EPISODE · Feb 20, 2026 · 58 MIN
Master (2022)
from Fear of the Dark · host staceyabaran
On this episode, Stacey and Matthew reflect on their undergraduate days with Mariama Diallo's 2022 horror film, Master. The film circulates around the stories of three Black women navigating the politics and social structures of higher education: Gail (Regina Hall), the master of the prestigious New England school Ancaster; Jasmine (Zoe Renee), a first-year English major; and Liv (Amber Gray), an English professor who is about to go up for tenure. Join us as we talk about the terrors and anxieties of racial minoritization in the university, as well as what the film's uneasy conclusion suggests about the possible ways forward for academia and higher ed. **Please note: the film and our discussion of it address sensitive topics, specifically suicide. As always, listen with discretion and know that you are not alone. You can contact both the national suicide prevention hotline (988) and, if you are at UC Davis, you can text RELATE (741-741) anytime. Film: Master (Mariama Diallo, 2022) Intro Music: “The Army of You” (Library of Congress Free Music Archive) Outro Music: “Late Night Indigo” (written and performed by Stacey Baran) Fear of the Dark is a film podcast about race and horror, hosted by Matthew Vernon and Stacey Baran. Episode edited by Matthew Vernon. Mixdown and mastering by Stacey Baran. Follow us on Instagram @fearofthedarkpod!
What this episode covers
On this episode, Stacey and Matthew reflect on their undergraduate days with Mariama Diallo's 2022 horror film, Master. The film circulates around the stories of three Black women navigating the politics and social structures of higher education: Gail (Regina Hall), the master of the prestigious New England school Ancaster; Jasmine (Zoe Renee), a first-year English major; and Liv (Amber Gray), an English professor who is about to go up for tenure. Join us as we talk about the terrors and anxieties of racial minoritization in the university, as well as what the film's uneasy conclusion suggests about the possible ways forward for academia and higher ed. **Please note: the film and our discussion of it address sensitive topics, specifically suicide. As always, listen with discretion and know that you are not alone. You can contact both the national suicide prevention hotline (988) and, if you are at UC Davis, you can text RELATE (741-741) anytime. Film: Master (Mariama Diallo, 2022) Intro Music: “The Army of You” (Library of Congress Free Music Archive) Outro Music: “Late Night Indigo” (written and performed by Stacey Baran) Fear of the Dark is a film podcast about race and horror, hosted by Matthew Vernon and Stacey Baran. Episode edited by Matthew Vernon. Mixdown and mastering by Stacey Baran. Follow us on Instagram @fearofthedarkpod!
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Master (2022)
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