Episodes

  • Purge: Anarchy (2014)
    Mar 10 2026

    PURGE LAW! Katy and Erika return to their favorite(?) series with "Purge: Anarchy." They dive deep into macroeconomics, the hallmarks of the Sad Dad, and if weekend Purge goes harder than weekday Purge (note: this movie takes place on a Tuesday).

    • “Dracula Untold, Told: The Saddest Dad in the World,” Daniel Lavery, née Ortberg: https://the-toast.archive.town/2014/10/14/dracula-untold-told/
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Let the Right One In (2008)
    Feb 10 2026

    It's back to Vamps, as Erika and Katy discuss "Let the Right One In." They dive deep into dark romantasy, cold-weather wear, and just why the hell those wonky little cats were even included in this otherwise emaculate film.

    • "Horror and Romance in Films: The Perfect Marriage," Emma Cole: https://www.houseofgamut.com/magazine/horror-and-romance-in-films-the-perfect-marriage/
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 52 mins
  • Violent Night (2022)
    Dec 23 2025

    Erika and Katy are coming to town--to discuss "Violent Night." They dive deep into the Grinch vs. Scrooge, Anglo-Saxons vs. Vikings, and the Epiphany Witch vs. Daddy Christmas.

    • “The German Santa Claus – Weihnachtsmann,” German Culture: https://germanculture.com.ua/christmas-recipes/the-german-santa-claus-weihnachtsmann/
    • “Babbo Natale—All About Italy’s Santa Claus,” Candace Criscione: https://mominitaly.com/babbo-natale-italian-santa-claus/
    • “Christmas in China,” James Cooper: https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/china
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Escape Room (2019)
    Nov 11 2025

    Erika and Katy continue their locked room mystery with "Escape Room." They dive deep into cuboid conjectures, jerks of greek mythology, and the guy on everyone's mind: Karl Marx.

    • "Cheating at the [Death] Game," Laurie O'Connel: https://medium.com/@lawrenceoconnel/cheating-at-the-death-game-b42a3b5a31ab
    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 19 mins
  • Saw (2004)
    Oct 15 2025

    This spooky season, Erika and Katy are getting tortured by "Saw." They dive deep into the War on Terror, the River Styx, and why Jigsaw is capital L capital T Like This.

    • “Devil’s Advocate: Saw,” Benjamin Poole: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13040042-saw
    • “The Problem of Saw: ‘Torture Porn’ and the Conservatism of Contemporary Horror Films,” Christopher Sharrett: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41690851?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
    • "Torture Porn in the Wake of 9/11," Aaron Michael Kerner: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/delaware/torture-porn-in-the-wake-of-911/9780813564029/
    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 15 mins
  • Carrie (1976)
    Sep 16 2025

    Erika and Katy finally discuss Stephen King, starting with "Carrie" (1976). They dive deep into mensturation, St. Sebastian, and a bad dream that's basically also a wedding.

    • “Gender, sexuality and representation throughout each Carrie adaptation,” Screen Queens: https://screenqueens.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/gender-sexuality-carrie/comment-page-1/
    • "The Unforgivable Crime of Deviating: Carrie (1976)," Leigh Butler: https://reactormag.com/the-movie-rewatch-of-great-nostalgia-carrie-1976//
    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
    Aug 12 2025

    Katy and Erika conclude Hot Alien Summer with "Killer Klowns from Outer Space." They dive deep into Venn diagrams, sacred buffoons, and asexual popcorn-based reproduction.

    • “Carnivalesque in Literature and Literary Theory”: https://english-studies.net/carnivalesque-in-literature-and-literary-theory/
    • “Coulrophobia and the Trickster,” Joseph Durwin: https://digitalcommons.trinity.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=trickstersway&sei-redir=1
    • “The History of Creepy Clowns,” Madeline Steiner: https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/10/25/reepy-clown-history-halloween/
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 53 mins
  • Nope (2022) Part 2
    Jul 22 2025

    Erika and Katy return to their discussion of "Nope." They dive deep into ambiguous sounds, the importance of legacy, and the freak behavior of Eadweard Muybridge.

    "How Nope Tricks Your Ears," Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWPFMmuagQ4&t=722s

    Michael Abels and His Spectacular Score for 'Nope,'" Rachel Reeves: https://www.dreadcentral.com/editorials/456410/michael-abels-and-his-spectacular-score-for-nope-terror-on-the-turntable/

    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 23 mins