The Ghostly Gallery Podcast
Welcome to The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, your destination for horror, mystery, and cinematic suspense. Hosts Bruce Markusen and Tracy Asteria dive into the dark corners of film, television, literature, and popular culture, exploring what makes stories haunting, thrilling, and unforgettable. From classic horror icons to modern cult favorites, paranormal tales, and the psychological thrills that keep audiences on edge, we bring expert insights, interviews with filmmakers and scholars, and thoughtful analysis of the world’s most chilling stories. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of horror or just curious about the art of fear, join us each week for spine-tingling discussions, deep dives, and a celebration of the macabre. Subscribe and step inside The Ghostly Gallery, where horror, mystery, and cinema come alive!
Episodes
Step into the shadows with The Ghostly Gallery Podcast as we welcome Ken Gerhard, one of the world’s most recognized cryptozoologists and investigators of legendary creatures.
Ken has spent decades tracking reports of Bigfoot, Mothman, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, and other cryptids that refuse to fade into folklore. His work has appeared on MonsterQuest, The UnXplained, Ancient Aliens, and The Proof Is Out There on the H...
This week on The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, host Bruce Markusen is joined by legendary actor Stephen Macht, whose career spans over five decades with more than 100 credits across film, television, and theater.
Stephen shares stories from his journey in Hollywood, including his recent Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mystic Film Festival, his early dream of becoming a baseball player, and his path from Dartmouth College to acting s...
It’s that time of year when holiday cheer mixes perfectly with a little seasonal terror, and this week Bruce and Tracy are breaking down two Christmas-themed horror favorites. We kick things off with A Christmas Horror Story (2015), a wild mix of ghosts, folklore, and festive chaos woven together in one long, spooky night. Then we jump back to the ’80s to revisit Gremlins, the iconic creature-feature that blends comedy, mayhem, and...
On this week’s episode, Bruce and Tracy dive into two generations of horror storytelling. We start with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025), now streaming on Netflix, and explore its emotional heart, striking visuals, and powerhouse performances. From Jacob Elordi’s unforgettable take on the Creature to Oscar Isaac’s intense portrayal of Victor Frankenstein, we unpack why this version feels more like a dramatic, gothic reimagi...
Join Bruce Markusen and Tracy Asteria as they sit down with Toby Poser and John Adams, two members of the acclaimed Adams Family filmmaking team behind Hellbender, The Deeper You Dig, and their 2025 folk-horror breakout Mother of Flies!
In this conversation, Toby and John explore the origins of the film, the folklore and ritual elements that shaped its atmosphere, and what it’s like creating intense, emotional horror as a family. T...
Bestselling author Andrew Klavan joins The Ghostly Gallery to discuss his new thriller After That, The Dark, the latest installment in the Cameron Winter Mystery Series. We explore his approach to mystery and horror, his fascination with ghost stories, and how his storytelling has evolved across novels, screenplays, and supernatural fiction.
After the interview, Bruce and Tracy dive into a full Black Phone 2 movie review, covering ...
Join us in The Ghostly Gallery as we sit down with Larry Underwood, better known as Dr. Gangrene. Larry is an award-winning Nashville horror host and member of the Horror Host Hall of Fame. Since 1999, Larry has brought classic chills to late-night audiences through his shows Chiller Cinema, Creature Feature, and Dr. Gangrene’s Cinetarium.
In this episode, he shares the origins of his iconic character, his influences from early hos...
This week on The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, we welcome back our friend Josh Hitchens, horror historian, actor, and playwright, for a nostalgic dive into the 1985 made-for-TV classic The Midnight Hour!
Set in the eerie New England town of Pitchford Grove, this cult gem follows a group of teens who accidentally raise the dead on Halloween night, unleashing witches, vampires, and werewolves in a night of supernatural chaos.
Join us as w...
This week in The Ghostly Gallery, we’re shining a light on local horror talent, both on screen and on stage.
First, actor Doug Decker joins us to discuss his role in Popeye the Slayer Man, his connection to the Oneonta horror film community, and his transition from radio host to actor. We’ll also dive into his earlier work in A League of Their Own and A Roadhouse Coup and hear what keeps drawing him back to the world of acting.
Lat...
On this week’s episode of The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, hosts Bruce Markusen and Tracy Asteria welcome acclaimed Hitchcock scholar Professor Sidney Gottlieb for a fascinating conversation about the darker side of the Master of Suspense.
Together, they explore how Alfred Hitchcock blended psychological tension and pure horror, from the shocking brutality of Psycho to the eerie chaos of The Birds, and the overlooked menace of Frenzy. ...
In this episode of The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, Bruce Markusen and Tracy Asteria sit down with horror historian Christopher Lock to explore his new book, The Invisible Man: The Complete History of the 1933 Horror Classic.
Christopher takes us behind the scenes of James Whale’s groundbreaking film, exploring Claude Rains’ unforgettable debut, the movie’s revolutionary special effects, and its place among the legendary Universal Mons...
Welcome to Creature Features: Monster Movies! In our first episode, we’re diving into ghost-themed horror films, from the very first haunted houses on screen to modern supernatural masterpieces.
We’ll cover eight iconic films that defined ghost stories in cinema:
The Uninvited (1944): Hollywood’s first serious haunted house.
The Haunting (1963): Psychological terror at its finest.
The Legend of Hell House (1973): Paranormal investi...
On this episode of The Ghostly Gallery, we welcome back Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. Jeff is an author and historian. Jeff has written extensively about Dan Curtis with books including The Television Horrors of Dan Curtis: Dark Shadows, The Night Stalker, and Other Productions, House of Dan Curtis: The Television Mysteries of the Dark Shadows Auteur, and Nights of Dan Curtis: The Television Epics of the Dark Shadows Auteur.
Today, he help...
This week on The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, we’re joined by author, historian, and commentator Troy Howarth. A leading expert on European horror and cult cinema, Troy has written extensively on the films of Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Werner Herzog, and John Carpenter.
We take a deep dive into the legacy of Italian horror films, the genius and controversy of Klaus Kinski, and the enduring influence of Carpenter’s classics. Troy also s...
This week on The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, we’re sinking our teeth into two very different takes on the Dracula legend.
First, we travel back to 1960 with Hammer’s gothic classic The Brides of Dracula. Despite Dracula never appearing on screen, this chilling tale introduces us to Baron Meinster, Van Helsing’s return (Peter Cushing at his finest), and one of Hammer’s most atmospheric and underrated vampire films.
Then, we leap forwar...
Step into The Ghostly Gallery Podcast as we shine a spotlight on Serling Fest 2025, the annual celebration of Rod Serling’s life, career, and enduring influence. Joining Bruce Markusen and Tracy Asteria are two incredible guests: Mark Olshaker, author, producer, and longtime friend of Serling, and Nick Parisi, President of the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation, and author of Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination.
Together, we ...
This week on The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, we welcome back horror film historian Dan Day from the Hitless Wonder Movie Blog for a chilling look at the horror films of the 1940s.
From Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man to The Body Snatcher, we dive into Universal’s monsters, Bela Lugosi’s vampires, Lon Chaney Jr.’s transformations, and Boris Karloff’s unforgettable performances. Along the way, we’ll explore hidden gems like The Mad Ghou...
Step inside The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, where horror, mystery, and the supernatural take center stage.
In this week’s episode, Bruce and Tracy explore two films separated by 55 years but united by their ability to unsettle and haunt their audiences.
First, we dive into Zach Cregger’s 2025 horror mystery Weapons, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin. A small town is shaken when 17 children vanish at 2:17 a.m., leaving behind only ...
Step inside The Ghostly Gallery Podcast as we take you on a chilling journey back to the summer of 1985, a golden era for horror fans. In this special episode, we’re joined by horror historian and composer Kirk Hazen to sink our teeth into two cult classics celebrating their 40th anniversaries: Tom Holland’s stylish vampire tale Fright Night and George Romero’s intense and gory Day of the Dead.
We explore unforgettable performances...
We've reached 100 episodes of The Ghostly Gallery Podcast, and to celebrate this milestone, we’re hosting a spine-tingling round table with two special guests who helped inspire the very creation of this show.
Joining us are Edward G. Pettit, Sunstein Manager of Digital Initiatives at the Rosenbach Museum and Library, and the creator of the beloved online programs Sundays with Dracula, Sundays with Frankenstein, and Mondays with Sh...
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