Today on Because I'm John Sellmeyer, I discuss the supernatural horror movie Hokum, starring Adam Scott. As I prepare to fly to Europe to wrap up some of my own manuscript revisions, this film's terrifying take on a writer's retreat abroad hit a little too close to home.

In this episode, we break down how Hokum masterfully shifts from a slow-burn mystery into a claustrophobic, mind-bending nightmare. We explore the brilliant use of jump scares that actually advance the plot, the bizarre inclusion of eerie conquistador literature, and why Adam Scott shines as horror novelist Om Bauman. I also outline my personal survival strategy for being trapped in a haunted hotel room, which strictly involves brute force and smashing through drywall, while airing a few minor grievances about the film's dark lighting and ambiguous ending.

If you enjoy bleak literature and things lurking beneath the surface, check out my self-published eco-thriller The Maw Beneath the Mane by JRJ Sellmeyer, available right now on Audible, Kindle, and Barnes & Noble.

Keywords: Hokum movie review, Adam Scott horror, Om Bauman, supernatural thriller, claustrophobic horror, Because I am John Sellmeyer podcast, JRJ Sellmeyer author, indie horror films.

Welcome back to Because I'm John Sellmeyer. This week, we are ripping into the 2026 British horror film Harbinger. The premise sounds like campy gold: a notorious serial killer transfers his soul into a vintage arcade fortune-telling machine just before his death to terrorize his widow and a reality TV ghost-hunting crew. Unfortunately, the execution completely loses its grip on reality.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Orlando Incident: My horrifying and deeply embarrassing encounter with a quarter-operated inmate at Old Town.

• Rule-Breaking Ghosts: Why Harbinger fails at basic supernatural world-building, featuring villain powers that change from scene to scene.

• Bizarre Script Contradictions: Characters getting thrown out of permanently locked, bulletproof windows, and a brief, completely absurd intimate moment that defies explanation.

• A Mismatched Cast: A lead actress fighting for her life to carry the emotional weight of the film, surrounded by a distracting ensemble that feels pulled from an off-brand sketch comedy show.

Spoiler Warning: I ruin the entire movie for you.

If you want an actual page-turner where the supernatural rules make sense, check out my eco-thriller, The Maw Beneath The Mane by J.R.J. Sellmeyer. It is available right now on Kindle, Audible, and Barnes & Noble. Keep your quarters in your pocket, and thank you for listening!

Today on Because I'm John Sellmeyer, we are packing our bags and hopping the ferry to Widow's Bay. I am joined by my wife Alondra to review the brilliant new Apple TV+ horror comedy created by Katie Dippold and directed by Hiro Murai. The series follows Mayor Tom Loftus, played by Matthew Rhys, as a skeptical widower trying to boost tourism on an isolated New England island while completely ignoring its deeply cursed history. We discuss the show's perfect balance of absurd workplace comedy and genuine scares, breaking down our favorite creepy moments involving terrifying basement crawl spaces, stalker sea witches, and literal bloodthirsty mist. We also debate how long it would take us to realize we were trapped in a horror movie at the Breakwater Inn and hand out our final ratings.

If you need a break from island curses and want to dive into some eco-horror instead, you can grab my book The Maw Beneath The Mane, available now on Kindle, Audible, and Barnes & Noble online.

Keywords: Widow's Bay, Apple TV Plus review, horror comedy series, Matthew Rhys, Katie Dippold, Hiro Murai, Halloween TV shows, spooky season, television review, The Maw Beneath The Mane.

Shout out to my sister-in-law Tiff for the rec!

Welcome back to another episode of Because I'm John Sellmeyer! Today, we are going deep underground and talking about one of the most stressful and terrifying horror movies ever made: The Descent. If you have claustrophobia, this one is going to seriously test your limits. We're breaking down the intense cave exploration, the absolute nightmare of being trapped in an unmapped cave system, those terrifying Crawlers lurking in the dark, and the brilliant psychological tension between Sarah and Juno. Whether you are a hardcore fan of creature features, survival horror, or just love Neil Marshall's directing, we are getting into all the bloody details that make this film a modern classic. Just a heads up before you hit play, there will be spoilers in this episode.

Today on Because I'm John Sellmeyer, I am reviewing the 2026 Shudder original, Bloody Tennis. Directed by Nikias Chryssos, this bizarre sports horror flick has been compared to a wild mix of Suspiria and Challengers. We are breaking down the brutal elite academy setting, the over-the-top body horror, and that absolutely insane final match. Tune in to hear my thoughts and find out if this movie actually serves up a winner or just double faults.

Keywords for Search:

Bloody Tennis 2026, Bloody Tennis movie review, Shudder original horror, Nikias Chryssos, Suspiria, Challengers, sports horror film, Sandra Guldberg Kampp, Bloody Tennis ending explained, Mary Tyrone Girls Cup, Because I'm John Sellmeyer podcast, new horror movies 2026.

Welcome to another episode of Because I'm John Sellmeyer! Today we are clocking in for the graveyard shift to review the 2026 found footage psychological horror film, Infirmary. It has a serious Five Nights at Freddy's setup, just without the terrifying animatronics. We dive into the ultra-lean DIY GoPro aesthetic, the eerie overnight patrols at the Wilshire Infirmary, and how Mark Anthony Williams completely saves the movie from its rough opening dialogue. Tune in to hear why the confusing third act mannequins and heavy digital glitches earned this indie horror a 4 out of 10.

Plus, if you are looking for a story with genuine tension, ancient lore, and monsters that do not hide behind fake video static, check out my eco-thriller, The Maw Beneath The Mane, available now on Kindle, Audible, and Barnes & Noble Online!

Search tags: Infirmary movie 2026, found footage horror review, psychological horror, indie horror film, Five Nights at Freddy's, Wilshire Infirmary, Mark Anthony Williams, horror podcast.

Directed by YouTube comedy genius Curry Barker, Obsession masterfully balances deadpan humor with deeply uncomfortable tension. We dive into the brilliant performances of Michael Johnston as the pathetic, relatable Bear, and Indy Navarette as Nikki, the target of a disastrously effective One Wish Willow spell. Navarette is a major fan favorite to play Violet in the upcoming Fourth Wing adaptation, and her performance here proves exactly why. We also discuss Barker's transition from YouTube skits to major cinematic moves and why we are hyped for his upcoming film Anything But Ghosts starring Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard.

We also get into the villain debate, asking if Bear is the true antagonist of Obsession. We discuss the terrifying reality of stripping away autonomy and how forced love is an act of violence. The film offsets this dark theme with hilarious deadpan absurdity, perfectly highlighted by the contrast of side characters like Ian getting filthy rich and reacting to the supernatural trauma unfolding around them. We keep the first half of our review completely spoiler free before diving into the catastrophic chaos.

If you like stories about things lurking beneath the surface that finally snap, check out the self-published eco-thriller The Maw Beneath the Mane by JRJ Sellmeyer, available right now on Audible, Kindle, and Barnes & Noble.

Keywords: Obsession movie review, Curry Barker director, Indy Navarette Fourth Wing Violet, Michael Johnston actor, Anything But Ghosts movie, supernatural thriller, horror comedy, forced love trope, One Wish Willow, indie horror films.

Welcome back to Because I'm John Sellmeyer. In this episode, we are slipping through the cracks of reality to talk about A24's Backrooms. Directed by Kane Parsons, this movie is a psychological terror vehicle that feels exactly like staring at an old Windows 95 3D Maze screensaver until it actually traps you.

We break down Chiwetel Ejiofor's incredible performance as Clark, a failing furniture store owner who literally steps out of bounds into an endless dimension of liminal spaces. We also get into Renate Reinsve's extremely realistic take as his therapist, Dr. Mary Kline, plus great supporting work by Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell.

We discuss how the film acts as a prism that refracts its visitors. It turns dread and unresolved trauma into physical form, capturing the claustrophobia of wandering through endless rooms of unreality. It is a fantastic adaptation of the internet lore, right down to the entities waiting for you by the damp carpet.