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.

In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, Sarah Beth and I break down the 1995 psychological horror-thriller Se7en, a film that redefined what horror can look like without ever relying on the supernatural.

Directed by David Fincher, Se7en follows Detectives Somerset and Mills as they track a methodical serial killer whose crimes are inspired by the seven deadly sins. But this isn’t just a murder mystery; it’s a deep dive into morality, control, and the uncomfortable truths about human nature.

We go act by act through the film, unpacking each sin: Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Envy, and Wrath, and how each crime reflects something darker beneath the surface. They also explore the film’s oppressive atmosphere, its grounded realism, and why its ending remains one of the most haunting in film history.

Is Se7en a horror film, or something even more disturbing because it feels real? Does John Doe have a point or is he simply chaos disguised as purpose?

This episode challenges you to look beyond the crime and ask a deeper question: What does Se7en say about us?

The Twilight Zone, from 1959, remains one of the most influential anthology series in horror history, blending psychological tension, science fiction, and social commentary into unforgettable standalone stories. In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, I'll break down how the series uses fear not through monsters, but through human behavior, perception, and moral consequence.

Through iconic episodes like The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street, The Shelter, Eye of the Beholder, and Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, this episode explores core themes including paranoia, identity, isolation, and the fragility of reality. From Cold War anxiety to timeless questions about human nature, The Twilight Zone reveals how quickly society can unravel, and how fear often comes from within.

If you’ve ever wondered why this series still resonates decades later, this episode dives into what makes The Twilight Zone not just horror, but a mirror.

Thank you, everyone, for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠@so_you_like_horror⁠⁠⁠ or email us directly at soyoulikehorror@gmail.com. We're open to all conversations, suggestions, topics, and criticisms.

In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, we break down The Conjuring (2013), the film that helped redefine modern supernatural horror. Joined by friend and returning guest Jennifer Brooke, we explore how James Wan crafted a slow-burning, tension-driven story rooted in the real-life case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

We go beyond the scares to examine what makes The Conjuring so effective, from its atmospheric setting and practical effects to its deeper themes of faith, fear, possession, and the corruption of the home. We also discuss the balance between “based on a true story” and cinematic storytelling, and how that framing impacts the audience experience.

The conversation breaks down each act of the film, highlights key scenes like the clap game and the exorcism, and examines how The Conjuring launched one of the most successful horror franchises of the modern era.

If you’ve ever wondered why this film still holds up and why it feels different from other horror movies, this episode takes a closer look at what’s really behind the fear.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

On this episode of So, You Like Horror?, we break down Midnight Mass, the slow-burning Netflix series from Mike Flanagan that challenges what horror can be. Joined by returning co-host Upnorth Scott, we explore how the show moves beyond traditional scares to examine faith, guilt, addiction, and the fear of death.

We discuss the role of Crockett Island as an isolated community shaped by belief, Riley Flynn’s struggle with trauma and loss of faith, and the contrast between doubt and certainty through characters like Bev Keane. We also take a closer look at Father Paul and how charisma and conviction can blur the line between faith and fanaticism.

The conversation dives into the show’s pacing, and how it builds tension through stillness rather than action. We break down the finale, its themes of accountability and acceptance, and how Midnight Mass compares to The Haunting of Hill House.

At its core, this episode examines how belief shapes identity, how stories influence truth, and why this series continues to stand out in modern horror television.

Thank you, everyone, for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠@so_you_like_horror⁠⁠⁠ or email us directly at soyoulikehorror@gmail.com. We're open to all conversations, suggestions, topics, and criticisms.