Friday Night Frightfest

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are wrapping up our epic franchise retrospective with a massive grand finale! While the internet love to debate the ups and downs of parody history, we’re throwing out the critical consensus and embracing the pure, unadulterated fun of the franchise's later eras. We are looking at an entry that deserve a lot more love: the hyper-chaotic, early-2010s time capsule Scary Movie 5 (2013) and the triumphant, star-studded legacy revival that just crushed the summer box office, Scary Movie (2026). Grab your popcorn—we’re closing this series out with non-stop laughs! Scary Movie 5 (2013) Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Scary Movie 5 gets a bad rap, but if you look past the critical hate, it is a goldmine of rapid-fire physical comedy and surreal, early-2010s pop culture. Anchored by Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex, the film skewers hits like Paranormal Activity, Evil Dead, Sinister, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. From Simon Rex’s incredible commitment to getting physically destroyed by the scenery to the utterly bizarre, self-aware opening cameo with Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan, this entry runs at a breakneck pace. It’s an absurd, live-action cartoon that understands exactly what it is: pure, unpretentious fun. Scary Movie (2026) Pairing perfectly with the fifth entry is the brand-new 2026 revival, which brought the franchise roaring back into the cultural zeitgeist. Written by the legendary Wayans brothers (Keenen Ivory, Shawn, and Marlon) and bringing back the iconic duo of Anna Faris (Cindy) and Regina Hall (Brenda), this movie is an absolute love letter to the fans. The film brilliantly parodies the modern "elevated horror" and "requel" trends, taking hilarious, no-holds-barred aims at Scream (2022), M3GAN, Smile, and The Substance. It captures the exact same nostalgic magic as the original trilogy while proving that the spoof genre is far from dead. Join us as we celebrate the entire evolution of this comedy empire! We’ll break down why the physical gags in Scary Movie 5 (especially that possessed Roomba sequence) still crack us up, and how the 2026 reunion delivered the ultimate fan-service theater experience of the year. It turns out that when you stop taking things so seriously, both of these films are an absolute blast to watch back-to-back. Spoilers start around 7:15.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are diving into the twisted world of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations filtered through the lens of Italian horror masters! We’re comparing two distinctly different takes on Poe’s works, both featuring the iconic killer feline: the atmospheric Giallo-tinged film The Black Cat (1981) from Lucio Fulci, and he anthology film Two Evil Eyes (1990), directed by Dario Argento and George A. Romero. The Black Cat (1981) Directed by the "Godfather of Gore," Lucio Fulci, this film is a loose, Gothic interpretation of Poe's famous short story. Set in a small English village, a psychic professor (Patrick Magee) with a penchant for recording the voices of the dead seems to share a malevolent connection with his black cat. As a series of gruesome, seemingly unrelated deaths plague the community, an American photographer (Mimsy Farmer) and a detective (David Warbeck) race to determine if the feline is truly a supernatural killer, or merely a vessel for the professor's madness. The film is known for its moody atmosphere and surreal Fulci-esque touches. Two Evil Eyes (1990) This anthology film is a collaborative effort between two horror giants, George A. Romero and Dario Argento, with each directing a story based on Poe. Romero's Segment ("The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar"): This segment stars Adrienne Barbeau and E.G. Marshall and focuses on a dying, wealthy man who is hypnotized just before death so his consciousness can be preserved. However, the plan goes horribly wrong when his spirit remains trapped between worlds, leading to a chilling reanimation and the terrifying consequences of cheating death. Argento's Segment ("The Black Cat"): Starring Harvey Keitel, this segment is a stylized adaptation of "The Black Cat." Keitel plays a crime scene photographer who descends into madness and violence after he resents and tortures his girlfriend's pet feline. Argento uses hyper-stylized gore and nightmarish visuals to explore themes of perversity and artistic decay. Join us as we dissect these two distinct adaptations. Tune in for a double dose of Poe and Italian horror masters! Spoilers start around 7:30-ish.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re stepping back in time and into your television screen to explore the scariest subgenre of horror: the fake live broadcast! We're comparing two films that blur the lines between reality and terror: the American analog horror cult classic WNUF Halloween Special (2013) and the infamous, nation-terrifying British pseudo-documentary Ghostwatch (1992). WNUF Halloween Special (2013) Directed by Chris LaMartina, this film is presented as a salvaged VHS recording of a local TV station's 1987 Halloween night special. A cynical reporter, Frank Stewart, takes a camera crew and a pair of paranormal investigators (a clear nod to Ed and Lorraine Warren) into the notoriously haunted Webber House for a live, televised séance. The film's genius lies in its meticulously accurate recreation of late-80s local TV, complete with delightfully cheesy commercials and news breaks that build a deeply nostalgic and unsettling atmosphere before the ritual goes catastrophically wrong. Ghostwatch (1992) Written by Stephen Volk and broadcast "live" on BBC on Halloween night, 1992, Ghostwatch caused a national panic in the UK. Presented as a genuine BBC investigation into a haunted London council house, the film utilized popular, trusted presenters (like Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene, playing themselves) and real-time camerawork to convince millions of viewers they were watching a true, terrifying paranormal event unfold. It is a masterpiece of deception, using the power of the medium itself to bring the demonic entity, "Pipes," right into the viewers' living rooms. Join us as we look at the art of the fake live broadcast. We'll explore how Ghostwatch weaponized the audience's trust in mainstream media and how WNUF achieved its scares through lo-fi nostalgia and world-building. If you enjoy horror that makes you question what you're seeing on your screen, this is the episode for you! Spoilers start around 5:06

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we're continuing our journey through the chilling Warrenverse, exploring instances where demonic influence takes center stage. We'll be comparing The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), which delves into a real-life murder trial with a supernatural defense, against the direct demonic confrontation of The Nun II (2023). Get ready for legal scares and unholy terrors! The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) Directed by Michael Chaves, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It takes a darker and more grounded approach, inspired by the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who claimed demonic possession as his defense for murder. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate this unsettling case, uncovering a malevolent force that ties back to a hidden occult group. This installment explores the blurred lines between human culpability and supernatural influence. The Nun II (2023) Directed by Michael Chaves (again!), The Nun II serves as a direct sequel to the 2018 film, continuing the terrifying saga of the demonic nun Valak. Set in 1956 France, the film follows Sister Irene as she once again confronts the malevolent entity, which is now causing chaos and death in a seemingly ordinary boarding school. This chapter promises more direct supernatural horror and a deeper dive into Valak's dark powers and origins. Join us as we dissect these two entries in the Conjuring Universe. How do these films further expand the Warrens' documented cases and the mythology of the evil forces they faced? Tune in to explore the devil's influence and the power of faith against darkness! Spoilers start around 5:15.

Directed by David F. Sandberg, Annabelle: Creation serves as a brilliant prequel to the original Annabelle, finally unveiling the disturbing story of how the cursed doll came to be. Set years before the events of Annabelle, the film follows a dollmaker and his wife who welcome several orphaned girls into their secluded home, unknowingly unleashing the malevolent spirit that will inhabit the infamous doll. This entry is praised for its suspenseful atmosphere, genuinely creepy scares, and its clever weaving into the wider Conjuring Universe. Join us as we dissect the escalating terror of The Conjuring 2 and the chilling revelations of Annabelle: Creation. We'll discuss how these films expand the mythology of the Warrenverse, the effectiveness of their respective scares, and how they contribute to the overall sense of dread that permeates this incredibly successful horror franchise. Get ready to delve deeper into the darkness and uncover the origins of pure evil! Spoilers start around 5:40.

Our 6th annual year in review episode covers he highs and lows from the last year-ish. Lots of spoilers here and for the first time we are agreed on a lot of the films!! Check it out and let us know what you think!

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, the carnage continues! Following our deep dive into the origins of Death's design, we're plunging headfirst into the next two installments of the iconic franchise: Final Destination 3 (2006) and The Final Destination (2009). Get ready for more elaborate demises and desperate struggles against an unstoppable force! Final Destination 3 (2006) Directed once again by James Wong, Final Destination 3 kicks off with a terrifying roller coaster derailment. High school student Wendy Christensen experiences a vivid premonition and saves several classmates, only to find herself and the survivors targeted by Death's relentless pursuit. This installment notably uses photographs taken at the scene of the premonition to hint at how each character will meet their grisly end, adding a new layer to the mystery and dread. The Final Destination (2009) Directed by David R. Ellis (returning from FD2), The Final Destination (often referred to as Final Destination 4 due to its release order) brings the franchise into the 3D era. This time, a vision of a horrific racetrack crash saves a group of spectators from certain doom. As always, Death is close behind, dispatching the survivors in increasingly gruesome and often darkly humorous ways. This film aimed for spectacle, leveraging the 3D technology for maximum visceral impact. Join us as we analyze how these two films expanded the franchise's signature style. We'll discuss the creativity (or lack thereof) of the death sequences and the evolving "rules" of Death's plan. Tune in to relive the terror and question if anyone can truly outrun Death! Spoilers start around 5:13.