episode of Sitting in the Dark, joined by regular co-conspirators Kyle Olson, Kynan Dias, and Tommy Metz III, as they dig into three films that ask a profoundly unsettling question: What if Mom is the monster?We start with Run (2020), a film that’s more “Lifetime original” than it has any right to be. It’s clean, tight, and distressingly effective. Sarah Paulson’s performance is terrifying not because she twirls her mustache but because she doesn’t have one. And newcomer Kiera Allen rolls (yes, rolls) away with the movie by doing exactly what her character does best—staying two clever steps ahead.Next, Goodnight Mommy (2014). Austrian, austere, and absolutely harrowing. It’s a film about maternal misrecognition, grief-fueled delusion, and the dangers of not labeling your twins’ toothbrushes. There’s a twist, and if you see it coming, that won’t make the third act any less of a gut punch. It’s what happens when grief curdles, and no one’s left to explain bedtime.And then: mother! (2017). Darren Aronofsky’s symphonic descent into allegorical madness. Sure, it’s “about” the Bible. It’s also about climate change. It’s about patriarchy, artistic ego, and the cosmic price of hospitality. Or maybe it’s just a guy on a cocaine bender writing a play he’ll never finish. Whether you think it’s pretentious or profound (hint: it’s both), one thing is clear—Jennifer Lawrence earns every ounce of your attention and maybe a few gallons of blood.Across these three films, the panel explores how motherhood in horror isn’t just about nurture gone wrong. It’s about architecture—both of the home and the psyche. It’s about women who are worshipped, consumed, blamed, and erased. And yes, sometimes it’s about cockroaches.Films Discussed:Run (2020) – dir. Aneesh ChagantyGoodnight Mommy (2014) – dir. Veronika Franz & Severin Fialamother! (2017) – dir. Darren AronofskyComing AttractionsFor Pride Month, Kynan’s curating a trio of queer-coded and queer-explicit horror: from the monstrous repression of Nightmare on Elm Street 2, to the camp and creaturehood of Bride of Frankenstein, to the raw queer body-horror ballet of Titane. You won’t want to miss it.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:Run: Apple • Hulu • LetterboxdGoodnight Mommy: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxdmother!: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:57) - The Horror Bond of Motherhood(10:33) - Run(27:35) - Goodnight Mommy(44:31) - Mother!(01:04:41) - Coming attractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Welcome, you depraved ghouls and ghost enthusiasts, to another episode of Sitting in the Dark—the podcast where we ask the truly vital horror questions, like, “Is this house cursed by restless spirits, or is it just what happens when unresolved trauma and black mold get into a knife fight?” This week, host Tommy Metz III is joined by fellow ghost provocateurs Pete Wright, Kynan Dias, and Kyle Olson to dig into haunted house horror—though not just your average “the walls are bleeding, but let’s still stay the night” tales. No, we’re talking haunted spaces—as in, Session 9, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and The Others—three films that prove the scariest thing in any building isn’t the wallpaper peeling off the walls… it’s the emotional wreckage you brought with you.Tommy kicks things off with a haunted homage to asbestos removal (yes, really), leading a deep dive into Brad Anderson’s Session 9—the only film that will make you afraid of abandoned hospitals and David Caruso’s dramatic whisper-acting. Then it’s on to Mike Flanagan’s miraculous studio rescue, Ouija: Origin of Evil—the rare horror prequel that’s smarter than its brand deal, sharper than its title suggests, and way too good to be based on a board game. Finally, the gang closes the coffin lid on Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others, Nicole Kidman’s masterclass in weaponized repression, ghostly guilt, and why sunlight is overrated anyway.Along the way, expect critical mass levels of hot takes on ghost psychology, asbestos-based metaphors, PG-13 trauma horror, and why the real haunted house is sometimes the one you build inside your own mind. So pull the blackout curtains tight, polish your crucifixes, and maybe call your therapist—because tonight, we’re not just sitting in the dark. We are the dark.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:Session 9: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdOuija: Origin of Evil: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdThe Others: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:29) - Do you LOVE Ghost Stories(04:59) - Thinking about Haunted House Tales(11:25) - Session 9(19:17) - Mysterious Peanut Butter(21:01) - Session 9(30:40) - Ouija: Origin of Evil(50:13) - The OthersSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

For nearly a century, horror films have told us a story—one of terror, of survival, of the inevitable confrontation between innocence and brutality. But there’s one story, in particular, that has evolved in ways both subtle and seismic: the story of the Final Girl.It begins in the shadows, in the screams of Janet Leigh, in the wide, terror-stricken eyes of Jamie Lee Curtis. The Final Girl is the last one standing, the one who fights back, who outwits the killer, who survives. But survival is never just survival, is it? It’s transformation.It’s a reckoning. And it’s a mirror reflecting the anxieties of the era.In this episode of Sitting in the Dark, Kyle Olson takes us on a journey—a journey that moves from the early days of horror’s damsels-in-distress to the fierce, unrelenting heroines of the modern era. With Pete Wright, Tommy Metz III, and Kynan Dias by his side, the discussion turns to three films that redefine the trope for the 21st century: Prey (2022), Sweetheart (2019), and The Invisible Man (2020).What do these films tell us about the evolution of gender in horror? How does the Final Girl of today differ from her predecessors? And perhaps most intriguingly, why are these stories—stories written by men—resonating so deeply with audiences yearning for something different?From the jungles of Prey to the desolate island of Sweetheart to the omnipresent, unseen menace of The Invisible Man, this is an exploration of fear, of power, and of the ghosts that refuse to be ignored. Because in horror, as in life, survival is never just about making it to the end. It’s about what you become along the way.Film SundriesWatch the movies discussed:Sweetheart: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdThe Invisible Man: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdPrey: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdHer Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film by Carol J. Clover(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(05:31) - Sweetheart(19:33) - Prey(40:49) - The Invisible Man(01:02:16) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Welcome to Sitting in the Dark, the podcast that illuminates the shadowy corners of horror cinema. This month, your host, Kynan Dias, and a coven of his most insightful monster aficionados – Pete Wright, Kyle Olson, and Tommy Metz III – go under the sheets into a chillingly erotic realm: the intersection of horror and sex.Now, we're not talking about the gratuitous, the exploitative. No, this is a deeper dive, a plunge into the murky waters where fear and desire intertwine. Think of it as the uncanny valley of emotion – that unsettling space where repulsion and attraction collide.Our cinematic subjects? A trio of films that span decades and genres, each offering a unique perspective on this monstrous ménage à trois. First, we confront the hallucinatory, emotionally raw world of Andrzej Żuławski's Possession. Isabelle Adjani's Cannes-winning performance anchors this psychosexual nightmare, a film that pushes the boundaries of body horror and marital breakdown. Prepare for tentacles. Prepare for existential dread. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about love and divorce.Next, we shapeshift into Mike Nichols' Wolf, a film that explores the beast within. Jack Nicholson's transformation from corporate drone to lycanthrope becomes a metaphor for unleashed primal instincts.Finally, we sink our teeth into Karen Kusama's Jennifer's Body. This darkly comedic horror-satire tackles the complexities of female desire and monstrous appetites. Megan Fox, as the titular Jennifer, embodies the seductive power of the demonic feminine, a force that both allures and devours.Film SundriesPossession: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchWolf: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchJennifer’s Body: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(01:51) - Sexy, Sexy Monsters(05:51) - Possession(24:32) - Wolf(46:27) - Jennifer's Body(01:10:23) - Coming Attractions: Last Woman StandingSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

What makes a single movie become a phenomenon? What is it about certain films—films that arrive in theaters, scare the daylights out of us, and then stay with us—that transforms them into franchises spanning decades? Why does one horror film birth sequels, spin-offs, reboots, and even TV shows, while others fade quietly into obscurity?Picture this: a young boy receives a doll for his birthday, only to discover it’s inhabited by the spirit of a serial killer. Elsewhere, a teenager falls asleep, only to find herself hunted by a burned man in a striped sweater who kills through dreams. And, in another corner of horror lore, a puzzle box opens the doors to a realm of sadistic creatures who blur the line between pleasure and pain. These, taken on their own, sound mostly ridiculous.Child’s Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Hellraiser. These three films became more than just singular stories—they evolved into worlds. Worlds filled with iconic characters like Chucky, Freddy Krueger, and Pinhead, names that transcend the genre to become part of pop culture itself. But how?Why do some horror films captivate us so deeply that we want to revisit their worlds, again and again? Why do we keep coming back to the dolls, the dream-demons, and the interdimensional sadists? Unforgettable villains? Unique and terrifying concepts? Marketing? Or is it something deeper—something they reflect about us, about our society, about our fears?Today, we’re going to explore this question by diving into these three legendary horror films as we take on First Frights this month on Sitting in the Dark with Pete Wright, Kynan Dias, Kyle Olson, and Tommy Metz III. (00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:35) - First Frights(06:01) - A Nightmare on Elm Street(24:16) - Hellraiser(44:55) - Child's Play(01:04:24) - Coming Attractions: Sexy, Sexy Monsters!Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Tommy, our intrepid host, plunges into the abyss of existential dread this week, dragging Kyle, Kynan, and Pete along for the harrowing ride. They grapple with three films that explore the unnerving realities behind the horrors of being an adult.First up, Vivarium. Imagine, if you will, the quintessential suburban nightmare. Cookie-cutter houses stretching into an unsettling infinity, a chirping, unsettling child not your own, and the slow, creeping realization that escape is an illusion. Is it a commentary on the soul-crushing monotony of modern life? A chilling parable of alien brood parasitism? Or perhaps, a darkly comedic reflection of parenthood itself?Next, they venture into the corporate jungle with The Belko Experiment. Eighty employees trapped in a high-rise, forced to participate in a gruesome game of kill-or-be-killed. The veneer of civility shatters, revealing the primal instincts simmering beneath the surface of workplace decorum. Is it social commentary disguised as a splatterfest? A Darwinian exploration of capitalism's dark underbelly? Or simply a guilty pleasure wallowing in ultraviolence?Finally, they confront the horrors of aging and mental decline in The Father. Anthony Hopkins delivers a masterful performance as a man losing his grip on reality, the film's disorienting structure mirroring his fragmented consciousness. This isn't your typical jump-scare horror; it's a slow burn of psychological terror, a visceral exploration of a fear that resonates with us all.Film SundriesWatch the movies discussed:Vivarium: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchThe Belko Experiment: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchThe Father: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:49) - Vivarium(34:36) - The Belko Experiment(52:43) - The Father(01:02:23) - Father 1(01:02:32) - Father 2(01:02:55) - Father 4(01:03:15) - Father 7(01:03:29) - Father 8(01:03:45) - The Father(01:15:58) - There is no bow(01:17:41) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Richard Connell's 1924 short story, "The Most Dangerous Game," continues to haunt and inspire filmmakers nearly a century later. Its chilling premise of a wealthy sportsman hunting humans for sport has resonated through decades of cinema, influencing countless horror and thriller narratives. Join Kyle and his subjects, Pete, Kynan, and Tommy, as they embark on a thrilling exploration of this enduring tale and its impact on modern film.This episode of "Sitting in the Dark" focuses on three distinct cinematic interpretations of the "man hunting man" theme, each offering a unique perspective on the source material. The discussion begins with "The Hunt" (2020), a big-budget action thriller starring Betty Gilpin and Hilary Swank. The hosts dissect the film's controversial reception, its exploration (or lack thereof) of class warfare and political commentary, and the effectiveness of its fast-paced, often brutal action sequences. They debate whether the film's slick Hollywood production enhances or detracts from its core message.Next, the group turns to "Get Duked!", a British horror-comedy that subverts expectations with its unique rhythm and youthful energy. The hosts praise the film's performances, its exploration of class dynamics, and its ability to make the vast Scottish Highlands feel terrifying. They also highlight the surprising subplot involving a local DJ and his unexpected audience.Finally, the discussion shifts to "Run Sweetheart Run," a film that tackles the horrors of being a woman in a world of toxic masculinity. The hosts commend the movie's refusal to be voyeuristic in its depiction of violence against women, while debating the effectiveness of its supernatural elements. They also explore the film's themes of privilege, survival, and the societal constraints faced by women.Throughout the conversation, Kyle and his co-hosts offer insightful analysis and personal reflections on the enduring appeal of the "hunting humans" narrative. They examine how these films tackle issues of class, gender, and power dynamics while delivering thrills and scares. The episode serves as a thought-provoking exploration of how a nearly century-old story continues to shape and inspire modern horror cinema.Film SundriesRead The Most Dangerous Game by Richard ConnellWatch the movies discussed:The Hunt: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchGet Duked: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchRun Sweetheart Run: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(01:58) - The Most Dangerous Game(06:33) - The Hunt(25:02) - Get Duked(39:51) - Run Sweetheart Run(01:09:29) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

This week on Sitting in the Dark, the gang tackles the world of horror anthologies. Host Kynan Dias, along with panelists Pete Wright, Kyle Olson, and Tommy Metz III, dissect three iconic films: Creepshow, Tales from the Hood, and Trick ‘r Treat. Buckle up for a spirited discussion on jump scares, creature features, and the enduring legacy of Stephen King.The conversation kicks off with Creepshow, a film that embraces its comic book roots with vibrant colors and dynamic panel transitions. While the group praises the film's practical effects, particularly the unforgettable creature in "The Crate," they express some reservations about the pacing and Stephen King's acting chops.Next up is Rusty Cundieff's Tales from the Hood, a film that boldly tackles social issues like police brutality and the crack epidemic through a horror lens. The panelists commend the film's ambition and powerful messages, while acknowledging its technical shortcomings. The conversation delves into the effectiveness of horror as a vehicle for social commentary and the challenges of balancing scares with thought-provoking themes.Finally, the group wraps up with Michael Dougherty's Trick ‘r Treat, a film they praise for its intricate storytelling and clever use of practical effects. They marvel at the film's ability to seamlessly weave together seemingly disparate stories into a cohesive and satisfying whole. The episode concludes with a reflection on the enduring appeal of horror anthologies and their unique ability to deliver a smorgasbord of frights.Film SundriesWatch the movies discussed:Creepshow: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchTales from the Hood: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchTrick ‘r Treat: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:07) - Opening Salvo(06:09) - Creepshow(35:29) - Tales from the Hood(59:29) - Life is No Anthology Movie: Support Sitting in the Dark!(01:01:35) - Trick 'r Treat(01:28:03) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Listen, you know that feeling, right? That prickle on the back of your neck when the train rattles through a tunnel, the lights flicker, and for a second, you're utterly alone in the dark? That's where we're going. Deep into the heart of travel horror, where the familiar becomes unsettling, and the journey itself transforms into a terrifying ordeal.We're talking about those moments of vulnerability, stripped of our usual defenses, hurtling through the unknown. We'll dissect the classic, Horror Express, with its telepathic creature picking off passengers one by one. Is it a masterpiece? Debatable. But the raw terror of being trapped, the sheer audacity of a monster stealing your very essence – that's primal. And Christopher Lee? Always mesmerizing.Then, we'll crank up the tension with Joy Ride, a white-knuckle thriller that reminds you: the open road can be a cruel and unforgiving place. You'll feel the desperation, the paranoia tightening its grip as a seemingly harmless prank spirals into a terrifying game of cat-and-mouse. And that voice...that chilling, gravelly voice on the other end of the CB radio? Pure nightmare fuel.Finally, we'll take you to 30,000 feet with Blood Red Sky. Imagine: trapped in a metal tube, hurtling through the sky, and a mother's fierce love becomes the only thing standing between her child and a terrifying threat. It's a claustrophobic pressure cooker of a film, a reminder that sometimes, the most monstrous acts are driven by the most human of instincts.Throughout our journey, we'll unpack the anxieties that simmer beneath the surface of travel: the loss of control, the isolation, the fear of the unknown. We'll laugh, we'll shudder, we'll question our own sanity – because isn't that what makes horror so compelling? So, join us, won't you? But be warned: you might never look at a travel itinerary the same way again.Film SundriesWatch the movies discussed:Horror Express: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchJoy Ride: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchBlood Red Sky: Apple • Netflix • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(09:11) - Horror Express(30:57) - Joy Ride(51:04) - Blood Red Sky(01:12:44) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

In this unnerving episode of Sitting in the Dark, host Tommy Metz III and his co-hosts delve into the spine-chilling world of confinement horror. The discussion focuses on three hand-picked films that trap characters in claustrophobic spaces, forcing them to confront their deepest fears. Want to watch along? You’ll want to set up Gerald’s Game, It Comes at Night, and The Crazies (the 2010 remake). “If it can be a play, it’ll suck as a movie.” Yeah, they take on that old saw and debate the merits of adapting contained stories into feature films. Guess what? It turns out skilled directors can elevate these constrained tales beyond their stage-bound origins. They particularly focus on the 2017 Stephen King adaptation Gerald's Game, dissecting how it taps into unspoken relationship fears and traumas by locking viewers inside the protagonist's increasingly disturbed psyche.Join the Sitting in the Dark team as they explore how cinematic craft can transform limited locations into expansive mindscapes where our darkest terrors become inescapably real. Brace yourself for a haunting journey into the heart of confinement horror.Check out the Films(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(01:21) - Scream in a Box!(05:52) - Gerald's Game(27:50) - It Comes At Night(47:03) - The Crazies (2010)(01:05:16) - Support this Show!(01:06:07) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible