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Horror Obsessive Radio

The Horror Underlying All The Hocus Pocus

Ep. 16

Written and narrated by Kacie Lillejord, this episode of Horror Obsessive Presents looks at the horror within the movie Hocus Pocus.


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  • 26. Clue X Livescreamers (With Michelle Iannantuono)

    01:26:44
    On this latest episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, Sean Parker and JP Nunez are joined by filmmaker Michelle Iannantuono to discuss her movie Livescreamers and some of the surprising ways it was influenced by the 1985 comedy mystery Clue.If you’ve had a chance to catch Livescreamers during its festival run or if you’re familiar with the original film, Livescream, the Clue influence might come as a bit of a surprise. See, aside from the quirky comedic vibe, Clue is a fairly standard murder mystery whodunit based on the board game of the same name, but Livescreamers couldn’t be more different, basically set as a bunch of pro-gamers playing a cursed video game, getting picked off one-by-one, and slowly realizing what it is that's killing them. So on the surface, these two movies seem to be worlds apart.But if you dig just a little bit deeper, you’ll see that they actually share a lot of the same cinematic DNA. In our conversation with Michelle, we talk about a few of those parallels while also debating the merits of the bizarre threefold ending of Clue, and Michelle gives us some behind-the-screams insights into the nonstop work that went into creating the video game world of Livescreamers.As always, Sean and JP start the episode by going over some of the biggest and best news to hit the horror world in the last two weeks. For example, we talk about Sean’s recent interview with Larry Wade Carrell, the director of the documentary The Darkside of Society, and we briefly discuss the releases of Project Eerie and Malibu Horror Story, two great new films putting a fantastic spin on the found-footage format.After this episode, The Horror Obsessive Podcast is going to take a little break, but don’t worry, Sean and JP aren’t going to disappear forever. They’ll be back soon enough with more podcast episodes, so keep an eye out for our return in the not-too-distant future.
  • 25. Trick 'R Treat (2007)

    56:45
    Trick ‘r Treat tells five spooky stories that center around beloved Halloween traditions, but there’s a bit of a twist. They all take place in the same town and on the same night, so they intertwine a lot more than you might expect. To take just a couple of examples, characters often appear in more than one segment, and there’s even a scene that gives hosts Sean Parker and JP Nunez a tiny sneak preview of a story still to come.It’s a really cool idea that’s executed just about perfectly, and throughout the conversation, the hosts go over all the things we love about it. For instance, talking about the way this movie honors Halloween and its central traditions, the stories’ subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) undertones of suburban chaos, and the loveable little demon named Sam. On top of that, they also cover some of the best and most exciting news to hit the horror world in the last two weeks, like the recent releases of The Exorcist: Believer, Totally Killer, and When Evil Lurks.If you enjoy the podcast, stay tuned for the next episode when we welcome Michelle Iannantuono and her crew to talk about their film Livescreamers and some of the surprising ways it was influenced by Clue.
  • 24. Doctor Sleep (2019)

    01:06:56
    On this episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, JP and Sean Parker do something they've only done once before–discuss a sequel. Back in March, they talked about the 2022 Scream requel, but in all our other episodes, we’ve focused exclusively on original films. And there’s probably a good reason for that. Horror sequels are notoriously bad, so it makes perfect sense that we would mostly pass them over. But there are a few worthwhile needles in this seemingly endless haystack of mediocrity, and on this episode of the podcast, we discuss one of the best: Mike Flanagan’s 2019 gem Doctor Sleep.Doctor Sleep is an adaptation of Stephen King’s fantastic novel of the same name, which is a sequel to King's classic The Shining. Taking place decades after the Kubrick movie, it shows us what Dan Torrance’s life has become in the wake of the trauma he experienced in the Overlook Hotel. Just like his father, he too struggles with alcoholism, but he eventually manages to overcome that addiction. He even finds a way to use his psychic abilities to help others, but when he meets a young girl named Abra, he has to redirect those powers to help her fend off a group of despicable child murderers called the True Knot.Doctor Sleep is an outstanding film that, though recent, still doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves. Sean and JP talk about all the reasons we love it, like the ingenious way it bridges the gap between the two versions of The Shining, the movie’s beautiful message about redemption, and the perennially relevant theme of being unafraid to let your true self shine.The discussion kicks off with the best news to hit the horror world in the last two weeks, including the recent release of A Haunting in Venice, the amazing films I saw at Fantastic Fest, and the upcoming The Boys spinoff, Gen V. And as always, if you enjoyed listening to us talk about Doctor Sleep, join us again in two weeks for the next episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, when we’ll be joined by Michelle Iannantuono, director of Livescreamers, along with some of the film’s cast to discuss the 1985 comedy mystery Clue and the upcoming video game horror film.
  • 23. Cronos (1993)

    01:09:27
    If you’ve been listening to The Horror Obsessive Podcast for some time, you know Sean and JP don’t often agree about the movies they discuss. Usually, if one likes a film, the other hates it. But there have been some exceptions. For example, in the last episode, they talked about The Monster Squad, a movie they both enjoyed quite a bit. This time, they defy the odds once again. In the latest episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, Sean and JP discuss Cronos, the directorial debut of Guillermo del Toro, and both agree that it’s an absolute masterpiece.Cronos follows an elderly man named Jesús Gris, who discovers a bizarre device that’s been hidden for decades, and when the thing latches onto him, it restores his youthfulness and vigor. At first, the man is elated at his newfound vitality, but he soon learns that the contraption is turning him into a vampire. At the same time, an unscrupulous uncle and nephew duo are also hounding Jesús to give them the device, so the poor guy has to fend off these two malefactors and navigate his growing thirst for blood.Cronos is an amazing movie, and Sean and JP discuss all the reasons they love it. The film’s message, its religious imagery, and its unique take on vampirism. As usual, the conversation is pretty riveting.As always, they also go over some of the best and most exciting news to hit the horror world in the last two weeks, including the recent release of The Nun II, the two new Godzilla trailers, and the super intriguing trailer for No One Will Save You.If you enjoyed listening to us talk about Cronos, join us again in two weeks for the next episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast. We’ll discuss one of the greatest horror sequels of all time–Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep.
  • 22. The Monster Squad

    01:07:25
    If you’ve ever wondered whether the Wolf Man has nards, you’ll love this latest episode of the Horror Obsessive Podcast. JP Nunez and Sean Parker discuss the 1987 cult classic The Monster Squad, and for once, we both agree that this movie is a ton of fun.The Monster Squad is a love letter to the Universal Monsters and horror fanatics of all ages about a group of monster-loving kids who learn that Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and a few other classic horror villains have descended upon their town. These creatures are planning to take over the world, but to do that, they have to get through the titular Monster Squad first.Sean and JP are both fans of the film and, throughout their discussion, cover everything from the quotable one-liners and the cool monster designs to all the remarkable characters. But somehow, even though this is one of the few movies we actually agree on, we still find a couple of things to argue about. It just wouldn’t be The Horror Obsessive Podcast without some classic Sean vs. JP debates, and this episode is no different.On top of that, Sean and JP also discuss some of the best and most exciting news to hit the horror world in the last two weeks, like almost everything The two saw at FrightFest last week, the upcoming physical release of Prey, Terror Vision’s The Monster Squad Soundtrack vinyl, and the recent IFC horror film birth/rebirth. And, as always, if you enjoy listening to us talk about The Monster Squad, be sure to join us again in two weeks for the next episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, when we discuss Cronos, the fantastic directorial debut of Guillermo del Toro.
  • 21. What Lies Beneath (2000)

    01:01:40
    Have you ever watched an adult thriller like Fatal Attraction and thought, “This movie is pretty good, but it would be a lot better if it had some ghosts?” If you answered yes, you’ll love this latest episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast. Sean Parker and JP Nunez discuss the 2000 supernatural thriller What Lies Beneath (not to be confused with the 2020 flick What Lies Below), and as usual, they come at the film from entirely different points of view.What Lies Beneath concerns empty-nester Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer), who begins experiencing seemingly supernatural phenomena in her house, and when she tells her husband (Harrison Ford) about the ghostly goings-on, he doesn’t believe her. Still, the creepy occurrences persist. And after a while, Claire learns that her spectral visitor is there to uncover a long-buried secret that will turn her world upside down.Sean and JP have very different takes on this movie, and their conversation covers all the reasons to like or dislike it. Diving into the scares, the atmosphere, the cinematography, and the characters, and even though they don’t agree on much, they meet in the middle, understanding one another’s perspectives.Plus, they also discuss some of the biggest and best news to hit the horror world in the last few weeks, like the recently announced Talk to Me sequel, the upcoming release of Podcast alum Dane Elcar's Brightwood, and a few more of our favorite films from the Fantasia International Film Festival.As always, if you enjoyed listening to us talk about What Lies Beneath, join us again for the next episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast in two weeks. We’ll be discussing one of the most beloved cult classics from the 1980s and one of my most cherished childhood favorites: The Monster Squad.
  • 20. Monster Seafood Wars

    56:57
    On the latest episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, Sean and JP talk about the little-known kaiju movie Monster Seafood Wars. JP first became a fan of the film when it played at the Fantasia International Film Festival back in 2020. Receiving good buzz from JP's favorite critics, he revels in the fact a copy now sits proudly in the kaiju section of his Blu-ray collection, and he's excited to introduce this giant monster gem to all of you.Monster Seafood Wars is your typical kaiju flick about a crab, a squid, and an octopus that grow to enormous proportions after being exposed to a sci-fi drug called Setap Z. Unsurprisingly, mayhem ensues when these creatures attack Tokyo. However, the film manages to set itself apart from its cinematic peers in one unique way.Losing limbs as they fight, the monster's severed body parts become kaiju meat for the humans, and it's tastier than they ever could’ve imagined! That little twist makes for a really distinctive take on the genre, and it also gives us a whole bunch of laughs that make Monster Seafood Wars one of the funniest giant monster films out there.In JP's opinion, this movie is an absolute joy to watch, but Sean disagrees and argues against the film's enjoyment, so naturally, JP and Sean have quite a bit to talk about. Their discussion covers everything from characters to story elements and the fun kaiju suitmation. As usual, it’s a hoot and a half.As always, the boys also talk about some of the biggest news to hit the horror world in the past few weeks, like the new Exorcist trailer, the recent release of Talk to Me, and some of our favorite films so far from this year’s Fantasia Film Festival. If you enjoyed listening to us discuss Monster Seafood Wars, be sure to join us again in two weeks for the next episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, when we dissect the psychological ghost thriller What Lies Beneath.
  • 19. Blades (1989)

    01:01:15
    If you’re a fan of bizarre parodies that transpose the plots of classic films into completely different contexts, you’re going to love this latest episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast. After debating The Conjuring vs. Insidious in the last episode, Sean and JP go back to their standard format, discussing a single movie: the 1989 horror comedy Blades.The movie is a bizarre parody of Jaws that revolves around a haunted lawnmower killing people on a golf course, and in their discussion of it, they highlight some of the ways it riffs on that film. From the opening to the very last scene, Blades mimics some of the most famous moments from the Sharksploitation classic, like the mourning mother slapping Chief Brody, which Sean thinks is absolutely hilarious in Blades. JP, on the other hand, does not, and considers the film as a real chore. So, as usual, the boys come at it from entirely different points of view.On top of that, this week's episode also highlights some of the most important news to hit the horror world in the last few weeks, like some upcoming genre film festivals and a few ways we can help support struggling movie and TV workers during the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. And, as always, if you enjoyed listening to us talk about Blades, be sure to join us again in two weeks for the next episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast, when we discuss the fantastic kaiju comedy Monster Seafood Wars.
  • 18. The Conjuring vs. Insidious

    01:03:37
    Talking about everything from the scares to the stories and the characters, Sean and JP, unsurprisingly, can’t seem to agree. Sean is team Insidious, but JP is team Conjuring, and as usual, their differing viewpoints make for a really riveting discussion.That being said, the boys manage to find a bit of common ground. For example, Sean acknowledges The Conjuring's technical merits, while JP admits Insidious has a more satisfying third act. But don’t worry, those agreements are few and far between, so this episode of The Horror Obsessive Podcast still has all the bickering and bantering you’d expect from an old married couple….or from two movie aficionados passionately clamoring about James Wan and Leigh Whannell.On top of all that, Sean and JP also discuss the biggest news to hit the horror world in the last few weeks, like Pluto TV’s new Godzilla channel, the upcoming kaiju gem Shin Ultraman, and a few of the really cool movies Vinegar Syndrome and its partner labels are putting out on Blu-ray later this month. As always, if you enjoyed listening to Sean and JP debate, come back again in two weeks for the next episode, where we’ll be discussing the Jaws-inspired 1989 horror comedy Blades, about a possessed lawnmower that stalks unwitting victims on a prestigious country club’s golf course.