Xenomania

This week on Xenomania we dive into Basket Case, one of the strangest and most unforgettable cult horror movies of the 1980s.   The film follows Duane and the mysterious creature hidden inside the basket he carries everywhere he goes through New York City. What starts as a grimy revenge story quickly turns into something much stranger as the movie mixes body horror, dark comedy, sleaze, and pure exploitation energy into one unforgettable experience.   Made on a tiny budget and shot in a raw, chaotic version of early 80s New York, Basket Case became a cult phenomenon because it feels completely unfiltered. The movie is weird, funny, uncomfortable, and somehow weirdly heartfelt underneath all the madness.   In this episode we discuss:   Why Belial became an iconic cult horror creature The grimy New York atmosphere and how much it adds to the film The blend of horror, comedy, and exploitation The practical effects and low-budget charm Why Basket Case still stands out decades later   If you enjoy cult horror, practical effects, and chaotic 80s horror movies, Basket Case is essential viewing.

This week on Xenomania we get into Death of a Unicorn, a horror-comedy that takes one of fantasy’s most magical creatures and turns it into something violent, strange, and unexpectedly brutal. What starts as an awkward family trip quickly spirals into chaos after a unicorn is accidentally killed, unleashing consequences that become bloodier and more surreal the deeper the movie goes. The film mixes dark humor, creature horror, and satire in a way that feels completely unhinged at times, but that is also part of its charm. We break down how the movie balances absurd comedy with genuine horror and why the unicorn concept works far better than it probably should. In this episode we discuss: The creature design and how savage the unicorns actually are • The mix of horror, satire, and dark comedy • The performances and comedic timing • Why the movie feels so different from most modern horror-comedies • Whether the concept fully sticks the landing If you enjoy creature features, horror-comedy, and bizarre modern horror movies, Death of a Unicorn is one of the strangest releases in recent years.

This week on Xenomania we get into Good Boy, a horror movie that flips perspective in a way you do not see very often. The story is told largely through the eyes of a dog, which turns even the smallest moments into something tense. You are not just watching the horror unfold. You are experiencing it from a completely different point of view, one that feels more instinctive and unpredictable. That shift does more than just feel like a gimmick. It changes how the scares land, how the tension builds, and how you connect to what is happening on screen. In this episode we discuss: How the POV approach changes the entire tone of the film • Why the dog perspective makes the horror feel more immediate • The emotional angle and why it hits harder than expected • Whether the concept works long term or wears thin • Where Good Boy fits in modern experimental horror If you enjoy experimental horror, unique storytelling, and films that take risks with perspective, Good Boy is one that stands out.

This week on Xenomania we get into The Stuff, a horror movie that starts with a simple idea and takes it somewhere completely unhinged. A mysterious white substance is discovered bubbling out of the ground, and before long it becomes the hottest new dessert on the market. People cannot get enough of it. The problem is, the more you eat, the less control you have. What starts as a bizarre premise quickly turns into something much darker, blending body horror, satire, and a surprisingly sharp take on consumer culture. We break down why The Stuff has become such a cult classic and how it manages to be funny, disturbing, and weirdly relevant all at the same time. In this episode we discuss: The concept and why it works so well • The mix of horror, comedy, and satire • The practical effects and how they hold up • The commentary on consumerism and advertising • Why this movie still stands out in 80s horror If you enjoy cult horror, 80s creature features, and movies that get strange fast, The Stuff is one you have to see. 🎙 About Xenomania Xenomania is a horror podcast exploring cult horror films, franchise deep dives, and the strangest corners of the genre.

This week on Xenomania we get into Critters 4, the sequel that takes the franchise in a completely different direction by launching it straight into space. After the chaos of the earlier films, the series trades small towns and apartment buildings for a sci-fi setting, changing the tone in a way that feels both ambitious and a little strange. The Critters are still dangerous, but everything around them feels colder, quieter, and more isolated. We break down whether this shift actually works and how the movie fits into the larger franchise. In this episode we discuss: The move to a space setting and how it changes the formula • The darker tone compared to earlier entries • How the film connects to Critters 3 • The sci-fi elements and whether they help or hurt the series • Where this sequel lands in the overall franchise If you enjoy creature features, 90s horror, and strange franchise turns, Critters 4 is one of the most unusual entries in the series.

This week on Xenomania we get into Critters 3, the sequel that takes the franchise out of small towns and traps it inside a rundown apartment building. Set almost entirely in a tenement, the movie shifts into a more contained, claustrophobic kind of chaos as the Critters start multiplying and closing in on everyone inside. It is a very different vibe from the first two films, and not always in the ways you would expect. We also talk about the early appearance of Leonardo DiCaprio and how strange it is seeing him show up in a movie like this before he became… well, Leonardo DiCaprio.   In this episode we discuss: • The shift to a single-location setting and how it changes the tone • The fact that Critters 3 and Critters 4 were filmed back to back • Why this might be the least lethal movie in the series • The early Leo performance and how it fits into the film • Our Stash or Slash segment focused on third installments in horror franchises If you enjoy 80s and early 90s horror, creature features, and weird franchise entries, Critters 3 is one of the more unusual turns the series takes.

This week on Xenomania we dive into Sinners, a horror film that has quickly turned into something bigger than just another genre release. What starts as a story rooted in guilt and belief becomes something much heavier as the film leans into cultural themes, identity, and the weight of personal history. It is not just trying to scare you. It is trying to stay with you. Sinners has already started building a reputation beyond horror circles, with strong performances and a soundtrack that plays a major role in shaping the tone. The music is not just background. It feels tied directly to the emotion of the story and the characters themselves. We also talk about the film’s growing recognition, including award buzz and standout performances that are getting serious attention. In this episode we discuss: How the film uses religion, guilt, and identity as horror devices • The cultural conversation forming around the movie • The music and how it drives tone and emotion • Performances that are already getting award attention • Whether the horror is supernatural, psychological, or something in between • Why the film lingers long after it ends If you enjoy psychological horror, elevated horror, and films that blend genre with deeper themes, Sinners is one that demands attention

This week on Xenomania we dive into Ready or Not, a horror-comedy that turns a wedding night into a brutal game of survival. When Grace marries into a wealthy family, she quickly learns that their traditions are not just strange. They are deadly. What starts as a twisted game of hide and seek spirals into a night of violence, panic, and a family that will do anything to survive their own rules. We break down why Ready or Not works so well, from its sharp humor to the way it blends tension with outright chaos. In this episode we discuss: Why the premise is simple but incredibly effective • Samara Weaving’s performance and why it carries the film • The balance between horror, comedy, and satire • How the movie plays with class, wealth, and family power dynamics • Why the ending lands as hard as it does If you enjoy horror-comedy, survival horror, and modern horror movies with personality, Ready or Not is one of the most entertaining entries in recent years.

This week on Xenomania, we dive into the chaotic cult sequel Critters 2: The Main Course — a movie where the tiny alien monsters come back bigger, nastier, and multiplying faster than anyone can stop them. What starts as a small-town Easter celebration quickly turns into full-blown creature chaos when the Critter eggs begin to hatch. From rolling balls of teeth to exploding alien carnage, Critters 2 pushes the original film’s creature-feature madness to completely ridiculous levels. In this episode we discuss: Why Critters 2 goes even harder into horror-comedy • The wild creature effects and classic 80s practical monsters • How the sequel turns small-town horror into total chaos • Why the Critters franchise still stands out among creature features If you love 80s horror movies, creature features, cult horror, and practical monster effects, Critters 2: The Main Course is one of the strangest and most entertaining sequels of the era. Critters 2, Critters 2 The Main Course, Critters movie review, Critters franchise, 80s horror movies, creature feature movies, cult horror movies, horror podcast, Xenomania podcast, Critters 2 kill count, Critters 2 explained

Critters (1986) might be the best weird 80s horror-comedy. In this episode of Xenomania, we go back to the original Critters, the cult creature feature that introduced one of the strangest alien infestations in horror. When a group of small, extremely hungry alien prisoners crash land in rural Kansas, a quiet farming town suddenly finds itself dealing with rolling balls of teeth that eat absolutely everything in their path. The only people who know how to stop them are two intergalactic bounty hunters who are not exactly experts at blending in. We talk about how Critters fits into the wave of 80s creature features that followed Gremlins, and why the movie still stands out because of its practical effects, dark humor, and surprisingly mean little monsters. In this episode we discuss: Why the Critters themselves are still great creature designs • The movie’s mix of sci-fi, horror, and comedy • The bounty hunters and the weird tone they bring to the film • How the movie helped kick off one of the strangest horror franchises of the 80s Critters is messy, funny, and full of classic practical effects. Exactly the kind of creature chaos that made 80s horror so much fun.

This week on Xenomania, we dig into the Irish horror-comedy The Boys from County Hell — a vampire movie that starts with a simple road construction job and ends with an ancient bloodsucker waking up under rural Ireland. When a crew of local workers accidentally disturb an old grave tied to Irish folklore, they unleash something that definitely should have stayed buried. What follows is a mix of brutal vampire horror, dry Irish humor, and one very bad day for a group of guys who just wanted to finish their shift. In this episode we discuss: The unique Irish folklore behind the vampire Abhartach • Why The Boys from County Hell stands out from typical vampire movies • The movie’s balance of horror and comedy • Creature design and old-school vampire brutality • Why small-town horror settings still work so well If you enjoy horror comedy, vampire films, folk horror, or indie horror movies, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Xenomania Episode 62— Scream VI New city. Same rules. Worse consequences. This week we head to New York for Scream VI, the franchise’s loudest, meanest entry yet. No small-town nostalgia. No safe houses. Just subways, alleyways, and a Ghostface who feels less interested in games and more interested in making a point. We talk about the shift in setting and how the city changes the tension. Crowds don’t make you safer. They make you invisible. The subway scene alone is worth the price of admission, and we break down why it works so well. We also get into: The evolution of the “core four” and whether they’ve earned plot armor The franchise leaning harder into brutality The ladder scene and why it’s one of the most effective sequences in the series How this film handles legacy without leaning on it Scream VI feels bigger, faster, and more aggressive than 5. It knows the audience understands the rules, so it pushes harder against them. Is it the best in the franchise? Maybe not. Is it the boldest since the original? That’s a real conversation.

Legacy is a dangerous thing. This week we revisit Woodsboro for Scream (2022) — the sequel that pretends to be a reboot while quietly sharpening the knife. New cast. Old trauma. Same mask. We talk about how the film balances nostalgia with new blood, and whether it actually earns that balance. Does bringing back Sidney, Gale, and Dewey feel necessary… or safe? And more importantly, do the new characters stand on their own? We get into: The “requel” concept and how the movie openly mocks it The hospital sequence and why it’s one of the cleanest suspense builds in the franchise Dewey’s arc and whether it hits the way it’s supposed to Toxic fandom as motive and whether that angle still lands Scream 5 knows the audience is in on the joke. The question is whether that awareness makes it smarter… or softer. It’s self-aware. It’s polished. It’s brutal when it wants to be. And it proves one thing: Ghostface doesn’t need a reason. Just a phone call.

This week we finally tackle Baskin. It starts like a grimy cop movie. Guys in a patrol car. Dumb jokes. A late-night call that feels routine. Then they get sent to an abandoned building, and from there the movie just keeps going down. Literally. The shift is what makes it work. You’re grounded for just long enough to feel stable, and then that stability disappears. The film stops explaining itself. Scenes stretch. Conversations feel wrong. The deeper they go, the less it feels like a mistake and the more it feels like something waiting. We spend a lot of time talking about the Father. Not just how he looks, but how he carries himself. He isn’t loud. He isn’t rushed. He feels certain. That calm is what makes him stick. We also get into the way the movie handles power. These are men who think they’re in control. Uniform, authority, weapons. None of that matters down there. The movie strips them down slowly, and it doesn’t offer an easy way out. The ending isn’t clean. It loops back on itself. It leaves you sitting with it. If you’ve never seen Baskin, this is one of those watches that feels less like entertainment and more like you stumbled into something private.

RomCom tropes to die for.” In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns spiral into the sticky, savage chaos of Heart Eyes — a film where the apocalypse isn’t just viral, it’s romantic. We break down why the monsters don’t attack Luna, how this world turns affection into infection, and whether the line between symbiosis and codependence has ever been blurrier. There’s something unsettlingly sweet about it all: the pastel lighting, the almost-musical pacing, the way decapitations land like love songs. It’s a love story dressed in flayed skin, a YA fever dream mashed into a Goya painting. And yes, it works. We also talk about how Heart Eyes joins the ranks of recent horror films that dare to ask: What if the girl survives because she’s the problem?

"You opened the door. They walked in." In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns return to the woods. Not the ones where magic lives, but where people do terrible things for no reason at all. The Strangers: Chapter 1 is not a reboot. It is a quiet escalation. A slower blade. And yes, it is still knocking. We dive into the bleak domesticity of it all. A cabin. A couple. A car that will not start. And why this film refuses to explain anything. There is no twisted backstory. No monstrous reveal. Just the cold echo of a line that hits harder than any jump scare: "Because you were home." We unpack the aesthetic upgrades, the tonal restraint, and why horror is still scarier when it hates you quietly. This is not survival horror. It is acceptance horror. And Chapter 1 may be just the first scratch on the window.   00:00 Introduction to Xenomania and The Strangers 00:41 Diving into The Strangers: Chapter One 01:22 Comparing the Original and the Reboot 03:13 Character Analysis: Maya and Ryan 04:17 The Airbnb Horror Trope 05:57 Beer Talk and Nostalgia 10:02 Back to The Strangers: Expectations and Disappointments 14:18 Renny Harlan's Filmography 14:54 Slasher Stash: Renny Harlan Movies 28:23 Chris Farley Stories and TV Edits 30:03 The Warriors: Original vs. New Edition 31:15 Gaming Culture and Microtransactions 32:42 Movie Reviews: The Strangers 49:35 Top Five Reboots 57:36 Top Five Obscure Masks 01:02:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts  

The rage never left. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns trek through the ash-crusted mythos of 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, where blood memory and broken faith collide in the ruins of civilization. This isn’t just another infection movie, it’s a story about what survives when survival stops being enough. We follow Jimmy, a demented cult leader with running out of fingers, and Ian, the doctor who still believes mercy is sacred . When Ian gives the beast Sampson a syringe of morphine, it’s not cruelty. It’s communion. He still sees the man beneath the monster. Against all odds — and genre rules — Bone Temple dares to find a fragile, flickering light in the rage-plagued dark. It delivers devastation, yes, but also something bordering on grace. The ending shouldn't work. But it does. And it cracks the door open for what comes next. The virus has changed. So have we.

“Mommy, am I still me?” In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns descend through the ash-fog of Konami’s most cursed export to talk religious fanaticism, trauma cults, and how Silent Hill (2006) is somehow both aggressively incoherent and artistically iconic. We discuss why the town feels like a Lovecraftian divorce court, how Radha Mitchell sold genuinely unhinged mom energy, and why pyramid-headed grief demons are always the final boss of parenting. Plus: acid spit nuns, dead-eyed zealots, and a parking lot scene that lives rent-free in our collective psyche. Is the movie good? That depends on how many sirens you've heard this week.

Say it once, say it twice, say it five times and get wrecked. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns stare too long into a rearview mirror of American horror and watch it reflect rot,  gentrified ghosts, legacy trauma, and bees with union grievances. Candyman returns with a paintbrush dipped in blood and ink, and the Xenoboys debate whether this reboot-sequel-refracted-nightmare sticks the landing or gets stuck in its own honey trap. Spoiler: art is pain, and pain is profit. We talk Cabrini-Green, puppets that slit throats, and what happens when a myth fights back.

“I see dead tropes…” For years, The Sixth Sense has lived in the shadow of its twist. In this episode of Xenomania, we revisit M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout film with fresh eyes and less nostalgia. Yes, it’s a well-crafted ghost story with moments of genuine pathos, but how well does it hold up under scrutiny? We unpack the emotional weight of Haley Joel Osment’s performance, the chilly atmosphere, and Shyamalan’s restrained direction. But we also ask harder questions about pacing, predictability, and the long-term impact of a film that may have taught a generation of viewers to look for gimmicks over depth. The Sixth Sense is remembered for what it hides. We’re more interested in what it reveals.

In this year-end finale of Xenomania, Jon and Ryan slip into their shiniest disco suits and dial into New Year’s Evil (1980)—a sleazy, synth-laced slasher set during a televised NYE countdown. As a killer named “Evil” offs a victim at the stroke of midnight in each U.S. time zone, we discuss the film’s time-locked gimmick, glam-punk aesthetics, sleazy subtext, and its strange place in the slasher canon. We don’t explore the blend of punk nihilism and Reagan-era paranoia simmering just beneath the surface, but cap off the year with our favorite movies and episodes of 2025. From voice modulators to pink champagne murder, join us as we toast to one last bloody night before the ball drops.    

In this holiday massacre of an episode, the Xenomania crew unwraps Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022), Joe Begos’s neon-slick splatterfest where a military-grade robotic Santa malfunctions into a relentless killing machine. Come for the grindhouse aesthetic, stay for the synth soundtrack, practical gore, and surprisingly sharp central performances. We dig into the subtext (is there any?), the style (hell yes), and how the film splits the sleigh bells between homage and full-blown absurdity. It’s Silent Night, Deadly Night by way of The Terminator, with a double shot of J&B.

In this stark, brutal episode of Xenomania, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns set off down the desolate highways of The Long Walk — Francis Lawrence’s harrowing 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian thriller. Fifty boys. One rule: never stop walking. Three strikes and the guns come out. No finish line. No mercy. Only one winner gets a wish and riches beyond belief — everyone else just collapses in the dust. The hosts break down how the film turns a terrifyingly simple premise — keep moving or die — into a psychological survival saga full of pain, camaraderie, existential dread, and the crushing weight of unrelenting competition. They unpack Cooper Hoffman’s compelling lead performance, David Jonsson’s emotional depth, and Mark Hamill’s chilling Major, all while asking a haunting question: how far would you walk?

In this milestone 50th episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns strap on explosive collars and dive headfirst into Battle Royale (2000)—Kinji Fukasaku’s ultraviolent, emotionally raw, and politically charged cult classic. They dissect its brutal allegory for youth disillusionment, the ethical rot of authority, and how the film paved the way for modern dystopias like The Hunger Games, Squid Game, and beyond. What happens when a classroom turns battlefield? Who deserves to survive? And why does this film still hit harder than ever 20+ years later? Spoiler: there’s no detention. Just death.

In this holiday-slasher episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns trim the tree with terror as they unwrap the controversial cult classic Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984). From killer Santas to traumatic orphans, the guys explore how this low-budget bloodbath turned yuletide cheer into a moral panic—and became one of the most infamous seasonal slashers of the ‘80s. They dive into Catholic guilt, VHS horror boom aesthetics, and why the line “Punish!” still hits like a sleigh bell to the face. Come for the murder montage. Stay for the deranged Christmas carols. Ho-ho-horrifying.

In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns gather around the blood-soaked banquet table to dig into Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving (2023), a pitch-perfect homage to holiday slashers, grindhouse grit, and small-town hysteria. From Black Friday mayhem to Pilgrim masks and meat thermometers in all the wrong places, they dissect how Roth turns a fake trailer into a full-on feast of gore, gags, and gruesome cheer. Who lives? Who gets basted? And is Thanksgiving the best seasonal slasher in years? Tune in for talk of genre tropes, teen scream archetypes, Roth’s return to form, and the eternal question: what would John Carpenter do?

He’s stitched from the dead, soaked in sorrow, and newly born in Guillermo del Toro’s hands.   In this episode of Xenomania, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns break open the coffin lid on the upcoming Frankenstein, del Toro’s long-gestating adaptation of the gothic classic. What does it mean for the creature to feel? To love? To rage against his makers?   They discuss the early visuals, the tragic elegance of the new creature design, the casting of Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Andrew Garfield, and how this version promises to be the most mythic, mournful Frankenstein yet.   Plus: literary roots, monster metaphors, and how grief becomes horror in del Toro’s universe.

In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns thread the film through the reel as they dive into Sinister (2012)—that grainy, grief-soaked descent into found footage and demonic legacy. They dissect how Scott Derrickson weaponized Super 8 film, where Ethan Hawke ranks on the “horror dad breakdown” scale, and why Bagul might be the most anti-cinema entity in the genre. From lawnmower jumpscares to ghost kids in the attic, the trio unpacks Sinister's brutal rhythms, the ethics of exploitation, and that final, gutting fade to black. Spoiler alert: no one makes it out alive. Not even the home movies.

Beauty is pain and perfection is just the prettiest form of rot. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns inject themselves straight into The Substance (2024) — Coralie Fargeat’s visceral, body-horror masterpiece starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. From Hollywood’s obsession with youth to the brutal metamorphosis of envy and identity, we peel back the skin of this glittering nightmare to see what festers beneath. It’s glossy. It’s gory. It’s glorious. And the only thing more dangerous than wanting to be perfect is succeeding.   Xenomania, The Substance 2024, Coralie Fargeat, Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Body Horror, Feminist Horror, Psychological Horror, Horror Podcast, Dark Fantasy, Transformation Horror, Modern Horror, Cult Horror, Hollywood Horror, Scary Movies, Horror Fans

No Michael. No knife. Just masks, murder, and a jingle that’ll rot your brain. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns peel back the latex on Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), the black sheep of the franchise that traded slashers for sci-fi sorcery. From Stonehenge conspiracies and sinister corporations to Silver Shamrock’s cursed commercial, we dig into how this fever dream of a film went from flop to cult phenomenon. Eight more days to Halloween… if you’re lucky.

Before the skyscrapers, before the commandos — the hunt began on the plains. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns stalk through Prey (2022), the lean, vicious reimagining of the Predator mythos. We break down Amber Midthunder’s powerhouse performance as Naru, the stripped-back tension of Comanche survival against extraterrestrial terror, and how this film brought the franchise back to its primal roots. The rules are simple: hunt or be hunted.

Some calls come from deeper than the grave - Xenomania 42 When a disconnected rotary phone starts ringing in the middle of the night, the voice on the other end isn’t asking for help—it’s giving instructions. Jon traces the history of the device through a trail of grief and disappearances. Ryan digs up an unsettling number of Cold War death cults. And Kearns wonders: what if the signal isn’t coming from beyond the veil… but beneath it? A haunted line. A message undelivered. And something ancient on the other end, learning to speak in our dead. Whatever you do—don’t let it ring twice.

It takes all kinds of critters… to make Farmer Vincent’s fritters. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns hit the road to Motel Hell (1980), a grotesque and gleefully unhinged slice of backwoods horror where hospitality meets homicide. Between cannibal barbecue, buried victims, and a man in a giant pig’s head wielding a chainsaw, we explore how this satirical cult classic carved its place in grindhouse history. Check in for the night, but don’t ask what’s on the menu.

Two men wake up chained in a filthy bathroom. A voice on a tape recorder tells them the rules. And horror cinema is never the same again. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns dive into James Wan’s Saw (2004) — the grimy, low-budget indie that became a cultural juggernaut and redefined the horror genre. From the claustrophobic tension of its traps, to the moral rot at its core, to that infamous ending, we unravel why Saw cut so deep and spawned a new era of horror. How far would you go to survive the game?

Seventeen children vanish. One remains. And a community fractures under the weight of grief, suspicion, and something darker than anyone admits. In this special episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns unravel Weapons (2025), Zach Cregger’s twisted mystery-horror about loss, secrets, and the quiet horror of what we accept when we refuse to ask what’s really going on. From the chilling moment at 2:17 AM when everything changes, to the impossible clues in newspapered windows and locked hair-rituals, this is a story where paranoia is the weapon. Disappearances, witchcraft, and the echoes of trauma — sometimes the scariest monsters are the truths we bury.

What happens when your childhood pet doesn’t just survive the sewer flush — but thrives? In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns wade into Alligator (1980), the cult creature feature where a reptilian nightmare grows fat on urban decay, discarded science experiments, and human arrogance. From satirical jabs at consumer culture to some of the best practical monster mayhem of the era, we track how this B-movie chomped its way into cult legend. The sewers aren’t safe. And the gator’s still hungry.

Wolves don’t just howl at the moon — sometimes they howl for blood. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns sink their teeth into The Howling (1981), Joe Dante’s cult werewolf classic that reinvented lycanthropy for a new generation of horror fans. From groundbreaking transformation effects to the film’s sly satire of cults, media, and primal hunger, we explore why this bloody, bone-snapping fever dream still claws its way into the nightmares of audiences today. The pack is hungry. And no one survives the howl.

Cornfields aren’t quiet. They whisper. They hide. And sometimes… they kill. In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns dig into Clown in a Cornfield — Adam Cesare’s brutal, blood-soaked slasher that asks what happens when small-town rot collides with a painted grin. From the legacy of classic slashers to the menace of masks and Midwest decay, we pull apart why this story of a killer clown lurking between the stalks feels like the next evolution of teen terror. The carnival’s come to town. And it’s not leaving without bodies.

The Conjuring may be one of modern horror’s biggest franchises, but the truth behind it is far murkier than the movies suggest. This week, Jon takes aim at Ed and Lorraine Warren, exposing how the so-called “paranormal experts” built their fame on shaky foundations, exploiting grief, fear, and faith with snake oil salesmanship dressed up as spiritual warfare. Ryan and Kearns join in to pull apart the myth from the marketing, asking if the Warrens were genuine believers, clever con artists, or something more unsettling still. Expect eerie laughs, sobering truths, and a haunting reminder that sometimes the scariest thing isn’t the demon in the basement—it’s the people selling tickets to see it.

Before Aliens and Terminator, James Cameron made… Piranha II: The Spawning. A seaside buffet of flying fish, gnawed tourists, and B-movie madness, this cult sequel has been called both “the best flying piranha movie ever made” and “a cinematic shipwreck.” In this episode, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns dive headfirst into Cameron’s chaotic first directorial outing, the cursed production that nearly sank his career before it started, and why the film has managed to cling to cult status like a school of razor-toothed survivors. Come for the trivia, stay for the blood in the water.

Forget Jaws—this week, the boys dive mouth-first into a blood-soaked lake filled with genetically engineered aquatic nightmares and unapologetic B-movie brilliance. In Episode 34, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns sink their teeth into Joe Dante’s Piranha (1978), a horror-comedy creature feature where the gore is plentiful, the budget is questionable, and the fish have an agenda. What begins as a government oopsie spirals into a screaming satire of Cold War paranoia, summer vacation, and the dangers of skinny-dipping. Is Piranha a cheap Jaws knockoff or a glorious toothy gem? Why does the soundtrack go so hard? And would any of us survive a piranha attack, emotionally or physically? This one’s messy, bloody, and a little too fun. The “Tooth” Hurts. But the episode? Feeds. New episode drops Thursday on Piranha.

In 2002, Bill Paxton’s Frailty crept into theaters—a Southern Gothic fever dream of divine visions, buried secrets, and a father’s terrible mission from God. Jon, Ryan, and Kearns descend into the film’s humid, haunted moral swamp, where angels and demons walk in human skin, and family loyalty can damn you just as surely as it can save you. Was it madness, prophecy…or something far worse?

This week, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns step inside one of the darkest rentals in horror history as they unpack Barbarian (2022), the sleeper hit that turns Airbnb anxiety into outright terror. What makes Barbarian stand out amid modern horror? Is it the cleverly twisted narrative, the chilling exploration of hidden spaces, or its deeper commentary on trust, predation, and trauma? The Xenomania team tackles all angles, dissecting Zach Cregger’s masterful bait-and-switch storytelling, the film's shocking tonal shifts, and its fearless dive into subterranean horror. Ryan draws unsettling parallels between urban legends and the film’s grotesque revelations, Jon explores the disturbing brilliance of the narrative structure, and Kearns digs into Barbarian’s underlying mythology—touching on everything from folklore’s monstrous mothers to the shadowy history of Detroit itself. Check the locks, double-check your reservations, and join the team as they journey down into the darkness beneath the ordinary. Just remember: some doors should stay locked.

In this episode of Xenomania, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns crawl deep into the attic of childhood fears to unbox The Monkey—Osgood Perkins’s 2024 adaptation of Stephen King’s short story. From cymbal crashes to cursed consequences, the team explores how The Monkey taps into one of King’s most haunting themes: the inescapability of family trauma. Is the film just a tale of cursed objects, or is it an allegory for inherited guilt and the decay that follows? Why do so many horror stories use toys as vessels for dread—and what happens when nostalgia turns toxic? Jon fixates on the monkey’s design and the slow-burn structure. Ryan draws comparisons to Perkins’s previous work and questions whether The Monkey earns its tragedy. Kearns, meanwhile, goes full-tilt mythological, connecting the film to primal trickster figures and death portents across global folklore. Along the way: discussions on horror pacing, generational hauntings, and why monkey imagery is way creepier than it should be. Cue cymbals (or, in this case, drums)

Join Jon, Ryan, and Kearns as they unpack the twisted, unsettling cult classic Sleepaway Camp. Beneath its seemingly innocent summer camp setting lies one of horror’s most infamous and shocking finales. From its eerie atmosphere to its exploration of identity, trauma, and small-town secrets, this film’s blend of campfire chills and psychological terror still resonates decades later. We dive deep into the legacy of Sleepaway Camp—the scares, the cult fandom, and why it continues to haunt nightmares and midnight movie marathons alike.

Dive with Jon, Ryan, and Kearns into the murky underground world of C.H.U.D. — Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. This cult classic 1984 horror flick blends urban decay, government conspiracy, and grotesque monsters lurking beneath the city streets. We unpack its eerie atmosphere, DIY practical effects, and how it taps into the fear of what festers unseen below us. From its campy dialogue to the chilling social commentary, discover why C.H.U.D. still haunts horror fans decades later. Whether you love it or fear it, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into the dank tunnels of terror.

Campfires. Cheap beer. A pact sealed in blood (or was it something worse?). This week, the boys dig deep into the urban legend that inspired I Know What You Did Last Summer—and the eerie, persistent reports of something shadowy stalking coastal towns across America ever since. Jon, Ryan, and Kearns ask the big questions: 🔪 Why do so many “accidental deaths” near Lover’s Lane end in silence and sealed lips? 📬 Who’s leaving handwritten notes 25 years after the fact? 👁️ And what exactly is The Hookman—an archetype, a tulpa, or something far more real? Don’t worry, we know you're innocent. ...At least, we think we do. So grab a flashlight, stay out of the rearview mirror, and remember—secrets never stay buried in summer soil. Listen now, or the next note might be for you.

Happy Fourth of July, Xenomaniacs! This week, we're firing up the grill, lighting some questionable fireworks, and diving headfirst into the 1996 cult horror classic Uncle Sam. Nothing says patriotic terror like a zombie vet crawling out of his grave to teach the town a lesson in real American values—like vengeance, paranoia, and flag etiquette... with a bayonet. Join Jon, Ryan, and Kearns as they dissect the stars, stripes, and slashes of this bizarre holiday horror. Expect bad puns, questionable fashion choices (Uncle Sam’s hat deserves its own credit), and a few fireworks of their own as they unpack what happens when patriotism goes very wrong. So grab a cold one, avoid the camouflage coffins, and tune in—because this Independence Day, the dead walk for liberty!

Join Jon, Ryan, and Kearns as they dive deep into Alex Garland’s anticipated film, "28 Years Later." From fierce debates over pacing to hilarious fan critiques, unpack the highs and lows of this long-awaited sequel to the iconic "28 Days Later" and "28 Weeks Later." Expect plenty of laughs, sharp commentary, and some shambling cinematic insights—because not even a zombie apocalypse is safe from internet humor!  

Welcome back, brave wanderers. This week, Jon, Ryan, and Kearns dive into the eerie aftermath of “28 Weeks Later,” where the rage virus has gone quiet—and something worse has whispered into its place. In the original film, the infected stagger and howl. Here, the greatest threat isn’t flesh and blood—it’s forgetting. Survivors cling to their fading pasts, negotiating with grief, guilt, and that peculiar urge to stay hidden… even from themselves. We trace the mythology of epidemics: how silence can roar louder than a scream, how memory is both shield and weapon, and why a virus—even a quiet one—can unravel not just communities, but the very fabric of personal truth.