Plug It Up: A Horror Movie Podcast About the Monstrous Feminine

This is a non-horror solo episode. Unless you count the trauma of growing up fat as horror (personally, I do). It's a weird and vulnerable episode where I talk about pretty privilege, thin privilege, and the frustration of wanting to reject beauty standards while feeling like you need to reach them in order to survive. It's a strange, dissonant space to exist in, but I hope it'll resonate with people like me.

See my solo-sode on Body Horror for more content like this. Back to normal* horror movie reviews next time!

*normal is relative

Colleen joins Caitlin to cover Bodies Bodies Bodies, a 2022 horror-comedy from A24. The movie touches on themes of technology, messy interpersonal relationships, and privilege, all while making us laugh. Forgive my goof of conflating Rachel Sennott and her character, Alice.

Tangents include: Ms. New Booty, astrology, whisper singing, A24, Zach, podcasting, walking out of movies, swords, internet trends, new albums, xenomorphs vs The Thing, and a good ol' FMK.

Randy from the Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to talk about I Saw the TV Glow, a surreal new A24 movie from director Jane Schoenbrun. We talk about identity, gender, memory, nostalgia, and the importance of media. With its smart direction, melancholic tone, moody aesthetic, both universal and specific themes, and potent symbolism, it's a real accomplishment of a movie, and we have a lot of love for it.

Tangents include: Fred Durst, childhood television, a Mia Goth character FMK, cryptids, first movies, pizza toppings, and, of course, edging.

Bob joins Caitlin to cover After Midnight, a relatable, romantic monster movie from Jeremy Gardner. We talk about identity, interpersonal relationships, taking inventory of the past, and looking at the future. What a cast, what a soundtrack, and what direction! A banger, start to finish. Check it out; let us know what you think.

Tangents include: physical media, Last Podcast on the Left, tikki drinks, horror soundtracks, several FMKs, scary animals, moving to other countries, little presents, divisive horror movies, candy salad trauma dumps, ice cream, triple features, holding your breath, moving, and cutting sandwiches.

Be sure to check out Straight Chilling Podcast and Let's Get Physical Media!

Mary joins Caitlin to count down a list of the best redemption arcs in horror movies. What makes a good redemption? A swell of courage? Alignnment of a previously skewed moral compass? Teamwork while fighting a common enemy? Sacrifice? Join us as we analyze our favorites.

Tangents include: backstories in horror, things we're looking forward to, best/worst movies of 2024 so far, selling your soul, hotdogs, crackers, animal sounds, 4th of July, nudity in horror, Anaconda, and Lake Placid. And SOAK, our Skin of a Killer podcast.

I had the honor of interviewing writer, director, producer, actress, and film festival organizer Heidi Honeycutt. Heidi discusses her new book I Spit On Your Celluloid: The History of Women Directing Horror Movies, which is available for pre-order from Headpress Books.

We talk about the making of Heidi's book, including her inspiration, her impressive research, and her findings. We also talk about how she became a horror fan, feminism in horror in general, lost films, and our shared love of films and filmmaking. Heidi is so knowledgeable and passionate; I can't wait to get my hands on the book. Find her on instagram at @honeycuttheidi to stay updated about her projects. 

A solo episode with mini reviews on Immaculate and The First Omen, two similar movies that came out right around the same time. I talk about why the conversation around bod[il]y [autonomy] horror is particularly relevant right now, given the rollbacks to access to reproductive healthcare. Credit to Victor for the subtitle idea!

Tangents and questions include: 2024 horror, television, books recs, podcast production, my friend Sarah, my grandfather, dream podcast guests, B horror movies, farts, Dead Girl, and what makes me love horror.

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Late Night with the Devil, one of 2024's most anticipated horror movies. We all loved the movie, which is a bottle piece told in real time. We dig a little deeper into Bohemian Grove ("the grove" mentioned in the movie), the AI controversy, the effects, the acting, and the film's overall themes.

Tangents are many, and include: abortion Big Gulps, talk shows, museum disasters, Last Podcast on the Left (and lots of Henry Zebrowski), Triple D, eating organs, cryptids, overhyped movies, dream podcast guests, tiktok, horror at the Oscars, villains, pet names, and tattoos. 

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to cover Love Lies Bleeding, the A24 movie "by and for the world's dyke perverts." Naturally, we loved it. We talk about themes of: obsession, rage, catharsis, gender, and loving things that are bad for you; we also discuss magical realism, body horror, and the importance of media literacy in stories like these. Oh, and our theater experience was memorable.

The review starts around the 30:00 mark. Tangents throughout include: Chappell Roan, trailers, 2024 horror, AI, cryptids, hair, teeth, villains, tattoos, taxes, fandoms, Uber, pet names, charcuterie boards, and more.

Zach joins Caitlin to antagonize her, and to cover Abigail, a new release from the folks a Radio Silence Productions. It's a great horror comedy with an ensemble cast, lots of blood, and fun vampire lore. We also recount our somewhat eventful theater experience.

Tangents include: trailers, 2024 horror releases, cartoon outfits, bugs, rings, taste buds, breakfast foods, and a slew of Would You Rather questions.

Keith from Horror Convos joins Caitlin to discuss The Ring (2002), a groundbreaking J-horror remake that many of us found formative. We discuss all kinds of Ring-things: monstrous motherhood, cultural and psychological influences around fear, practical effects, architecture as a storytelling element, color theory, scores, performances, and more. Sillier tangents include: urban legends, breakfast foods, insects, "forever outfits," and a couple great Would You Rathers.

Morgan from CandleCore and the Good For Her film screening series joins Caitlin to cover Sugar and Spice, a less-horror-more-heist comedy from 2001. We talk about sisterhood, americana, motherhood, and finding identity in archetypes in this stylized, subversive cult classic. It was very formative for both of us!

Tangents include: Scream, Spice Girls, go-to breakfasts, pets, yearbooks, fireplaces vs fire pits, candles, injuries, and more.

Mary and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Scream 2, a movie with an interesting production history and a star-studded cast. We talk about sequel tropes, monstrous motherhood, and the franchise entering the conversation around the effect of violent media.

Tangents include: sharting, pranks, product placement, Bob Dole, spiced coke, Scream rankings, franchise kills, natural disasters, horror movie roles, sequels, a few fun WYRs, PIU guests as Twilight characters, celebrity deaths, and head size.

Everybody's little brother Zach joins Caitlin to cover Slaxx, a movie about possessed pants. We talk about retail madness, the myth of "ethical" consumption, and how this movie nails horror comedy with a message. It's goofy and silly, but also affecting.

We also talk about: camp counselor stories, retail work experiences, brushing teeth with twigs, being haters, jeans, pooping fruits, one hit wonders, correcting assumptions, chicken nuggets, wisdom tooth removal, beans, our dad's strange portioning, and spoons vs forks.

Mathula joins Caitlin to cover 2003's Dogville, the first installment of Lars Von Trier's unfinished United States trilogy. It's an impressive undertaking with a unique production history and bleak plot. We talk about themes of hopelessness, arrogance, and man's tendency towards harm. It's a rough watch at times, but a really interesting movie overall. Shoutout to Mathula for mailing me the DVD and chatting with me.

Tangents include: hair, goth-ness, bins of pins, dogs, HBO, changing movie endings, horror movie tropes, a bean WYR, correcting assumptions, and craft fairs. Be sure to check out Hallelujah Dystopia.

Bob, Randy, and Soju of Straight Chilling Podcast join Caitlin to discuss Spring, the Benson and Moorhead body-horror-romance from 2014. We look at themes of travel, love, time[lessness], monstrous motherhood, and science. Thanks for joining, boys!

Tangents include: HBO, actors, one-hit-wonders, strange addictions, celebratory meals, favorite cities, fights, dogs, hotdogs, and airports. And we agree that we're ~a little fucked up~ (*cue the most cringe 90s numetal your mind can conjure*). 

It's been a while since I've shared a solo episode, but I wanted to chat a little bit about my recent bilateral salpingectomy, in case any other folks out there had questions or wanted to learn more about the procedure. This is always something I've wanted for myself, and it means even more now post-Roe. Take charge of your bodily autonomy and reproductive health in the ways that work best for you, and support your fellow people in what works for them. Thanks for listening! 

Zach joins Caitlin to review a list of favorite horror comedies - some old, some new, and some that might just be funny to us. Let us know if you think we missed any! Just do so gently, for we are sensitive.

Tangents include: Candy's house, sandwiches, cosplay, Victor meeting Bruce Campbell, white boy songs, CiCi's, spiders, and pets.

Brother episode with off-the-charts sibling energy. Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Happy Death Day, a 2017 horror comedy that features a time loop. We talk about how the time loop trope is great for setting up second chances and character redemption, and we go over funny moments from the movie.

Tangents include: ring tones, physical media, cake, cookies, Ukrop's, cereal, crunching/chewing/misophonia, oatmeal, weapons, phone cases, and hot takes. Special guest "appearance" from "Ryan."

Elizabeth joins Caitlin to talk about 1996's Scream, a movie that invigorated not just the slasher subgenre, but horror on the whole. We discuss meta storytelling, satire, subversion, and final girls, and we give Scream all the love it deserves. Tangents include: bangs, ghostface mask ideas, socks, driving, sirens in songs, the rock-and-roller to children’s-performer pipeline, lady tropes in horror, and spooking yourself with creepypastas late at night.

Mary joins Caitlin to talk about horror movies that deserve a second chance. These movies aren't necessarily "underrated" (because that means different things to different people, especially depending upon familiarity with the genre), but they're movies that got written off too soon. They deserve a second look; at least we think they do. Let us know if there are any you'd add to the list.

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to cover Poor Things, the new surrealist, steampunk epic from Yorgos Lanthimos. We talk about the stellar performances from Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe, and we look at themes around sex, sexuality, identity, existentialism, gender, and bodily autonomy. There's also lots of silly joking around. The review starts around 21:45.

Tangents include: running bits, Barbie, boyfriend jumpscares, "weird Mormon pants cults," turning non-horror properties into horror properties, putting our consciousness in other bodies/robots, sleepwear, favorite toes, inedibles, wedding desserts ("that make you nut"), sperm (sorry), and letting it linger.

Mary joins Caitlin to cover Saltburn, the new controversial new black comedy from Emerald Fennell. As degenerate weirdos, we loved it, but not everyone did. We talk about the controversy, and we analyze themes (obsession, weatlh, manipulation, and more). Did you know there are two movies where Barry Keoghan slurps something, and this is not the one that traumatized Mary?

Tangents include: Kylie Jenner, Jared Leto, The Purge, texting, phones, babies, Tom Green, eating the rich, semen, Twilight throuples, wedding songs, wedding desserts, height, backpacks, and a good selection of FMKs and WYRs.

Navigating a pivot in plans, Mary joins Caitlin to cover David Gordon Green's recent body of work. We mostly chat about Exorcist: Believer, but we also talk about DGG's Halloween trilogy. To put it kindly, we weren't huge fans of Exorcist: Believer - partly because it tries to cash in on nostalgia and politics in cringe ways, and partly because it's just a bad sequel. Not even Ann Dowd could save it! Good for Ellen Burstyn for getting that bag, though.

Tangents include: general hater vibes, trends, engagement rings, Kohl's, suburban luxury, and Saltburn. Be sure to check out Skin of a Killer, the Twilight podcast we do with our buddy Charlie. Next week we'll be back with a regular review.

Eric from Bloody Good Horror joins Caitlin to cover May, a cult classic from 2002. Many of us - for better or worse - have related to May at some point. She's an often-overlooked icon of the monstrous feminine, and we wanted to give her her due. We talk about themes of isolation, identity, and being an outsider, and we look at symbols around dolls and fragmentation.

Tangents include: BGH origins, college loneliness, shoveling snow, favorite films, gangster movies, desert island books, songs of the moment, vampire universes, sleep sounds, scenes that made us horror fans, tea, and feet.

Be sure to check out Bloody Good Horror and HY-FY! And remember: if you can't find a friend, make one.

Mary and Charlie join Caitlin to cover The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the impactful David Fincher thriller. It's got it all: high stakes, revenge, heists, mysteries, Happy Meals, and more. We look at themes of misogyny, violence against women, and intuition vs politeness.

Tangents include: merkins, piercings, accents, Emma Stone, booktok, ramen, childhood aspirations, summer vs winter, takeout, Charlie's wedding, mean eggs, mean milk, sleep habits, Disney jams, Titanic, muppets, beverages, and a cutlery FMK. If you enjoy the goofiness of this episode, check us out over at Skin of a Killer.

SAIL AWAY! SAIL AWAY! SAIL AWAY!

Soju from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to discuss Only Lovers Left Alive, an indulgent 2013 vampire movie from Jim Jarmusch. We talk about brooding, the arts and humanities, love and companionship, and O-negative popsicles. Vampirism 101, really.

Tangents include: blood types, FMK for Anne Rice vamps, which emojis are the most sinister, beverage fountains, Say Yes to the Dress, Great British Baking Show, books, lighting preferences, and upcoming movies.

Zach, Mary, Charlie, and Colleen join Caitlin to discuss the best and worst of horror in 2023. We cover our favorite and least favorite horror movies of the year, as well as our favorite horror shows. We also talk about trends in the genre, theater experiences, our favorite Plug It Up moments, and our hopes for 2024 horror. We come in SWINGING, both for movies and for one another.

Tangents include: karaoke songs, Hogwarts houses, so-bad-they're-good movies, owls, magic 8 balls, seasonal foods, gas lights, Disney characters, cringe teenage moments, chores, tattoos, drinks, sauces, and more.

Happy new year! Thank you all for your support!

Christian joins Caitlin to cover The Nun, the biggest box office success from the CCU (Conjuring Cinematic Universe). We talk about nuns (and nunneries), snakes, religion (and religious trauma), spitting, and the Marvelization of the later Conjuring movies. We give this underrated movie some love, and we talk about how the literal blood of Jesus Christ isn't that far off when it comes to relic/reliquary madness.

Tangents include: hot Patrick Wilson, Titanic, our artistic pal Milissa, Breaking Dawn, Hogwarts houses, the Holy Foreskin, Disney characters, first cell phones, seasonal food items, driving with the gas light on, "so bad they're good" horror movies, crypitds, drinks, and fantasy theater experiences.

Be sure to check out It's Only a Podcast, Teach-Her-Ama, and The Third Act Podcast!

Colleen and Maddie join Caitlin to assign "big three" astrological placements to popular horror characters. Three queer, horror-obsesed women talking about astrology, boygenius, and doms/subs? Groundbreaking! But hey. It's FUN. We have a great time, and we make strong cases for our designations. Characters covered on this episode: Carrie White from Carrie, Nina from Black Swan, Amy Dunne from Gone Girl, Jennifer Check from Jennifer's Body, Thomasin from the Witch, Rose from Get Out, Jay from It Follows, Justine from Raw, Maxine from X, Dani from Midsommar, and Norman Bates from Psycho. We'll definitelydo another episode to cover more horror chracters.

Tangents include: famous bottoms of history, towers vs bunkers, utensils, senior yearbook photos, farm chores, mascots, Maddie's hoarded memes, and more!  

Charlie and Matt join Caitlin to talk about Huesera, a recent Mexican-Peruvian horror movie that features a new take on the monstrous motherhood trope. We explore themes around identity and family, and we look at motifs regarding spiders, ritual, and religion. Definitely worth a watch. Forgive our many bone(r) jokes and our exaggerated pronunciation.

Tangents include: the Virgin of Guadalupe, cool aunts, La Milpa, Christmas lights, Christmas trees, movie sequels, cereal, desserts, soccer (el futbol, as we deftly clarify), weird dreams, signs we'd been taken over by a pod person, sleep styles, and an FMK for comfort items. Shoutout to our buddy Golob, who was named dropped a few times.

Nobody puts baby in the refrigerator!

Mathula joins Caitlin to cover 2023's Cobweb. (Mathula's pups also join for a bit of background ambiance, but they fade out after the plot synopsis.) Cobweb is a creepy, Halloween-time movie with strong visuals, cool kills, and a memorable monstrous femme figure. And an easily identifiable Busey!

Tangents include: crocs, Seth Rogen and his pottery, sequels, Tubi (sponsor the pod, please, we love you), limbs and fins, Matthew Dragonnaughey, fish sticks vs nuggets, living to 200 years old, food combinations, caffeine, falling asleep to movies, exotic pets (marsupial squad), horror TV, and mummies vs zombies.

Be sure to check out Mathula's art at Hallelujah Dystopia!

Charlie, Zach, and Mary join Caitlin to cover Slotherhouse, a 2023 movie that seeemed promising, but ultimately let us down. It's not quite a campy creature feature, and it's not quite a sorority horror story. What it does do: cringe attempts at representation, bizarre dialogue, and sloths on instagram.

We had a lot of fun with the questions, though! Tangents include: Zach's bad taste, favorite creature features, what "camp" means in horror, fraternity horror stories, music, movies we couldn't finish, fighting fictional characters, exotic pets, sloths in general, holidays and holiday foods, produce selection habits, sports, Golden Compass daemons, and chain restaurants.

Victor joins Caitlin to cover Birth/Rebirth, a 2023 monstrous-motherhood interpretation of Frankenstein. It's an impressive film about grief, scientific curiosity, and the different ways people experience motherhood. Even more impressive: this was director Laura Moss' debut film. Well done! Sitting very high in the 2023 horror rankings.

Tangents include: trivia, Reddit, Thanksgiving foods and traditions, phone numbers, fantasy spending, Purge Night crimes, phobias/fears, going up the stairs on all fours (suck it, Zach and Charlie), produce selection, sports criteria, chain restaurants, and thievery.

Maddie joins Caitlin to cover 2023's No One Will Save You, now streaming on Hulu. The townspeople certainly view our main character as a monstrous femme figure, but we are endeared to her. We talk about themes of isolation, regret, giref, and survival, and we applaud Kaitlyn Dever.

As always, the latter half of the episode is nutty and full of laughter. Tangents include: sneaking things into movie theaters, astrology, fantasy spending, couches and other furniture, hypothetical arrests, sister fights, battling aliens, UFOs/UAPs, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, books, abductions, Nicki Minaj, sibling memories, gussying up our weaknesses incorporate speak, eldest daughter syndrome, softball, and tennis.

Be sure to check out Maddie and Mackenzie on My Cryptid's Keeper!

Alyssa (of The Silver Scream Podcast) joins Caitlin to cover The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster, a 2023 retelling of Frankenstein with poignant, modern social commentary. Nobody asked for two white women to reflect on a movie about Black culture and Black trauma, but we hope to use our voices to lift up this fantastic debut from director Bomani J Story. With allusions to the murders of Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin, affecting depictions of violence against Black communities, and examples of intergenerational trauma, TABGAHM strikes an emotional chord. It also has moments of humor and joy that make it an enjoyable watch (and rewatch). This movie hasn't gotten a lot of press in the horror community, but it should Check it out on Shudder.

Tangents for this episode include: book collecting, werewolf movies, our inability to pirate things, 2023 horror releases, tattoos, witches, teleportation, sunrises, moths, and long movies.

Charlie and Zach join Caitlin to cover 2023's Piglady. We dedicate this episode to our good friend Sarah, who loves pigs. (We love you, Sarah!) Piglady is a monstrous femme figure, and... that's about all we can really say. Tune in to hear Zach make a case for the movie, while Charlie and Caitlin go hard on the critique.

Tangents include: murder pigs, guinea pigs, Peppa Pig, pork in general, bacon in particular, cryptid movies, pets, "deers," costumes, tortoises, the reptile expo, and "the people's eyebrow." Also, Charlie throws down a serious accusation: that Caitlin is NOT a "girls' girl." Tune in to Skin of a Killer Podcast to make a true determination.

Sweet with the skeet, brah!

Colleen and Maddie join Caitlin on stage for the first ever Plug It Up Live! This was recorded on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Nightmare Weekend (hosted by Galaxy Con) in Richmond, VA. Instead of a movie review, we share some of our favorite monstrous femme figures, as well as our favorite final girls. Ah, the duality of woman! We had our first live Q&A as well.

Tangents include: swimming, soups, franchise horror, Koko the Gorilla, gaylor truthers, Avril Lavigne, screen names, mac and cheese, boy moms, and more. Also catch some of our friendship lore being explored live and in real time. 

HUGE thanks to Chuck Lindsey for the introduction and recording, and to everyone who came to the show!

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to cover Brandon Cronenberg's Infinity Pool. We look at themes of wealth, privilege, hedonism, exploitative tourism, and ethics. But most importantly, we relish the opportunity to do impressions of Mia Goth's deranged baby voice and discuss Skarsgard on a leash.

Tangents include: Colleen's delightful fixations, Caitlin's borderline unhealthy obsession with her friends, Maddie's trip to FRAHHHNCE, Culkins vs Skarsgards, board game failures (oopsie), celebrity hair, fantasy pets, sandwiches, bird poop, deer, cryptids, bigfoot erotica, cosplay, eye rolling, Swifties/Gaylors, infinity pools, scary insects, clones, favorite meals, and friendship love fests. Shoutout to AC for being the question MVP this episode.

Be sure to check out My Cryptid's Keeper and Roll 4 Improv. We were just being silly gooses, your honor!

Colleen joins Caitlin to cover 2023's Clock. This has been a year of monstrous motherhood in horror, and the movie Clock is no exception. It looks at the idea of women's so-called biological clocks, and it explores themes of heritage, patriarchy, procreation, and general fertility. So many eggs!

Tangents include: DnD (always), Halloween costumes, tokophobia, Jon Hamm, stress dreams, Halloween candy, death row meals, surprising foods, lack of kids, Gen Z insults, Kyle Prue, captions, and airport routines.

Find Colleen at Roll 4 Improv, and find us both at Nightmare Weekend!

Joe and Graham from Films at First Sight join Caitlin to cover 1999's Audition. Takashi Miike is a memorable director, and Audition is an unforgettable movie. Some view it as a feminist take on revenge; others view at as misogyny put to screen. Regardless of where you land, we can all agree that Asami is an iconic figure within the monstrous feminine and that Audition is damn scary. We expound on the film's themes of love, loneliness, depravity, and surrealism, and we like that we've grown to see the movie with new eyes. And we can't believe Joe's parents watched it.

Tangents include: Joe's 40th, hair cuts, the "male loneliness epidemic," mojo dojo casa houses, rock stars, TV, sandwiches, morning vs night showers, choppable toes, crackers, and Daphne du Maurier.

Full review starts around 25:30.

Soju from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to discuss Baby Ruby, a monstrous-motherhood movie from 2022. It explores the darker side of pregnancy, birth, and new motherhood via a perfectionist influencer who loses touch with reality. It also highlights the fact that we live in a culture that gives a lot of platitudes about revering mothers, but doesn't offer much tangible support.

Tangents include: our childfree status (lol), ice cream, being lost in the woods vs city, baby names, Soju's instagram, Powerpuff Girls friendship designations, flowers, forbidden smells, shoe sizes, dinner rolls, soups, going back in time, and a couple fun FMKs. 

Little bro Zach joins Caitlin to cover 2022's Monstrous, a monstrous-motherhood (insert Leo DiCaprio pointing at TV gif) movie with a double twist, starring Christina Ricci. We look at themes of grief, love, and time, and we talk about the meanest landlady in the history of cinema.

This is sort of an oops-all-tangents episode. The back half is much longer than the first, but I promise we make it worth your time. Zach continues to hurl hater accusations against me, we talk Twi(light), and I publicly apologize for a video game mishap from our childhood. Other tangents include: MarioKart, the Brady Bunch, super powers, conspiracy theories, cheese, ramen, wings, chicken in general, riblets, Lord of the Rings, Piglady, and Yellowjackets (spoiler warning for Yellowjackets).

Your self-deprecating internet siblings are FINE. No need for a wellness check, despite our bleakness!

J joins Caitlin to talk about Bad Things, the new release from Stewart Thorndike. Just as Lyle was dubbed "the lesbian Rosemary's Baby," Bad Things is considered "the queer Shining." We look at gender, sexuality, mommy issues, and some good old fashioned snowy isolation.

Tangents include: haunted hotels, AHS, blankets, Tibetan sky burials, and queer horror. Be sure to check out the Appalachian Queer Film Festival! It looks fantastic. Reach out to me or J for more information.

Mary joins Caitlin to cover Talk To Me, the newest horror release from A24. We dicuss themes of grief, friendship, monstrous motherhood, and drugs. Talk To Me is genuinely scary, boasts great practical effects, and has an excellent script with realistic, authentic characters. It's a banger of a debut from the brothers Philippou.

Tangents include: faces, Twilight, signature dishes, DMT, toys, bugs, movie trailers, blankets, ninjas, vikings, and soup. Be sure to check out Binge This and Skin of a Killer wherever you get your podcasts.

Sofia and Dani join Caitlin to talk about The Bad Seed (1956). The movie approaches the monstrous motherhood trope from two angles: learning your biological mother was a monster, and learning that your child is as well. Transatlantic accents abound!

Tangents include: Belle Gunness, Mary Bell, greetings, desserts, chain restaurants, first and current celebrity crushes, and animal identities.

Rachel and Ariel from the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Network join Caitlin to cover Violation (2020). Violation is a different take on the rape revenge subgenre, and it asks the viewer to sit with discomfort, gray areas, and realism. There aren't perfect victims or perfect perpetrators, and betrayal, rage, justice, and gore all read a little different in this one - in a way that really sticks with you.

Tangents include: wigs, bookmarks, Nickachu, artificial sweeteners, and 2023 horror rankings as they stand so far. Be sure to check out all the great shows on the Zombie Grrlz network! 

Milissa, Nick, and Mary join Caitlin to cover 2022's Smile. It was a box office success, but it's somewhat controversial one among horror fans. Is it derivative, or is it paying homage? We tease out that question and more, including some monstrous motherhood themes.

Tangents include: milkshakes, Dateline, breakup horror, worst fast food experiences, sharks, pubes, and some great would-you-rather and fuck-mary-kill topics. Check out Skin of a Killer, as well as Milissa's awesome art, and be sure to tune in to Binge This to see if Nick and Mary can recover from their brawl.

Morgan joins Caitlin to cover 1999's Jawbreaker, a campy classic that paved the way for many a movie about treacherous friendships between girls. It's funny, highly stylized, has a stacked cast, and pays homage to icons that came before it, including Queen Carrie White.

Tangents include: bridesmaid dresses, exclamations and vocal stims, sneezes, hiccups, dream jobs, and under-boob sweat.

Be sure to check out Morgan's CandleCore shop, and come see us at the Good For Her screening series! Richmond is the spot for feminist horror. 

Andy from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to cover the originator or the hagsploitation/psychobiddy subgenre: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. It's a movie with fantastic stunt-casting, incredible lighting, and excellent themes within the monstrous feminine (envy, aging, regression, and resentment).

Tangents include: nicknames, film festivals, Ryan Murphy (duh), black t-shirts, Hausu, Loose Change (yikes), salads, Underworld, cheese, and pubes.

Be sure to check out Straight Chilling wherever you get your podcasts! 

The cast of The Wicked Wild joins Caitlin to cover 2013's Evil Dead - a movie that showed us remakes can be awesome. We talk about the incredible practical effects, themes of addiction and family, and the over-arching aspects of the monstrous-feminine and the wicked-wilderness that make this the perfect movie for a Wicked Wild / Plug It Up crossover. We really love this one, and we have a great time laughing together.

Tangents include: salt water taffy, cros/croots, monsters of our childhood, FMKs, favorite trees, rings, pants-shitting, snails, Golden Corral, extra limbs, appetizers, heroes, and subreddits.

Be sure to check out The Wicked Wild, Loremasters of the Absurd, and Texas Chain Paw Massacre. 

Mathula joins Caitlin to cover Phenomena from 1985. Also known as Creepers, this Argento flick has a monstrous mother, a bug-obsessed Jennifer Connelly, and a razor-wielding chimp. Plus Donald Pleasence. What more could we want?

Tangents include: Eggers, Aster, vampires, Giallo movies as a whole, bugs, Lost, Florida, dystropian fiction, sneezing, and bathroom trashcans.

Be sure to check out Mathula's art at Hallelujah Dystopia!

Elizabeth generously joins Caitlin for re-record of The Birds. (I forgot to hit record last time... RIP.) Elizabeth is a Birds expert, and she's my Hitchcock Blonde. We look at themes of disaster linked to female psyche, man vs nature, and some Oedipal monstrous motherhood. We also do a deep dive into the troubling production, most of which would not fly today.

Tangents include: Nick at Nite, pregnant spiders, Reese's preferences, zoos, aquariums, and hamsters. 

Mary, Zach, and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Swimfan. It's a real time capsule of a movie; it'll take you right back to 2002. It has a monstrous femme figure in stalker Madison, and it gives us themes of obsession, deception, and troubled pasts. It also gives us an iconic pool scene.

In perhaps the most unhinged second-half of a Plug It Up episode to date, we explore the following tangents: birthdays, Twilight (and Skin of a Killer), chugga chugga as it relates to choo choo, game shows, hibachi, coitus, juice (including "doodoo juice"), lots of pool talk, DP of all kinds, Michael Shannon, and some great FMKs. 

Birthday boy Bob from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 2017's Thoroughbreds, a movie that features a couple of monstrous femme figures. We look at themes of wealth, pedigree, friendship, and murder, and we do our best to tease out the distinctions between sociopathy and psychopathy.

Tangents include: physical media, chicken wings, tiki drinks, space vs ocean, snacks, antiques, puppies vs kittens, 2023 horror, and some FMKs. 

Be sure to find Bob at Straight Chilling and Let's Get Physical Media! And the book I mentioned is The Sociopath Next Door by Matha Stout. 

Soju from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to talk about Park Chan-wook's Thirst. Thirst is a beautiful vampire romance that incorporates themes of sexuality, pain, guilt, and the monstrous feminine. Soju is my vampire homie, and we give a lot of love to Thirst. We also give a lot of love to Underworld. In fact, take a shot every time we say "Underworld" (just kidding - that's dangerous). 

Tangents include: gummies, weapons, peanut butter, Twilight, other vampire media, the Culkin brothers, and some FMKs and WYRs. Be sure to check out all the cool stuff happening over at Straight Chilling. 

Pickens, Joe, and Victor join Caitlin to talk about Return to Oz - a fever dream, a cult classic, and, yes, the official sequel to The Wizard of Oz. For a kids' movie, it's got some serious horror beats, and it has a great monstrous femme figure in Princess Mombi. We chat about our favorite freaky moments and go over some fun movie trivia. Tangents for this episode include: Bugaboo Creek, malls, the Muppets, Disney parks, Elton John, and of course a few on-theme FMKs. 

Colleen and Maddie join Caitlin to cover 2022's Torn Hearts. Torn Hearts is a great look at the complexities in women's friendships, especially the competition therein. We get a wonderful monstrous femme villain (some would say "psychobiddy") in Katy Sagal, but we remember that, ultimately, the real villain is patriarchy. Also, what a unique setting for a horror movie! We don't get a lot of Nashville/country music horror.

Tangents include: bangs, nightmares, drinks, weapons we have stored around our homes, music, PDFs, bachelorette parties, weddings, colors, D&D, movie settings, and how my camera roll proves that I am obsessed with both Maddie and Colleen.

Christian and Mary join Caitlin to talk about the best intro scenes in horror movies. Opening scenes are important in any movie, but in horror movies, they're essential for setting the tone, establishing the stakes, getting viewer buy-in, and not giving too much away.

Movies discussed on our list include: Scream, Final Destination, Jaws, Get Out, Zombieland, The Conjuring, Dawn of the Dead, Saw, Halloween, Carrie, Ghost Ship, Evil Dead, Cabin in the Woods, 28 Days (and Weeks) Later, Sinister, Hereditary, Midsommar, The Empty Man, A Quiet Place, It: Chapter 1, It Follows, and The Ring, among others.

Tangents include: dippy eggs, sleep environments, grocery stores, other stores, senior yearbook quotes, pizza toppings, Saw traps, and more.

Elizabeth joins Caitlin to cover 2005's The Skeleton Key. We've got a great monstrous femme figure in The Skeleton Key, and the movie does a good job of exploring the intersections of race, age, gender, and spirituality. We also speculate at it possibly being an influence for Get Out, another horror movie that explores those issues extremely well. Tangents include: DVD bonus features, pizza, blankets, discount stores, flags, posters, animal horror, the haunted house Elizabeth gew up in, and some FMKs. 

Zach and Mary join Caitlin to cover Evil Dead Rise. Look at us! Covering a movie while it's still in theaters! This is a great monstrous motherhood movie, and we'd all recommend checking it out in the theater if you can. Evil Dead is such a strong franchise. Whether they're campy or scary (or both), who doesn't love a deadite? Tangents include: Bruce Campbell (of course), animal attacks, color schemes, salt, movies that actually scare us, socks, drinks, and legs.

Matt, Michael, Charlie, and Caitlin got reservations at Dorsia to do some fine dining and chat about American Psycho, often cited as "a movie about a misogynist, directed by a feminist." We talk about yuppie misogyny, consumerism, and nihilism, and we quote the movie in our best Patrick Bateman voices. We also dish out some high school stories, so be prepared to be transported back to 2006-2007. Tangents include: Lady MacBeth, business cards (obviously), juice, Crocs, Ed Gein, and Ed Kemper. 

Nina, Eileen, Colleen, and Zach join Caitlin to cover 2023's Cocaine Bear. Before you side eye... she's a mama bear. A MONSTROUS mama bear! So we're counting it for monstrous motherhood. A seamless shoehorn into the Plug It Up repertoire of the monstrous feminine! We look back at our favorite scenes, recount our fun theater experience, "tag" ourselves as characters, and touch on other animal-horror favs. Tangents include: grabbing Colleen, chips, showers, SSRIs, kids, MLMs, comfort TV shows, and drunk personalities. 

I would be remiss if I didn't follow up: we found out that Zach DOES INDEED have a Capricorn moon. Colleen nailed it. The Zach/Colleen friendship was tested by both the Cocaine Bear movie and this episode recording, but they persevered. The Zach/Colleen leo/virgo alliance remains strong.

Mary joins Caitlin to cover Bones and All on episode 100 of Plug It Up! We look at themes regarding coming of age, motherhood, destiny, identity, sexuality, and morality, and we long for a pretty cannibal boyfriend of our own. Tangents for this episode include: Timothee Chalamet's jaw, M&Ms, pizza, ice cream, and sharks. We also got some great FMKs and questions with a "100" theme. Thank you all so much for going on this journey with me and for supporting the show. I love doing it, and I'm so glad to have your support. Thank you! Cheers to 100 more! 

Mathula bravely joins Caitlin to cover the controversial 2009 arthouse horror movie Antichrist. We look at themes of internalized misogyny, religion, nature, and grief, and we get into why this movie falls into the "monstrous feminine" category. Tangents include: Willem DaFoe's dong (duh), mail carriers, Kool-Aid, vacations, tattoos, and breakfast sandwiches. Be sure to check out Mathula's art over at Hallelujah Dystopia! 

Bob, Randy, and Soju from the Straight Chilling Podcast join Caitlin to review The Stepford Wives (2004). We dig into gender roles, patriarchy, book vs movie comparisons, and behind-the-scenes trivia. We take an unfortunate look at the "trad wife" and Quiverfull movements, but somehow have a blast talking about even the grimmest topics. Tangents include Tom Cruise, horror movie memorabilia, unpopular food opinions, horror TV, anthology horror, and animals. Stick around until the end to hear the Straight Chilling freestyle remix to the Plug It Up theme song, graciously delivered by Bob from episode 415 of Straight Chilling. Love my Stepford husbands.

Check out Straight Chilling wherever you get your podcasts! And the book I mentioned is Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Kathryn Joyce, if you're interested in learning more and getting truly scared.

Mary and I had the pleasure of chatting with filmmakers Eric England and Caitlyn Greene, two of the most wonderful people we've met. We talked about Contracted, which Eric wrote and directed, as well as how both he and Caitlyn got into horror. We also talked about some of their upcoming projects, all of which sound fantastic (and right up our alley). We chatted like old friends about gender and sexuality tropes in horror, and we bonded over some of our favorite horror movies. It was a great time, and I can't wait to see what they do next. Huge thanks to Eric, Caitlyn, and Mary! Let's make this a regular thing! 

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin for some bridal horror! We cover Rec 3, the most Spanish movie ever. We talk about Rec 3's humor, gore, and Catholic zombies, and we look at the ways it subverts wedding traditions. Tangents include: Cocaine Bear, Twilight, organ donation, marriage, favorite numbers, vacations, Sarah's wedding, and scariest horrror moments. 

Mary and Christian join Caitlin to count down the best and worst horror remakes. We rank the 15 best and 15 worst, then we do a lightning round of yea-or-nay to remakes that we didn't rank (with a special shoutout to The Fly, which should've made the best-of list). We also discuss confirmed upcoming remakes, and we chat about which horror movies we can see being remade. One running theme: we've got a real affinity for the early 2000s remakes. Thanks to Mary and Christian for joining! I'm glad our friendship survived this battle royale.

Maddie and Mackenzie join Caitlin to cover 2014's Lyle, often touted as a lesbian re-telling of Rosemary's Baby. We look at some classic monstrous motherhood themes, including gaslighting partners, losing a child, and Satanic syndicates poaching your offspring. We also discuss the most iconic (for better or worse) fake website in horror history. We really love Lyle, though, and we have a great time talking about this lesbian re-telling, as well as imagining lesbian re-tellings of other famous horror movies. Tangents include: karaoke, shoes in the house, and cheez whiz.

Colleen and Christian join Caitlin to cover 2022's Don't Worry Darling. We go full roast mode on this one, so be prepared. We look at the film's themes of sex and technology, and we talk about how it really missed the mark when it comes to actual empowerment. We also get into the way the movie was marketed, and finally, we air our all our lingering questions and complaints. We still love Florence Pugh, though! Tangets include: Galentine's Day, eggs, cartoons, fantasy worlds, our 50s personas, and TikTok, and we get a great FMK. Be sure to check out It's Only A Podcast! 

Mary and Nick join Caitlin to cover 2013’s Contracted. It’s a body-horror, zombie-movie fav! We get into themes of sex and sexuality, and we (unfortunately) do a deep dive into necrophilia. We also cover Contracted: Phase II. Both are currently available on Tubi, and both contain our favorite horror doctor. Tangents for this episode include: ranch (and general condiment wars), Tilikum the whale, lessons from horror movies for anxious individuals, hot horror villains, real-life eyeball horror, Traumagotchi (TM, don’t steal our idea), chapstick, Lasik, and paranormal experiences. 

Mary joins Caitlin at the Player Haters' Ball to count down the most hated characters in horror. We actually cover a few lists: horror characters we happen to hate (complete with runners-up), horror characters we love to hate (slash who we're supposed to hate), horror characters that we think are unfairly hated, and hateable characters from horror TV. We make our cases, debate a bit, and generally have a good time as haters. Send in your hated characters to the plugituppod gmail! 

Maddie and Mary join Caitlin to discuss a new addition to the Plug It Up repertoire of the monstrous feminine: bridal horror. Although weddings are beautiful and fun, they can also be catastrophic, or even deadly. 2019's Ready or Not is a favorite in general, and it perfectly captures wedding chaos and bridal horror. Plus, Samara Weaving's scream is everything. We look at themes of family, wealth, and deals with the devil, and we go on plenty of wedding tangents. *Cues Love Me Tender and lights a cigarette.*

It's a Zach and Charlie episode, so you know the accents are a'flowin. This time it's Aussie accents, mate, since we're covering 2022's Sissy. Sissy is great; it's a mix of The Stylist and Tucker and Dale vs Evil. It's got great gore, and it explores themes of friendship, bullying, and social media. Plus, what's more horrifying than a bachelorette party? We go off the rails pretty quickly. Tangents include: nicknames, Zach's corn "girlfriend," movie times, the Queen, Crocodile Dundee vs Steve Irwin (RIP), VH1, music tastes, and first jobs. That's not a knoife!

Joe Ferry joins Caitlin to discuss 2022's Hellbender, a folk horror favorite that explores witchcraft, shifting power dynamics, and control. It's got beats of both monstrous menstruation and monstrous motherhood, and in general it's a very Plug It Up movie. We do say the word "flesh hole" a few times, so beware. Tangents include: salamanders, ice shapes, track suits, cereal, and miscellaneous witchery. Be sure to check out Joe's podcasts Films at First Sight and No Film Left Behind, and find his writing at Bloody Good Horror and The Wicked Wild. 

Victor, Maddie, Zach, and Colleen join Caitlin to talk about M3GAN, the first big theater release of 2023 horror. We had a great time in the theater together, and we enjoyed talking about movie. We loved the humor and the scares, and we liked the Black-Mirror-esque questions the movie raised about AI. We also get into how and why Megan is a gay icon. Tangents include: Friday the 13th, Kraft macaroni and cheese, theater snacks, and, of course, TikTok.

Jon Schnaars of Bloody Good Horror fame joins Caitlin to cover Resurrection, a 2022 horror movie starring Rebecca Hall. We look at themes of motherhood, trauma, and surrealism, and we get into the creepy Tim Roth of it all. (We say that with respect - what a chilling and fantastic performance.) Tangents include soda, board games, and top sheets. This was recorded in December, hence all the holiday talk. Thanks for joining, Schnaars! 

Matt and Mer join Caitlin to cover another A24 Favorite: The Lighthouse. We look at themes of isolation, madness, sexuality, homoeroticism, and masculinity. We say the word phallus a whole bunch of times. We also say "mermaid vagina" a lot. And don't forget the bodily fluids! It's a great time. Tangents include Last Podcast on the Left, curly hair (I have a type), fun-size candy, and hoarding. Thanks to Matt and Mer for joining and being good sports. I know yer fond of me lobster! 

Mary joins Caitlin to cover Luca Guadagnino's reimagining of the Italian horror classic Suspiria. Like the original, the remake is hypnotic and surreal, and it features dancing and witchcraft. The 2018 version digs into motherhood themes, and it explores the dark feminine. AND, it stars Tilda Swinton, Tilda Swinton, and Tilda Swinton. Despite our qualms about the triple-casting, we really do love this one. Thanks for joining, Mary!

Pickens joins Caitlin to cover Dario Argento's Suspiria. We talk about Italian horror overall, Suspiria's bright colors (and its bright blood), the iconic score by Goblin, and lots of trivia. Tangents for this episode include: Return to Oz, chickens, Diablo Cody, Rugrats, and Sheetz. Be sure to check out Pickens' instagram to see photos from his very cool meet-and-greet with Felissa Rose! 

Zach, Maddie, Colleen, Mary, and Charlie join Caitlin to look back at the year in horror. We share our top 5 (and bottom 3) movies of the year, and we look at the rankings from other Plug It Up guests. Thanks so much to all the guests who submitted lists! We also talk about horror TV from this year, and we look back at our favorite Plug It Up episodes and moments. We talk about the horror movies we're looking forward to in 2023, and we make plans on what movies (new and old) to cover on the show next year. Tangents include: holiday food, rom-coms, life advice, and our roles in a theoretical slasher movie. Thanks so much to Charlie, Mary, Maddie, Colleen, and Zach for joining, and thank you all for the support throughout the year. Happy new year, everyone!

Mary and Victor join Caitlin to talk about 2003's Dead End - a Christmas horror movie that features a monstrous femme figure and some monstrous motherhood. Overall opinions varied, but we all appreciated the very 2003 vibe. Since this is a Christmas movie, we discussed all things Christmas: Christmas movies, Christmas traditions, Christmas presents, Christmas meals, and good ol' white elephant gift exchanges. Thank you all for submitting the fun questions, and thanks to Mary and Victor for joining! Happy holidays! 

Victor joins Caitlin to talk about 2019's Saint Maud, a psychological slow-burn from director Rose Glass. It's got one of the most memorable final seconds of a movie ever. We talk themes of religion, penance, ecstasy, and delusion, and we look at some symbolism, too. We also talk about self-immolation, because how can you not? Tangents include board games, our creative writing projects, a rousing FMK of The Chipmunks, an existential FMK, and upcoming horror for 2023.

Mary and Nick join Caitlin to talk about Stephen King's Misery. Annie Wilkes is an icon of the monstrous feminine, and Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for portraying her. We get into themes of isolation, obsession, and addiction, and we talk at length about hobbling. Mary and Nick cracked me up this episode. We talk about our favorite Stephen King adaptations, our food court orders, how we like our hash browns, our ideal sleeping conditions, and our relationship dealbreakers. Standard horror podcast chat. Thanks for submitting questions!

Colleen joins Caitlin for what might be the most Plug It Up movie that ever plugged it up: 2022's You Won't Be Alone. It's a slow burn folk horror movie that has a Plug It Up trifecta: a monstrous femme figure, monstrous menstruation (well, some coming-of-age, at least), and monstrous motherhood. It explores gender in really interesting ways, and it's a real accomplishment of a movie in terms of script, direction, scope, and acting. Tangents for this episode include: tattoos, dogs, roadtrip playlists, and fruit. Cantaloupe stan until I DIE. 

The gentlemangs from Straight Chilling Podcast join Caitlin to cover 1987's Blood Rage - a Thanksgiving horror movie for the ages. It's got some monstrous motherhood beats, and it gives us a great evil twin story. It also takes place in Jacksonville, FL, home of Straight Chilling! Tangents include chain restaurants, celebrity nemeses, and getting "the ick." Be sure to check out Straight Chilling wherever you get your podcasts. Happy Thanksgiving!

Long time friend Dani joins Caitlin to cover 2014's A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. It's a feminist favorite, and it uses vampirism to explore addiction and subversion. It also has a killer soundtrack. Who wouldn't love a black-and-white movie about a chador-wearing, skateboarding vampire who stalks bad guys and plays good music? We also talk about what's going on Iran currently, and we have a lot of fun with the fan-submitted questions. Thanks, as always, for sending those in! 

Back with another solo episode! On this one I go over some of my recent horror watches, including Bodies Bodies Bodies, My Best Friend's Exorcism, Halloween Ends, and American Horror Story: New York City. I also talk about which horror movies I still need to see to round out 2022, some of which look great, and some of which give me pause. I also talk at length about the Dahmer series on Netflix and true crime as a genre in general. That's actually, like, half the episode - whoops! Keep an eye on the feed for more 2022 releases, coverage of classics, and a few holiday movies that fit Plug It Up's themes. The year's not over yet! 

Matt and Maddie join Caitlin to cover 2022's Piggy. Based on a short by the same name, Piggy tells the story of a brutally bullied girl faced with the decision of whether or not to save her tormenters. We look at themes of size, bullying, and compulsion, and we give our best Castilian pronunciations. THERDITA! Tangents include pork dishes, books, discount stores, and muppets. I'd also like to give a special thanks to Magnolia Pictures for the screener.

Joe from Small Town Failing Podcast joins Caitlin to cover Hocus Pocus 2, a sequel that had a lot to live up to. We go over our favorite scenes and jokes, and we cherish the themes of friendship and sisterhood. Then we sauce it up with some FMKs and Satanic Panic 2.0 talk. We also share our go-to karaoke songs, and Joe takes a walk down memory lane reminiscing about Melanie Griffith's interactive website from the 90s. All the expected avenues, ya know! 

Maddie joins Caitlin to cover Watcher, the newest release from director Chloe Okuno. We talk about stalker movie trops, such as gaslighting and isolation, and I open my heart to Maika Monroe. Tangents include: pumpkin carving, TikTok (always), and scary movie theater experiences. This one is sitting on my top 10 list for 2022 horror - well done, Watcher! 

Mary joins Caitlin to cover 2022's Orphan: First Kill, the much anticipated prequel to 2009's Orphan. We talk about Esther/Leena as a monstrous femme figure, and we look at the multiple angles of monstrous motherhood we get in this movie. Definitely give it a watch, and go in blind if you can. Our tangents this episode include: JonBenet Ramsey, franchise horror, Christmas, gifs, water, and our unwillingness to fight back against a horror foe. Thanks, as always, for the great questions!

It's a special! Special guest Alfonso joins Caitlin to discuss Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (The Producer's Cut), and to talk about the Cult of Thorn backstory that enriches not just the 6th chapter of Halloween, but all chapters of Halloween. Alfonso walks me through the lore he's developed about the Druid curse featured in the producer's cut of Halloween 6 - its origins, its effects, and the way it perfectly weaves through the Halloween franchise. It's fascinating, and it makes perfect sense. You may notice that we were recording during a hurricane, so forgive my anxieties of the power cutting off our conversation. I'm glad the power stayed on and our conversation about the lore wasn't lost! Must've been the Druid curse protecting us...

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin for Ti West's second release of 2022: Pearl. We go off the rails early on in this one. Tangents include: Dave Matthews Band, head lice, and cotillion, among others. The review starts around minute 19, and we get into themes of sexuality, monstrous motherhood, and how Pearl may be a new iconic monstrous femme figure in the horror repertoire. Our concensus: although we'd change a few things, Pearl is better than X! We look forward to the third installment - MaXXXine.

Alternate titles I considered for this episode (based on our conversation) were: Pearl: Teamwork Makes the 69 Work, and Pearl: Perpetual Milkmaid Face.

Colleen and Mary join Caitlin to cover the new release Barbarian. Go into the movie blind! You'll be glad you did. If you've seen it, you'll know that we had plenty to talk about. We have a great monstrous femme figure in the barbarian mama, we get some creepy monstrous motherhood moments, and we explore the different ways men and women approach danger. We also got into creepy basement stories, and how nothing is scarier than "when the scary thing gets scared." We really loved this movie! Hope you enjoy the episode.

Eli goes by many names: the loremaster, the campfire master, the mole king, and Mary's husband, among others. I was delighted to have him on to help me cover 2017's Pyewacket. Pyewacket is cool Canadian horror movie about the occult. We dig into themes of monstrous motherhood, grief, and the old "be careful what you wish for" adage. We also talk about the witchfinder general Matthew Hopkins, public bathrooms, popsicles, fast food, Eli's childhood in West Virginia, the mole kingdom, and the good old days of the IFC channel. Be sure to check out The Wicked Wild and Loremasters of the Absurd! 

Christian and Ian of It's Only a Podcast join Caitlin to cover the 2016 horror comedy Prevenge. Prevenge is a revenge-centered monstrous motherhood movie, and it hits its comedic beats exactly right. Alice Lowe really pulled off something special here. We also talk about upcoming releases for spooky season, vidja games, and air travel. And we even play Smash or Pass with some of our favorite final girls. Be sure to check out It's Only a Podcast! It's good stuff.

Vulnerable o'clock! I got to thinking about why I like body horror so much, and I wanted to share that with you all. I think it comes from my experiences as viewing my own body as horrific (or capable of horrors). That comes in the form of chronic illness (crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis), unusual body conditions (vaginismus and vulvodynia), and good old fashioned fatphobia. It's hard when others view your body as gross or monstrous, and even harder when you view your own body that way. We're all working through our stuff. I'm glad we have horror to help us through.

John from The Wicked Wild joins Caitlin to cover Prey, the newest installment in the Predator franchise. John is an expert on Predator, and he was able to walk me through some of the lore and easter eggs that I missed. And we both loved this one! It has cool themes around gender, siblings, and the dynamics of predators and prey (and prey that becomes a predator herself). Thanks for joining, John!

To quote my beloved American Horror Story: surprise, bitch! Here's an American Horror Story mini episode! Just talking into a mic about Ryan Murphy stuff - what could possibly be more fun, or more insane? Big thanks to Whitney and Elizabeth for sending in AHS questions! I give a rundown of my favorite seasons and characters, talk a little about Stories (the spin-off), and think about where I hope to see AHS go in the future. American Horror Story has a lot of good Plug It Up themes: monstrous motherhood, monstrous menstruation / coming of age, women battling horrors, and women who are themselves horrific. Feel free to send any AHS questions my way! BALENCIAGA!

Colleen joins Caitlin to cover what might be the ultimate Plug It Up movie: 2016's Raw. We bring sleepover energy to this one! We chat about many aspects of the monstrous feminine: monstrous menstruation, monstrous motherhood, monstrous sisterhood, forbidden appetite, and body horror (among various other things that make me love Raw). Ducournau is a favorite, and Raw is a top 10 movie of all time for me. Thanks again for the great questions! And come see me, Colleen, and Maddie at horror trivia in Richmond. 

Or should we say MU-TH-UR issues? Jason (from Dads from the Crypt) joins Caitlin to cover a sci fi horror classic: 1979's Alien. Alien is a movie with a ton of cool themes; the ones we pull for Plug It Up are sex and motherhood (with bonus horrific pregnancy/birth). We also get into the development of the script, the awesome practical effects, and the killer cast. Did you know Sigourney Weaver refused to shave her pubes for the underwear shot? I didn't know that when we recorded, but found out after. I'm always learning new things about Alien! Go Sigourney! Be sure to check out Dads from the Crypt.

Mary joins Caitlin to cover 2003's Gothika. Gothica (stylized as Gothika for the movie) is a real word! New vocab - you love to see it. We dig into themes of revenge, supernatural vs logic, and good ol' ego. We also talk at length about Reese's Cups, our friends Nick and Darren, and our love of John Carroll Lynch. Thanks for the questions! These were some of the best yet. Be sure to check out Mary's show Binge This, and rate Plug It Up on your podcatcher of choice!

Due to a scheduling snafu, the regularly scheduled episode had to be moved, so instead you get some good old fashioned talking-into-the-void from yours truly. I go over some trailers (Don't Worry Darling, The Munsters, The Menu, Smile, Pearl, and Barbarian), some recent releases (Nope, Torn Hearts, Watcher, Hellbender, and They/Them), and some horror TV (the Chucky series, as well as American Horror Story and Stories). I also chat about life and give some podcast recommendations. Hopefully this isn't weird? I'll be back with regular episodes next week.

Joe Charnews of the Small Town Failing Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 2011's Silent House. Elizabeth Olsen brings her A-game in this real-time, long-take production, and we are impressed. The subject matter is heavy, but we love the twist and the way it all came together. In addition to the thematically relevant topics, like repressed memories and the controversies therein, we chat about the holidays, the Satanic Panic, our quarantine hobbies, lesbian footwear, and our favorite foods. Be sure to check out Small Town Failing wherever you get your podcasts!

Stephanie and Rachael join Caitlin to cover Lights Out, the 2016 feature based on a short of the same name. Lights Out has a monstrous femme figure in Diana, and it has notes of monstrous motherhood in Sophie. We talk about the plays on light and dark, the outstanding practical effects, and the truly effective scares. Also, we stan Bret, a himbo goth boyfriend for the horror recordbooks. We chat about Stephanie and Rachael's kickball and volleyball teams, reminisce about RVA Horror Club, and answer some great questions. Thanks for submitting them! Also don't forget to grab some Plug It Up merch!

Colleen and Mary join Caitlin to cover Ari Aster's 2019 masterpiece Midsommar. We talk about the significance of mirrors, the insidiousness of the cult, the complex relationships and trauma, the dizzying disorientation, the attestupa, the blood eagle... We really do our best to cover it all. We also chat about the upcoming A24-themed party Colleen is throwing. Who would you dress as? Huge thanks to Mary and Colleen for joining to talk about one of my favorite movies, and a special shoutout to Maddie, who I know really wanted to be here for this one. Don't worry, Maddie. I mentioned your name no less than 20 times probably.

Calling all coroners! Jaime and Tami join Caitlin to cover The Autopsy of Jane Doe, an atmospheric horror hit from 2016. We look at themes of witchcraft, father-son bonds, and REVENGE! We are big fans of this one, and we do our best to dissect (HEY-O) it. We also talk about the obstetric history of chainsaws, how we want to be handled after we die, our favorite sibling memories, and our celebrity nemeses. Be sure to check out Texas ChainPaw Massacre, as well as The Wicked Wild.

Who better to join Caitlin to cover 2020's The Stylist than Elizabeth, an actual stylist? We really love this one. Jill Sixx knocks it out of the park, and Najarra Townsend gives an arresting performance. We look at themes of isolation and identity, and explore one of the creepiest movies we've had in the last few years. We also look at the history of scalping, and we get some great questions. Keep those coming! Send all your questions to [email protected].

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover Tragedy Girls, a horror comedy from 2017. It's got fun cameos, campy kills, and horror homages galore! We had a great time talking about it. We also got into prom talk and conspiracy corner. We needed a good laugh coming off of the awful news about Roe v Wade being overturned. Please consider donating to your local abortion fund. Keep fighting, and take care of yourselves. 

Accomplished actor Galen Howard joins Caitlin to talk about 1977's Rabid. Rabid is a Cronenberg movie, so you know body horror is on the table. We look at how mosquitoes inspired the creature design, how uniquely the zombie mechanics come together, and how our protagonist navigates her monstrous transformation with respect to gender. Rabid is a great movie, and we had a lot of fun talking about it. Be sure to check out our new single "Potato Man Loves Ketchup Man," coming soon to a radio near you. Find Galen Howard on instagram @galenhoward, and check him out in movies, on TV, and in music videos!

Caitlin is joined by two Jovian Warriors to cover 2018's Mandy: bestie Charlie and brother Zach. Mandy is a movie about a man with a singular focus: REVENGE. We explore said revenge, as well as stylized hyper-violence, "righetous masculinity," and more. Brush up on your French as we attempt to pronouce words we don't know (we are, how  you say... idiots), and join us as we answer questions from the audience. We had a lot of fun!

"Misogyny is bad, mmkay?" - Mr. Garrison, I mean Alex Garland. Mary joins Caitlin to talk about A24's new horror movie Men. While it has notes of everything we tend to like (commentary on misogyny, original sin allegories, cool body horror, and folklore), this one felt a little ham-fisted, and a bit 101. Still a cool effort, and certainly lots to dig into. Count how many times we say "I don't know." It's a lot. Be sure to check out Whitney's review at bloodygoodhorror.com, and keep an eye out for Mary's new show Binge This!

Mary returns to help Caitlin cover a controversial movie: 2008's Dead Girl. Some have pushed it away, considering it misogynist and repulsive, but both Mary and I think there's solid feminist messaging in this one, even if some scenes are hard to watch. We look at toxic masculinity, the ways class and sexism connect, and the illusion of "the nice guy." We also talk about the figure who originated the idea of creating a captive sex zombie: Jeffrey Dahmer. Creeps all around! Go, Dead Girl, go! Zombie chomp an incel. 

Dynamic duo Matt and Michael join Caitlin to talk about another dinner party gone awry. This time, we're looking at 2015's The Invitation. We look at themes of grief, cults, and social contracts regarding politeness. We shared stories about times we felt uncomfortable breaking the "politeness contract," including Michael's experience in a haunted forest, and Matt and Caitlin's [subjectively] near-death experience on a mountain in Chile. 

Bob, Randy, and Justin from Straight Chilling join Caitlin to cover The Omen (1976). We dig into themes of religion and monstrous motherhood, explore some of the "cursed" aspects of the production, and chat about various iconic scenes from this touchstone movie. We also somehow get to talking about Willem Dafoe and his renowned lower half... such is the nature of the show. Be sure to check out Straight Chilling! Big thanks for joining, fellas. 

Rachel, Ariel, and Matilda of the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Network join Caitlin to analyze Hatching, a new Finnish horror movie from director Hanna Bergholm. All of us really loved Hatching, and we enjoying chatting about its themes of troubled girlhood, monstrous motherhood, body horror, perfectionism, and feminine anger. We also take a look at the sometimes disturbing world of mommy bloggers and family influencers. Be sure to catch Hatching wherever you rent or buy your movies, and check out the Zombie Grrlz' interview with Hanna Bergholm on their More Deadly series.

Elizabeth joins Caitlin to cover the brutal world of ballet in 2010's Black Swan. Black Swan hits a ton of monstrous feminine beats: monstrous menstruation, monstrous motherhood, treacherous friendships between women, body horror in women, and women who are themeslves horrific. We also look at themes of mental illenss, perfectionism, and doppelgangers (which are, for the record, scary). Black Swan is an incredible movie, and the behind-the-scenes trivia makes it all the more impressive.

Christina and Colleen join Caitlin to cover the original slasher - 1960's Psycho. It was groundbreaking for its time, and it has become a cultural touchstone for film fans everywhere. We touch on themes of monstrous motherhood, chance, and mental illness, and we dig in to various symbols and motifs. We also talk about Hitchcock himself. What a strange dude. Not as strange as Ed Gein, who partially inspired the story of Psycho. We talk about him, too. Be sure to check out Christina's books, store, and workshops! And most importantly, help us answer this question: *is* a boy's best friend his mother?

Mary and Maddie join Caitlin to talk about Ti West's new movie X. Did you know that "psychobiddy" is a whole subgenre of horror? I didn't! It refers to horror movies where a formerly glamorous woman ages into a violent monster; it's sometimes referred to as "hagsploitation." We look at themes of aging, desire, and not having lived the life you wish you had. Also alligators. We get into theater etiquette and the year in horror so far. 

Maddie returns to help Caitlin cover 2022's Fresh. We dig into the movie itself and joke about its need for larger-bodied characters (as Lizzo famously said, "No, I'm not a snack at all; look, baby, I'm a whole damn meal"). We both really loved this one. It's looking like a leader for top horror movies of 2022, and we couldn't be happier to have ol' Seb Stan on the weirdo train. Speaking of weirdos, we reveal our alarming amount of cannibal knowledge, thanks in no small part to Last Podcast on the Left. Bon appetit! 

Maddie and Charlie join Caitlin for an extra special episode. We tackle the X Files' spin on monstrous motherhood in "Terms of Endearment." That's episode 7 of season 6, if you'd like to watch before listening. We examine the monstrous feminine beats of this particular episode, and we do a deep dive on the X Files as a whole: favorite episodes, skips, FMKs, and how Gillian Anderson plays "dignified but horny" in all her roles. (That's a compliment; we deeply appreciate her craft.) We'll be back to movies next week, but we hope you enjoy this special episode!

Caitlin is joined by fellow podcaster Natalie Katona to talk about 2018's The Wind. We dig in to monstrous motherhood and the brutality of the frontier. We also do a deep dive on prairie madness, which is as harrowing as it sounds. Natalie shares about her podcast To All the Men I've Tolerated Before, which you can find on any podcast platform, as well as her show on Fireside by the same name. Give her a follow, and check out The Wind!

Codename Thor joins Caitlin to talk about 2012's Byzantium, which is the first vampire movie we've covered on the show. It's a beautiful movie, and we had a great time dissecting its themes of mothers and daughters, carrying the past, and sex work. I quiz Thor on his vampire knowledge, and we somehow land on X-Men for a while. Be sure to check out Thor's Hour of Thunder, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Matt from Chile and Richmond buddy Michael join Caitlin to talk about 2011's You're Next.You're Next is a fan favorite, and it's the first movie we're covering with a bonafide final girl! We laughed a ton on this episode, and we really enjoyed the movie. Who's your favorite character: Erin or Drake?

What a special episode! Dr. Natalie Feinblatt joined me to cover the new psychological horror movie A Banquet, and I had the pleasure of interviewing the film's director, Ruth Paxton. Natlaie and I talked about themes of eating disorders and general mentall illness, monstrous motherhood, and body horror, and Ruth gave some really beautiful insights into the film. This is a new-new one, and we do get into spoilers, so heads up! I feel very close to the movie and can't recommend it enough. Special thanks to Ruth Paxton for joining!

Elizabeth and Tracy join Caitlin to talk about the 2014 found footage banger The Taking of Deborah Logan. In this movie, a woman watches her mother get taken by illness, age, and the supernatural. It's a great meditation on aging, the complex relationships between some mothers and daughters, and old secrets coming to light. It's beautifully done, and did I mention that they talk about Richmond a lot? That's important to me. We also round out our series on PMS. Be sure to find Elizabeth and Tracy on social media.

Caitlin is joined by new guest Whitney to cover the Netflix original horror movie Cam. Cam is a unique and impressive movie, and we both loved it. We touch on themes of black mirror esque technology and stigma around sex work, and I share my deep fear of doppelgangers. Whitney shares about her experiences in gaming, and we talk about her diagnosis of PMDD. Thanks for being here, Whitney!

One evening in 2006, Mary's dad brought home a copy of a horror DVD that happened to look really cool. That DVD turned out to be Jack O'Latnern, and it became a Halloween staple for Mary, who in turn turned me and our horror buddies on to the cult classic. We hadthe privilege of chatting and laughing with the star of the film, Dave R. Watkins, to chat about the movie itself, and about his experience as a creator. He was a delight, and the movie is a lot of fun! Thanks for joining us, Dave!

Jaime and Tami, the founders of Texas ChainPaw Massacre, join Caitlin to talk about 2009's Orphan. It's a wild story that feels unbelievable, but it was based on true events! This one includes a big twist, so consider watching the movie beforehand if you'd like to avoid spoilers. Be sure to visit texaschainpawmassacre.com, and consider adopting an animal that has a horror movie lookalike! (Or any animal!)

horror, horror movies, feminism, periods, menstruation, monstrous menstruation, plug it up, monstrous motherhood, monstrous feminine, the orphan, orphan movie, jaume collet sara, david leslie johson, vera farmiga, peter sarsgaard, isabelle fuhrman, cch pounder, jimmy bennett, aryana engineer, margo martindale, texas chainpaw massacre

Calling all shrews, crazy bitches, and inconvenient women! Maddie, Mary, and Caitlin gathered to talk about David Fincher's Gone Girl. Feminist media discourse gave us terms like manic pixie dream girls and pick-me girls, and Gone Girl gave us "the cool girl." We do a deep dive on "the cool girl," themes, scenes, and quotes, and we generally have a great time with a great movie.

Show regular Mary and new guest Dave join Caitlin to talk about an all-time favorite - 2005's The Descent. Dave is an experienced outdoorsman, and he brings a lot to this episode, especially because Mary and I are scared of everything. We love our brave cave Dave. We all agree that Juno is THE WORST, and we marvel at how well this subterranean movie was made. Join us as we look at the trreachery of monstrous female friendships. Be sure to check out @wickedwildweare on instagram.

Caitlin is joined by Chase and Elizabeth to talk about a darling of the horror community, 2014's It Follows. This episode has a rousing debate, because I find the main character a bit of a pick-me, and Chase holds me to task and challenges my assumptions about the movie. Elizabeth proposes some great questions about the movie's logistics and what we would do in this scenario. We can all agree on one thing: the soundtrack slaps. Disasterpiece did right by this movie.

Mary returns to talk with Caitlin about Stephen King's Dolores Claiborne. God damn, do we love Kathy Bates! She's the best, and we think more people should know about this great movie. Be sure to stick around for the awesome bumper Mary made for the show, and also consider checking out (and donating to) RAINN.org.

Caitlin is joined by retuning guest Maddie and new guest Matt to cover Hereditary. Do you like horror movies with a lot of decapitations? Well have I got a movie for you! Ari Aster has an incredible ability to depict trauma and horror in a way that will really stick with you. I do a deep dive on Paimon, Matt shares about his encounter with a man invoking Beelzebub, and Maddie blows my mind with her monstrous motherhood analysis. Hail Paimon!

horror, horror movies, feminism, periods, menstruation, monstrous menstruation, plug it up, monstrous motherhood, monstrous feminine, hereditary, toni collette, gabriel byrne, alex wolff, milly shapiro, ari aster, ann dowd, a24, paimon, cult horror, occult

Caitlin is joined by Naty and Zi of The Spooky Corner to cover 2016's The Love Witch. We dig in to the feminist messaging, praise Anna Biller for her incredible vision, and laugh about how we want to root for Elaine, even though she's decidedly delusional and murderous. We just wanted more for you, Elaine! Be sure to check out The Spooky Corner, as well as Karson Reed's Dance Fit and Fun!

anna biller, samantha robinson, the love witch, love spell, witchcraft, femme fatale, the spooky corner, karson reed, 35 mm

Colleen and Caitlin experienced Titane in theaters together, where they enjoyed the surround-sound squelches of Alexia's body being taped down, among other grotesque body horror moments. Titane is a wild one! We analyzed the movie as best we could, shared a lot of laughs, and reflected on the ways TLC shows formed my brain. Also, I royally messed up pronouncing Garance Marillier's name. I think I called her Garance Miller? Sorry, Garance! My apologies. I do love you.

Caitlin is joined by artist, kickball champion, and fellow Richmonder Stephanie to talk about the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead. We ask lots of questions. Where would you spend time if you lived in the mall? Can cats eat bananas? Is CJ the proto-Daryl? Does CJ have the best redemption arc in horror history? How would zombie babies eat? Is Steve just the bizarro world version of Phil Dunphy? ARE you down with the sickness?

Casey from Bloody Good Horror joins Caitlin to talk about 1982's Slumber Party Massacre, a film that was written as a feminist parody of tropey horror. We talk sleepover traditions, Casey's life of crime as a toilet papering madman (just kidding, Casey), and period poops. Be sure to check out Casey's awesome art, and you can find us both on Bloody Good Horror every Friday.

Caitlin is joined by Jason from Dads from the Crypt to talk about the controversial 1983 slasher Sleepaway Camp. Join us as we talk our way through Camp Arawak and reminisce on our own camp stories. We also talk about vaginal steaming. Bet you didn't anticipate reading those words together today. Be to check out Dads from the Crypt! This episode features discussions on homophobia, transphobia, and movie depictions of sexual assault, just as an FYI.

Directors Jennifer Reeder and Chloe Okuno from the new movie V/H/S 94 sat down with Caitlin to talk about their new film, the monstrous feminine, being a woman in horror, and more! Be sure to check out V/H/S 94, steaming on Shudder.

Caitlin is joined by two moms - Lara and Elizabeth - to discuss a dark but beautiful monstrous motherhood movie: The Others. It's a spooky and atmospheric retelling of The Turning of the Screw, and Nicole Kidman gets it exactly right. Suck it, Tom Cruise. We share our love of the costuming, the fog, and a tried and true horror trope done exceptionally well. Since the movie is, uh, dark, the motherhood fact is about mothers from the animal kingdom! Lots of cute mom/baby animal facts. Be sure to check out On Our Sleeves, the organization Lara mentioned. You can find them at onoursleeves.org.

Caitlin is joined by longtime friend Matt to discuss the cult classic Teeth. Matt is also a dentist, so how could we NOT do Teeth? This episode is really personal for me, as I talk at the end about a condition that I have called vaginismus/vulvodynia. Long story short: like Dawn in Teeth, my vagina sometimes feels inhospitable, and it's made for comlicated and painful moments in my life. We end up talking a lot about medical self-advocacy, and how important it is to feel comfortable with your healthcare providers. Go easy on me; it's a sensitive one.

Elizabeth and Alyssa join Caitlin to talk about The Conjuring, a good movie based on pretty terrible people. I appreciate Alyssa and Elizabeth bringing extensive knowledge of just how bad the Warrens actually were. But we did enjoy the movie! And man oh man, that Patrick Wilson sure can wear a pair of pants. The audio gets a little feedback-y at times, but it's tolerable. Just know that no, that's not your car/headphones/phone making that noise.

Colleen joins Caitlin for a deep dive on the feminist, queer horror classic Jennifer's Body! We are thrilled to see Jennifer's Body having the renaissance it deserves. It's an excellent movie that suffered from really bad marketing at the time of its release. It's not the Girls Gone Wild movie that frat boys hoped it'd be; it's a movie about the complexities of women's friendships, as well as coming of age as a queer person. It's also hilarious. And Megan Fox unhinges her jaw and eats people! Join us as we give love to JB, the thoughtful horror comedy that got overlooked in its time, but is now getting the praise it deserves.

When will I learn to give a truly brief synopsis of the movie? Not today, apparently! Tracy Michelle Bullock joins me to talk about representations of grief in the Babadook, as well as the ways motherhood can feel monstrous. She shares about gender, relationships, and her former career as a doula, and how that looks and feels as a non-birthing person. We had a great time and I appreciate her candor and vulnerability. Also, did you know that the Babadook is an LGBTQ+ icon? Do you know WHY? Listen and find out!

Maddie returns to talk with Caitlin about What Lies Below (2020), not to be confused with What Lies Beneath (2000). Do you like hunky dudes who study parasites? Maybe hunky dudes who ARE parasites? Have we got news for you! This was a fun one, and it contains my favorite period fact so far. Also, the documentary I mentioned was Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror. Be sure to check it out!

Ariel and Rachel from the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Network join Caitlin to talk about the new A24 movie False Positive. It's one that we had conflicting feelings on, but had a blast dissecting. From Pierce Brosnan and his speculums (specula?) to flying babies: we cover it all. Ariel shares one of the best water birth stories I've ever heard, Rachel recounts her life of menstrual crime, and I ask Joe Bob Briggs for boner stories.

Caitlin and Mary talk about one of their all-time favorite movies: Rosemary's Baby. That's right, folks, we're introducing a second trope to the line-up: monstrous motherhood! We talk about the ways motherhood can seem monstrous - horrific pregnancies, demonic births, raising a monster, and moms committing the unspeakable. Don't fret - there are plenty more period movies on the docket, but we had a lot of fun adding this trope to the mix. We both love Rosemary's Baby, and we give it all our love. The anthropologist I mentioned at the end was Barbara Ehrenreich, if you'd like to look her up. The book I cited at the beginning was The Monster Within: The Hidden Side of Motherhood, by Dr. Barbara Almond. Two great Barbaras.

Elizabeth returns to talk with Caitlin about A Nightmare on Elm Street. We talk about the differences in the strong, silent types, like Jason and Michael, and the smart-ass, playful types, like Freddy and Chucky. Caitlin fondly remembers a high school English teacher that validated her love of horror, and Elizabeth recalls co-ed sleepovers. Lots of fun trivia on this one, and we reference maybe every horror movie ever made? Count the times we say "iconic." It's way too many.

Caitlin is joined by Exorcist mega-fan Alyssa to talk about about the iconic film. Themes, production, reception, the novel, the "true story," trivia - we cover it all! Alyssa also wanted me to note her favorite Exorcist fact that we forgot to mention on the show: Evangelist Billy Graham claimed an actual demon was living in the celluoid reels of this movie. Pazuzu is powerful in all forms, even (especially?) film reel! Enjoy our Regan/Pazuzu impressions, which are too vulgar to write here.

Elizabeth and new guest "Boner Joe" join Caitlin to talk about The Rage: Carrie 2. We get our very own "Felissa Rose, mangled dicks" hotline moment, we talk about virginity as an outdated concept, and we challenge one another on whether marijuana addiction is a real thing. Caitlin and Joe say no; Elizabeth says yes. What do you think? Also, the book Caitlin couldn't remember is Jessica Valenti's The Purity Myth. She also cites Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement by Nadya Okamoto.

Caitlin is joined by Chase, the only friend who will tolerate her love of American Horror Story while still gently challenging her to think critically about it. This episode is about season 3 episode 1 of American Horror Story Coven, but we touch on AHS tropes and themes as a whole. Ryan Murphy, hit me up. Also, come answer for your crimes.

horror, feminism, periods, menstruation, monstrous menstruation, plug It up, amanda laird, heavy flow, ryan murphy, american horror story, ahs, american horror story coven, coven, ahs coven, bitchcraft, jaime brewer, emma roberts, kathy bates, jessica lange, angela bassett, taissa farmiga, lily rabe, sarah paulson

A surprise bonus episode! Friend of the show Mary joins Caitlin to read through listener-submitted questions and stories. We heard from anonymous, Whitney, Roger, and Erica on this one. The coming age stories were hilarious, and the questions were fantastic. Keep sending them in! As our friend Zelda Rubinstein says: "All are welcome!"

Elizabeth and Stephanie join Caitlin to talk about 2019's The Other Lamb. Drink every time we say the word patriarchy. Just kidding, please don't. You'll get alcohol poisoning. Tune in for our discussion around a patriarchal separatist cult that slaughters lambs and also *slaughters lambs* (symbolically). We thought we were smarter than this movie. We probably aren't. But we had a lot of fun with it.

Caitlin is joined by Alyssa and Adam to talk about the oft-forgotten 1977 movie Audrey Rose. Caitlin consults two experts on this one. Adam brings his perspective as an attorney, although he hasn't covered a reincarnation or possession case... yet. Alyssa brings her perspective as a teacher, and she confirms that you should not let students dance around an open flame. Together we debate whether the child was possessed or reincarnated, and we also speculate as to whether of not Anthony Hopkins was born a 50 year old man. Alyssa and Caitln also bond over PCOS! Don't know what that is? Listen and find out!

audrey rose, anthony hopkins, reincarnation, robert wise, pcos

Elizabeth and Chase return to talk about a found footage favorite: The Last Exorcism. Turns out Nell isn't the only one with confused ideas about puberty. Listen as Chase, Elizabeth, and Caitlin discover how deeply they misunderstood sex and bodies. One thing that isn't confusing: our love for Ashley Bell, found footage, and the twists and turns in this movie.

Caitlin is joined by longtime friend Charlie to talk about the Spanish horror movie Veronica. Enjoy the over-pronunciation!

Caitlin is joined by Chase and Elizabeth to talk about the A24 movie The Blackcoat's Daughter.

BGH queen CC joins Caitlin to talk about an all-time favorite: The Witch.

Elizabeth returns to talk with Caitlin about the terrible movie The Reaping. A whole river of period blood awaits!

Caitlin is joined by Maddie to talk about the teenage werewolf classic Ginger Snaps.

Caitlin is joined by Elizabeth to discuss the most recognized horror movie featuring monstrous menstruation: Carrie.