Welcome back to Discover the Terror, hosted by Max Moenschmidt and Herbert, your ghoulish guide for the evening.

In this episode, we sit down with CJ Duke — writer, visual artist, VHS box-art creator, and emerging filmmaker — for a deep dive into the strange alchemy of nostalgia, fear, and physical media.

CJ traces his love of horror back to two formative childhood moments: accidentally witnessing a traumatizing scene from The Gate, and wandering through a foreboding rural Louisiana video store that felt more like a bomb shelter than a place of entertainment. There, a mysterious VHS box — The Jar — ignited a lifelong fascination with horror imagery, unanswered questions, and the power of suggestion.

From there, the conversation unfolds into a rich exploration of:

• The lost magic of video stores and VHS box art

• Horror as intrigue rather than pure fear

• Why some films belong on VHS and lose something in HD or 4K

• The resurgence of physical media in a streaming-dominated world

• "Moon logic," puzzles, and the forgotten art of point-and-click horror games

• FMV classics like Night Trap, The 7th Guest, and Shivers

• The cultural legacy of the video nasties era

• Being "the weird kid," finding community through horror, and turning fear into creation

CJ also discusses his work as a writer and artist, including his Video Nasties scripts, his love of thrift-store media ephemera, and how creating faux VHS box art unexpectedly became the centerpiece of his artistic career — leading to gallery shows, museum features, and deep roots in the horror community.

The episode closes with an exciting look ahead to CJ's upcoming debut feature, Witchcraft, a project blending horror, magic, and retro point-and-click video game aesthetics — and a heartfelt reminder to aspiring artists: stay open, follow what speaks to you, and let curiosity lead the way.

A must-listen for fans of horror history, physical media, outsider art, and anyone who's ever judged a movie by its box.