Plug It Up: A Horror Movie Podcast

Christian of the Boiled Milk Podcast joins Caitlin to review The Drama, a 2026 black comedy from A24. Although not a traditional horror movie, this provocative film does go some scary places. We cover subjective morality and what it means to "sit in the gray," among other challenging topics. Tangents are many and include: nervous puking, theoretical unforgivable confessions,"worst thing" confessions, love languages, the unreliability and subjective nature of memory, intent vs impact, hetero wedding nonsense, Christian's wedding-role EGOT mission, movie teasers vs movie trailers, Plug It Up merch, empty coffee cup props, Al vs AI, and reversing pretty privilege.

Mary and Nichole join Caitlin to cover 2011's We Need to Talk About Kevin, a monstrous-motherhood modern classic. We discuss themes around memory, reluctant motherhood, "bad seed" children, and what it means to love (and hate) a monster, especially when that monster is your child. We carry a lot of empathy for Eva, which seems to be an unpopular take. Where do you land? Tangents include: psychopathy, podcast catalogs, favorite museums, bows and arrows instead of guns, a Kevin FMK, John C. Reilly, Tilda Swinton, pro-choice movies, pet peeves, and evil kids. Also forgive my temporary misgendering of Ezra Miller, who uses they/them pronouns.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover a heavy hitter in the horror genre: The Silence of the Lambs. It's a titan of cinema, and we love it... almost as much as we love doing impressions. We talk about gender and sexuality, and we, of course, dig into the background, details, and legacy of the movie. Tangents include: first horror movies, best shapes, irrational annoyances, toilet paper preferences, latest obsessions, stalkers, and the ol' long pig. And I must correct myself: haramuki is spring rolls; mukimame is shelled edmame.

Mary and Christian join Caitlin to review Obsession, the record-smashing (and face-smashing) new horror hit from director Curry Barker. We discuss autonomy, consent, rejection, and the danger of "the nice guy." #bearbad - you heard it here first. Tangents include: the pledege of allegiance, animal deaths in movies, first horror movies, annoyances, AI, the best shapes, toilet paper preferences (someone please take my side on this one), our latest obsessions, and obsessive relationship stories.

Soju from the Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to review Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, a charming vampire movie from 2023. We discuss themes around coming of age, burgeoning sexuality, and empathy. This is a very sweet one; find it on Shudder. Tangents include: other podcast ideas, lost items, recurring nightmares, soju (the drink), comfortable shoes, and a good ol' FMK (creepy-crawly edition). 

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover Swallow, a fan favorite from 2019. We talk about themes around pica, motherhood, class, marriage, and abortion, and we praise the movie's writing and direction. It's a great one; find it on Shudder. Tangents include: Diet Coke, my garden, birds, clocks, swallowing things, bad haircuts, TV volume, instagram, and strange foods.

Victor and Jenna join Caitlin to discuss A24's If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, an excellent but stressful movie from 2025. We talk about monstrous-motherhood, ARFID, eating disorders treatment, and more. It's one we all enjoyed, and could very well be titled Distress Tolerance: The Movie. Tangents include: an ARFID soapbox, Richmond breakfast spots, movie theater experiences, and what we do when we're feeling down.

Rachel joins Caitlin to cover Jakob's Wife, the underseen Barbara Crampton vampire movie from 2021. This is a personal favorite of ours: it's feminist, it's funny, and it's Barbara Freaking Crampton. We discuss transformation, menopause, humor, Christian patriarchy, and more! Tangents include: forgetting to hit record, the Overlook Film Festival, recent horror watches, gold vs silver jewelry, steak, potatoes, The Pitt, card games, and board games.

Bob from the Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 1990's shlockfest The Suckling, aka Sewage Baby. We talk about abortion, monsters, mothers, and more! Tangents include: the Overlook Film Festival, monstrous motherhood, LGBTQIA+ horror, a couple would-you-rather questions, scariest horror movies, Elijah Wood, shark movies, and music.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover the show's first Kubrick review: Eyes Wide Shut from 1999. We dig into sex, conspiracy, and male fragility. It's a fun movie to talk about, and it certainly hits different in 2026, knowing what we do now. Tangents include: the one percent, hit movies of the 90s, ideal leaves, Scrubs, and cursive (and also Cursive). DQ something different.

Randy from Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 2025's Together. We talk about enmeshment, resentment, and oneness, as well as body horror, special effects, casting, and sound design. It's one we were happy to root for! Tangents include: merging bodies, childhood fears, AI, and comforting sounds.

Rachel joins Caitlin to cover The Amityville Horror, a 1979 horror movie based on the true story of the Lutz family haunting following the DeFeo family murders. We talk about the supernatural power of a mother's love, patriarchal unraveling, menstruating real estate, the failure of the church, and more! If you're a fan of the 2005 version, we also comment on that one a fair amount. Tangents include: the Warrens, true crime, chopping wood, cats, evil locations, haunted houses, ghosts, paranormal experiences, favorite franchises, tote bags, t.A.T.u., The Bride, James Brolin vs Ryan Reynolds, sexual awakenings, and a good ol' FMK. Thanks to Jodie for inspiring this episode! 

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover Bugonia, the 2025 hit from director Yorgos Lanthimos. We admire the movie's script, direction, acting, score, dark humor, and overall themes. We talk about conspiracy thought, big tech, big pharma, vulnerabilty, and more. Review starts around 14:30. Tangents include: Epstein, Chuck E. Cheese, weddings, Brown Bear, shaved heads, authentic selves, first memories of one another, 2026 movies, Slay the Spire, and Pizzagate. It's good to be back.

This episode has a longer introduction that reflects on my history as a feminist activist, my time in Chile, and the current state of US politics. It may not appeal to everyone, but I felt it was important to share. The review of 2025 horror releases starts around 14:00. I cover my favorites, my medium-recommends, some flops, horror TV, and what I'm looking forward to in 2026. Here's to a more active (in all senses of the word) 2026!

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover 2015's Krampus, a holiday horror favorite. We talk about family, spirit, hope, and all things Christmas. Tangents include: hot tubs, stockings, gifts, tarot, holiday traditions, and Chrsitmas hot takes. Merry Christmas, everyone! 

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to once again perform character analysis on horror charcters through the lens of astrology. This time, we're talking about the "big three" signs for: Kelly Anne from Red Rooms, Annie from Hereditary, Rosemary from Rosemary's Baby, Lestat from Interview with the Vampire, Owen from I Saw the TV Glow, Jigsaw from Saw, Mulder and Scully from The X Files, Maud from Saint Maud, and Elvira from The Ugly Stepsister. Tangents include: the concept of "big six," dreams with Neptune in retrograde, the end of summer and start of fall, Halloween hot takes, Christmas trees, and pets as Over the Garden Wall characters. 

Mary and Nick join Caitlin to discuss The Long Walk, a new horror release based on the Stephen King book by the same name. We talk about fascism, friendship, and futility, as well as how we'd fare during The Long Walk. It's a great movie and a great discussion. Tangents include: Chinese takeout, a sauce FMK, and fall hot takes. 

On this solo episode, I share my favorite soundtrack moments in horror (which is separate from my favorite horror movie original scores, which will be its own episode). Movies mentioned include: Dawn of the Dead, Final Destination 3, Shaun of the Dead, Us, American Psycho, Silence of the Lambs, X, Zombieland, Cocaine Bear, Scream, The Strangers: Prey at Night, Urban Legend, Beetlejuice, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Insidious, The Purge: Election Year, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Together, Black Swan, and American Horror Story: Coven. Tangents include: books about the monstrous feminine, my cats, hanging out with Ripley, headphones, and bands.

Soju from the Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to discuss 2003's Underworld, an underrated gem of vampire cinema. We talk about the excellent worldbuilding, the thoughtful themes, and the sexy, cool styling. We are Underworld vamps, through and through. Tangents include all things vampire: Halloween vampire movies, dealing with the boredom and isolation of eternity, a vampire FMK, vampire thirst, and the Underworld sequels. Also cryptids.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover Demian Rugna's Terrified from 2017. It's a great movie with well-developed characters, solid writing, and excellent scares. Tangents include: Mark Ruffalo, Chinese takeout, memoir titles, freezer placement, and a tricky Would You Rather.

Victor joins Caitlin to cover Weapons, the 2025 horror hit from Zach Cregger. We talk about the movie's structure, acting, and writing, as well as its various motifs and themes. And what a fantastic new monstrous femme figure in Aunt Gladys! Tangents include: theaters, Magnolia, childhood years and fears, and Pizzagate.

Talking sin and censorship with Joe as we cover 1971's The Devils. It's one of the most controversial and most censored movies in the Western world, but it's also thematically very important (and relevant). We love this movie for its set design, its performances, its writing, its themes, and, of course, its reputation. Tangents include: Space Jam 2, Nine Inch Nails, Jodie's awesome Monopoly and video game save point questions, things we're looking forward to, places we'd move if language wasn't a barrier, and our midlife crises

Chattin' X Files with Chaz. Charlie joins to cover S4E6 "Sanguinarium," a spooky and gruesome episode that really resonates. We talk about beauty horror, witchcraft, the occult, and straight PINS, brah. Tangents include: Argentinian Spanish, monopoly game pieces, theoretical video game save points, things we're looking forward to, countries to live in, and religions to choose.

Mary and Mathula join Caitlin to cover Eli Roth's Hostel: Part II. It's a movie that the three of us really enjoy, and we contest that it's more than "torture porn." It's got a great "good for her" moment, and we just love seeing Heather Matarazzo.  Tangents include: meeting celebrities at cons, gay crushes, cleaning out the fridge, the goodwill auction site, custom monopoly game pieces, theoretical video game save points, walk-out music, renting vs owning, and favorite animals. 

Mary joins Caitlin to cover 2025's The Woman in the Yard, a horror movie about grief and depression. We talk about the score, the cast, the symbols, and the themes, including some monstrous motherhood and a monstrous femme figure. Tangents include: Giada-deLaurentis-speak (ugh), pets, our vacations, meals, time off, coming home, places not to vacation, FMK Moby Dick edition, songs of the summer, monetized super powers, shampoo and conditioner fragrances, bones, and our fourth favorite colors.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover Bring Her Back, the heavy new A24 release from the Philippou brothers. We talk about death, grief, ritual, and the monstrous-motherhood aspect of the movie. It's a rough watch, but likely one of the bigger and better releases of the year. Tangents include: Midnight Sun, favorite coffee and tea blends, caffeine in general, 1 WYR, 2 FMKs, calendars, the heat, undergarments, fish, cats, Dead Dad Brunch, and trailers.

Hot Girl Mary joins Caitlin to cover a slew of 2025 horror movie trailers. We review the trailers for: I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Long Walk, Gator Creek, Him, Weapons, Together, M3GAN 2.0, and The Conjuring: Last Rites. Will you see these? In theaters? Tangents include: happy meals, squishmallows, pets, Eli, hot girl behavior, The Office, bread, moldy bread, shrimp, so-bad-they're-good movies, what makes a good trailer, and two FMKs.

Nichole of the Light and Shadow Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 2020's Relic, an underseen gem that deserves attention. We talk about monstrous motherhood, fears of aging, decline, deterioration, and the trauma that we can all inherit. Find it on Shudder. Tangents include: tarot cards, FMK: coloring utensils, favorite forms of potato, M3GAN 2.0, 2025 horror, podcasting, feel-bad movies, and FMK: peanut butter. 

Randy from the Straight Chilling Podcast joins Caitlin to cover the newest installment in Netflix's Fear Street saga: Prom Queen! In many ways, Fear Street: Prom Queen is a very Plug It Up movie, as it features coming of age horror AND monstrous motherhood. We enjoyed being taken to a gory 80s prom - tropes and all. Tangents include: horror news, prom (of course), VH1's I Love the [Decade]s show, nicknames, camp, superlatives, and yearbooks.

Mary joins Caitlin to cover 2025's Companion. It's a fun movie that raises questions about AI, ethics, toxic relationships, and identity. It's got a great cast, fun soundtrack, and culturally relevant story. Tangents include: pets, Diet Coke, Jurassic World, trailers, The Sand, edging, customizing our theoretical companion bots, Jack Quaid, Sophie Thatcher, a FMK, annoyances, theaters, and Happy Meals. 

Rachel and Matilda from the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Network join Caitlin to cover The Ugly Stepsister, an outstanding 2025 horror release from Norway. We talk about beauty standards, dance, fairy tales, and how no one wins under patriarchy. It's a great movie and a great discussion. Tangents include: physical media, a WYR and some FMKs, first movies, VHS tapes, first books, Santa Claus, horror movies with muppets, and pride horror recs.

Zach and Brenton join Caitlin to cover the 2025 smash hit Sinners from director Ryan Coogler. We talk about themes of community and oppression, and we discuss the transcendant power of love and music. The movie lives up to the hype! Tangents include: vampires, Pokemon, homemade meals, FMKs, colonoscopies, wisdom teeth, pickles, and DoorDash.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover 2018's Calibre - a movie without a monstrous feminine theme, but one worth talking about nonetheless. We talk about themes of friendship, guilt, paranoia, and justice, and we praise the movie for its cinematography and acting. Tangents include: iPhone face, accents, Scotland, colonoscopies, smoking, firearms, hunting, movies that make us cry, themes that make us cry, fake crying, cereals, and pastries. Weigh in on the great muffin debate, and also let me know what you'd like to see out of upcoming episode 200! 

Maddie and Colleen join Caitlin to cover 2018's Lizzie. We talk about the Lizzie Borden case, including the sexism, classism, and racism that played into the trial and its suspects, and we discuss the merits of the movie itself. We also talk about what does and doesn't make a good lesbian period piece (i.e. buttoning up a dress, longing glances, etc). Tangents include: roller derby, magma, A24, horror books, temperatures, music, haunted locations, and a FMK for lesbian movies.

Charlie joins Caitlin to discuss the trailers for Final Destination: Bloodlines, 28 Years Later, Bring Her Back, The Ugly Stepsister, and Sinners. For skippers, the trailer review starts around minute 28:00. Tangents include: the DMV, tattoos and piercings, gardening, The Office, late night cravings, favorite vacations, hair, Mister Rogers, nostalgia, Richmond, a FMK for vampires, aligning with villains, and some Charlie + Caitlin friendship lore.

Maddie joins Caitlin to cover Red Rooms, a 2023 movie that is part horror thriller, part courtroom drama. It's one that really stuck with us, both for its masterful direction and its shocking acts of "nonphysical violence." Highly recommend. Tangents include: the Lady of Shallot, astrology (duh), Canada, eyesight, FMKs for meats and Real Housewives, cryptids in the wild, what scared us as kids, Osama Bin Laden, and pasta shapes.

Victor joins Caitlin to cover Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin, a 2013 movie about a monstrous femme alien figure. We discuss the movie's gender dynamics, sound design, use of nudity, and overall messaging, landing in a place of "discovering humanity." Tangents include: Galaxy Con, Author Con, D&D, pet peeves, alien space vampires, SPF, FMKs for gym equipment and new releases, and childhood career projections.

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover 2015's Green Room. We talk about the horror elements, excellent performances, and skillful filmmaking that go into this early A24 favorite. Tangents include: farts, Hocus, The Thermals, FMK TV show edition, favorite Plug It Up episodes, Charlie's virginity, Giada deLaurentis, ending horror franchises, desert island bands, punk music, and Lil Wayne.

Soju from the Straight Chilling podcast joins Caitlin to cover 1999's The Ninth Gate. We talk about esoteric occult knowledge, sexy satanism, and the high stakes, dangerous world of rare book dealing. Tangents include: collections, smoking, acknowledgements, book clubs, ice cream, ouija boards, and Disney. 

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover 2017's Revenge, by director Coralie Fargeat, who gave us The Substance in 2024. We talk about Fargeat's unique style, which combines realism with hyper-stylized elements, her body horror trends, and her feminist themes. We also talk about the controversy around rape revenge as a narrative structure. It's a movie we both really enjoy. Tangents include: animal vomit (aww), Faulkner, espanol, Mary Vincent, 2025 horror, names, Casey Anthony, theaters, icebreaker fun facts, ice cream toppings, Tori Amos albums, and horror duo BFFs. 

Keith of the Horror Convos Podcast joins Caitlin to cover 1995's Species, a movie that is both campy and complex. We talk about the movie's themes and production, and we cover many horror tropes: the succubus, Frankenstein monsters, monstrous menstruation, monstrous motherhood, and science gone awry. Tangents include: fighting sharks vs fighting gators, believing in aliens and/or ghosts, tarot readings, sci fi universes we'd live in, and technology we'd like to see. Be sure to check out Horror Convos!

Maddie and Colleen are back to talk horror astrology with Caitlin. On this episode, we give charts for Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, Darcy from Oddity, Chucky from Child's Play, Clarice Starling from The Silence of the Lambs, Count Orlok and Ellen from Nosferatu, Billy and Stu from Scream, Lou and Jackie from Love Lies Bleeding, Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks, and the main cast of Bodies Bodies Bodies. As always, it's a silly, fun time. Just three dumb bitches telling each other "EXAAACTLY." Tangents include: David Lynch, Top Chef, social media, horror characters we'd embody, books, cryptid favs and FMKs, Jennifer Tilly, and D&D.

Charlie joins Caitlin to cover Strange Darling, a recent erotic thriller from JT Mollner. We talk about the production (specifically that it was beautifully shot on 35mm), the editing, the acting, and the score. We both really loved the movie, and we enjoyed taking a closer look at the gender themes throughout. Tangents include: Top Chef (skippers, jump to minute 11 to get to the movie review), favorite months, pet names, balloons, feral cats, horror universes to live in, horror soundtracks, and Jennifer Tilly.

Zach, Maddie, Colleen, and Mary join Caitlin to recap 2024 in horror. We each give our top five horror movies of the year, including some honorable mentions, and we dunk on the ones that disappointed us. We also talk about trends in horror as well as what we're looking forward to in 2025. Tangents include: donkeys and being "donkey drained" (TM Colleen), The Matrix, dangeous animal companions, things we learned this year, a fabled Yellowjackets podast, 2024 horror Oscar noms, preferred theater seating, scrunching vs folding toilet paper, eating digits (phalanges) and digts (numerals), best and worst Christmas gifts, tech that will fizzle, and what we'd steal from our childhood malls.

Zach and Charlie join Caitlin to cover It's What's Inside, a new horror-adjacent comedy currently streaming on Netflix. We talk about the body swap trope, the movie's fantastic acting and editing, and what our tells would be if we found ourselves in other bodies. Tangents include: the gender divide on "big lights," Charlie's wedding, photos, horror authors, captions, The Office, brand loyalty, Christmas, and Cameo. Happy holidays!

Victor joins Caitlin to run through a list of Christmas horror movies. We look at some favorites, like Krampus, P2, and Black Christmas, and we have just as much fun exploring Christrmas horror flops. We also give superlatives for best killer Santa, most overrated Christmas horror movie, most underrated Christmas horror movie, best Christmas kill, punniest title, and best Christmas one-liner. Hopefully you can squeeze some of these movies in before Christmas. Tangents include: shipping gifts, Christmas trees, favorite ornaments, horror villains, the new American Psycho, snow, finding out Santa isn't real (spoiler alert), killer Santas, football, Die Hard, Christmas classics, and a Christmas themed FMK, 

Mathula joins Caitlin to cover Psycho 2, a sequel that came out 23 years after its predecessor. We look at monstrous motherhood, revenge, friendship, and deception as we discuss this underrated gem. Tangents include: Blockbuster, swear word rankings, preferred alcoholic spirits, favorite ice, stylish villains, brand loyalty, Christmas lists, Christmas lights, and an unhinged question from Mary. Be sure to check out Hallelujah Dystopia!

Adam joins Caitlin to cover 2022's Soft and Quiet. Inspired by the events of the 2020 birdwatching incident, Beth de Araujo wrote Soft and Quiet as a critique of the racism and white nationalism that originate specifically in white women. We talk about those themes, as well as feigned white victimhood, patriarchy, and the rise of fascism. Tangents are happier and include: pies, candles, and strangest movies of 2024. Be sure to check out Bad For Me and Adam's extensive, impressive, home-made bow tie collection! 

Fellow Richmond podcaster Josh of Super Scary Podcast joins Caitlin to discuss the most iconic masks in horror. From Jason to Michael to Leatherface and beyond, we cover all our favorite horror movie masks and what makes them so effective. Tangents include: the Richmond podcast scene, Nightmare Weekend, vacuuming vs dusting, bar vs liquid soap, movie theater seating, Thanksgiving food, and soup. Be sure to check out Super Scary Podcast! 

Christian, Mil, and Nick join Caitlin to discuss 2024's Smile 2, a box office smash with fun viral marketing. We talk about our theater experiences and discuss themes of loneliness, fame, addiction, and mother/daughter relationships. Tangents include: maps, Sex and the City, horror subgenres, sequels, smiles, FMK criteria, and our Octobers (happier times).