September 26, 2025 • 33 mins
The source provides an overview of ten Netflix original series recommended for binge-watching during the Halloween season, focusing on shows that offer a mix of scares, supernatural elements, and spooky atmosphere. Each entry highlights the series' genre, number of seasons, and specific reasons why it is ideal for Halloween, such as the gothic visuals of Wednesday or the emotional horror of The Haunting of Hill House. The compilation is categorized by themes ranging from sci-fi horror like Stranger Things to animated action like Castlevania, ensuring a diverse set of options for different preferences. Finally, the text offers tips for maximizing the viewing experience, suggesting atmosphere setting and prioritizing shorter series for those with limited time.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, you can really feel it now, can't you? That
slight chill in.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
The air, the leaves, Oh, definitely, nights you're getting longer.
It's that time.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Yeah, it's it's perfect spooky binge season starting exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And we're not talking about, you know, just any old
horror movie for ninety minutes.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
No, no, no. This is about curating an experience, something atmospheric,
something you can really sync into for days right through Halloween.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Right It's about immersion, committing to characters getting lost in
a world for like eight ten hours maybe.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Which is why our mission today felt well, pretty critical.
We've sifted through a lot of sources, really dug deep
to find the let's say, the ten essential Netflix series
for that ultimate seasonal.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Watch, the best of the best for setting that specific.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Mode precisely, and this deep dive it's designed to give
you the listener, the core info you need, not just
what to watch, but why it works, how it feels,
so you can pick your perfect atmospheric binge right away and.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
What jumped out immediately looking at all. This is just
how broad the idea of spooky has become, especially with streaming.
These ten series we landed on, they really cover the spectrum.
You've got pure psychological horror, sure, but also sci fi mysteries,
dark comedies, even these really complex literary or religious allegories.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
It's way beyond just things that go bump in the night.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, it's more about what those bumps or monsters or
ghosts tell us about well, us human nature.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
So our proch has to match that, right, We're going
to dive into the shadows, explore what makes each series tick.
The suspense, the scares, yes, but also that unique seasonal
atmosphere they offer.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
And we're trying to categorize them not just by genre
like horror, but by the feeling. Are you looking for
trauma or maybe gothic style, or just something weird and fun.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Exactly helping you pick your poison, so to speak.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Okay, then time to gear up for the marathon.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Let's unpack this list and see what kind of scares, magic,
and mayhem are really waiting for us.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
All right, Let's start with two series that feel pretty
foundational for modern spooky streaming, but they represent like totally
different ends of the terror.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Spectrum, pullar opposites in some ways.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
One is this huge nostalgic hit that really defined a moment.
And the other is it's a deeply emotional, almost traumatic
look at family pain.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
A tough watch that second one.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, but first we absolutely have to talk about the phenomenon,
the one that launched one thousand eighties playlists, Stranger Things.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
You really can't talk about modern streaming horror or sci
fi without starting here Stranger Things. It's appeal. It just
lasts because it pulls off this incredible balancing act. How
so well, it's got genuine sci fi horror elements, like
really scary stuff, but it wraps it all in this
heartwarming coming of age story, and the whole thing is
just this massive, beautifully crafted love letter to eighties pop culture.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
But it never feels just like nostalgia, right. The danger
feels real exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
The nostalgia's the flavor of the texture, but it does
overshadow the actual peril the.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Kids are in, and that's key. I think it delivers
that spooky vibe, but it's also kind of comfort food viewing.
Does that make sense totally?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
The setting itself, Hawkins, Indiana, it just feels right, you know,
like a place where secret government labs in small town
secrets would fester and.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
The focus on that core group of friends discovering the
truth about their town, the conspiracies, and of course the
upside down, this whole other hostile dimension.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
That's the core and the Halloween hook. It's really potent.
It's not just the clothes or the references, though, though
those are great.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
It's deeper than that.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, it's how this show uses the eighties as this
sort of framework for understanding the whore. Think about the soundtrack, Oh, the.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Synths, Dixon and Stein, Yeah, medib all.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It doesn't just sound like the eighties. It sounds like
pure dread distilled into synth ways.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
And the constant Dungeons and Dragons references.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, the Demogorgon, the mind Flare.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It's not just flavor text, it's literally the language the
kids use to try and process these completely unimaginable threats
they're facing.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
That's a great point. It's fantasy as a coping mechanism
for reality. They name the monsters demogorgan mind Flair Vecna,
all from D and D to give some kind of
tangible shape to these abstract horrors from another dimension.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And the sources we looked at really emphasize that escalation
across the seasons. It starts with one creature, but it
builds to this massive existential threat trying to basically rewrite reality.
The stakes just keep getting higher.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So if you're picking stranger things for your Halloween binge,
what are you really signing up for?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
You're getting a mix. You get some really effective earned
jump scares, you get this ongoing central mystery that keeps
you hooked, and you get this powerful theme of friendship
and bravery against the.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Odds that classic kids fighting monsters feel.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Exactly, which is so perfect for the season. Plus the
production design just recreating the eighties, it's meticulous. You feel
totally transported.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Okay, so that's the fun nostalgic scare. Now we pivot hard.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, now we go to the other end. The Haunting
of Hill House.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
This one, it's not just horror. It feels more like
an emotional assault course.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
It really is Mike Flanagan's first like true masterpiece on Netflix,
and honestly, it's one of the absolute best examples of smart,
sophisticated horror drama made for TV period.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
It uses ghosts differently, doesn't it completely.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It's not just about spooky apparitions. The ghosts are almost
tangible metaphors for generational trauma, for addiction, for unresolved grief
that just festers.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
In the way it's structured is key. It follows the
Crane family right, and.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
It jumps constantly between two timelines. There's there childhood summer,
that deeply traumatic time spent in the actual haunted mansion, and.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Then years later seeing how completely shattered and messed up
they are as adults because of it.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, the power comes from showing how those experiences in
the house, the spirits, the secrets, just the levolence of
the place didn't just leave them with spooky memories, It
left them with ghosts inside their own heads.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
People talk about the hidden ghosts too.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Oh yeah, it's brilliant. If you pause scenes, especially in
the background, you'll often spot these figures just lurking out
of focus. It visually reinforces how the past is always there,
always haunted the present, even when you're not looking directly
at it.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
The sources we saw were pretty much unanimous. This is
just unforgettable TV, the kind you watch with the lights off,
not just for the scares, but for the sheer emotional
weight of it. All.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
That emotional resonance is what truly defines it. Yes, it
delivers these incredible, bone chilling moments, genuine scares, but it
does that while digging so deep into themes of grief
and regret and how family members can completely fail to
understand each other's pain.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Is there one moment that really captures.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
That blend absolutely? The sources all point to it. The
episode focusing on Nell Crane, the bit neck Lady oh Man.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
That one stays with you, right, It's.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Just a peak example of Flannagan hitting you with devastating
emotional gut punches and pure terror at the same time.
And the final reveal in that episode, it just recontextualizes
everything you thought you knew about the family's trauma.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
So it's a heavy watch, very heavy.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
But essential viewing if you appreciate horror that really makes
you think and feel. It's intellectual horror at its finest.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Okay, so we've established Mike Flanagan as a master of
using ghosts and haunted houses to explore trauma. Now let's
look at two more of his series that maybe move
a bit away from literal ghosts and more into complex
allegory and even literary adaptation.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
He uses the horror framework for bigger ideas. Let's start
with Midnight Mass.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
This one felt different, very atmospheric, but a slower burn.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Definitely a slow burn. It's a profound piece of work.
If Hillhouse was about the darkness within a family, Midnight
Mass is maybe about the darkness within a community, especially
when that community is desperate and starts seeing what look
like miracles.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
The setting is crucial, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Crockett Island, absolutely critical. It's this tiny, isolated, dying fishing community.
That extreme isolation just amplifies everything. The dread, the paranoia,
the desperate need for somebody to believe in.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
And the hook is simple but so effective. A young
guy returns home in disgrace.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Right riley, and at the exact same time, this new
priest arrives, Father Paul, very charismatic but also very mysterious.
He's replacing the old monsignor who's suposedly ill.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And his arrival immediately triggers weird.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Stuff, miracles quote unquote, things that seem amazing at first.
Someone paralyzed starts walking again. Old people seem to get younger,
but these blessings quickly turn really really unsettling for the
whole island.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
This is where the allegory comes in strongly right. It's
not just a straightforward monster story at all.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
It brilliantly blends classic vampire mythology, but completely reframed as
this desperate quest for redemption and eternal life with really rich,
complex religious allegory. I ask tough questions about faith, about
what constitutes a miracle, and about well morality when you're
facing utter despair.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
The sources suggest that the vampire isn't even really the
main villain in a way.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
No, it's more like a catalyst. The creature's arrival forces
the community to confront its own spiritual emptiness, its own desperation,
and ultimately its own capacity for monstrosity in the name
of faith.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
It's chilling in the atmosphere. Wow, that coastal setting the
constant fought.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
It's practically a character itself. That moodiness, combined with these
incredibly well developed damaged characters, just creates this pervasive, spooky ambiance.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
And the monologues, well, yeah, the monologue are intense.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Flannagan is known for them. Yeah, long philosophical explorations of
the afterlife, sin, forgiveness, the nature of God. It demands
your attention. So who is this for It's definitely for
fans of horror that makes you think deeply. It has
shocking twists, but they feel earned because you're so invested
in the characters and the way he uses scripture sometimes
to justify truly off It's a powerful look at how
(10:02):
belief can be twisted.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Okay, so religious allegory with Midnight Mass. Then his latest
big one, The Fall The House of Usher, it goes
in a different direction. Again literary horror.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Exactly pure modern gothic horror, but with this very sharp,
very contemporary cynical edge.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
What's the core appeal here?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
It takes the works of Eggor Allan Poe, like his
entire vibe, his themes, his specific stories, and reimagines it
all as this sprawling modern saga about corporate greed, family corruption,
and unavoidable devastating payback.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
So it's Poe meets big Pharma basically.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah. It centers on the Usher family, Roderick and his
sister Madeline. Yeah, they built this massive, incredibly corrupt pharmaceutical empire,
the Fortunato Corporation, through really ruthless.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Means, and the series is about their downfall.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
The entire season revolves around them. Particularly Rodrick recounting how
all his children met these increasingly gruesome, bizarre, and mysterious deaths,
all linked to this single vengeful fast from their past,
Verna who seems almost supernatural.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
It sounds like a reckoning totally.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
It's about consequences on this huge, almost mythological scale. It
asks can extreme wealth and power actually shield you from
your moral debts? The answer seems to be a resounding no.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
And the Poe connection is explicit.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Oh incredibly so. This is the really cool nugget for
anyone who loves literature. Each episode focusing on the death
of one of the Usher airs is directly inspired by,
or mirrors a specific Poe story or poem. Can you
give an example, Sure, Like one son's grisly end echoes
the pit and the pendulum. Another sibling obsessed with creating
perfect digital copies of herself. Her storyline pulls from the
(11:40):
paranoia and guilt of the telltale heart and the whole
framing device. Roderick confessing everything as his empire collapses. That's
literally the fall of the House of Usher. Wow. Yeah.
And the dialogue, especially between Roderick and the Investigator's convising
to see August Dupan another Poe reference. Yeah, it's packed
with philosophical weight, connects their famili's ruin to the inherent
(12:02):
self destruction of unchecked greed.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So it really elevates the horror absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
That literary scaffolding makes it so much more than just
a series of gory deaths. It's this really smart, chilling
treat for horror fans and literature buffs.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Okay, let's shift the mood quite a bit. Now we're
moving away from that intense psychological or allegorical horror.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Right time for something with a bit more magic, maybe
some dark.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Fantasy elements exactly. These next couple of series offer a
more maybe bewitching is the word, a stylish, sometimes even
campy vibe, which is also totally valid for a Halloween bin.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Definitely need some variety in the marathon.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Let's start with Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yes, if you want that high style a cult esthetic
for Halloween, this is pretty much essentral viewing.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It's such a different take on Sabrina the teenage Witch. Right,
most people remember the nineties sitcom.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Which was super lighthearted and fun. This version, well, it
throws all that sunshine straight out the window. It's a
much darker, much more visually rich reimaginating, based more directly
on the recent Archie horror comics and.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
The look of the show. The sources called it a
killer esthetic.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Totally agree. It follows Sabrina Spelman, who's half human, half witch,
trying to navigate both worlds in this town, Greendale that
seems perpetually stuck in autumn. It's just gorgeous. The costumes,
the sets, the cinematography, it's all dripping with this gothic,
witchy fall atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
But the key difference is the tone, the themes.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Absolutely, that's the crucial nugget. The nineties show had fun,
family friendly magic. This Sabrina leans hard into actual occult stuff.
We're talking literal satanic cults, the Church of Night, complex demons,
pretty intense ritual, some genuinely gruesome moments.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
But it's not all darkness, is it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
No, And that's important. It balances that heavy occult darkness
with relatable coming of age teen drama, friendships, romance, school stuff,
and this necessary undercurrent of can't be humor. It keeps
it from getting two self serious or just relentlessly grim.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
The sources also mentioned it uses witchcraft to explore bigger ideas.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yeah, definitely themes of free will versus destiny, especially for
Sabrina choosing between the human world and the path chosen
for her by the Dark Lord. And there's a lot
about challenging patriarchal systems personified by well Satan himself and
embracing female power.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
So why is it such a standout for the Halloween
season specifically.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Beyond just the witchy premise, The show loves Halloween. It
fully embraces autumn and winter and themes throughout its run.
The dedicated Halloween episodes are packed with spells, mischief costumes.
It's just the perfect vibe if you want a magical,
slightly mischievous escape.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
And it's a longer commitment, right, four seasons yep.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Good for settling in over a long weekend or spreading
out through October. You can really get lost in Greendale.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Okay, so high style occult drama with Sabrina. What about
a different kind of magic, maybe more fantasy oriented?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
For that, we look at Lock and Key this one off.
There is this really captivating blend of fantasy, mystery and horror.
It's based on a fantastic comic book series by Joe
Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Joe Hill, Stephen King's son right knows his horror.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
He definitely does. And the appeal here is really imaginative,
concept driven storytelling. It starts with a family tragedy. The
Locke siblings and their mom move across the country to
their ancestral home, key.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
House, which is in Lovecraft, Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Subtle huh yeah, not subtle at all. And this house,
this huge gothic mansion, it's filled with these magical keys.
Each key does something completely unique and extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Can you give some examples? What kind of keys?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Oh, they're fantastic. There's the head key, which literally lets
you open up someone's head, looking inside their mind, add
to remove memories. There's the ghost key that lets your
spirit leave your body and float around unseen. That anywhere
key lets you open any door and have it lead
to anywhere else you can picture.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Wow, Okay, that sounds amazing.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
It is. The show uses this whimsical, almost wondrous magic
to create these moments of pure imagination and discovery.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
But there's always a butt in these shows. Powerful magic
attracts trouble.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Naturally, these keys are incredibly powerful and they attract a
really malevolent entity, a demon basically known as Dodge, who
desperately wants the keys for its own sinister purposes.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
So it's that mix of wonder and danger exactly.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
You get the almost Narnia like wonder of discovering these
magical keys, but there's this constant, underlying sinister threat that
blend creates this really specific, eerie, imaginative atmosphere. It's spooky,
but in a different way than say, Hillhouse.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
So who is the target audience here? The sources mentioned
something about nuance, right.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
The key thing our sources highlighted is that Lock and
Key delivers what you might call family friendly scares. It
leans more into the mystery, the adventure, the emotional journey
of the Lock kids as they heal and.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Grow, so thrills without being totally terrifying.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Precisely, it's a great choice if you want something imaginative
and spooky but maybe not the deep overwhelming psychological dread
of the Flannagan shows. It's a really engaging binge that
bounces the light in the dark very effectively.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
All Right, we're shifting gears again. Now we're hitting some
really uniquely stylized shows. Three totally different takes on spooky
aesthetically and narratively.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, this is where the variety really shines. We've got superheroes,
intense animation, and gothic mystery comedy, something for everyone.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Where do we start.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Let's kick off with the glorious chaos and fantastic soundtrack
of the Umbrella Academy.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Ah. Yes, not traditional horror, but definitely fits the Halloween
mood somehow totally.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
It's perfect if you want less straight up scares and
more action, weirdness and deeply complex family dysfunction.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Its core appeal is just how quirky it is. Right,
it's dark, but also really funny and weird.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Delightfully weird is the phrase. It centers on the Hargrease family,
seven kids adopted by this eccentric, emotionally unavailable billionaire, all
born on the same day under mysterious circumstances, and all
with superpowers except Vanya initially sort of.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
And they are not a functional family all God.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
No. The sources really emphasize how their world is just
constantly brimming with time travel shenanigans, multiple apocalypses they usually
cause themselves, and these truly bizarre villains remember Hazel.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And chowschaw, time traveling assassins, and animal masks. Hard to forget.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Exactly, but the crucial thing here, the nugget isn't just
the powers or the plot, is how the show uses
music and surreal moments to explore their trauma.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
How do you mean?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Well, each character is profoundly broken because of their upbringing,
and the show often uses these incredible, totally unexpected dance
sequences or musical moments like the whole family dancing awkwardly
to I Think We're Alone Now in the first episode
to show how they literally cannot communicate or process their
feelings properly.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
So the weirdness has a purpose.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Absolutely. That mix of huge world ending action and these
very personal, quirky emotional breakdowns is what gives it that
unique edge. It's funny and sad and action packed all.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
At once, and we follow them as they're constantly trying
and usually failing to figure out their dad's secrets their
past while so you know, stopping the end of the world.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Again, right, And the Halloween edge it comes from that pervasive,
dark humor, the truly eccentric characters like Ben being a
ghost only Klaus can see, or number five being this
old man trapped into kid's body and the surreal visuals
that just keep you slightly off balanced.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
So it's a fun chaotic binge less dread more high
spakes awkwardness exactly perfect description.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
High stakes action mixed with profound awkwardness.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Okay from awkward superheroes too. Something completely different animated horror.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Yes, let's talk about the bloody, beautiful gothic action of Castlevania.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
This one gets a lot of love, especially from people
who know the video.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Games, and for good reason. If you like your spooky stuff, gory, stylish,
and visually stunning, this animated series is an absolute must binge.
It's arguably the best video game adaptation out there, certainly
on Netflix for horror.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It really nails the dark fantasy vibe of the games totally.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
It translates that baroque gothic esthetic perfectly into mature, character
driven animation. The plot setup is classic. Trevor Belmont, last
survivor of a disgraced monster hunting plan, reluctantly takes up
arms against Count Dracula.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
And Dracula has a reason for being mad right, a
very tragic one.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
The church burned his human wife at the stake for witchcraft,
accusing her of science. Basically, so, Dracula declares war on
all of humanity in Wallachia. It's brutal.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
The animation style is key here too.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Oh absolutely, The sources rave about the stunning heavily stylized
gothic visuals, crumbling castles, dark forests, terrifying creature designs, and
the action sequences are just incredibly intense and fluidly animated.
It's bloody, it's brutal, it's gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
And Trevor doesn't fight alone.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
No, he teams up with Safer. Bell needs a powerful speaker, magician,
and perhaps most interestingly, Alucard, Dracula's own half vampire son
who opposes his father's genocide.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
That dynamic sounds compelling.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
It really is. Trevor's the cynical, drunk outcast. Cifa is
the idealistic scholar, Ali Carte is the brooding, tortured prince.
Their interactions, their combined efforts to stop Dracula, provide the
story's emotional core.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
So it's more than just monster fights.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Way more. It creates this dark, immersive world that's perfect
for Halloween. It satisfies those spooky cravings with tons of
expertly animated gore, cool monsters, and complex characters. It's a
thrilling dive into a vampire war that respects the source
material while really deepening the characters in Lore.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Okay, awesome, And the third in this quirky stylized section,
the one that absolutely blew.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Up, We gotta talk Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
This show is everywhere a genuine phenomenon.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
It really was perfect casting, perfect timing. It's Tim Burton
doing what he does best, bringing his delightfully dark Macob
charm to the Adams family, but focusing squarely on the
daughter and.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Jenna Ortego's Wednesday. Yet just perfect casting.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Absolutely flawless. The series centers entirely on Wednesday Adams, played
with this incredible deadpan, icy brilliance by Ortega. She gets
expelled and is forced to attend Nevermore Academy.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Which is basically Hogwarts for spooky kids, pretty.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Much a school specifically for outcasts were Wolves, sirens, gorgons, vampires,
the whole supernatural gang.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
But it's not just high school drama, right, There's a mystery.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Oh yeah, big one. While Wednesday is navigating the usual
teen angst in her own unique way and dealing with
her emerging psychic abilities. She's also trying to solve a
series of really gruesome murders happening around the town and
the academy.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
And her family's past is tied into it somehow exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Her investigation keeps uncovering secrets about Nevermore, the local town,
and her own parents' history at the school. That mystery
drives the whole season.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
But really it's Ortega's performance that anchors it.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
That's the ultimate nugget here. Her deadpan delivery, those subtle expressions,
the way she makes the most morbid lines und completely normal.
It's captivating, and the show just nailed the aesthetic, the
supernatural mystery, and yes, a dance scene, the internet breaking
dance scene. That combination of gothic style mystery and memable
moments just clicked, especially with.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
The younger audience, So the overall vibe is perfect for
the season totally.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
You get that iconic Burton visual style, lots of blacks, whites, shadows,
get the Adams family dynamics revisited, and it's this really fun,
fast paced blend of spooky murder, mystery and dark.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Comedy makes for a great easy binge to get you
in the spirit.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Exactly, a fantastic single season commitment that's spooky, stylish and
fun without demanding deep philosophical pondering afterwards.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Okay, we're nearing the end of our list. We've covered nostalgia,
deep trauma, allegory, magic, quirky action, animation. What's left.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
We're closing out with number ten, which is more of
a niche pick of a real hidden gem, maybe one
that often gets overlooked but delivers some incredibly effective scares,
precisely because it focuses on deep psychological tension and atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Instead of big monsters or jump scare.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Exactly. This is for the fans who love a slow burn,
something that really gets under your skin. We're talking about
arkav eighty one. Oh.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
I heard good things about this one, but also that
it got canceled.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Tragically, Yes, after just one season, but don't let that
deter you. It's still absolutely worth watching. It's the definition
of a hidden gem for people who crave that layered
psychological horror and truly unsettling mysteries.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
It's not based on a big known property like some
of the others.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
No, it's based on a popular found footage horror podcast
of the same name, which already tells you sound design
is going to be key.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Okay, So what's the setup.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It follows this archivist, Dan Turner. He gets hired by
this mysterious corporation under very weird circumstances to restore a
collection of damaged videotapes from the nineties kye tapes really specific.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
On footage basically yeah, but he's restoring it.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
As he gets deeper into watching these tapes, cleaning up
the glitches, listening to the warped audio, he uncovers this
really disturbing mystery. It involves the filmmaker Melody Pandris, who
shot the tapes back in nineteen ninety four, and this
creepy cultu she was investigating in this strange apartment building.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
So he's experiencing the past through the.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Tapes exactly, and the series excels because of how it
does this. It masterfully blends those found footage elements, making you,
the viewer, feel like you're uncovering the secrets alongside Dan
with his mounting supernatural dread.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
How does it build the dread?
Speaker 2 (25:34):
A lot of it is through atmosphere and sound. Dan
is physically isolated in this remote bunker doing the restoration work,
which contrasts creepily with the claustrophobic, intense reality shown on
Melody's tapes decades earlier. And the sources we looked at
all highlighted the sound design.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
What about it, It's.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Just critical the strange noises on the tapes, the cult tants,
the static, the unexplained sounds Dan starts hearing in his
own environment. It creates this deep, unsettling, pervasive atmosphere. It's
genuinely unnerving, especially if you watch it late at night,
maybe with headphones.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
And the story goes beyond just a cult, right it
gets weird?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Oh yeah, it becomes this time bending narrative again, starts
maybe seeing things, hearing things connected to the tapes. The
mystery spirals into something much bigger, more cosmic and supernatural,
involving potential interdimensional beings, weird rituals, a whole strange mythology.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
So the suspense is about whether he's going crazy or
if the past is actually reaching out precisely.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Is he losing his grip because he's so immersed in
this disturbing footage, or is there a genuine connection across
time being formed through these damaged tapes. That question keeps
you totally hooked, and.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Even though it was canceled, the season works as a
binge yes.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Absolutely, that slow build of tension, the genuinely shocking and
often disorienting reveals, it keeps you glued. And the source
is confirmed that the single season tells a complete chilling
story arc. It has a conclusion, albeit one designed to
leave you feeling profoundly nerved and maybe a little unresolved,
which is perfect for this kind of horror.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
So it's an ideal pick for maybe the final night
of your marathon, end with something truly atmospheric and psychologically creepy.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Exactly a dose of pure unsettling atmospheric core to cap
things off.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Wow, Okay, that's ten series. We have really covered a
lot of ground here, from eighties nostalgia to po adaptations
to animated vampires.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
It's an incredibly diverse lineup. I think if we synthesize
all that, we've genuinely given you the learner options for
pretty much any kind of Halloween mood you could possibly
be in.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Totally we saw those categories emerge pretty clearly, Like if
you're chasing that high energy fun vibe, the nostalgic and
quirky thrills.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
That you're pairing stranger things and the umbrella Academy heart humor, action,
spectacular weirdness, but without necessarily crushing your soul.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Right, But if you do want your soul potentially crushed
or at least deeply examined, if you want that emotional
or existential horror, then.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
It's got to be the Haunting of Hillhouse in Midnight
Mass the flanning in powerhouses, using horror to really dig
into pain, grief, faith, doubt, stuff that sticks with you.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Definitely requires some intellectual engagement there. Then, for pure gothic
and stylish vibes, you know, leaning into the esthetic, maybe
some literary flair, that macab Charm.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
That's Wednesday and the Fall of the House of Usher,
they just look amazing. They've got a sharp commentary, that
necessary theatricality, perfect for feeling spooky and sophisticated.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
And finally, for magical intrigue and fantasy scares.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
You've got Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for that long, witchy,
occult deep dive or Locking Key for the more imaginative,
slightly lighter, family friendly fantasy approach, And.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Don't forget Castlevania in there somewhere right.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
The outlier, pure dark, gorgeous, animated gothic action. Can't leave
that out.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Okay, so people can pick their shows, But what about
the experience of the binge itself. Any tips from the
sources on how to maximize it?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Oh? Yeah, the viewing experience is key. Setting the scene
is crucial for immersion. Ambiance, as they say, is it's
a low lighting, definitely dim moody lighting. Candles are great
if you're safe about it, or just a single lamp
in the corner. And blankets. Cozy blankets are non negotiable.
You need that comfort to contrast the terror and snacks.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Snacks are vital, the.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Most vital element, the fuel for the marathon. You gotta
have theme snacks. We're talking the classics, candy corn obviously,
maybe some pumpkin spice something or other, those novelty Halloween candies.
It's part of the ritual. Eating the spooky snacks enhances
watching the spooky shows.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
What about who you watch with? Does that change things fundamentally?
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Yes? The sources pointed this out. Are you going for
a big camuale scarefest with friends? Yeah? Then something like
the Umbrella Academy with its chaos, or the fun style
of Wednesday really lends itself to group reactions, laughing at
the weirdness together. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
But but if you're flying solo, if you're.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Doing a solo viewing for maximum undiluted immersion, then those
intense emotional dramas like Hill House or the pure auditory
dread of Archive eighty one, they're going to hit so
much harder when it's just you alone with the show
in your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Good point. Time management too, right, Not everyone has multiple
days crucial.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
If Halloween Night itself, or maybe just the weekend is
your main window, you get to prioritize those shorter contained stories,
the one season wonders.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Like Midnight Mass, Archive eighty one, Usher.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Even Hill House exactly. You can get a complete, satisfying
narrative arc in one or two sittings start to finish.
But if you do have more time, if you want
a commitment that stretches over several.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Days, then you dive into the bigger worlds.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Right, Stranger Things, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Those give you
the depth the episode count to really get lost in
that Halloween spirit for a longer period. A sustained marathon.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
One last tip I saw mentioned create a spooky playlist
for the breaks.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Oh that's a great one. A curated playlist of atmospheric,
maybe instrumental, spooky music. When you pause to grab more
candy corn or take a bathroom break. The vibe doesn't
just disappear. You stay locked in waiting for the next episode.
Keep the dread alive hashtag tag outro. Well, that was
quite the deep dive. We've covered a huge amount of ground.
(31:14):
Looked at ten really distinct series. I think it's clear
Netflix has a serially impressive library for spooky season, something
for literally every.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Taste, absolutely, from the nostalgic thrills of Hawkins, Indiana to
the incredibly dense literary horror of the Usher Family. It's
all there.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
These ten series really do offer something unique. Whether it's
epic supernatural sagas, tight psychological thrillers, they're all packed with
the chills, the thrills, the unforgettable moments that just capture
that dark, delicious feeling of Halloween.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
So the call to action is simple, right, grab.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Your remote, get the blankets ready, dim those lights, pick
your poison from this list, and just let these stories
pull you into their worlds of monsters and magic and mayhem.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
And thinking back on our conversation, we talked a lot
about how many of these shows, especially the flannagan ones
but others too, how they blend traditional horror things vampires, ghosts,
haunted houses with these really deep complex allegories or social critiques.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Yeah, Midnight Mass using vampires to talk about faith and desperation,
Usher tackling corporate greed through Poe Sabrina, dealing with patriarchal
power through witchcraft. It's a recurring.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Theme which leads to maybe a final thought for you,
the listener, as you curate your own binge.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
If so many of the most impactful, most talked about
spooky stories today seem to require this level of intellectual engagement,
this moral commentary, this's thematic depth alongside the actual scares.
Does that mean we've changed? Are we as viewers fundamentally
more interested now in what the monsters tell us about ourselves,
about our society, our fears, our failings than we are
(32:48):
in just you know, being startled by them.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Something to ponder while you're maybe facing down the mind
flare or trying not to think about the bet
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Neck Lady exactly think about that happy binge
Okay, you can really feel it now, can't you? That
slight chill in.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
The air, the leaves, Oh, definitely, nights you're getting longer.
It's that time.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Yeah, it's it's perfect spooky binge season starting exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And we're not talking about, you know, just any old
horror movie for ninety minutes.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
No, no, no. This is about curating an experience, something atmospheric,
something you can really sync into for days right through Halloween.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Right It's about immersion, committing to characters getting lost in
a world for like eight ten hours maybe.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Which is why our mission today felt well, pretty critical.
We've sifted through a lot of sources, really dug deep
to find the let's say, the ten essential Netflix series
for that ultimate seasonal.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Watch, the best of the best for setting that specific.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Mode precisely, and this deep dive it's designed to give
you the listener, the core info you need, not just
what to watch, but why it works, how it feels,
so you can pick your perfect atmospheric binge right away and.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
What jumped out immediately looking at all. This is just
how broad the idea of spooky has become, especially with streaming.
These ten series we landed on, they really cover the spectrum.
You've got pure psychological horror, sure, but also sci fi mysteries,
dark comedies, even these really complex literary or religious allegories.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
It's way beyond just things that go bump in the night.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, it's more about what those bumps or monsters or
ghosts tell us about well, us human nature.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
So our proch has to match that, right, We're going
to dive into the shadows, explore what makes each series tick.
The suspense, the scares, yes, but also that unique seasonal
atmosphere they offer.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
And we're trying to categorize them not just by genre
like horror, but by the feeling. Are you looking for
trauma or maybe gothic style, or just something weird and fun.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Exactly helping you pick your poison, so to speak.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Okay, then time to gear up for the marathon.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Let's unpack this list and see what kind of scares, magic,
and mayhem are really waiting for us.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
All right, Let's start with two series that feel pretty
foundational for modern spooky streaming, but they represent like totally
different ends of the terror.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Spectrum, pullar opposites in some ways.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
One is this huge nostalgic hit that really defined a moment.
And the other is it's a deeply emotional, almost traumatic
look at family pain.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
A tough watch that second one.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, but first we absolutely have to talk about the phenomenon,
the one that launched one thousand eighties playlists, Stranger Things.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
You really can't talk about modern streaming horror or sci
fi without starting here Stranger Things. It's appeal. It just
lasts because it pulls off this incredible balancing act. How
so well, it's got genuine sci fi horror elements, like
really scary stuff, but it wraps it all in this
heartwarming coming of age story, and the whole thing is
just this massive, beautifully crafted love letter to eighties pop culture.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
But it never feels just like nostalgia, right. The danger
feels real exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
The nostalgia's the flavor of the texture, but it does
overshadow the actual peril the.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Kids are in, and that's key. I think it delivers
that spooky vibe, but it's also kind of comfort food viewing.
Does that make sense totally?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
The setting itself, Hawkins, Indiana, it just feels right, you know,
like a place where secret government labs in small town
secrets would fester and.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
The focus on that core group of friends discovering the
truth about their town, the conspiracies, and of course the
upside down, this whole other hostile dimension.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
That's the core and the Halloween hook. It's really potent.
It's not just the clothes or the references, though, though
those are great.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
It's deeper than that.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, it's how this show uses the eighties as this
sort of framework for understanding the whore. Think about the soundtrack, Oh, the.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Synths, Dixon and Stein, Yeah, medib all.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It doesn't just sound like the eighties. It sounds like
pure dread distilled into synth ways.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
And the constant Dungeons and Dragons references.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, the Demogorgon, the mind Flare.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It's not just flavor text, it's literally the language the
kids use to try and process these completely unimaginable threats
they're facing.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
That's a great point. It's fantasy as a coping mechanism
for reality. They name the monsters demogorgan mind Flair Vecna,
all from D and D to give some kind of
tangible shape to these abstract horrors from another dimension.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And the sources we looked at really emphasize that escalation
across the seasons. It starts with one creature, but it
builds to this massive existential threat trying to basically rewrite reality.
The stakes just keep getting higher.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So if you're picking stranger things for your Halloween binge,
what are you really signing up for?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
You're getting a mix. You get some really effective earned
jump scares, you get this ongoing central mystery that keeps
you hooked, and you get this powerful theme of friendship
and bravery against the.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Odds that classic kids fighting monsters feel.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Exactly, which is so perfect for the season. Plus the
production design just recreating the eighties, it's meticulous. You feel
totally transported.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Okay, so that's the fun nostalgic scare. Now we pivot hard.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, now we go to the other end. The Haunting
of Hill House.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
This one, it's not just horror. It feels more like
an emotional assault course.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
It really is Mike Flanagan's first like true masterpiece on Netflix,
and honestly, it's one of the absolute best examples of smart,
sophisticated horror drama made for TV period.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
It uses ghosts differently, doesn't it completely.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It's not just about spooky apparitions. The ghosts are almost
tangible metaphors for generational trauma, for addiction, for unresolved grief
that just festers.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
In the way it's structured is key. It follows the
Crane family right, and.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
It jumps constantly between two timelines. There's there childhood summer,
that deeply traumatic time spent in the actual haunted mansion, and.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Then years later seeing how completely shattered and messed up
they are as adults because of it.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, the power comes from showing how those experiences in
the house, the spirits, the secrets, just the levolence of
the place didn't just leave them with spooky memories, It
left them with ghosts inside their own heads.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
People talk about the hidden ghosts too.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Oh yeah, it's brilliant. If you pause scenes, especially in
the background, you'll often spot these figures just lurking out
of focus. It visually reinforces how the past is always there,
always haunted the present, even when you're not looking directly
at it.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
The sources we saw were pretty much unanimous. This is
just unforgettable TV, the kind you watch with the lights off,
not just for the scares, but for the sheer emotional
weight of it. All.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
That emotional resonance is what truly defines it. Yes, it
delivers these incredible, bone chilling moments, genuine scares, but it
does that while digging so deep into themes of grief
and regret and how family members can completely fail to
understand each other's pain.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Is there one moment that really captures.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
That blend absolutely? The sources all point to it. The
episode focusing on Nell Crane, the bit neck Lady oh Man.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
That one stays with you, right, It's.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Just a peak example of Flannagan hitting you with devastating
emotional gut punches and pure terror at the same time.
And the final reveal in that episode, it just recontextualizes
everything you thought you knew about the family's trauma.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
So it's a heavy watch, very heavy.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
But essential viewing if you appreciate horror that really makes
you think and feel. It's intellectual horror at its finest.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Okay, so we've established Mike Flanagan as a master of
using ghosts and haunted houses to explore trauma. Now let's
look at two more of his series that maybe move
a bit away from literal ghosts and more into complex
allegory and even literary adaptation.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
He uses the horror framework for bigger ideas. Let's start
with Midnight Mass.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
This one felt different, very atmospheric, but a slower burn.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Definitely a slow burn. It's a profound piece of work.
If Hillhouse was about the darkness within a family, Midnight
Mass is maybe about the darkness within a community, especially
when that community is desperate and starts seeing what look
like miracles.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
The setting is crucial, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Crockett Island, absolutely critical. It's this tiny, isolated, dying fishing community.
That extreme isolation just amplifies everything. The dread, the paranoia,
the desperate need for somebody to believe in.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
And the hook is simple but so effective. A young
guy returns home in disgrace.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Right riley, and at the exact same time, this new
priest arrives, Father Paul, very charismatic but also very mysterious.
He's replacing the old monsignor who's suposedly ill.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And his arrival immediately triggers weird.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Stuff, miracles quote unquote, things that seem amazing at first.
Someone paralyzed starts walking again. Old people seem to get younger,
but these blessings quickly turn really really unsettling for the
whole island.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
This is where the allegory comes in strongly right. It's
not just a straightforward monster story at all.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
It brilliantly blends classic vampire mythology, but completely reframed as
this desperate quest for redemption and eternal life with really rich,
complex religious allegory. I ask tough questions about faith, about
what constitutes a miracle, and about well morality when you're
facing utter despair.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
The sources suggest that the vampire isn't even really the
main villain in a way.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
No, it's more like a catalyst. The creature's arrival forces
the community to confront its own spiritual emptiness, its own desperation,
and ultimately its own capacity for monstrosity in the name
of faith.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
It's chilling in the atmosphere. Wow, that coastal setting the
constant fought.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
It's practically a character itself. That moodiness, combined with these
incredibly well developed damaged characters, just creates this pervasive, spooky ambiance.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
And the monologues, well, yeah, the monologue are intense.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Flannagan is known for them. Yeah, long philosophical explorations of
the afterlife, sin, forgiveness, the nature of God. It demands
your attention. So who is this for It's definitely for
fans of horror that makes you think deeply. It has
shocking twists, but they feel earned because you're so invested
in the characters and the way he uses scripture sometimes
to justify truly off It's a powerful look at how
(10:02):
belief can be twisted.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Okay, so religious allegory with Midnight Mass. Then his latest
big one, The Fall The House of Usher, it goes
in a different direction. Again literary horror.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Exactly pure modern gothic horror, but with this very sharp,
very contemporary cynical edge.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
What's the core appeal here?
Speaker 2 (10:19):
It takes the works of Eggor Allan Poe, like his
entire vibe, his themes, his specific stories, and reimagines it
all as this sprawling modern saga about corporate greed, family corruption,
and unavoidable devastating payback.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
So it's Poe meets big Pharma basically.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yeah. It centers on the Usher family, Roderick and his
sister Madeline. Yeah, they built this massive, incredibly corrupt pharmaceutical empire,
the Fortunato Corporation, through really ruthless.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Means, and the series is about their downfall.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
The entire season revolves around them. Particularly Rodrick recounting how
all his children met these increasingly gruesome, bizarre, and mysterious deaths,
all linked to this single vengeful fast from their past,
Verna who seems almost supernatural.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
It sounds like a reckoning totally.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
It's about consequences on this huge, almost mythological scale. It
asks can extreme wealth and power actually shield you from
your moral debts? The answer seems to be a resounding no.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
And the Poe connection is explicit.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Oh incredibly so. This is the really cool nugget for
anyone who loves literature. Each episode focusing on the death
of one of the Usher airs is directly inspired by,
or mirrors a specific Poe story or poem. Can you
give an example, Sure, Like one son's grisly end echoes
the pit and the pendulum. Another sibling obsessed with creating
perfect digital copies of herself. Her storyline pulls from the
(11:40):
paranoia and guilt of the telltale heart and the whole
framing device. Roderick confessing everything as his empire collapses. That's
literally the fall of the House of Usher. Wow. Yeah.
And the dialogue, especially between Roderick and the Investigator's convising
to see August Dupan another Poe reference. Yeah, it's packed
with philosophical weight, connects their famili's ruin to the inherent
(12:02):
self destruction of unchecked greed.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So it really elevates the horror absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
That literary scaffolding makes it so much more than just
a series of gory deaths. It's this really smart, chilling
treat for horror fans and literature buffs.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Okay, let's shift the mood quite a bit. Now we're
moving away from that intense psychological or allegorical horror.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Right time for something with a bit more magic, maybe
some dark.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Fantasy elements exactly. These next couple of series offer a
more maybe bewitching is the word, a stylish, sometimes even
campy vibe, which is also totally valid for a Halloween bin.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Definitely need some variety in the marathon.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Let's start with Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yes, if you want that high style a cult esthetic
for Halloween, this is pretty much essentral viewing.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It's such a different take on Sabrina the teenage Witch. Right,
most people remember the nineties sitcom.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Which was super lighthearted and fun. This version, well, it
throws all that sunshine straight out the window. It's a
much darker, much more visually rich reimaginating, based more directly
on the recent Archie horror comics and.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
The look of the show. The sources called it a
killer esthetic.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Totally agree. It follows Sabrina Spelman, who's half human, half witch,
trying to navigate both worlds in this town, Greendale that
seems perpetually stuck in autumn. It's just gorgeous. The costumes,
the sets, the cinematography, it's all dripping with this gothic,
witchy fall atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
But the key difference is the tone, the themes.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Absolutely, that's the crucial nugget. The nineties show had fun,
family friendly magic. This Sabrina leans hard into actual occult stuff.
We're talking literal satanic cults, the Church of Night, complex demons,
pretty intense ritual, some genuinely gruesome moments.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
But it's not all darkness, is it.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
No, And that's important. It balances that heavy occult darkness
with relatable coming of age teen drama, friendships, romance, school stuff,
and this necessary undercurrent of can't be humor. It keeps
it from getting two self serious or just relentlessly grim.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
The sources also mentioned it uses witchcraft to explore bigger ideas.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yeah, definitely themes of free will versus destiny, especially for
Sabrina choosing between the human world and the path chosen
for her by the Dark Lord. And there's a lot
about challenging patriarchal systems personified by well Satan himself and
embracing female power.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
So why is it such a standout for the Halloween
season specifically.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Beyond just the witchy premise, The show loves Halloween. It
fully embraces autumn and winter and themes throughout its run.
The dedicated Halloween episodes are packed with spells, mischief costumes.
It's just the perfect vibe if you want a magical,
slightly mischievous escape.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
And it's a longer commitment, right, four seasons yep.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Good for settling in over a long weekend or spreading
out through October. You can really get lost in Greendale.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Okay, so high style occult drama with Sabrina. What about
a different kind of magic, maybe more fantasy oriented?
Speaker 2 (14:57):
For that, we look at Lock and Key this one off.
There is this really captivating blend of fantasy, mystery and horror.
It's based on a fantastic comic book series by Joe
Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Joe Hill, Stephen King's son right knows his horror.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
He definitely does. And the appeal here is really imaginative,
concept driven storytelling. It starts with a family tragedy. The
Locke siblings and their mom move across the country to
their ancestral home, key.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
House, which is in Lovecraft, Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Subtle huh yeah, not subtle at all. And this house,
this huge gothic mansion, it's filled with these magical keys.
Each key does something completely unique and extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Can you give some examples? What kind of keys?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Oh, they're fantastic. There's the head key, which literally lets
you open up someone's head, looking inside their mind, add
to remove memories. There's the ghost key that lets your
spirit leave your body and float around unseen. That anywhere
key lets you open any door and have it lead
to anywhere else you can picture.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Wow, Okay, that sounds amazing.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
It is. The show uses this whimsical, almost wondrous magic
to create these moments of pure imagination and discovery.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
But there's always a butt in these shows. Powerful magic
attracts trouble.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Naturally, these keys are incredibly powerful and they attract a
really malevolent entity, a demon basically known as Dodge, who
desperately wants the keys for its own sinister purposes.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
So it's that mix of wonder and danger exactly.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
You get the almost Narnia like wonder of discovering these
magical keys, but there's this constant, underlying sinister threat that
blend creates this really specific, eerie, imaginative atmosphere. It's spooky,
but in a different way than say, Hillhouse.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
So who is the target audience here? The sources mentioned
something about nuance, right.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
The key thing our sources highlighted is that Lock and
Key delivers what you might call family friendly scares. It
leans more into the mystery, the adventure, the emotional journey
of the Lock kids as they heal and.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Grow, so thrills without being totally terrifying.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Precisely, it's a great choice if you want something imaginative
and spooky but maybe not the deep overwhelming psychological dread
of the Flannagan shows. It's a really engaging binge that
bounces the light in the dark very effectively.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
All Right, we're shifting gears again. Now we're hitting some
really uniquely stylized shows. Three totally different takes on spooky
aesthetically and narratively.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Yeah, this is where the variety really shines. We've got superheroes,
intense animation, and gothic mystery comedy, something for everyone.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Where do we start.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Let's kick off with the glorious chaos and fantastic soundtrack
of the Umbrella Academy.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Ah. Yes, not traditional horror, but definitely fits the Halloween
mood somehow totally.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
It's perfect if you want less straight up scares and
more action, weirdness and deeply complex family dysfunction.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Its core appeal is just how quirky it is. Right,
it's dark, but also really funny and weird.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Delightfully weird is the phrase. It centers on the Hargrease family,
seven kids adopted by this eccentric, emotionally unavailable billionaire, all
born on the same day under mysterious circumstances, and all
with superpowers except Vanya initially sort of.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
And they are not a functional family all God.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
No. The sources really emphasize how their world is just
constantly brimming with time travel shenanigans, multiple apocalypses they usually
cause themselves, and these truly bizarre villains remember Hazel.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And chowschaw, time traveling assassins, and animal masks. Hard to forget.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Exactly, but the crucial thing here, the nugget isn't just
the powers or the plot, is how the show uses
music and surreal moments to explore their trauma.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
How do you mean?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Well, each character is profoundly broken because of their upbringing,
and the show often uses these incredible, totally unexpected dance
sequences or musical moments like the whole family dancing awkwardly
to I Think We're Alone Now in the first episode
to show how they literally cannot communicate or process their
feelings properly.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
So the weirdness has a purpose.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Absolutely. That mix of huge world ending action and these
very personal, quirky emotional breakdowns is what gives it that
unique edge. It's funny and sad and action packed all.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
At once, and we follow them as they're constantly trying
and usually failing to figure out their dad's secrets their
past while so you know, stopping the end of the world.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Again, right, And the Halloween edge it comes from that pervasive,
dark humor, the truly eccentric characters like Ben being a
ghost only Klaus can see, or number five being this
old man trapped into kid's body and the surreal visuals
that just keep you slightly off balanced.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
So it's a fun chaotic binge less dread more high
spakes awkwardness exactly perfect description.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
High stakes action mixed with profound awkwardness.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Okay from awkward superheroes too. Something completely different animated horror.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Yes, let's talk about the bloody, beautiful gothic action of Castlevania.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
This one gets a lot of love, especially from people
who know the video.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Games, and for good reason. If you like your spooky stuff, gory, stylish,
and visually stunning, this animated series is an absolute must binge.
It's arguably the best video game adaptation out there, certainly
on Netflix for horror.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It really nails the dark fantasy vibe of the games totally.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
It translates that baroque gothic esthetic perfectly into mature, character
driven animation. The plot setup is classic. Trevor Belmont, last
survivor of a disgraced monster hunting plan, reluctantly takes up
arms against Count Dracula.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
And Dracula has a reason for being mad right, a
very tragic one.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
The church burned his human wife at the stake for witchcraft,
accusing her of science. Basically, so, Dracula declares war on
all of humanity in Wallachia. It's brutal.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
The animation style is key here too.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Oh absolutely, The sources rave about the stunning heavily stylized
gothic visuals, crumbling castles, dark forests, terrifying creature designs, and
the action sequences are just incredibly intense and fluidly animated.
It's bloody, it's brutal, it's gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
And Trevor doesn't fight alone.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
No, he teams up with Safer. Bell needs a powerful speaker, magician,
and perhaps most interestingly, Alucard, Dracula's own half vampire son
who opposes his father's genocide.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
That dynamic sounds compelling.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
It really is. Trevor's the cynical, drunk outcast. Cifa is
the idealistic scholar, Ali Carte is the brooding, tortured prince.
Their interactions, their combined efforts to stop Dracula, provide the
story's emotional core.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
So it's more than just monster fights.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Way more. It creates this dark, immersive world that's perfect
for Halloween. It satisfies those spooky cravings with tons of
expertly animated gore, cool monsters, and complex characters. It's a
thrilling dive into a vampire war that respects the source
material while really deepening the characters in Lore.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Okay, awesome, And the third in this quirky stylized section,
the one that absolutely blew.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Up, We gotta talk Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
This show is everywhere a genuine phenomenon.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
It really was perfect casting, perfect timing. It's Tim Burton
doing what he does best, bringing his delightfully dark Macob
charm to the Adams family, but focusing squarely on the
daughter and.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Jenna Ortego's Wednesday. Yet just perfect casting.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Absolutely flawless. The series centers entirely on Wednesday Adams, played
with this incredible deadpan, icy brilliance by Ortega. She gets
expelled and is forced to attend Nevermore Academy.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Which is basically Hogwarts for spooky kids, pretty.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Much a school specifically for outcasts were Wolves, sirens, gorgons, vampires,
the whole supernatural gang.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
But it's not just high school drama, right, There's a mystery.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Oh yeah, big one. While Wednesday is navigating the usual
teen angst in her own unique way and dealing with
her emerging psychic abilities. She's also trying to solve a
series of really gruesome murders happening around the town and
the academy.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
And her family's past is tied into it somehow exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Her investigation keeps uncovering secrets about Nevermore, the local town,
and her own parents' history at the school. That mystery
drives the whole season.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
But really it's Ortega's performance that anchors it.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
That's the ultimate nugget here. Her deadpan delivery, those subtle expressions,
the way she makes the most morbid lines und completely normal.
It's captivating, and the show just nailed the aesthetic, the
supernatural mystery, and yes, a dance scene, the internet breaking
dance scene. That combination of gothic style mystery and memable
moments just clicked, especially with.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
The younger audience, So the overall vibe is perfect for
the season totally.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
You get that iconic Burton visual style, lots of blacks, whites, shadows,
get the Adams family dynamics revisited, and it's this really fun,
fast paced blend of spooky murder, mystery and dark.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Comedy makes for a great easy binge to get you
in the spirit.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Exactly, a fantastic single season commitment that's spooky, stylish and
fun without demanding deep philosophical pondering afterwards.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Okay, we're nearing the end of our list. We've covered nostalgia,
deep trauma, allegory, magic, quirky action, animation. What's left.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
We're closing out with number ten, which is more of
a niche pick of a real hidden gem, maybe one
that often gets overlooked but delivers some incredibly effective scares,
precisely because it focuses on deep psychological tension and atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Instead of big monsters or jump scare.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Exactly. This is for the fans who love a slow burn,
something that really gets under your skin. We're talking about
arkav eighty one. Oh.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
I heard good things about this one, but also that
it got canceled.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Tragically, Yes, after just one season, but don't let that
deter you. It's still absolutely worth watching. It's the definition
of a hidden gem for people who crave that layered
psychological horror and truly unsettling mysteries.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
It's not based on a big known property like some
of the others.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
No, it's based on a popular found footage horror podcast
of the same name, which already tells you sound design
is going to be key.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Okay, So what's the setup.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
It follows this archivist, Dan Turner. He gets hired by
this mysterious corporation under very weird circumstances to restore a
collection of damaged videotapes from the nineties kye tapes really specific.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
On footage basically yeah, but he's restoring it.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
As he gets deeper into watching these tapes, cleaning up
the glitches, listening to the warped audio, he uncovers this
really disturbing mystery. It involves the filmmaker Melody Pandris, who
shot the tapes back in nineteen ninety four, and this
creepy cultu she was investigating in this strange apartment building.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
So he's experiencing the past through the.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Tapes exactly, and the series excels because of how it
does this. It masterfully blends those found footage elements, making you,
the viewer, feel like you're uncovering the secrets alongside Dan
with his mounting supernatural dread.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
How does it build the dread?
Speaker 2 (25:34):
A lot of it is through atmosphere and sound. Dan
is physically isolated in this remote bunker doing the restoration work,
which contrasts creepily with the claustrophobic, intense reality shown on
Melody's tapes decades earlier. And the sources we looked at
all highlighted the sound design.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
What about it, It's.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Just critical the strange noises on the tapes, the cult tants,
the static, the unexplained sounds Dan starts hearing in his
own environment. It creates this deep, unsettling, pervasive atmosphere. It's
genuinely unnerving, especially if you watch it late at night,
maybe with headphones.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
And the story goes beyond just a cult, right it
gets weird?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Oh yeah, it becomes this time bending narrative again, starts
maybe seeing things, hearing things connected to the tapes. The
mystery spirals into something much bigger, more cosmic and supernatural,
involving potential interdimensional beings, weird rituals, a whole strange mythology.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
So the suspense is about whether he's going crazy or
if the past is actually reaching out precisely.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Is he losing his grip because he's so immersed in
this disturbing footage, or is there a genuine connection across
time being formed through these damaged tapes. That question keeps
you totally hooked, and.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Even though it was canceled, the season works as a
binge yes.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Absolutely, that slow build of tension, the genuinely shocking and
often disorienting reveals, it keeps you glued. And the source
is confirmed that the single season tells a complete chilling
story arc. It has a conclusion, albeit one designed to
leave you feeling profoundly nerved and maybe a little unresolved,
which is perfect for this kind of horror.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
So it's an ideal pick for maybe the final night
of your marathon, end with something truly atmospheric and psychologically creepy.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Exactly a dose of pure unsettling atmospheric core to cap
things off.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Wow, Okay, that's ten series. We have really covered a
lot of ground here, from eighties nostalgia to po adaptations
to animated vampires.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
It's an incredibly diverse lineup. I think if we synthesize
all that, we've genuinely given you the learner options for
pretty much any kind of Halloween mood you could possibly
be in.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Totally we saw those categories emerge pretty clearly, Like if
you're chasing that high energy fun vibe, the nostalgic and
quirky thrills.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
That you're pairing stranger things and the umbrella Academy heart humor, action,
spectacular weirdness, but without necessarily crushing your soul.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Right, But if you do want your soul potentially crushed
or at least deeply examined, if you want that emotional
or existential horror, then.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
It's got to be the Haunting of Hillhouse in Midnight
Mass the flanning in powerhouses, using horror to really dig
into pain, grief, faith, doubt, stuff that sticks with you.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Definitely requires some intellectual engagement there. Then, for pure gothic
and stylish vibes, you know, leaning into the esthetic, maybe
some literary flair, that macab Charm.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
That's Wednesday and the Fall of the House of Usher,
they just look amazing. They've got a sharp commentary, that
necessary theatricality, perfect for feeling spooky and sophisticated.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
And finally, for magical intrigue and fantasy scares.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
You've got Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for that long, witchy,
occult deep dive or Locking Key for the more imaginative,
slightly lighter, family friendly fantasy approach, And.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Don't forget Castlevania in there somewhere right.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
The outlier, pure dark, gorgeous, animated gothic action. Can't leave
that out.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Okay, so people can pick their shows, But what about
the experience of the binge itself. Any tips from the
sources on how to maximize it?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Oh? Yeah, the viewing experience is key. Setting the scene
is crucial for immersion. Ambiance, as they say, is it's
a low lighting, definitely dim moody lighting. Candles are great
if you're safe about it, or just a single lamp
in the corner. And blankets. Cozy blankets are non negotiable.
You need that comfort to contrast the terror and snacks.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Snacks are vital, the.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Most vital element, the fuel for the marathon. You gotta
have theme snacks. We're talking the classics, candy corn obviously,
maybe some pumpkin spice something or other, those novelty Halloween candies.
It's part of the ritual. Eating the spooky snacks enhances
watching the spooky shows.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
What about who you watch with? Does that change things fundamentally?
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Yes? The sources pointed this out. Are you going for
a big camuale scarefest with friends? Yeah? Then something like
the Umbrella Academy with its chaos, or the fun style
of Wednesday really lends itself to group reactions, laughing at
the weirdness together. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
But but if you're flying solo, if you're.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Doing a solo viewing for maximum undiluted immersion, then those
intense emotional dramas like Hill House or the pure auditory
dread of Archive eighty one, they're going to hit so
much harder when it's just you alone with the show
in your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Good point. Time management too, right, Not everyone has multiple
days crucial.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
If Halloween Night itself, or maybe just the weekend is
your main window, you get to prioritize those shorter contained stories,
the one season wonders.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Like Midnight Mass, Archive eighty one, Usher.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Even Hill House exactly. You can get a complete, satisfying
narrative arc in one or two sittings start to finish.
But if you do have more time, if you want
a commitment that stretches over several.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Days, then you dive into the bigger worlds.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Right, Stranger Things, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Those give you
the depth the episode count to really get lost in
that Halloween spirit for a longer period. A sustained marathon.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
One last tip I saw mentioned create a spooky playlist
for the breaks.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Oh that's a great one. A curated playlist of atmospheric,
maybe instrumental, spooky music. When you pause to grab more
candy corn or take a bathroom break. The vibe doesn't
just disappear. You stay locked in waiting for the next episode.
Keep the dread alive hashtag tag outro. Well, that was
quite the deep dive. We've covered a huge amount of ground.
(31:14):
Looked at ten really distinct series. I think it's clear
Netflix has a serially impressive library for spooky season, something
for literally every.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Taste, absolutely, from the nostalgic thrills of Hawkins, Indiana to
the incredibly dense literary horror of the Usher Family. It's
all there.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
These ten series really do offer something unique. Whether it's
epic supernatural sagas, tight psychological thrillers, they're all packed with
the chills, the thrills, the unforgettable moments that just capture
that dark, delicious feeling of Halloween.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
So the call to action is simple, right, grab.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Your remote, get the blankets ready, dim those lights, pick
your poison from this list, and just let these stories
pull you into their worlds of monsters and magic and mayhem.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
And thinking back on our conversation, we talked a lot
about how many of these shows, especially the flannagan ones
but others too, how they blend traditional horror things vampires, ghosts,
haunted houses with these really deep complex allegories or social critiques.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Yeah, Midnight Mass using vampires to talk about faith and desperation,
Usher tackling corporate greed through Poe Sabrina, dealing with patriarchal
power through witchcraft. It's a recurring.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Theme which leads to maybe a final thought for you,
the listener, as you curate your own binge.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
If so many of the most impactful, most talked about
spooky stories today seem to require this level of intellectual engagement,
this moral commentary, this's thematic depth alongside the actual scares.
Does that mean we've changed? Are we as viewers fundamentally
more interested now in what the monsters tell us about ourselves,
about our society, our fears, our failings than we are
(32:48):
in just you know, being startled by them.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Something to ponder while you're maybe facing down the mind
flare or trying not to think about the bet
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Neck Lady exactly think about that happy binge
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