In this solo episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake returns to Derry for a closer look at Andy Muschietti’s IT (2017). Following the recent discussion of IT: Welcome to Derry, this episode explores how the film expands the town’s cycle of fear, violence, and forgotten tragedy.

Jake gives a light breakdown of the movie while examining Bill Denbrough’s grief, the formation of the Losers’ Club, and the personal fears Pennywise uses against each child. The episode also compares Bill Skarsgård’s version of Pennywise with Tim Curry’s performance from the 1990 miniseries.

The discussion also looks at Derry’s passive adults, the human evil surrounding Henry Bowers, and the film’s larger themes of childhood trauma, friendship, isolation, memory, and confronting fear together. Does IT work better as a horror movie or a coming-of-age story? Which Pennywise is more frightening? And does Welcome to Derry make the 2017 film even stronger?

Listen now and return to Derry, where everyone may see the horror, but few are willing to acknowledge it.

In this bonus episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake is joined by Maryland Phil for a wide-ranging conversation about what is happening across the horror genre in 2026. They discuss the year’s strongest films, biggest disappointments, overhyped releases, and whether 2026 is shaping up to be another memorable year for horror fans.

The conversation also turns to Evil Dead Burn and the continued evolution of one of horror’s most durable franchises. Does Evil Dead work better as horror-comedy or relentless brutality? Can the series succeed without Ash Williams? And are standalone stories the best direction for its future?

Jake and Phil also look ahead to So, You Like Horror? in 2027 and consider possible season themes, including Final Girls and Horror Comic Books.

In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake and Sarah discuss HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry, the prequel series that expands the terrifying world of Stephen King’s It. Set in 1962, the series takes viewers back to Derry, Maine, decades before the Losers’ Club faced Pennywise, exploring the town’s dark history, the Black Spot, the Hanlon family, Dick Hallorann, and the cycles of fear that allow evil to survive.

Jake and Sarah break down each episode of Welcome to Derry, discussing the major story beats, standout horror moments, recurring themes, and connections to Stephen King’s larger universe, including The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and the Muschietti It films. They also talk about Pennywise’s expanded mythology, the role of grief and memory, Derry’s history of violence, and whether learning more about the creature makes it scarier or takes away some of its mystery.

If you’re a fan of Stephen King, Pennywise, It, HBO horror, or supernatural horror with deeper social themes, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake breaks down the 2026 supernatural horror film Obsession, written and directed by Curry Barker. The film follows Bear, a lonely young man who uses the mysterious One Wish Willow to make his longtime friend Nikki fall in love with him. What begins as a romantic fantasy quickly becomes a violent nightmare filled with possession, body horror, dark comedy, and devastating consequences.

This episode includes a full spoiler-filled recap of Obsession, along with a discussion of Bear’s responsibility, Nikki’s loss of autonomy, the film’s graphic violence, and the difference between genuine love and emotional control. Jake also explores the movie’s “be careful what you wish for” premise, its tragic ending, and whether the gore supports the deeper themes or is sometimes used primarily for shock.

If you enjoy supernatural horror, psychological horror, cursed-object stories, body horror, and detailed movie breakdowns, this episode is for you.

For this episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake is joined by Sarah to discuss the 2023 horror-comedy The Blackening. Directed by Tim Story and written by Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, the film follows a group of college friends whose Juneteenth weekend reunion turns deadly when they discover a disturbing board game and become targets of a masked killer.

Jake and Sarah break down the movie’s central question: if the Black character is usually the first to die in a horror movie, what happens when the entire cast is Black? They discuss the film’s mix of slasher horror, ensemble comedy, cultural references, friendship drama, and social commentary, along with the way it challenges stereotypes about Black identity and representation.

The conversation also explores the cast chemistry, the “Blackest” debate, the Juneteenth setting, the effectiveness of the killer and board-game concept, and whether The Blackening works better as a horror film, comedy, or social satire. They also compare it to films such as Scream, Scary Movie, Get Out, Candyman, and The Cabin in the Woods.

Does The Blackening successfully flip one of horror’s oldest stereotypes? Is it scary enough to work as a slasher? And does it belong in the larger conversation around modern Black horror?

Listen now and let us know where The Blackening ranks among your favorite horror-comedies.

This week on So, You Like Horror?, I welcome returning co-host Scott from Up North to discuss one of the most beloved horror anthology series of all time: Tales from the Crypt.

From its roots in the legendary EC Comics to its groundbreaking run on HBO, Tales from the Crypt helped redefine what horror television could be. We explore the history of the series, the creation of the iconic Crypt Keeper, and how the show's blend of dark humor, graphic horror, and twist endings made it a cultural phenomenon.

We also discuss some of the show's most memorable episodes, including "And All Through the House," "Television Terror," "The Man Who Was Death," and "Dig That Cat… He’s Real Gone," while examining the recurring themes of greed, revenge, morality, and poetic justice that defined the series. Along the way, we look at the show's influence on modern anthology horror, its connection to EC Comics, and why it remains a favorite among horror fans decades after its original run.

Does Tales from the Crypt still hold up today? Which episodes are essential viewing? And could the Crypt Keeper ever make a successful comeback?

Join us as we revisit one of horror television's most influential and entertaining series.

Topics Include:

• History of Tales from the Crypt
• EC Comics and horror anthology storytelling
• The Crypt Keeper's legacy
• Best and most memorable episodes
• Dark humor and horror television
• HBO's impact on horror programming
• Horror anthology series rankings
• The show's lasting influence on modern horror

#TalesFromTheCrypt #HorrorPodcast #HorrorTV #CryptKeeper #ECComics #HorrorAnthology #ClassicHorror #HBO #SoYouLikeHorror #HorrorFans

In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, we will discuss the 1995 cult horror film Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight. Bringing the twisted humor of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt to the big screen, Demon Knight follows Brayker, a mysterious drifter protecting an ancient key from a smooth-talking demon known as The Collector.

We break down the film’s mix of religious horror, practical effects, dark comedy, monster-movie chaos, and mid-’90s horror energy. We also discuss Billy Zane’s unforgettable villain performance, Jada Pinkett Smith’s role as Jeryline, the film’s themes of temptation, sacrifice, survival, and why Demon Knight has built such a loyal cult following over time.

Is Demon Knight one of the most entertaining horror films of the 1990s? Does it deserve more respect from horror fans? And did Tales from the Crypt deserve a bigger run on the big screen?

Listen as we revisit the blood, demons, humor, and madness of Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight.

In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, we take a family-friendly trip back to 1969 to revisit the classic animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Joined by my wife, Sarah Beth, and our daughter Sophie, we explore how Scooby-Doo became one of the most iconic gateway horror shows of all time.

Before many of us discovered slashers, haunted houses, possession films, and darker supernatural stories, Scooby-Doo introduced us to ghosts, monsters, creepy mansions, foggy docks, abandoned amusement parks, secret passages, and masked villains. The show mixed comedy, mystery, suspense, and spooky atmosphere in a way that made fear feel fun instead of overwhelming.

We discuss Mystery Inc., the classic Scooby-Doo formula, memorable monsters, the big reveal behind the mask, and whether Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! should be considered horror, horror-adjacent, or spooky mystery. This episode is a nostalgic look at how Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby helped generations of kids fall in love with scary stories.

Topics include: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Mystery Inc., gateway horror, classic cartoons, family horror, spooky mysteries, kid-friendly horror, horror TV, animated horror, and the legacy of Scooby-Doo.