Crypticon Seattle 2026: Tiki Terror and Tropical Horror Panel

About this episode

The episode discusses Tiki Terrors and tropical horror films, exploring their cultural implications and historical context.

Feel the sweat and the tropical breezes; it’s time to discuss Tiki Terrors and its tropical horror cousins. Transport yourself to an island in the South Pacific or the Caribbean. The exoticism and the removal from “civilization” provide the grounds for some evocative scares. These movies have been with us since the Golden Age. Think King Kong and The Island of Lost Souls. Embrace the mystery and heat, and learn from some veteran Crypticon panelists as they talk all things Tiki Terror. Friend of the Scariest Things, Brian Callahan, hosted a panel at Crypticon Seattle to guide us through a fateful trip to discover what lurks at the edge of the known world. Beware of cultural misappropriation and cultural stereotypes. Cultural sensitivity falls by the wayside here. The edge of the known universe gets short shrift when it comes to cultural respect. Context matters. Tiki and tropical-themed horror movies had their heyday in the ’50s and ’60s when Polynesia still felt very remote, and honestly, it was a different time. At the same time, the film industries of places like the Philippines can export some of their culture through B-movies. For the purposes of…

People in this episode

Host: Brian Callahan

Topics covered

• Tiki Terror
• tropical horror
• cultural sensitivity
• B-movies
• remote islands
• film history

Keywords

• Tiki Terror
• tropical horror
• cultural misappropriation
• B-movies
• Polynesia
• remote islands
• film history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Crypticon Seattle

Books & works: King Kong, The Island of Lost Souls

Places: South Pacific, Caribbean, Polynesia, Philippines

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