Spooky Bitch Gang are proud to co-present a rare screening of Ken Russell’s 1971 masterpiece, The Devils with Static Vision. Friends of the pod Static Vision present their latest film festival Goodbye, Pink Flamingo, a three-day, single-screen event showcasing a global selection of groundbreaking queer, punk, feminist and DIY cinema, curated as a tribute to […]
Episode 78: The Substance
How did this gross, cartoonish body horror movie ending up being one of the year’s major film events? We discuss all the silliness and viscera of The Substance, unpacking its satirical intent and feminist themes. Does its stylisation get in the way of its characters? Does its message get lost in melt movie goo? Plus Two […]
Episode 77: Hammer Horror
Take a trip back in time to the heyday of the iconic British production company Hammer Film Productions. Between the mid-50s and the early 70s, Hammer left an indelible mark on horror, with hits that were sexy, lurid, gothic and campy. We take a look at the lasting impact and sometimes questionable politics of a […]
Episode 76: Speak No Evil Double Feature
Subtitle haters and subtitle lovers are at odds over the new James McAvoy vehicle Speak No Evil, a remake of a film that in some circles is already a minor classic. We unpack the pitch black satire of both, very different versions of Speak No Evil. Also includes discussions of Something in the Water (2024) and Strange Darling (2024).
Episode 75: Pregnancy & Motherhood
In this episode, we take a look at movies that explore all the ins and outs of bearing a child. Turns out the beginnings of life might be not-so-secretly horrifying. What commentary can horror movies offer on pregnancy, abortion and motherhood itself? Includes discussions of In a Violent Nature (2024), Blink Twice (2024), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Suckling (1990), Inside (2007), Prevenge (2016), Baby Ruby (2022), Birth/Rebirth (2023), The […]
Episode 74: Alien: Romulus
Everyone is talking about the latest instalment in the Alien franchise. How does the classic Alien formula of popcorn action plus compelling characters fare in this new iteration? Is Alien: Romulus a return to form or a sad attempt at recapturing the magic? Also includes discussions of The Coffee Table (2024), Woman in the Dunes (1964) and Kidnapping in the […]
Episode 73: White People Got Stuck Where? Part 2
Once again, we’re taking a look at the rich tapestry of movies that is white people getting stuck places. Going from microgenre to macrogenre, it feels like these movie are unavoidable and this time we’ve got some bangers. Where did they get stuck and where will they get stuck next? Includes discussions of Trap (2024), The Coffee Table (2024), Lord […]
Episode 72: Longlegs
With the most impressive viral marketing campaign since Skinamarink, Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs was a sensation long before anyone even knew Nicolas Cage was involved. We discuss the good and the bad of this fascinating and ambitious film and wonder if it ever had a chance of living up to the hype. Also includes discussions of Twisters (2024), Messiah of Evil (1973) and […]
When You Dream That You’re Dreaming: The enduring urgency of Messiah of Evil
Many horror films from the late 1960s and the early 1970s are marked by disillusionment, by a sense of slipping reality, a malignant and sometimes surreal sense that the world is not a kind place. Films like Night of the Living Dead, The Devils, Straw Dogs and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre emerged from a period […]
Longlegs and the Burden of Feminine Sacrifice (2024)
Care has been taken to avoid spoilers in this review but please proceed with caution if you have not seen the film. An innovative and aggressive marketing campaign may have prepared audiences for Longlegs’ nightmarish visual elements and unsettling tone but it certainly didn’t signal the film’s complex and deeply intimate take on motherhood and […]
Episode 71: Bigfoot & Friends
He’s big, he’s hairy and he lives in the woods. No it’s not another Russell Crowe movie; it’s Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the yeti, yowie, and more. We discuss some of the hairy forest-dweller’s onscreen appearances, and what we’ve learned about Bigfoot’s (and similar monsters’) place in the pop culture canon. Includes discussions of A Quiet Place: Day […]