We hope you're having a safe and fun Halloween this year. As a special little Spooky Season bonus, we decided -- quite on a whim -- to drop in a little bonus chat for you wherein Nathan plays Reed's game known as TAKE FIVE.

Take Five is meant to be a kind of primer for a specific category of films, identifying unique and important entries to flesh out your understanding. What film made the most money? What film is the most representative? What is underrated? What film changed everything? And what film stands out as a cult classic?

As a special Halloween treat, we play the game of Take Five for the work of the one and only John Carpenter! Play along with us as we uncover his Blockbuster, Classic, Cult Hit, Hinge, and Gem. As we hope you have a wonderful and very Happy Halloween!

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We've reached the penultimate episode of this year's spooky season franchise run. Earlier this year, the Final Destination franchise returned after a decade and a half hiatus with FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES. The sixth installment expands upon the universe of the franchise in ways that add both thematic and narrative weight. It features strong characterizations, clever, inventive sequencing, and -- of course -- a lot of surprising and elaborate deaths. It also features the final on screen performance of the legendary horror icon Tony Todd, who passed away before the film was released and whose final lines in the film serve as a coda for both his career and the franchise as a whole.

Unpacking all of that and more with us is a host of fun guests, including Vera Goudie, Matt Ruff, Penny Rouse, Matt Murray, Steve Beckley, and Jocee Worley. It's not only a thoughtful and occasionally heartfelt conversation about the preciousness of life, it's also a laughter-filled joy machine of a discussion party. We truly find the hope in the horrific this week and we hope you all enjoy it!

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We're kicking Halloween week off with a special interview we hosted with author Nick Medina about his latest book, THE WHISTLER. Nick writes horror, crime, and mystery fiction that sits at the intersection of social issues alongside Native American folklore.

The Whistler, his third novel, centers around Henry, a man who suffers immense tragedy following his careless dismissal of an ancient traditional warning: never whistle at night. As Henry copes with the changes to his life and physical condition, he is haunted by a malevolent presence. As he is forced to wrestle with his past choices, he must come to terms with what has truly happened and what is truly haunting him.

We sat down with Nick to discuss his very scary, very thoughtful, and disarmingly moving novel that tugs at the heart strings as often as it chills the spine. It's available wherever books are sold and is a perfect choice for spooky season. We hope you enjoy this special bonus interview!

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The fourth installment in the Final Destination franchise slapped an article at the top of the title, threw some 3-D special effects at the wall, and largely dismissed virtually every sensible aspect of quality filmmaking. It's rescued (barely) by some genuinely memorable death sequences in an otherwise aggressively skippable installment. But we did not skip it! Instead, we gathered friend of the show Paula Deming and new friend of the show Meg Oak to chat about it -- neither of whom had ever seen a Final Destination film before.

It was an uproariously grand time filled with laughter, head-scratching film notes, and an absurd amount of references to THAT scene in the film. In the midst of all the rampant frivolity, there are even a few moments of earnest and thoughtful reflection about the nature of death when it comes to questions of consequence for abhorrent behavior.

Also featuring a brief stint with The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIX, this is a hearty and vibrant episode that we really hope you enjoy!

7:58 - Debriefing Gen Con with Paula Deming and Meg Oak

13:46 - Business Time -- FOGOWEEN!

Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIX

18:27 - Two Questions with Meg Oak

28:40 - THE FINAL DESTINATION

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We carry on this week with our march through the franchise of death's design by discussing FINAL DESTINATION 3, a real roller coaster for the franchise (literally). The writers who started it all are back and return the franchise to a bit more of its original ominous flavor rather than the silly absurdity of part 2. It's questionable if that was the right choice or not, but to help us find out, we're joined by Vera Goudie and official newcomer to the FoG, Penny Rouse.

Also featuring a Patron-only segment on THE SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XVIII, it's a breezy and thoughtful discussion that we hope you enjoy!

Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XVIII

9:46 - Two Questions with Penny Rouse

16:24 - FINAL DESTINATION 3

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As part of a collegiate course on public speaking, Nathan and Reed were interviewed by professor Noel Manning II about the origins of The Fear of God, its development and change over time, and some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of sustaining a weekly podcast over several years.

It was a privilege and delight to speak with Noel, and we would like to share that interview here for you all as well. You can view the full video interview on YouTube here. Enjoy!

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We have another special interview for you for a film that's hitting theaters this weekend (Oct, 3, 2025). BONE LAKE is a sharp, clever, sensual thriller that explores the nature of trust and suspicion in relationships through a sleek and disarming, twist-filled narrative. A couple's vacation at a secluded estate is upended when they're forced to share the mansion with a mysterious couple. A dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, triggering a battle for survival.

It's a tightly scripted and wonderfully performed suspense thriller, with some big narrative surprises and notable thematic depth. We had the chance to sit briefly with the director, Mercedes Bryce Morgan, to talk about her unique approach to this fun, sleek, and gleefully twisted film.

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We continue our date with destiny during this year's spooky season run by examining FINAL DESTINATION 2, the second installment in the franchise of elaborate, menacing deaths. This one ramps up both the cleverness and the humor for a remarkably fun and invigorating sequel that arguably surpasses its predecessor by better understanding the inherent premise.

We're joined by friend of the show Sarah Welch-Larson and new friend of the show Joe George to break down all of the zany, bloody, and absurdly contrived ways that death forces these characters to pay for thwarting him. Along the way, we make some surprisingly poignant observations about how films like this can remind us of our fragility and to not take ourselves too seriously.

Also featuring a Patron-only segment about THE SIMPSONS, Treehouse of Horror XVII, this is a funny and lively conversation that we really hope you enjoy.

Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XVII

8:59 - Two Questions with Joe George

17:31 - Sarah Welch-Larson reports on TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)

29:56 - FINAL DESTINATION 2

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