Sitting in the Dark

Tommy steps in as host this month with a triple feature about invaders that don't need to knock. Assassination Nation turns a Salem high school into a digital witch trial when a hacker dumps everyone's private data into the open. Return of the Living Dead lets the contamination loose inside a single warehouse-and-cemetery block, where the dead come back complaining and the living can't decide who's in charge. The Cell sends an empath into the dreamscape of a serial killer and asks whether the rescue mission is the same thing as the trespass.The conversation keeps finding throughlines the collection didn't have to spell out. The witch hunt as American operating system. The body as joke, as prison, as kingdom. Style as argument — three films that all chose excess and never apologized for it. Where they part ways is in their relationship to the rage they put on screen: Levinson's is righteous, O'Bannon's is gleeful, Tarsem's is mournful.The trigger warning that opens Assassination Nation gets read three different ways. The "it hurts to be dead" line in Return of the Living Dead gets a vote. The Cell becomes a real-time test case for whether visual ambition can carry a thin script. The answer depends on who's talking.The FilmsAssassination Nation • Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdReturn of the Living Dead • Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdThe Cell • Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:34) - The Invaders from Within(03:28) - Assassination Nation(31:01) - Return of the Living Dead(49:18) - The Cell(01:08:27) - Coming Attractions: The AI Girlfriend ExperienceSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Chelsea | Kyle | Kynan | Pete | Tommy Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

This month on Sitting in the Dark, we go big: big monsters, big fear, and big systems that respond to catastrophe with the confidence of a guy who just Googled “what is monster” on his way into the meeting. Kynan, Chelsea Stardust, Tommy Metz III, and Pete Wright take on three modern giant-creature films—Bong Joon-ho’s The Host (2006), André Øvredal’s Troll Hunter (2010), and Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One (in its Minus Color presentation)—and find a weirdly consistent thread across wildly different cultures: when the giant thing shows up, the institutions mostly don’t.The Host kicks things off with tonal whiplash as a feature, not a bug. The film’s mix of grief, comedy, and political bite becomes its own kind of monster, and the conversation circles what Bong is really lampooning, what still lands, and what hits differently on a rewatch. The creature design gets its due too—full daylight, hard to pin down, impossible to “know”—but what lingers is the movie’s sense that people become collateral long before anything with teeth arrives.Troll Hunter shifts the vibe without letting you off the hook. The group gets into the found-footage push-pull—shaky cam, “why are you still filming,” all that—then pretty quickly agrees that Hans, the deadpan troll hunter, is the secret weapon. The film’s charm is how seriously it takes the ridiculous premise: folklore becomes logistics, mythology becomes fieldwork, and the jokes don’t erase the danger. It’s one of those movies that makes you laugh… then reminds you you’d die immediately.Godzilla Minus One brings it home with a version of Godzilla that’s less “spectacle” and more “reckoning.” The group talks about the postwar setting, the human story at the center, why the black-and-white presentation changes the feel of the effects, and how this movie earns its impact through quiet scenes as much as destruction.Across all three films, the episode keeps returning to the same uncomfortable idea: these are blue-collar fights. The people who do anything meaningful aren’t the polished experts. They’re ordinary, exhausted, under-resourced, and improvising. Which might be the scariest part.Next month, Chelsea flips the table for her birthday picks with an ultra low-budget lineup: The Battery (2012), Hellbender (2021), and Starry Eyes (2014).🎬 Featured Films🍿 Tonight's Triple Feature:The Host - Apple TV | Amazon Trollhunter - Apple TV | Amazon Godzilla Minus One - Apple TV | Amazon📋 View Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(05:21) - The Host(28:30) - Trollhunter(50:28) - Godzilla Minus One(01:21:27) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Chelsea | Kyle | Kynan | Pete | Tommy Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

This month, Sitting in the Dark smiles politely, locks the door, and then asks you to reconsider every coping mechanism you’ve ever trusted. Tommy Metz III is joined by filmmaker Chelsea Stardust and Pete Wright to excavate the uneasy trilogy formed by Smile, Smile 2, and the short-film patient zero, Laura Hasn’t Slept, all courtesy of writer-director Parker Finn—a man who looked at the concept of healing and said, “Yes, but what if absolutely not.”The conversation begins with Laura Hasn’t Slept, a short film so assured it feels like a résumé quietly slid across the table while maintaining unsettling eye contact. Therapy, dreams, and sleep deprivation collide in a space that should feel safe and instead feels like a trapdoor with a co-pay. The group wrestles with the idea that this story may not be a beginning at all, but a closed loop—what it looks like once the monster has already moved in and started redecorating.From there, the episode moves into Smile, a film that takes the metaphor of trauma and strips away subtlety. It’s tired of pretending this is going to end well. Broken promises pile up. Authority figures fail spectacularly. “Safe space” becomes an ironic term at best. The panel digs into the film’s clinical color palette, its fixation on mirrors, and its unrelenting thesis: awareness is not protection, healing is not guaranteed, and sometimes the best you can do is not make things worse for the next person.Then Smile 2 kicks the door off its hinges. By shifting the curse to a global pop star, the sequel swaps quiet dread for public spectacle without sacrificing cruelty. Addiction, celebrity, parasocial obsession, and relentless visibility all become accelerants, pushing the franchise into its most confident—and most punishing—form. Naomi Scott’s Skye Riley is surrounded by people at all times and still utterly alone, a neat trick the film performs while tightening the noose.Across all three entries, the episode circles the same bleak conclusion: these movies aren’t interested in defeating trauma. They’re interested in how efficiently it spreads, how convincingly it blends in, and how easily it convinces you that you’re doing just fine. Smile for the camera.🎬 Featured Films🍿 Tonight's Triple Feature:Laura Hasn’t Slept - Daily Motion | LetterboxdSmile - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdSmile 2 - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📋 View Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(01:31) - All Smiles(04:43) - Laura Hasn't Slept(12:21) - Looking Out the Window(14:17) - SMILE 1(26:37) - Smile 1(27:09) - Smile 2(27:55) - Smile 3(28:15) - Smile 4(28:29) - Smile 5(28:51) - Smile 6(29:03) - Smile 7(41:43) - SMILE 2(51:43) - Smile 8(52:13) - Smile 10(52:33) - Smile 11(58:29) - HS 1(58:47) - HS 2(59:15) - Smile Necklace(59:51) - Smile Mug(01:00:47) - Smile 12(01:01:25) - Smile 13Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

In the beginning, God said, “Let there be light.” But then, apparently, He got bored and switched it off just to see what would happen. Welcome to Sitting in the Dark, where this month Kynan, Chelsea, Tommy, and Pete explore what happens when filmmakers yank away humanity’s favorite nightlight. Their lineup: Wait Until Dark (1967), Don’t Breathe (2016), and Pitch Black (2000)—three films that remind us that darkness isn’t just the absence of light, it’s the presence of bad decisions.We start with Wait Until Dark, in which Audrey Hepburn, recently blinded, gets harassed by Alan Arkin and a few other men who apparently missed the memo about “don’t terrorize vulnerable women.” Then we stumble into Don’t Breathe, where three young idiots break into the wrong house and discover that Stephen Lang’s blind war vet has taken “home security” to a level that can only be described as “OSHA violation.” Finally, the crew rockets to Pitch Black, where Vin Diesel proves once again that he can growl through any lighting condition. It’s a film so early-2000s it practically comes with a Nu Metal soundtrack and a free AOL disc.So grab your flashlights, blow out your candles, and maybe keep one bulb unbroken… you know, just in case.Featured FilmsTonight's Triple Feature:Wait Until Dark - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdPitch Black - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdDon’t Breathe - Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdView Our List on Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:05) - Between Light and Dark(04:33) - Wait Until Dark(25:44) - Don't Breathe(47:20) - Pitch BlackSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Out in the remote villages of South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand, belief isn’t just tradition—it’s infrastructure. In this month’s episode of Sitting in the Dark, guest host Andy Nelson takes Pete Wright, Tommy Metz III, and Kynan Dias on a journey into three modern horror films that weaponize spiritual legacy: The Wailing (2016), Impetigore (2019), and The Medium (2021). Each film presents a different lens on the collision between folk belief and contemporary life, and none of them offers easy answers.The panel dives deep into the disorienting tone shifts of The Wailing, where slapstick cops and demonic rituals clash with devastating consequences. They unpack the haunting beauty and brutal tradition behind Impetigore, a film that begins in a toll booth and ends in generational damnation. And The Medium, with its immersive mockumentary format, challenges our understanding of family, fate, and whether gods actually have your best interests at heart.What unites these films? An unnerving thesis: belief might not protect you—it might damn you. These aren’t stories of good versus evil. They’re stories about what happens when spiritual systems—old and new, global and local—overlap and collapse. And in the end, maybe the most terrifying realization is that all these spirits, deities, and curses… simply don’t care what you believe.Join us this month as we stare into the spiritual void, question the value of ritual, and contemplate the horror of legacy itself.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:The Wailing: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdImpetigore: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdThe Medium: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:19) - Asian Horror with Andy!(15:13) - The Wailing(31:21) - Impetigore(49:27) - The MediumSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Dracula may never stay dead, but his film incarnations sure evolve—or devolve—across decades. In this episode, Kyle Olson guides Pete Wright, Kynan Dias, and Tommy Metz III through three flavors of Dracula: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Dracula 2000, and Dracula Untold.They dig into Coppola’s sweaty gothic melodrama, where Oldman chews the scenery and Keanu Reeves gets chewed out. Then it’s on to Dracula 2000, where Gerard Butler’s vampire has some serious history, and finally Dracula Untold, where Luke Evans broods his way through a Marvel-ified antihero origin story.The team debates: Is Dracula sexy? Is he even supposed to be? Is he best as a metaphor for carnal desire, theological vengeance, or medieval honor? And what happens when you declaw the monster in hopes of building a cinematic universe?Kyle signs off with a legacy worthy of the Count himself, and Tommy reveals next month’s theme: rug-pulling horror films with Barbarian, Strange Darling, and the legendary British TV special Ghostwatch.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdDracula 2000: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdDracula Untold: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdThe Drac Pack(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(03:07) - Bram Stoker's Dracula(29:07) - Dracula 2000(45:02) - Dracula Untold(01:03:37) - The Drac Pack(01:10:09) - But Kyle promised immortality!(01:12:08) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Pete Wright hosts a brutally personal Mother’s Day episode of Sitting in the Dark, joined by regular co-conspirators Kyle Olson, Kynan Dias, and Tommy Metz III, as they dig into three films that ask a profoundly unsettling question: What if Mom is the monster?We start with Run (2020), a film that’s more “Lifetime original” than it has any right to be. It’s clean, tight, and distressingly effective. Sarah Paulson’s performance is terrifying not because she twirls her mustache but because she doesn’t have one. And newcomer Kiera Allen rolls (yes, rolls) away with the movie by doing exactly what her character does best—staying two clever steps ahead.Next, Goodnight Mommy (2014). Austrian, austere, and absolutely harrowing. It’s a film about maternal misrecognition, grief-fueled delusion, and the dangers of not labeling your twins’ toothbrushes. There’s a twist, and if you see it coming, that won’t make the third act any less of a gut punch. It’s what happens when grief curdles, and no one’s left to explain bedtime.And then: mother! (2017). Darren Aronofsky’s symphonic descent into allegorical madness. Sure, it’s “about” the Bible. It’s also about climate change. It’s about patriarchy, artistic ego, and the cosmic price of hospitality. Or maybe it’s just a guy on a cocaine bender writing a play he’ll never finish. Whether you think it’s pretentious or profound (hint: it’s both), one thing is clear—Jennifer Lawrence earns every ounce of your attention and maybe a few gallons of blood.Across these three films, the panel explores how motherhood in horror isn’t just about nurture gone wrong. It’s about architecture—both of the home and the psyche. It’s about women who are worshipped, consumed, blamed, and erased. And yes, sometimes it’s about cockroaches.Films Discussed:Run (2020) – dir. Aneesh ChagantyGoodnight Mommy (2014) – dir. Veronika Franz & Severin Fialamother! (2017) – dir. Darren AronofskyComing AttractionsFor Pride Month, Kynan’s curating a trio of queer-coded and queer-explicit horror: from the monstrous repression of Nightmare on Elm Street 2, to the camp and creaturehood of Bride of Frankenstein, to the raw queer body-horror ballet of Titane. You won’t want to miss it.Film SundriesThe List on LetterboxdWatch the movies discussed:Run: Apple • Hulu • LetterboxdGoodnight Mommy: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxdmother!: Apple • Amazon • Letterboxd(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:57) - The Horror Bond of Motherhood(10:33) - Run(27:35) - Goodnight Mommy(44:31) - Mother!(01:04:41) - Coming attractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

For nearly a century, horror films have told us a story—one of terror, of survival, of the inevitable confrontation between innocence and brutality. But there’s one story, in particular, that has evolved in ways both subtle and seismic: the story of the Final Girl.It begins in the shadows, in the screams of Janet Leigh, in the wide, terror-stricken eyes of Jamie Lee Curtis. The Final Girl is the last one standing, the one who fights back, who outwits the killer, who survives. But survival is never just survival, is it? It’s transformation.It’s a reckoning. And it’s a mirror reflecting the anxieties of the era.In this episode of Sitting in the Dark, Kyle Olson takes us on a journey—a journey that moves from the early days of horror’s damsels-in-distress to the fierce, unrelenting heroines of the modern era. With Pete Wright, Tommy Metz III, and Kynan Dias by his side, the discussion turns to three films that redefine the trope for the 21st century: Prey (2022), Sweetheart (2019), and The Invisible Man (2020).What do these films tell us about the evolution of gender in horror? How does the Final Girl of today differ from her predecessors? And perhaps most intriguingly, why are these stories—stories written by men—resonating so deeply with audiences yearning for something different?From the jungles of Prey to the desolate island of Sweetheart to the omnipresent, unseen menace of The Invisible Man, this is an exploration of fear, of power, and of the ghosts that refuse to be ignored. Because in horror, as in life, survival is never just about making it to the end. It’s about what you become along the way.Film SundriesWatch the movies discussed:Sweetheart: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdThe Invisible Man: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdPrey: Apple • Amazon • LetterboxdHer Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film by Carol J. Clover(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(05:31) - Sweetheart(19:33) - Prey(40:49) - The Invisible Man(01:02:16) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

What makes a single movie become a phenomenon? What is it about certain films—films that arrive in theaters, scare the daylights out of us, and then stay with us—that transforms them into franchises spanning decades? Why does one horror film birth sequels, spin-offs, reboots, and even TV shows, while others fade quietly into obscurity?Picture this: a young boy receives a doll for his birthday, only to discover it’s inhabited by the spirit of a serial killer. Elsewhere, a teenager falls asleep, only to find herself hunted by a burned man in a striped sweater who kills through dreams. And, in another corner of horror lore, a puzzle box opens the doors to a realm of sadistic creatures who blur the line between pleasure and pain. These, taken on their own, sound mostly ridiculous.Child’s Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Hellraiser. These three films became more than just singular stories—they evolved into worlds. Worlds filled with iconic characters like Chucky, Freddy Krueger, and Pinhead, names that transcend the genre to become part of pop culture itself. But how?Why do some horror films captivate us so deeply that we want to revisit their worlds, again and again? Why do we keep coming back to the dolls, the dream-demons, and the interdimensional sadists? Unforgettable villains? Unique and terrifying concepts? Marketing? Or is it something deeper—something they reflect about us, about our society, about our fears?Today, we’re going to explore this question by diving into these three legendary horror films as we take on First Frights this month on Sitting in the Dark with Pete Wright, Kynan Dias, Kyle Olson, and Tommy Metz III. (00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(02:35) - First Frights(06:01) - A Nightmare on Elm Street(24:16) - Hellraiser(44:55) - Child's Play(01:04:24) - Coming Attractions: Sexy, Sexy Monsters!Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Richard Connell's 1924 short story, "The Most Dangerous Game," continues to haunt and inspire filmmakers nearly a century later. Its chilling premise of a wealthy sportsman hunting humans for sport has resonated through decades of cinema, influencing countless horror and thriller narratives. Join Kyle and his subjects, Pete, Kynan, and Tommy, as they embark on a thrilling exploration of this enduring tale and its impact on modern film.This episode of "Sitting in the Dark" focuses on three distinct cinematic interpretations of the "man hunting man" theme, each offering a unique perspective on the source material. The discussion begins with "The Hunt" (2020), a big-budget action thriller starring Betty Gilpin and Hilary Swank. The hosts dissect the film's controversial reception, its exploration (or lack thereof) of class warfare and political commentary, and the effectiveness of its fast-paced, often brutal action sequences. They debate whether the film's slick Hollywood production enhances or detracts from its core message.Next, the group turns to "Get Duked!", a British horror-comedy that subverts expectations with its unique rhythm and youthful energy. The hosts praise the film's performances, its exploration of class dynamics, and its ability to make the vast Scottish Highlands feel terrifying. They also highlight the surprising subplot involving a local DJ and his unexpected audience.Finally, the discussion shifts to "Run Sweetheart Run," a film that tackles the horrors of being a woman in a world of toxic masculinity. The hosts commend the movie's refusal to be voyeuristic in its depiction of violence against women, while debating the effectiveness of its supernatural elements. They also explore the film's themes of privilege, survival, and the societal constraints faced by women.Throughout the conversation, Kyle and his co-hosts offer insightful analysis and personal reflections on the enduring appeal of the "hunting humans" narrative. They examine how these films tackle issues of class, gender, and power dynamics while delivering thrills and scares. The episode serves as a thought-provoking exploration of how a nearly century-old story continues to shape and inspire modern horror cinema.Film SundriesRead The Most Dangerous Game by Richard ConnellWatch the movies discussed:The Hunt: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchGet Duked: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchRun Sweetheart Run: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(01:58) - The Most Dangerous Game(06:33) - The Hunt(25:02) - Get Duked(39:51) - Run Sweetheart Run(01:09:29) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Listen, you know that feeling, right? That prickle on the back of your neck when the train rattles through a tunnel, the lights flicker, and for a second, you're utterly alone in the dark? That's where we're going. Deep into the heart of travel horror, where the familiar becomes unsettling, and the journey itself transforms into a terrifying ordeal.We're talking about those moments of vulnerability, stripped of our usual defenses, hurtling through the unknown. We'll dissect the classic, Horror Express, with its telepathic creature picking off passengers one by one. Is it a masterpiece? Debatable. But the raw terror of being trapped, the sheer audacity of a monster stealing your very essence – that's primal. And Christopher Lee? Always mesmerizing.Then, we'll crank up the tension with Joy Ride, a white-knuckle thriller that reminds you: the open road can be a cruel and unforgiving place. You'll feel the desperation, the paranoia tightening its grip as a seemingly harmless prank spirals into a terrifying game of cat-and-mouse. And that voice...that chilling, gravelly voice on the other end of the CB radio? Pure nightmare fuel.Finally, we'll take you to 30,000 feet with Blood Red Sky. Imagine: trapped in a metal tube, hurtling through the sky, and a mother's fierce love becomes the only thing standing between her child and a terrifying threat. It's a claustrophobic pressure cooker of a film, a reminder that sometimes, the most monstrous acts are driven by the most human of instincts.Throughout our journey, we'll unpack the anxieties that simmer beneath the surface of travel: the loss of control, the isolation, the fear of the unknown. We'll laugh, we'll shudder, we'll question our own sanity – because isn't that what makes horror so compelling? So, join us, won't you? But be warned: you might never look at a travel itinerary the same way again.Film SundriesWatch the movies discussed:Horror Express: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchJoy Ride: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchBlood Red Sky: Apple • Netflix • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(09:11) - Horror Express(30:57) - Joy Ride(51:04) - Blood Red Sky(01:12:44) - Coming AttractionsSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

This month, host Kyle Olson takes listeners on a chilling journey through the British Isles with a trio of alien invasion films. Joined by panelists Tommy Metz III, Kynan Dias, and Pete Wright, the group explores the 2012 Irish horror-comedy "Grabbers," along with "Attack the Block" and "The World's End."The discussion begins with "Grabbers," a lesser-known gem that surprised the panel with its impressive creature effects and charming drunk-acting from its lead actress. The hosts delve into the film's unique premise: a small Irish town must get intoxicated to survive an alien attack.As the conversation unfolds, the panel examines what makes these films distinctly British, from their focus on tight-knit communities to their reluctance to call in outside help. They note the underlying theme of existential hopelessness that permeates British comedy and how it manifests in these alien invasion narratives.The hosts also touch on the cultural significance of pubs in British and Irish society, and how these films use them as central locations for both community gathering and monster-fighting.With a blend of humor and insight, this episode of Sitting in the Dark offers listeners a deep dive into the world of British alien invasion films, proving that sometimes the best defense against otherworldly threats is a pint and a close-knit community.Film SundriesWatch the movies discussed:Grabbers: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchAttack the Block: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchThe World’s End: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(04:55) - Grabbers(15:44) - But what makes it British?(26:59) - Attack the Block(47:37) - The World's EndSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

The world is a beautiful place—stunning vistas, the highest mountains, and most expansive rivers. But what happens when we, puny humans, decide to make our pastime of exploring these natural wonders too aggressively? The environment gets aggressive back. This month on Sitting in the Dark, we present a set of films where our characters explore these extreme environments only to discover their inhospitable realities. From the deepest of caves to the highest of… television towers… we explore a set of films in which the environment itself brings fear before any cinematic horrors make an appearance. Film SundriesLetterboxd List of FilmsWatch the movies discussed:The Descent: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchThe Ritual: JustWatchThe Shallows: Apple • Amazon • JustWatchFall: Apple • Amazon • JustWatch(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark(05:51) - The Movies(07:25) - Axes to Grind!(08:40) - The Descent(27:27) - The Ritual(41:55) - The Shallows(56:29) - Fall(01:15:55) - Coming Attractions: Survival HorrorSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Kyle | Kynan | Pete | TommyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible