Best Obviously Haunted Podcasts (2025)

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All Smiles 1:14:10

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13h ago1:14:10

1:14:10

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-direc…

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Mingle, Jingle, and Scream, Jill Schoelen’s Horror Christmas 35:16

3d ago35:16

35:16

Send us a text It’s Christmas, dammnit, and Horror Heals is decking the halls with horror, heart, and holiday cheer. This episode marks the relaunch of one of our most beloved Christmas conversations, featuring horror icon Jill Schoelen, actress, fan favorite, and now holiday music maker. Jill joins us to talk about returning to creativity after st…

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Why Black Christmas Still Haunts Us Every Holiday Season 31:44

4d ago31:44

31:44

Send us a text Black Christmas may have turned fifty last year, but its power has never faded. This episode is a relaunch of one of Horror Heals’ most important holiday conversations, revisiting why Bob Clark’s bleak, unsettling classic still feels disturbingly real decades later. Corey and Kendall are joined by Lynne Griffin, who played Claire, on…

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Wicked Turns Dark: Gregory Maguire on Oz, Power and Monsters 21:05

24d ago21:05

21:05

Send us a text To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Wicked, we bring you something rare and unexpected. Years ago Corey sat down with Gregory Maguire for a candid, hilarious and deeply thoughtful conversation about the moral complexity of Oz, the origins of Elphaba, the impact of politics on fantasy, and the loose ends that make his work feel …

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Night of the... 1:05:13

29d ago1:05:13

1:05:13

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 Gi…

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Women in Horror: Possessing Power from The Exorcist to Prey 27:11

2M ago27:11

27:11

Send us a text Women in Horror are reshaping the genre, from the lingering dread of The Exorcist to modern Final Person heroes like Naru in Prey. In this episode, Kimberly Ramsawak, creator of Horror Concierge and founder of Horror and Her, joins us for her first podcast appearance to talk empowerment, representation, and why horror is the most emo…

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Beyond Lost in Space: The Eternal Orbit of June Lockhart 23:57

2M ago23:57

23:57

Send us a text What happens when an actress who played make-believe among the stars helps real astronauts reach them? In this special tribute episode of Horror Heals, Corey honors the life and legacy of June Lockhart, who passed away at 100 after a century spent balancing the light of Hollywood with the wonder of the cosmos. For most of us, June wi…

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Sitting in the Dark... Literally 1:12:22

2M ago1:12:22

1:12:22

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 (2…

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Beatrice Boepple on Amanda Krueger, Trauma, Horror Fandom & Why Horror Heals 32:06

2M ago32:06

32:06

Send us a text Beatrice Boepple (Amanda Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street 5) joins Horror Heals for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had about horror, trauma, empathy, and why these stories matter so much. Before the interview, Corey shares what happened at ScareFest: Beatrice had her entire day’s earnings stolen, money earmarked f…

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How a Scream Queen Saved Me 25:01

2M ago25:01

25:01

Send us a text What happens when the VHS kid who found safety with scream queens grows up and becomes the cosplay that inspires the original star? If horror has ever been your coping tool, your comfort movie, or your mirror when life got loud, Gregory’s story shows how channeling fandom into creativity and community can lift your mood, build resili…

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The World Feels Like a Horror Movie. Here’s How to Survive It. 42:45

2M ago42:45

42:45

Send us a text The world feels heavy. Anxiety is high, headlines are grim, and creative burnout is real. This week, Horror Heals host Corey Stulce sits down with Lee Murray ONZM to talk about how horror can help us process the darkness instead of drowning in it. Lee Murray is proof that horror can wear a crown and still draw blood. The Aotearoa-bor…

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Death Edging with the Films of Final Destination 1:13:26

3M ago1:13:26

1:13:26

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 leav…

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50 Years of Rocky Horror, 50 Years of Queer Survival 28:54

3M ago28:54

28:54

Send us a text This year marks the 50th anniversary of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and what better way to celebrate than to explore its legacy as a queer lifeline. In Part Two of our conversation with the creator behind Queer for Fear, we dig into how "Rocky Horror" is more than a midnight movie. It is a rite of passage, a community builder, a…

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The Haunting Power of Belief: Folklore and Spirituality in Asian Horror 1:04:46

4M ago1:04:46

1:04:46

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 (201…

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Rug Pullers: Topsy-Turvy Horror Twists 1:21:52

4M ago1:21:52

1:21:52

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 floorboard…

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Queer Horror, Wicked Witches, and Why We Need Monsters 28:25

4M ago28:25

28:25

Send us a text In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey sits down with Heather, the force behind Queer for Fear. Part One of this two-parter dives deep into the queer relationship with horror, the villains we secretly love, and how the genre became a lifeline for outsiders looking for a mirror in pop culture. Heather shares her personal journey of gr…

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Sidney Prescott, Salem Honeymoons, and Why Horror Heals 23:11

4M ago23:11

23:11

Send us a text In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall sit down with psychotherapist and horror enthusiast Candis Green. From her childhood obsession with Halloween and witches to her professional use of Jungian dream work and archetypes, Candis shares how horror became both her passion and her therapeutic lens. She opens up about why sh…

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Triggered by Terror: Why Some Horror Hurts (and Heals) 30:15

5M ago30:15

30:15

Send us a text In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall are joined by filmmaker Andrew Jara, who opens up about creating a horror film rooted in his own experience with anxiety, panic attacks, and the slow, quiet devastation of grief. 🎬 Andrew’s film The Empty Space isn’t your typical genre fare — it’s a deeply personal exploration of men…

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The Drac Pack 1:15:49

5M ago1:15:49

1:15:49

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 …

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Carving Out Space For Disability in Horror 41:08

6M ago41:08

41:08

Send us a text This week, we're slicing through the surface of the horror world to spotlight something truly revolutionary. Corey and Kendall sit down with filmmaker, podcaster, and horror disruptor Ariel Baska, whose life was forever changed the first time they locked eyes with a certain glove-wearing nightmare fiend. (Yes, we’re talking about Fre…

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Scared Sick: How Horror Helped Me Face My Body 33:17

6M ago33:17

33:17

Send us a text This week on Horror Heals, we’re joined by debut horror author Grace Daly, who once called herself “a coward to the core.” Jump scares? No thanks. Gore? Absolutely not. But everything changed when Grace's chronic illness forced her to confront a very real kind of body horror—one she couldn't turn off, mute, or escape. In this powerfu…

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The Bride, The Boy, and the Firetruck: Coded Queer Horror Cinema 1:20:02

6M ago1:20:02

1:20:02

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 …

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Confessions of a Scare Actor 22:23

6M ago22:23

22:23

Send us a text What happens when childhood nightmares become your calling card? In this episode of Horror Heals, scare actor Omar Ortega joins Corey and Kendall to talk about growing up inside a family-owned video store, how Nightmare on Elm Street haunted his imagination, and how horror evolved from fear to fuel. Omar opens up about his journey fr…

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The Weight of the Ghosts We Inherit 35:18

6M ago35:18

35:18

Send us a text This is not your average horror podcast interview. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Corey and Kendall sit down with author and illustrator Drew Huff, whose work isn’t just inspired by trauma, it is shaped by it. Drew speaks openly about the lasting effects of growing up with an alcoholic father, and the surreal, devastating resp…

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Scream Together, Dream Together 39:03

7M ago39:03

39:03

Send us a text What do you get when you cross two horror-loving writers, a glow-in-the-dark monster, and a six-year-old in a Jason mask? A conversation that’s equal parts creepy, creative, and surprisingly grounded. Vienna and John join Corey (with Kendall in the main episode) to talk about their upcoming gothic novel Victoria Frankenstein, how hor…

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Sean Whalen Spills His Guts On Depression, Directing & the Power of Horror 41:19

7M ago41:19

41:19

Send us a text In this cathartic and wonderfully chaotic episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall sit down with cult horror icon Sean Whalen, best known as Roach from Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs, to talk about sock monsters, emotional healing, and his directorial debut, Crust. Sean opens up about how Crust was born out of a deep depr…

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Mommy Acts This Way Because she Loves You 1:08:20

7M ago1:08:20

1:08:20

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 …

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A Werewolf Saved My Life 29:46

7M ago29:46

29:46

Send us a text What if your deepest trauma gave birth to the monster that saved you? In this revealing and powerful episode, we sink our teeth into a transformative conversation with a horror author and former teacher who quite literally wrote his way through pain—by creating werewolves. After surviving a devastating car accident that left him with…

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Location Location Location! Haunted Spaces and the Haunted People Within Them 1:18:18

8M ago1:18:18

1:18:18

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 p…

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Therapy in Terror: Why Horror is Good for the Mind 30:20

8M ago30:20

30:20

Send us a text In this episode of the Horror Heals podcast, Corey and Kendall are joined by the talented horror author Rachel M. Martens, who has made a career out of writing stories that not only thrill, but also serve as a therapeutic outlet. From childhood favorites like Scooby-Doo to deep dives into the gothic classics, Rachel’s love for horror…

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Don’t Dream It, Be Peaches Christ 40:25

9M ago40:25

40:25

Send us a text This week on Horror Heals, we’re serving glamour, gore, and a whole lot of gratitude with none other than the high priestess of horror drag herself—Peaches Christ! 🎃👑💋 From her locker full of Fangoria centerfolds to commanding the San Francisco Symphony stage as Pinhead with fla-tits (you read that right), Peaches takes us on a full-…

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Borah! The Witch Who Cast a Spell on Salem (and Us!) 41:05

9M ago41:05

41:05

Send us a text Is it possible for a witch to change the world? If you're Borah!, the answer is a wickedly enthusiastic YES. In this enchanting episode of Horror Heals, we sit down with Salem’s spellbinding star, Borah! — the beloved persona of Brian Sims, who has become a mainstay in the spooky streets of Salem and a symbol of joy, healing, and sel…

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Last Woman Standing 1:04:56

9M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

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…

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Suicide Attempts, Mystery Schools, and Healing Via Horror 25:59

9M ago25:59

25:59

Send us a text In this deeply revealing and powerful episode of Horror Heals, hosts Corey and Kendall Stulce welcome Andy Grant, creator and host of the Real Men Feel podcast, for an unflinching exploration of how horror and esoteric teachings became vital to his survival and healing journey. Andy’s path, marked by battling depression and suicide a…

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The Monsters We Create to Heal the Ones Inside 26:42

9M ago26:42

26:42

Send us a text Horror isn’t just about fear—it’s about survival, transformation, and sometimes even healing. In this episode of Horror Heals, we explore the surprising ways horror can help us process trauma, navigate addiction recovery, and reclaim our power. Our guest is a writer, therapist, and PhD researcher who has dedicated their career to und…

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Circus Envy Reveals How Horror and Drag Saved His Life 33:02

10M ago33:02

33:02

Send us a text In this colorful and deeply reflective episode, hosts Corey and Kendall welcome special guest Circus Envy, a celebrated clown persona from haunted attractions, conventions, and film. Circus Envy shares a profound journey that blends horror, cosplay, drag, therapy, and personal healing. Circus Envy Reveals How Horror and Drag Saved Hi…

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A Killer Klown Saved My Life 32:38

10M ago32:38

32:38

Send us a text In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall sit down with Harrod Blank, the actor behind Rudy the Clown in the cult classic Killer Klowns from Outer Space. While Harrod may be known for his role in the iconic '80s horror film, his career and creativity stretch far beyond the big top. This episode explores the fascinating inter…

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Using Monsters to Combat the Real Horrors of the World 31:08

10M ago31:08

31:08

Send us a text In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey sits down with horror power couple Porsher and Elijah Black, whose passion for the genre goes far beyond just watching scary movies. From using cosplay as a tool for self-expression to founding Return of the Giving Dead, a charity-focused horror cosplay group, they share how horror has become a …

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The Horror of the Unknown and How It Became Therapy 1:48:39

10M ago1:48:39

1:48:39

Send us a text Horror fans know that sometimes the scariest stories aren’t the ones on screen—they’re the ones life throws at us. For Brad Ewell, a DNA test set off a chain of events he never saw coming. What started as a search for answers led him to uncover a biological father he never knew existed—one who had been serving a life sentence for mur…

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From Fans to Family – How Horror Brought Us Together 28:43

11M ago28:43

28:43

Send us a text Horror isn’t just about the monsters on screen—it’s about the people who watch them together. In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey sits down with four horror superfans—Leighann, Vinnie, Amber, and Steve—who didn’t just bond over their love of horror, they became family because of it. What started as a shared appreciation for the fi…

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How Jason Voorhees Became an Anti-Bullying Icon 24:59

11M ago24:59

24:59

Send us a text What if Jason Voorhees walked into your classroom—not to chase you, but to inspire you? In this episode of Horror Heals, we sit down with James Stokes, an actor who has stepped into the legendary hockey mask of Jason Voorhees in multiple fan films. But James isn't just about slashing his way through Crystal Lake—he's using his platfo…

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Sexy, Sexy Monsters 1:12:46

11M ago1:12:46

1:12:46

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 abo…

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Blood, Sweat, and a Whole Lot of Horror Love 20:03

11M ago20:03

20:03

Send us a text Corey and Kendall are back with part two of DonnaJean’s jaw-dropping journey, and trust us—this is an episode you can’t miss. From laughing (and maybe crying) over celebrity encounters with horror icons like Matthew Lillard, Dee Wallace, and Kane Hodder, to her inspiring work helping others in need, DonnaJean shares the kind of stori…

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Surviving Life’s Scariest Moments 18:55

11M ago18:55

18:55

Send us a text Corey and Kendall are joined by DonnaJean, a remarkable individual whose journey through life’s most challenging moments has made her a cornerstone of the horror community. From surviving personal trauma and overcoming addiction to finding joy and purpose at Monster Mania and other conventions, DonnaJean’s story is a testament to res…

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Bystanders: Redefining the Rape-Revenge Genre 24:19

12M ago24:19

24:19

Send us a text In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall sit down with filmmaker Mary Beth McAndrews to discuss her bold new take on the rape-revenge genre with her upcoming film, Bystanders. Hear how Mary Beth redefines the genre by omitting exploitative tropes and focusing on empowerment, resilience, and turning trauma into triumph. Disc…

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Son of a Witch Is Defying Gravity 27:09

12M ago27:09

27:09

Send us a text In this spellbinding episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall dive into the transformative journey of actor, Nate Gaik, who found empowerment and healing through the magic of horror. From a challenging childhood to embodying an 18th-century witch in the indie film "Hunting for the Hag," this episode is all about defying the gravity…

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The Great Horror Debate with the Spooky Twins 19:33

12M ago19:33

19:33

Send us a text Episode Overview: In part two of our conversation with the Spooky Twins, things get hilariously spooky as we dive into their adventures in cosplay, their love for horror cult classics, and some heated debates about what truly qualifies as horror. From The Thing to Blood Dolls, the twins share their unfiltered takes, proving once agai…

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Twin Terrors: From Okinawa to Etsy with the Spooky Twins 30:55

12M ago30:55

30:55

Send us a text Guests: Tonia and Tonie, aka the Spooky Twins, artists, horror fanatics, and all-around spooky sisters. Check out their creepy, crafty creations on Instagram @spookytwins13. What’s Inside This Episode? 🎃 Growing Up Horror: Tonia and Tonie share how their horror journey began as kids in Okinawa, Japan, on Kadena Air Force Base. Spoile…

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First Frights 1:07:32

12M ago1:07:32

1:07:32

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:…

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Why Horror Collecting Feeds the Soul 27:33

1y ago27:33

27:33

Send us a text In part two of this killer conversation with Jarid, the ultimate 90s kid and horror aficionado, Corey and Kendall dig into the deeper connections horror fans share with their favorite monsters, movies, and memorabilia. Jarid explains why David Cronenberg’s The Fly is his all-time favorite horror movie and how the genre’s ability to b…