Scratching the Surface

Scratching the Surface

Welcome horror fans! This is Scratching the Surface, a horror movie podcast. Like you, we fell in love with this genre of film; one that lies at the foundation of cinema itself. Whether you’re wanting to relive a classic, experience a new release, or anything in between, you can find it here.

Episodes

May 13, 2025 10 mins

Frendo is on the loose in this modern day slasher directed by Eli Craig, based on the 2020 novel from Adam Cesare. Does Clown in a Cornfield bring anything new to the table or is it just a standard late night horror flick?

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Met with criticism leading up to its release, "Until Dawn" had a lot to live up to. Did it meet expectations, or was this another failed video game adaptation?

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April 29, 2025 15 mins

With Sinners , director Ryan Coogler gives us a horror story steeped in African American culture, and set during the Jim Crow Era.

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April 25, 2025 9 mins

Rule of thumb when writing a script: don't toy with your audience. Apparently, writer Sam Stefanak did not get this memo, and the result was dissatisfied viewers. Film is subjective though, and you can still find some good in the bad. Sometimes a closer look is warranted. The Woman in the Yard follows Ramona and her two children, Taylor and Annie, as they encounter a mysterious figure cloaked in black on their family farm.

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April 25, 2025 9 mins

Writer/director Oz Perkins is on a roll with his second horror film in two years. Last year we got Longlegs, and this year we got The Monkey. There's been some divisiveness surrounding The Monkey since its release and I can understand why. Was this supposed to be an adventure comedy, a coming-of-age movie, a possessed doll film, or even a slapstick comedy? Perkins himself probably doesn't even know. But I digress...

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March 2, 2025 13 mins

Four recent horror movies I’ve seen with a brief summary and review for each. This episode does contain spoilers!


00:00 Intro 

00:42 Nosferatu 

05:21 Wolf Man 

08:13 Presence

11:36 Companion

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December 26, 2024 14 mins

In this episode we take a closer look at Nosferatu, a story and character that kick started the horror genre. 


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Episode Content

00:00 Intro 

01:17 Nosferatu A Symphony of Horror 

07:17 Nosferatu the Vampyre 

10:07 Shadow of the Vampire 

12:52 Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu


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STS Website

scratchingthesurface100.com

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November 10, 2024 30 mins

One of the most compelling horror movies of 2024, Heretic gives viewers an introspective story on the history of religion, good and the bad.


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Episode Content

00:00 Intro and reaction (spoiler free)

07:45 Meeting Mr. Reed

10:25 Something is off

11:31 The back room

12:37 The two doors

15:20 The basement

16:16 The savior

19:00 The truth

21:58 A prayer and a butterfly

25:07 Rotten Tomatoes

25:44 Junes' review


_...

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November 3, 2024 33 mins

To wrap up the month of October we revisit the 1978 classic, Halloween. This one set the pace for many slasher films to follow and will forever hold a place in the horror genre.


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Episode Content

00:00 Intro

03:03 Michael's first kill

05:08 Dr. Loomis

05:53 Fifteen years later

07:42 Laurie Strode

10:35 Michael is everywhere

13:41 House to house

17:58 Laurie vs. Michael

19:35 Michael lives

23:37 Rotten Tomatoe...

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October 13, 2024 11 mins

The highly anticipated Terrifier 3 provides plenty of the gore we've come to know from this franchise, but when does it become too much?

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October 7, 2024 29 mins

STS starts the month of October off with the American version of Speak No Evil, a tense thriller with a terrifyingly good performance from James McAvoy.

____________________ Episode Content 00:00 Intro 04:00 The Invite 05:00 Character Dynamics 09:20 Hoppy 12:10 The Cellar 13:49 All Hell Breaks Lose 17:06 Ciara's Hesitation 19:14 That's My Boy 20:28 A Happy Ending 21:15 Rotten Tomatoes 21:49 Money's Review 25:24 Junes' Review

...

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August 12, 2024 30 mins

Jeepers Creepers is a cult classic, with some great characters and a villian you won't forget. For new and old fans, it's a fun one to revisit. ____________________ Episode Content 00:00 Intro 05:23 The Car Chase 06:48 The Drain Tube 08:20 The Diner 10:40 The Escort 13:13 The Old Lady 15:23 The Police Station 19:02 The Victim 20:36 The Final Scene 22:42 Rotten Tomatoes 23:03 Junes' Review 26:11 Money's Review _______________...

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June 20, 2024 31 mins

Iconic characters and moments with enough one-liners to fill the whole damn boat, Jaws is a masterpiece. During the episode we reflect on what made this film an instant classic and why it still holds up well today.


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Episode Content

00:00 intro

03:17 Great opening scenes

06:22 Quint's introduction

08:47 A shark, not THE shark

10:16 Comparison to "The Birds"

11:14 Political allegory

11:51...

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June 6, 2024 24 mins

The new release of In a Violent Nature gave us something fresh and new to immerse ourselves in, and there was no shortage of good kills! Yet, there were some bold choices that did not sit well with some viewers. I dive into the details and determine whether this is a true winner or loser of 2024.


00:00 Intro

01:50 3rd Person POV & nature

04:53 Opening scenes

06:52 1st victim

07:30 Johnny's legend

08:55 Campfire scene 

...

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May 30, 2024 33 mins

STS hit 25 episodes. Thanks to anyone who's listened to us so far. You rock! To celebrate, we've covered the Sci-Fi/Horror powerhouse, Alien. Join us as we revisit LV-426 with the Nostromo crew, and experience the horrors that awaited them. And remember... in space, no one can hear you scream!  www.scratchingthesurface100.com

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April 29, 2024 50 mins

Who will survive and what will be left of them? This one is a bonafide classic in horror and one of the truest of the backwoods subgenre. During the episode we discuss the essence of Texas that is perfectly captured in the film, with heat stroked shots full of sweat, dirt, and so much blood. We also revere the strong ensemble cast, and the iconic character of Leatherface.


00:00 intro & initial thoughts

07:28 1st half

28:...

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April 13, 2024 53 mins

It appears Catholic horror is the theme of 2024 for the genre, and we're here for it! During #23 we go in-depth on the details of this crazy plot, talk about the healthy dose of gothic flavor, and contemplate the shocking ending. We name our favorite horror movie posters for our table talk. This episode does contain spoliers!



00:00 intro & initial thoughts 06:13 1st half 21:44 table talk 27:13 2nd half 43:50 ra...

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April 4, 2024 44 mins

Special guest Collin Vetter and guest Tyler Schroeder join STS to cover the recent release of Immaculate. During this episode we define the Catholic subgenre of horror, praise the performance of rising star Sydney Sweeney, and examine the insidious motives withheld by the leaders of the convent. For table talk we discuss our favorite subgenres of Catholic horror. This episode does contain spoilers!

00:00 intro & initial thoug...

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March 24, 2024 42 mins

STS covers its second Blumhouse film of 2024 with the new release of Imaginary. The end product is a middle of the road horror film with little substance. We discuss meaningless characters, ineffective scares, and an absurd, half-baked final act. In our table talk we have open conversation about our favorite subgenres and what they mean to us. This episode does contain spoilers!

00:00 intro & initial thoughts 04:34 1st half ...

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March 14, 2024 46 mins

Guest Cynthia Schroeder joins STS. We discuss M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 film Split. Over the course of the episode, we unfold the horde of personalities within our main antagonist, touch on topics of abuse, and connect the dots in the Unbreakable trilogy. For table talk, we each choose a horror villain or monster we'd trade lives with.

00:00 intro & initial thoughts 02:15 1st half 15:24 table talk 22:34 2nd half 37...

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