Episodes

  • The Birthday (2004) – SSP257

    The Birthday (2004) – SSP257
    Mar 25 2026
    What’s scarier than getting older? Realizing the party was never meant for you. This week on the Scary Spirits Podcast, we celebrate Karen’s birthday the only way that feels right—by diving headfirst into the bizarre, chaotic, and wildly unpredictable 2004 cult horror film The Birthday, starring Corey Feldman. What begins as a simple birthday party spirals into something far stranger, funnier, and more uncomfortable than expected… and that’s exactly how we like it. Join hosts Karen and Greg as they unpack this under‑seen cult classic, exploring its surreal tone, off‑kilter performances, and the creeping sense that something is very wrong beneath the frosting and balloons. It’s horror, it’s comedy, it’s confusion—and it’s a reminder that birthdays can be terrifying when the rules of reality quietly slip away. To toast the occasion, the hosts sip on a specially crafted “Happy Birthday Martini,” because nothing pairs with existential dread quite like a well‑mixed cocktail. If you love cult horror films, strange party movies, Corey Feldman performances, and a horror podcast that laughs nervously while staring into the abyss, this episode of Scary Spirits is your invitation. Just remember… not everyone leaves the party the same way they arrived. Happy Birthday Martini • 1 tsp white sugar• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice• 1 oz pomegranate juice• 2 oz vodka• 3 ice cubes• 2 strips lemon peel Instructions: Add sugar to a martini glassAdd lemon juice, pomegranate juice, and vodka. Stir well.Add ice and garnish with lemon peel. Source: allrecipes.com A Brief Synopsis: A man attends a bizarre birthday party at a fancy but sinister hotel. Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include: Dr. Karen tells us about the proper way to use antibiotics.The Birthday girl also tells us about the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD.Songs by Toni Basil, The Knack and Lesley Gore are referenced.Dr. Karen also teaches us about what a stoma is. Our rating of the film: This movie was OK. It took us 3 cocktails to get through it. Take our online survey! We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of! All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page. Get social with us! Connect with us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktailsFollow @ScarySpiritsPod Questions, comments or suggestions? Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The Mummy’s Shroud (1967) – SSP256

    The Mummy’s Shroud (1967) – SSP256
    Mar 18 2026
    Good evening, dear listener… and welcome to a most atmospheric installment of Scary Spirits, where reverence for classic horror and scholarly delight walk hand in hand through the shadows. In this week’s episode, we commemorate the March 15th anniversary of Hammer Films’ 1967 gothic horror classic, The Mummy’s Shroud—a chilling relic of Britain’s golden age of terror. Join your hosts, Karen and Greg, as they thoughtfully unwrap the film’s sinister wrappings, examining its brooding atmosphere, ancient curses, and unmistakable Hammer Horror craftsmanship. As the conversation unfolds, our hosts raise a glass of their thematically inspired “Bloody Snake Bite” cocktail, perfectly suited to an evening steeped in eldritch menace and archaeological doom. Together, they explore the film’s legacy, its place within the Hammer canon, and why The Mummy’s Shroud remains a compelling entry for devotees of classic horror cinema. If you are a connoisseur of Hammer Horror films, a student of 1960s gothic cinema, or simply one who delights in tales of ancient evil awakening under moonlit skies, this episode promises both insight and indulgence. Pray…do join us. Some spirits, after all, are best enjoyed in the dark. Bloody Snake Bite • 2 oz Southern Comfort• 4 oz cranberry juice• 1 splash Rose’s Lime Juice• 1 handful ice cubes• 1 lime wedge, for garnish Instructions: In a glass (highball would be ideal, but work with what you have), add a few ice cubes.Pour in the Southern Comfort.Add the cranberry juice, as well as a few splashes of Rose’s Lime Juice.Garnish with a lime wedge.Enjoy the taste of New Orleans! Source: food52.com A Brief Synopsis: In 1920 an archaeological expedition discovers the tomb of an ancient Egyptian child prince. Returning home with their discovery, the expedition members soon find themselves being killed. Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include: Do you know what £12,000 in 1967 is worth in todays currency?Greg tells us about Hammer Glamour girls Maggie Kimberly and Elizabeth Sellars.We learn how an oasis (not the band) forms.Karen tells us all about clairvoyants.Greg makes references to the band Iron Maiden and Star Wars. Our rating of the film: This movie was OK. It took us 3 cocktails to get through it. Take our online survey! We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of! All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page. Get social with us! Connect with us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktailsFollow @ScarySpiritsPod Questions, comments or suggestions? Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Friday the 13th (2009) – SSP255

    Friday the 13th (2009) – SSP255
    Mar 11 2026
    Hush now… and listen closely. This week on the Scary Spirits Podcast, I invite you back to Camp Crystal Lake as we honor the cursed calendar day that started it all—Friday the 13th. Join your doomed counselors, Karen and Greg, as they bravely revisit the 2009 Friday the 13th film, dissecting every kill, callback, and chilling moment that dares disturb Jason’s legacy. As the blood runs cold, they sip on a wickedly themed cocktail—the “Jason Voorhees Crystal Lake Chiller”—a drink as deceptive and dangerous as the waters themselves. This episode is a must-listen for horror fans, slasher devotees, and anyone craving a nostalgic dive into one of the most infamous franchises in horror history. Remember…If you shouldn’t be listening…You’ll know. Jason Voorhees’ Crystal Lake Chiller • 1 1/2 oz Blue Curacao (for a deep lake-blue color)• 1 oz Vodka (clear like lake water)• 1/2 oz Lime juice (for sharpness)• 1/2 oz Triple sec• A splash of soda water (to add a misty effect)• Blue edible glitter (to mimic the shimmer of water under moonlight)• A sprig of mint (to represent the forest around Crystal Lake) Instructions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the Blue Curacao, vodka, lime juice, and Triple sec.Shake vigorously until the mixture is well chilled.Strain into a highball glass filled with crushed ice.Top with a splash of soda water for a slight fizz.Sprinkle blue edible glitter over the top to create a shimmering water effect.Garnish with a sprig of mint and either a small decorative machete or a mask resting on the rim of the glass. Source: creepybonfire.com A Brief Synopsis: Against the advice of locals and police, Clay scours the eerie woods surrounding Crystal Lake for his missing sister. But the rotting cabins of an abandoned summer camp are not the only things he finds. Hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees lies in wait for a chance to use his razor-sharp machete on Clay and the group of college students who have come to the forest to party. Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include: Karen gives us a history of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.Our hosts reminisce about the band Night Ranger and the song “Sister Christian”.We learn some safety facts about motorcycle helmets.The history of “Hustler” magazine is discussed.Greg makes a reference to a song by the band “Dokken”. Our rating of the film: This movie was OK. It took us 3 cocktails to get through it. Take our online survey! We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of! All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page. Get social with us! Connect with us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktailsFollow @ScarySpiritsPod Questions, comments or suggestions? Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • The Witches (1966) – SSP254

    The Witches (1966) – SSP254
    Mar 4 2026
    Come closer… the shadows grow restless. This week on the Scary Spirits podcast, Greg presses onward in his relentless crusade to review every Hammer Horror film, dragging the 1966 cult nightmare The Witches, starring the chillingly composed Joan Fontaine, out from beneath layers of dust and dread. Your hosts Karen and Greg peer deep into this unsettling piece of classic British horror, unraveling its curses, quiet menace, and creeping atmosphere—where evil whispers instead of screams. As the discussion darkens, so does the glass, with a specially prepared “Voodoo Doll” cocktail fueling the descent into the occult. Expect brooding analysis, shadow‑soaked commentary, and a slow burn of supernatural unease as folklore, fear, and film history entwine. This is Hammer Horror at its most insidious—subtle, sinister, and steeped in doom. Pour carefully, listen closely, and remember… some spirits are better left undisturbed. Voodoo Doll Cocktail • 1/2 oz vodka• 1/2 oz of Chambord Raspberry Liqueur (alt: raspberry liqueur)• orange juice• cranberry juice Instructions: Add vodka and Chambord to a shaker.Add orange juice and cranberry juice until desired taste.Shake and serve with ice in a cocktail glass. Source: cocktailbuilder.com A Brief Synopsis: Gwen Mayfield suffers a mental collapse after a showdown with a witch doctor while performing missionary work in Africa. Once she recuperates, she starts teaching at a private school in England and gets to know Linda, one of her students. Linda’s boyfriend claims that there is a cult that is going to sacrifice her, and Gwen begins to investigate the wild rumors. This leads her to a confrontation with powerful cult leader Stephanie Bax. Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include: We learn what a mangle is.Dr. Karen tells us about penicillin.Karen gives us a little history on Galileo and his feather and cannonball experiment.The career of Joan Fontaine is discussed.Greg tells us about the Christian holiday Lammastide.Greg also makes a reference to Todd Rundgren. Our rating of the film: This movie was so bad that it took us 4 cocktails to get through it. Take our online survey! We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of! All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page. Get social with us! Connect with us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktailsFollow @ScarySpiritsPod Questions, comments or suggestions? Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Gothic (1986) – SSP253

    Gothic (1986) – SSP253
    Feb 25 2026
    This week, dear listeners, Scary Spirits Podcast lifts its candle to the storm‑lit heavens to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Ken Russell’s 1986 cult horror film Gothic—a delirious vision born of madness, poetry, and moon‑drenched terror. Join your devoted hosts, Karen and Greg, as they descend into the fevered dreams of the film, where Lord Byron himself looms large, temptation whispers, and nightmares take elegant form. Between spectral analysis and wicked insight, they sip a specially crafted Lord Byron Cocktail, a libation as darkly seductive as the poet’s own legend. If you crave horror film discussion, gothic cinema, and literary hauntings served with wit and atmosphere, this episode of Scary Spirits is your invitation to the Villa Diodati—where art, excess, and horror first dared to collide. Pour a drink, dim the lights, and linger with us among the spirits. Lord Byron Cocktail • 1 part KLEOS Mastiha Spirit• 1 part gin• 3/4 parts fresh lemon juice• 1/4 part simple syrup• 6 cucumber slices Instructions: Shake all ingredients vigorously.Strain and serve up in a chilled coupette.Garnish with a cucumber peel. Source: drinkkleos.com A Brief Synopsis: On a warm summer night in 1816 at the Swiss lakeside château of Lord Byron, the poet and his guests — Percy Bysshe Shelley; his fiancée, Mary Wollstonecraft; her half-sister, Claire; and his private doctor John Polidori — spend the evening sharing ghost stories while under the influence of experimental compounds provided by the doctor. As the night goes on, reality and the horrific tales begin to commingle. Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include: Karen gives us a brief history of each of the main characters Claire ClairmontDr. John PolidoriLord ByronPercy ShelleyMary Shelley Our rating of the film: This movie was OK. It took us 3 cocktails to get through it. Take our online survey! We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of! All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page. Get social with us! Connect with us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktailsFollow @ScarySpiritsPod Questions, comments or suggestions? Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Captain Clegg (aka Night Creatures 1962) – SSP252

    Captain Clegg (aka Night Creatures 1962) – SSP252
    Feb 18 2026
    Step softly into the fog‑shrouded marshes of classic Hammer Horror as Scary Spirits raises a ghostly toast to two unforgettable icons. In this chilling new episode, we commemorate the birthdays of Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain with a reverent yet spirited review of the 1962 Hammer masterpiece Captain Clegg, also known in the United States as Night Creatures. With measured wit and scholarly delight, hosts Karen and Greg explore the film’s brooding atmosphere, secret identities, and macabre menace—unearthing why this nautical nightmare remains a jewel in the Hammer crown. As the lantern light flickers and the tide rolls in, they sip a specially crafted “Scarecrow” cocktail, perfectly themed to the film’s eerie legend and sinister charm. If you cherish classic horror films, Hammer Studios, 1960s Gothic cinema, or the dark elegance of Britain’s golden age of fright, this episode beckons you closer. Join us, if you dare, for an evening of shadows, spirits, and timeless terror—where the past refuses to stay buried. Scarecrow Cocktail • 4 parts coffee-rum (or in emergency, ordinary white rum)• 3 parts Kahlúa• 2 parts lime juice• 8 parts pineapple juice• 4 parts orange juice Instructions: Shake ingredients with ice and strain into highball glass, add some ice.If possible, serve with actual straw. Source: superherococktails.com A Brief Synopsis: When a captain arrives on an English coastal town to investigate reports of smuggling, he ends up with much more to deal with, including marsh phantoms and a suspicious vicar. Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include: Karen gives us some history of alcohol smuggling in 1776.Karen also references the 1968 Clint Eastwood film “Hang ‘Em High”.Greg reads a passage from the book “Hammer Glamour: Classic Images From the Archive of Hammer Films” by Marcus Hearn. Our rating of the film: This movie was pretty good, but it is not a horror film so we had to give it 4 cocktails. Take our online survey! We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of! All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page. Get social with us! Connect with us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktailsFollow @ScarySpiritsPod Questions, comments or suggestions? Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Cupid (2020) – SSP251

    Cupid (2020) – SSP251
    Feb 11 2026

    This week, step into the smooth and shadowy groove of the Scary Spirits Podcast as we serenade the season of love—with a twist. Karen and Greg pour their hearts (and a little something stronger) into a spirited review of the 2020 horror film “Cupid.”

    Like a love song gone wrong, this episode blends romance and chills as our hosts unpack the film’s dark take on affection, revenge, and supernatural mischief. And to keep the mood just right, they’re sipping on a Valentine’s‑themed “Broken Heart Cocktail”—a drink as sweet, soulful, and haunting as the story itself.

    If you’re searching for the perfect mix of Valentine’s Day horror, movie reviews, and creative cocktail inspiration, this episode hits all the right notes. Tune in, kick back, and let the conversation drift over you like a classic melody—smooth, warm, and just a little bit wicked.

    Broken Heart Cocktail

    • 2 parts Broken Shed vodka
    • 1 part pomegranate and/or cranberry juice
    • 1/2 to 1 part Triple Sec or Cointreau

    Instructions:

    1. Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well.
    2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
    3. Add pomegranate seeds and/or cranberries for decoration.

      Source: spiritsreview.com

    A Brief Synopsis: After being horrendously embarrassed by girls at school, a witch summons an evil entity to exact revenge on everyone who’s wronged her.

    Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include:

    • Karen tells us the story of Cupid and Psyche.
    • We learn a little bit about love spells.
    • Greg works in an Iron Maiden reference.

    Our rating of the film:

    This movie was so bad that it took us 4 cocktails to get through it.

    Take our online survey!

    We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of!

    All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page.

    Get social with us!
    • Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram
    • Subscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktails
    • Follow @ScarySpiritsPod
    Questions, comments or suggestions?

    Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com

    As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • The Crazies (1973) – SSP250

    The Crazies (1973) – SSP250
    Feb 4 2026

    Step quietly into the quarantine zone this week on the Scary Spirits Podcast as we honor the birthday of legendary filmmaker George A. Romero—the architect of modern horror. To mark the occasion, hosts Karen and Greg descend into the chaotic, fever‑stricken world of Romero’s 1973 cult classic, The Crazies.

    In this episode, they dissect the film’s unsettling blend of government paranoia, small‑town collapse, and the thin line between sanity and madness—all while sipping a dangerously delicious, themed “Crazy Coconut Cocktail.”

    If you’re a fan of classic horror films, apocalyptic storytelling, or Romero’s gritty vision of society unraveling at the seams, this episode is your next must‑listen. Join us as we raise a glass to the master of the living dead… and to the madness that lurks just beneath the surface.

    Crazy Coconut Cocktail

    • 1/2 oz gold rum
    • 1/2 oz vodka
    • 1/2 oz coconut rum
    • 1/4 oz blue curacao
    • 1/4 oz amaretto
    • 1 oz orange juice
    • 3 oz pineapple juice

    Instructions:

    1. Combine all ingredients in a rocks glass with ice.

      Source: Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa

    A Brief Synopsis: A military plane crashes near a small town, infecting the water supply with a deadly virus that causes insanity then death. The army moves in to control the situation, only for the civilians to treat them as invaders and then infect them as well.

    Some of the topics discussed and highlights of this episode include:

    • We learn about the current state of all volunteer fire departments in the United States.
    • Dr. Karen tells us all about viruses, antibiotics and U.V. light.
    • The rhesus monkey is discussed.
    • Greg makes references to Star Wars and Iron Maiden.

    Our rating of the film:

    This movie was so bad that it took us 4 cocktails to get through it.

    Take our online survey!

    We want to know more about you! Please take our survey. All questions are optional and you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. Tell us what you like or would like to hear more of!

    All music on the Scary Spirits Podcast is provided by the band “Verse 13”. Please check them out. You can listen to all their music on their Bandcamp page.

    Get social with us!
    • Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram
    • Subscribe on YouTube to watch Greg attempt to make all the featured cocktails
    • Follow @ScarySpiritsPod
    Questions, comments or suggestions?

    Shoot us an email at info@scaryspirits.com

    As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases through our links.
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    1 hr and 11 mins