Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror
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© 2026 Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror
Description
Lunatics Radio Hour is a non-fiction history podcast about the history of horror and the horror of history. Each episode explores real, documented events where fear, violence, survival, and the unknown shaped human lives and cultures. The show also traces how historical events influenced film, examining how real-world horrors became the stories and images that appear on screen.
Topics include dark history, psychological phenomena, folklore rooted in fact, and the historical roots of horror cinema. Most episodes focus on researched historical subjects. Occasional short fiction stories are included and clearly labeled.
If you’re drawn to the darker side of history and the real events behind horror films, Lunatics Radio Hour explores where history, fear, and cinema intersect.
238 Episodes
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Why do audiences jump in horror movies? What are some of the greatest jump scares in cinema history? In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby and Alan explore the history of the jump scare, from early suspense filmmaking and the famous “Lewton Bus” scene in Cat People to the modern era of loud, fast-paced horror shocks. We break down how jump scares evolved, why they work psychologically, and the films that helped define the technique across horror history. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join t...
This week Abby and Alan discuss the reported haunting of the Bell Witch in Tennessee during the early 1800s. The events centered on the Bell family and centers around unexplained noises, voices, and physical disturbances. The entity, often called “Kate,” was said to target specific family members. The case became widely known and was later documented in An Authenticated History of the Bell Witch. There are also claims that Andrew Jackson visited the site. The episode reviews the reported even...
This week, Abby and Alan dive into the folklore behind horror’s most contagious curses, from The Ring to Smile to It Follows. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Sources BBC article by Quinn Hargitai: The Strange Power of The Evil EyeA psmag.com article on The Aye-Aye and The Finger of Death by Jason BittelCo...
This week, Abby is joined by Alex Goleman for a double feature of eerie campfire tales, the kind that feel a little too real once the lights go out. “Only The Dead” by Marisca Pichette and “Trash Talk” by Sam Logan. Find more from the authors at mariscapichette.com and samloganwrites.com. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Kep...
This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to discuss the vast and unnerving history of mirrors. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show
Today we are bringing you 6 hometown urban legends straight from our listeners. Follow Madz on Instagram @madzsmiled and @sonrisalibrary. And consider supporting BeLoved Asheville. Follow Abby on Substack: https://substack.com/@lunaticsproject Email us at filmsaboutlunatics@gmail.com with your listener lore. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jorda...
This week Abby and Alan sit down with Dan Roberts to discuss the history of The Babysitter and The Man Upstairs urban legend and When A Stranger Calls (1979). Follow Dan on Substack: https://substack.com/@drob91 Follow Abby on Substack: https://substack.com/@lunaticsproject Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pila...
Have you ever felt like someone was watching you from outside your house? It's an (overdue) honor to present this real scary story from K.L. Mill. If you want to walk down memory lane with us, you can listen to The Man With The Axe (the very first episode of this podcast). Or watch Midnight Visitor. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser...
In 1855, a bizarre incident in Toronto escalated into one of the city’s strangest riots. After a fight broke out between clowns from a visiting circus and members of a volunteer firefighting company, tensions quickly spiraled. What began as a confrontation in a brothel turned into a mob attack that ended with the circus being burned to the ground. In this episode of the Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the Clown Riot of 1855, the culture of volunteer fire companies at the time, and how the cha...
This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to talk through her classifications of horror villains. You can read Kate's original article HERE. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show
Before Salem, there was Connecticut. In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby Brenker sits down with historian Josh Hutchinson to explore the Connecticut Witch Trials, which spanned 1647 to 1697 and led to 11 executions decades before the events in Salem. They discuss the Puritan beliefs and English laws that shaped colonial prosecutions, the role of coerced confessions and spectral evidence, and the social instability that fueled accusations. The episode examines cases including Alse (Al...
This week Abby and Alex present two stories for your enjoyment. In The Light of The Wisps was written by Marisca Pichette. Follow them on Instagram @marisca_write or check out their website: www.mariscapichette.com Airbag was written by Mike Macera. Follow Mike on Instagram and @mikemacera and check out his website: https://www.scene3.co/films Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by M...
This week Abby and Alan discuss the real history of the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, from the first English expeditions to the colony’s unexplained disappearance in 1590. We talk through the major historical theories, including integration with Indigenous tribes, disease, violence, the supernatural and failed rescue attempts. Finally, we explore how this mystery shaped modern horror, including references in Storm of the Century by Stephen King and American Horror Story. Get Lunatics Merch h...
This week Abby and Alan discuss Third Man Factor; real life incidents, theories and it's impact on horror and pop culture. Third Man Theory refers to the phenomena of people surviving extreme situations and claiming it's because an invisible entity came to save them. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. ...
This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to discuss the very unnerving history of puppets. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show
Abby and Alan conclude the four part winter horror series. This week they discuss The Yerti and other snow cryptids. They even talk through some of the most famous instances of ice mummies. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show
This week Abby presents two spooky stories. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show
This week Abby and Alan continue exploring the intersection of winter and horror, this time through the lens of of isolation. Sources: A Medical News Today article by Danielle Dresdon: What to know about cabin fever.JAMA Network, scientific study by Eugene Ziskind, M.D. called Isolation Stress in Medical and Mental IllnessPubMed study from 2021, Social Isolation and Psychosis: An Investigation of social interactions and paranoia in daily life Study we found on PubMed from 200...
This week Abby and Alan continue our exploration of snow horror by talking through 5 real life snow tragedies. Sources A History.com article by Becky Little: The Dyatlov Pass Incident: Why the Hiker Deaths Remain a MysteryMuseumhack.com article by Alex Johnson: The Real Story of The Donner PartyHistory.com article 10 things you should know about the Donner party by Evan AndrewsThe True Story Behind Society of Snow, a Time article by Megan McCluskey. Piers Paul Read, Alive: The Stor...
This week Abby and Alan present a non-exhaustive look at winter folklore and mythology from around the globe. From Scotland, Norway and Germany to Japan and Native American mythology. This kicks off a multi-part series exploring the intersection of winter and horror from several different categories. Sources Smithsonian Magazine Article by Dennis Zotigh: The Winter Solstice Begins a Season of Storytelling and CeremonyMythopedia article by Gregory Wright on CailleachArticle by Eliz...
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