Clever Ghouls

WE'RE BACKKKK! In this episode, the Ghouls have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass...and we're all out of bubble gum. Join us as they discuss John Carpenter's "They Live". This movie is filled with Alien Shades and Capitalist MasqueradesTM, and lots of deep commentary on consumerism, media control, socioeconomic inequality and soooo much more. We talk about topics like consumerism and mass media manipulation, social and economic inequality, social pacification, class divide, obedience and resistance, fear of and the pressure to obey authority figures, and resistance and empowerment.

WE KNOW, WE KNOW! We said we were on a break! And we are! But Maegan totally forgot she already had this minisode scheduled. So, SURPRISE! Enjoy this minisode to prepare for our full episode on "They Live" when we return on 11/21,

When "They Live" first came out, it was not particularly well received. Critics said the writing was clunky, the music was too repetitive, the acting was too melodramatic, and most ironically, the storyline was entirely too far-fetched and improbable. My how times have changed. Or…haven’t changed.

Released in 1988, this science fiction thriller remarkably predicted several aspects of our modern world. From the control of media to the manipulation of consumerism, "They Live" presents a dystopian landscape that feels eerily relevant and serves as a powerful critique of contemporary society. Join .maegan in this minisode as she walks us through all the dystopian predictions from "They Live" that came true.

When it comes to bad luck, there are few superstitions as pervasive in Western culture as that of Friday the 13th. Like crossing paths with a black cat and breaking a mirror, the notion of a day that can bring misfortune is deeply embedded in us (even if believers can’t quite explain why). Join Maegan in this minisode as she briefly walks you through the history of this day; including its surprisingly feminist roots.

We’re back, baby! 💀🎃👻🦇🖤🧡

The Ghoulies had a scarily good time kicking off in one of the most delightfully haunted places in the country. Seriously, how could you NOT love NOLA?

We’ve got some frightfully fun content coming your way to keep your Halloween festivities going, including some cryptic trivia later this month at ! It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we can’t wait to spend it with YOU!

Trivia! Round 2! This time the theme is.... cryptids!

Join us at on Wednesday October 25th to kick off Halloween by getting spooky, drinking beer, winning prizes, and fueling .blair 's mothman obsession!

Surprise! We’re dropping TWO episodes at once today for your listening pleasure. Hereditary is said to be the scariest film since the Exorcist, and we kind of agree…which is why we needed to break this convo up into TWO parts.

Part 1 is about the themes and commentary around the writing. Part 2 focuses on the tiny details, cinematography, and sound design. There’s a lot of info packed into each hour and we hope you love it!

In this episode, the Clever Ghouls discuss Annihilation. Released in 2018 and directed by Alex Garland, this movie took us on a mind-altering journey into the heart of "The Shimmer," an iridescent and expanding phenomenon that defies the laws of nature. We talk about themes like the consequences of humans on nature and nature taken back what’s theirs, the human condition, self destruction, the fear of the unknown, and because Maegan likes to be an ass and constantly trigger Blair’s thanatophobia..acceptance of Mortality and Impermanence.

In both the intro and the outro of this episode, there is an acoustic guitar cover of “What Do You Know?” by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow. This was played and recorded by Maegan, and we do not own the rights to this song.

FINALLY BACK ON THE MINISODE TRAIN! 🚂💨 From its humble beginnings to its widespread popularity found footage films have redefined horror storytelling, delivering a sense of realism and terror like no other.

These films have carved a unique and chilling niche in the world of cinema, captivating audiences with their raw, immersive storytelling.

Join .maegan in this minisode as she dives into the fascinating history of found footage horror; tracing its origins, evolution, and impact on the horror genre, and digging a bit deeper into inarguably one of our most successful found footage films, The Blair Witch Project.

There’s nothing worse than being out in the middle of the woods with people you barely know…unless something happens to your map. On this episode of the podcast, we’re taking a closer look at , a cult classic from 1999 that really makes us wonder what’s out there in the woods of Appalachia. Join us as we discuss themes on groupthink, folklore, hysteria, isolation, and the perils of hiking out into the wilderness on your own.

📣NEW EPISODE ALERT! Join the Ghoulies as .maegan takes us through our first anime horror film, Perfect Blue.

This masterpiece from 1997 follows Mima, a J Pop star transitioning into an actress, as she begins to slip away from reality after discovering a website that seems to be written from her perspective in excruciating detail. It's an incredibly disturbing and graphic film to be a short anime, so keep that in mind if you haven't seen it!

We'll talk about things like fandom culture, the evolution of the internet and its role in parasocial relationships, perception and self delusions, and what it means to be a woman in the entertainment industry.

GUESS WHAT, GHOULIES? The gals are gonna be coming at you live on Wednesday August 30th at hosting some horror movie trivia!

Come have some great beer, chat, and be spooky with us! Will we see you there? ❤️

The representation of artificial intelligence in horror movies encapsulates our collective fascination and fear towards this evolving technology. Through personification, existential questions, and ethical dilemmas, these films confront us with the potential consequences of creating AI that surpasses human abilities and challenges our very existence. By exploring the unknown, the uncanny, and the loss of humanity, horror movies serve as cautionary tales, reminding us to approach AI development with both caution and curiosity. As AI continues to advance in reality, these cinematic explorations provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between humanity and the machines we create.

Need an excuse to not do something? “I have to return some videotapes” is old and tired now, you should totally use “I have to listen to the new episode of Clever Ghouls” instead! Tune in right now for .maegan ‘s newest pick of American Psycho where we talk about topics ranging from monotony and desensitization, materialism and consumption, the dick measuring contest that is the business card scene, and really breaking down Bateman’s beauty routine…

"My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not hope for a better world for anyone." Yeah, well...NOT US, BATEMAN! We hope your pain is neither constant nor sharp, and we DO hope for a better world for everyone. Sheesh, dude, go listen to Walking On Sunshine and lighten up, will ya?

Psychological horror has evolved over time, traversing the realms of literature and film to offer audiences a chilling exploration of the human brain and thoughts. From its origins in Gothic literature to its influence on German Expressionist cinema, the subgenre has continued to captivate and disturb. Through the visionary works of filmmakers like Hitchcock and the modern exploration of trauma and the subconscious, psychological horror has proven its enduring power to unnerve, challenge, and provoke thought. As long as human fears and the complexities of the mind persist, psychological horror will continue to evolve, offering audiences a mesmerizing journey into the darkest depths of the human psyche.

Happy pride again! Join .Maegan as she talks about the constant and problematic fetishization of women loving women relationships, some brief history of the fetishization of q***r women, the impact this has on our film industry, and specifically some of the representation of these relationships within the horror genre.

Join .Maegan as she goes back to her ballet roots and tells us all about the intersection of ballet and horror movies. While it looks effortless, graceful, and soft…Ballet is grueling. That beauty is entirely masked behind bleeding toes, broken bones, eating disorders, mentally and physically grueling rehearsal and training schedules, and an obsessive mentality that allows someone to pursue something so strenuous. Given that archetypal ballets such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake are based on fairytales and 19th-century gothic stories, an unsettling sense of surrealism pervades the performances themselves and it’s no wonder that this art form has earned such a distinct place in the horror world.

This movie focuses a lot on doubling, mirroring, and juxtaposition; and none is more obvious than the Black Swan vs. White Swan. .maegan tells us a bit about the different skill sets needed to play each role and we're dying to know...Are you team Odette or Odile?

New episode alert, Ghoulies! On this episode the Clever Ghouls discuss .blair 's pick, Black Swan, the 2010 drama thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky. The film follows the story of Nina, a prima ballerina who will do whatever it takes to be perfect. Join us as we take a closer look at this film and talk about themes such as reality vs. perception, the pursuit of perfection, infantilization, and how making sacrifices for your art ain’t always what it’s cracked up to be.

Inspired by our most recent episode on Black Swan, may you always believe in yourself and have the courage to set boundaries.

Happy Pride, Ghoulies! Horror and q***rness have gone hand in hand since its origins. From the notion of “otherness” and q***r monsters in Nosferatu, to the era of the le***an vampires in Dracula’s Daughter, to more contemporary and intersectional representations in our modern horror films. Join .maegan, resident bisexual babe of the Clever Ghouls, as she explores and breaks down this topic for us.

Buckle up, Ghoulies! We've got a month pretty spooky content coming your way! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We're starting off Pride month strong with Q***r Loves Fear as .maegan walks us through the relationship between the q***r community & horror.

Then our first full episode release is .blair 's pick of Black Swan. Join us as we talk about themes such as reality vs. perception, the pursuit of perfection, and how making sacrifices for your art ain’t always what it’s cracked up to be.

After that we're digging even deeper into the world of ballet & horror as Maegan tells us all about why these two have such a close relationship.

Keeping the themes in Black Swan going, Maegan is gonna tell us all about the problematic fetishization of sapphics in both real life & some of our favorite horror films.

Of course we aren't going to make it through the month without diving into brain things. So up next, Maegan dives into the subgenre of psychological horror.

Then it's time for Maegan's pick of American Psycho! We’ll be talking about ALL SORTS of s**t in this one from that over the top beauty routine, toxic masculinity, materialism & capitalism, and really breaking down that dick-measuring contest that is the business card scene.

Speaking of that beauty scene though... We've got our very FIRST minisode from .marissa on deck! Tune in as she gives us all the dirty details on beauty & horror.

There's only so much time in one episode to talk about toxic masculinity, so we decided to make an entire minisode about it. Join Maegan after American Psycho to get up close and personal with toxic masculinity & its portrayal in horror.

Rounding out the month strong, we've got Blair coming in hot with that design knowledge! Don't miss this one as she breaks down that business card scene from American Psycho!

This episode is for all of you ex-gifted kids out there who know what it’s like to devote every waking second to your torture method of choice! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​"Perfection is not just about control. It's also about letting go."

In this minisode, join Blair as she spends some time talking about Gregorian chants and how they’ve somehow entered into public consciousness as the quintessential DOOOOOOM sound. You know which one we’re talking about, even if you can’t quite name it. It’s the dies irae…and it’s everywhere!

.maegan , former gifted kid and ballerina, had A LOT of thoughts in our next full episode. And we listened with our jaws on the floor in both awe and terror. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We can't wait for this one on Black Swan to come out so you can join us!

Everyone knows what punk is. The unfiltered, raw, gritty sound, unruly guitar riffs, clamoring drum beats, and loud, expressive vocals with lyrics filled to the brim with protest, anti establishment, and an agenda. It is the voice of the disenfranchised and the rebellion. But what about horror punk? What exactly is that? Punk was partially born in the light of ‘70s late-night monster movie screenings on UHF television and punk rock and horror culture have always gone hand in hand. Join .maegan in this minisode as she walks us through the history of punk and tells us all about its intersection with horror and all about the subgenre of horror punk.

Who would be worst to face off with, Tarman or wiggly zombie ladyTM? Frankly, we want to throw them both in a dumpster fire!

Our newest episode is here and we’re ready to get weird… and revolt! This fun and morbid tale riffs off of George Romero's Living Dead franchise, but with sillier vibes. Desperate times call for desperate measures and, although this movie is a hilarious wreck in ways, there are some awesome topics we can't wait to dig up with ya’ll. The theme is punk, and the zombies are ready to slay your head off!

We’re all so busy and sometimes it feels like we’re just working ourselves into an early grave. We were made to thrive, not just survive! Carve time in your week to spend on yourself and recall some of the things that make you feel alive.

Join .Maegan in this minisode as she walks us through brain anatomy and how our brains work. The little electric meatballs inside our head are WILD and she makes a lot of references to them in all our episodes, so this minisode provides background and contex to what the parts are and how they work.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​She talks a lot about the brain in our episode next Tuesday on Return of the Living Dead, so study up!

“And now you made me hurt myself again! You made me break my hand completely off this time Tina! But I don't care Darlin’ because I love you, AND YOU’VE GOT TO LET ME EAT YOUR BRAIN!”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Ain’t men just the worst?! Even after all of her love, care and devotion Tina can’t catch a break. A zombified Freddy chases her until the very end and begs her for one last bite. Are we even surprised? Way to play on her emotions, Freddy. BOOO!!!

There are endless amounts of psychological theory in this film from Freudian theory, Lacanian theory, Jungian archetypes, trauma despondency, fantasy as a means to cope with trauma, social theory rule, and so much more. And while .maegan has a very deep bias for looking for all things brain, behavior, and psychology related in everything, Del Toro has on more than one occasion admitted that psychology has largely influenced many of his works, Pan’s Labyrinth specifically!

We may hate him, but we sure can’t stop talking about him! Freud gets a lot of credit for the three portions of the human psyche, but del Toro actually uses Jungian theories as his inspiration in Pan’s Labyrinth. Check out our latest episode as breaks down the inner workings of the characters’ minds, and then tune in tomorrow for her newest minisode: A Psychoanalysis of Pan's Labryinth!

We just can't control ourselves and contain the excitement we have for our most recent content! Which episode or minisode has been your fave so far?

The worlds of Tim Burton and Jim Henson, though filled with puppets and adventure, have some incredibly dark elements that are just as nightmare inducing as those found in horror movies. They give the thrill of high stakes without hitting too close to home or making the audience feel unsafe. But what actually makes dark fantasy distinct from horror? In fact, what is even is it? Join .melissa as she walks us through the ins and outs of the Dark Fantasy genre.