lightninli
JoinedMarch 18, 2018
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By day, Eric is a mild-mannered Architect, bringing great buildings to the good boys and girls of his hometown of Portland, Oregon. By night, he is a disreputable podcaster looking to promote the best and worst of horror movies!
Eerie alien creature with skeletal features in a dark, ominous setting.

The Deep Dark (2026)

★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

The Deep Dark takes a trip into a coal mine in France, where an ancient evil being awaits. An overzealous archaeologist hires a group of miners to unknowingly help him find the crypt. Stylish but stiff, this subterranean horror show utilizes stock characters and subjects them to a predictable script. The monster is visually impressive until it moves and reveals itself to be an awkward puppet. On the plus side, the production team at least tries to apply actual mining terminology. (Though I am no expert in such things.) The film can be entertaining at times, as a generic monster movie, but it can't elevate itself beyond a semi-mummy trope.

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Man in beige shirt touching yellow wall in empty room with fluorescent lights.

Backrooms (2026) Review

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

It's finally time to do a review for Backrooms. I know, I know. I'm a little late to the party. The great uncanny valley that is the Backrooms phenomenon led to the great unexpected hit of the summer. How the hell did a slow-burning philosophical liminal horror movie manage to beat Star Wars straight up at the Box Office in the summer of 2026? Even after seeing the film, the improbability stuns me. The power of alternate media certainly plays a part, but it's not the whole story. Two tremendous performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve sold the wildly original story, and word of mouth could not have been better. Let us dig in to how this came to be.

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A person in horror costume stands amidst chaos and fire in a haunted house scene.

They Will Kill You (2026) Review

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸🩸1/2 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you the most violent horror movie I have seen this year: They Will Kill You. This stylish and gleefully gory action-horror-comedy takes on a familiar theme and injects it with nitro boosters. Zazie Beetz plays Asia Reves, a woman searching for her sister at her last known location: a New York Hotel that is secretly a Satanic Temple. Is she trapped? Or are the cultists inside the ones who are stuck with a woman with some serious fighting mojo? It's a bit of both. This is a fan-favorite film from the 2026 festival circuit, now available on HBO.

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Slashers Come of Age and Horror Finds Religion 1975-1979: Episode 213

We're going back to horror history class with Episode 212: Slashers Come of Age and Horror Finds Religion 1975-1979. Seven years ago, in the early days of the Scariest Things, we did some horror history, diving into some of the more obscure titles that you may not be aware of. We stopped at the early seventies, and then went on a very long hiatus. But now we are back with some (maybe) forgotten gems from 1975 to 1979. Friend of the podcast Ian Parker joins Eric and Mike in this deep dive.
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Colorful poster for Popcorn Frights with a dinosaur breathing fire over a cityscape.

Popcorn Frights 2026 First and Second Wave Announcements

Get ready Florida! Popcorn Frights is coming! The kaiju-sized festival is going to be scaring up horror fans from August 6-16, and they have made their big programming announcements. This has been one of our favorite festivals, and has one of the biggest horror-only platforms in the country.
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A man is attacked by a large snake in a tense scene from Anaconda (2025) review.

Anaconda (2025) Review

★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸1/2 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

In a meta reboot brimming with promise, the re-imagined Anaconda (2025) lost the plot early and often. The cast? Star packed. The trailer? Very funny. The concept? Surprisingly original, but the story meanders and squanders the core ideas. The snake? We didn't see enough of it, and it has been done better in movies with much smaller budgets. Was it scary? Not in the slightest. This was a lost opportunity.

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Two women with surprised expressions in front of neon sign reading 'Show and Tell'.

Grind (2026): PHFF Review and Interview

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Does working in today's economy feel like you are on a treadmill that is getting too fast for you? Has your job killed your dreams? Employment in the modern world can be, in a word, a Grind. Grind is a timely anthology that is neatly stitched together and explores how working for the Mega-Corporations (TM) can erode your sense of being and may cost you more than a diminished paycheck. If you ever thought "This job is gonna kill me." Grind will resonate with you.

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A menacing hippopotamus with its mouth open in a dark, swampy environment.

Hungry (2026) Review

★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Hungry (2026) presents a rampaging hippopotamus that wrecks an alligator-touring flatboat group in the Louisiana bayou. The film paddles through familiar territory, but swaps out the traditional crocodilian menace for a legitimately dangerous mega-mammal. Capable and earnest performances and impressive visuals bolster what would otherwise be a by-the-numbers production.

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Evil Dead-inspired horror scene with a possessed woman holding a lit lighter.

Evil Dead Burn (2026) Review

★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸🩸🩸1/2 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

In Evil Dead Burn, it's all gas, no brakes, with copious gory violence but not a whole lot of plot, in the most recent edition of the Evil Dead Franchise. This film is a white-knuckle ride. It upholds the franchise's tradition with extreme elements that will please many loyal fans. It does not, however, provide the charm and certainly lacks the goofiness of the Raimi movies. From the moment the movie starts, the action doesn't let you up for air. For some, that's a thrill. For others, it may prove exhausting.

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A person standing next to a snowmobile in a snowy, desolate landscape with a weathered structure.

Freezing Cold Horrors: Episode 212

BRRRRRR! It's so cold outside! Wait, what? The thermometer reads 102? What's the date? Ah, forget the date; this is a brain freeze for you because we decided to cool you off with some freezing cold horror films just in time for the summer heat wave! YES! Cold themes are the icy wet blanket that puts you at unease. Friend of the Podcast, Ian Parker joins the Scariest Things, as we put our parkas on for a discussion of some frozen horror treats. Enjoy!
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Person in yellow glove holding a large kitchen knife in a garden setting.

Friday the 69th (2026): PHFF Review

★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Friday the 69th prescribes a gonzo premise: What if a porn studio tries to rescue its fortunes by going straight and making a mainstream horror movie? This debut film from Alex Montilla was featured at the Portland Horror Film Festival. This retro grindhouse spoof behaves itself... mostly. The movie isn't nearly as dirty as it potentially could have been. It pays homage to the slasher movies of the early '80s and has subtle nods to the adult-film roots of the characters making the movie-within-the-movie. The comedy is a bit uneven, but it hits often enough to put a smile on your face.

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Collection of horror film posters from The PHFF Horror Short Film Director Roundtable.

The PHFF Horror Short Film Director Roundtable

The Horror Short Film Director Roundtable is one of the most important things that we did at the Portland Horror Film Festival. It provided an elevated platform for horror short filmmakers. Oftentimes, this is ground zero for original horror ideas. Unless you are a Hollywood nepo-director, short film creation is where you learn your chops. I wanted to give these creatives an opportunity to share their experiences in making movies, both good and bad, so that we can all learn a little more about the craft.
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Close-up of a man with bloodied face and intense expression, horror scene from Dracula review.

Dracula: The Night Around Us (2026): PHFF Review

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Sometimes it takes an indie take on a classic to make the story scary again. Dracula: The Night Around Us does exactly that. It is a dark, brooding, modern take on the Bram Stoker classic. Literal chills ran through my nervous system. This film won the Goul D'Or award at the Portland Horror Film Festival for the best Feature at the Festival in 2026.

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Goth woman holding a Rue Morgue magazine with a spooky cover image.

Rue Morgue Editor Andrea Subissati Interview at PHFF 2026

The Bloody Judge for the 2026 Portland Horror Film Festival was Andrea Subissati, the Executive Editor of Rue Morgue. She is one of the most compelling voices within the horror community, and is a powerful advocate for women within the genre. Andrea was kind enough to set some time aside to talk some terror with us between feature film showings at the festival.
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Futuristic scene with glowing green lights and a mysterious figure in darkness.

Frogman Returns (2026) Review: Portland Horror Film Festival

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

The Frogman is back! The first Frogman was something of a found footage cult hit. Now, both the actual film and the film within the film have a bigger budget this time out, and the results go gonzo crazy. Forget the cryptids; this sequel takes the concept into cosmic insanity. See this in a full theater, as the audience I saw it with went completely bananas. It starts out like a natural extension of the first film, but expands the story into realms practically unthinkable. This feature won the Horde Award at the Portland Horror Film Festival as the audience choice for best film.

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Leather-clad woman with whip in a BDSM-themed room with bondage gear and neon lighting.

The Demonatrix (2026) Review: Portland Horror Film Festival

★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

The Demonatrix is a cheeky, lightly racy horror-comedy that reflects on the economic troubles of the time. A dominatrix looking to get some extra income turns to hosting fake séances to make ends meet. When things inevitably go awry, she turns to a priest working in a church across the street from her kink studio. It's a silly, simple tale that features some great costumes and a couple of horror legends you will recognise.

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A woman standing alone at night on a deserted street with a flashlight and a book.

LandLord (2025): Portland Horror Film Festival Review

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity: 🩸🩸1/2 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

LandLord poses the question "If vampires can't come into your home without an invitation, what happens if they own your housing?" A bounty hunter checks her conscience in order to save an orphaned boy from the predations of a vampire landlord consuming the tenants of a Lousiville housing complex. This gritty and moody debut from writer director Remington Smith was featured at the Portland Horror Film Festival.

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A terrifying figure in a dark uniform with a gas mask and axe in a dimly lit room.

My Bloody Valentine at 45: An Interview with George Mihalka at PHFF 2026

My Bloody Valentine turns 45 years old this year. The director, George Mihalka, was the guest of honor at this year's Portland Horror Film Festival. George was kind enough to speak with the Scariest Things, who are huge fans of the film. Lost cutting room footage was recently found when the producer was absorbed by Lionsgate, allowing some of the missing gory effects to be brought back into the movie. So, it's time to revisit this movie and talk to the creator about why it remains important today.
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A woman leaning on a man sitting on a bed in a dimly lit bedroom.

Obsession (2026): Review

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity 🩸🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Obsession is the latest movie to apply the Monkey's Paw wish dilemma. Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it. This independent horror gem is the latest example of how original storytelling and great performances can launch a tiny-budget movie into the box-office stratosphere.

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Two women with contrasting hair colors posing together against a dark background.

Trash Queen (2027) Pre-Production Interview

Indie horror filmmakers Gabby Rosson and Emily Tullock are creating Trash Queen, a sci-fi horror comedy, starring Tulloch and legendary scream queen Lynn Lowery. They joined the Scariest Things to talk about what goes into developing a self-funded independent horror film. It is the journey of many an ambitious creator, and we talked about all of the joys and difficulties of crafting a horror movie. If you have ever wanted to produce a movie yourself, this may be an instructive conversation, so join us as we take a trip to the dump, for all the right reasons.
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Spooky horror film festival poster for Portland Horror Film Festival June 3-7, 2026, with bold red a.

The Portland Horror Film Festival 2026 Press Release

The Scariest Things, once again, is proud to be a sponsor of The Portland Horror Film Festival, and they have just announced their 2026 lineup. If you are attending, don't forget to join us for The Fifth Annual Horror Movie Greenlight Pitch event at Dot's Cafe following Saturday June 6th's movies at the Clinton Street Theater. We hope to see you there!
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A woman and a girl with disheveled hair in a dark, industrial setting, appearing tense and distresse.

Crypticon Seattle: Comfort Horror Panel Recording

Comfort Horror. It's a thing. It keeps the fandom fed. We come back time and again to get scared, and we love it. Why? This is the third of my series of Crypticon Seattle convention panel recordings. Panels are the lifeblood of this annual horror gathering, feeding the fandom's macabre knowledge cravings. Horror movies are the bonds this community shares, and to understand why, this panel examines the lure of horror for many of us. It seems antithetical that many of us crave the experience of being scared.
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A colorful collection of tiki mugs with tropical drinks and umbrellas at Crypticon Seattle 2026.

Crypticon Seattle 2026: Tiki Terror and Tropical Horror Panel

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, The Mont Dangerous Game, and The Island of Lost Souls, and it found its heyday in the '50s and '60s. Listen and learn from veteran Crypticon panelists as they talk all things Tiki Terror.
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A woman holding a black and white cat at a street market during Crypticon Seattle 2026: Pets In Horr.

Crypticon Seattle 2026: Pets In Horror Panel

Crypticon Seattle, the great Pacific Northwest horror convention, has once again come and gone, but the memories linger. The panels are what make the convention feel like a class reunion. The panels are produced entirely by volunteer experts from across the region and are the ultimate in fan interaction. This is what it feels like to create a horror community, sharing our ideas and experiences with each other. This year, I decided to record some of the panels I participated in and attended to give you a sense of what happens at these events. This Pets in Horror panel was hosted by Brien Gorham, and I participated in it along with Kathy Fennesy and Todd Johnstson.
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A terrifying slasher movie bracket battle at Crypticon 2026 featuring iconic horror characters and i.

Crypticon Seattle 2026: The Slasher Movie King of the Mountain Bracket Battle Results

At Crypticon Seattle, we held a Slasher Movie King of the Mountain Bracket Battle to decide the greatest slasher movie of all time. Cheers, groans, hoots, and pleading were all part of the event. I asked the audience to get loud, and they made it happen! The final four were from franchises that would not surprise you, but the actual champion was not a highly seeded favorite. Who won? Check out the full interactive bracket right here!
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A haunting figure wearing a skull mask with spikes, evoking fear and unease.

Parasomnia (2025): Overlook Film Festival Review

★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

Intensity 🩸🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

The Southern Gothic film Parasomnia dips into the "dream demon" trope, infusing it with a voodoo twist and a delicious betrayal to spice up the story. Solid performances and carefully crafted character relationships help offset a somewhat pedestrian depiction of the demon.

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Buffet Infinity movie poster with a burger and fries, vintage comic style, humorous and surreal imag.

The Overlook Film Festival 2026 Recap: Ep. 211

Another year, another Overlook Film Festival, one of the premier genre festivals in the country. Unfortunately, this year, the main players of The Scariest Things were unable to attend the festival in person. Eric was able to get some of the films to stream, but, as is the norm, remote screeners were limited and did not include the showcase films. Fortunately for us, one of our loyal Patreon Contributors, Robin Marcotte, was in attendance again, and she helped fill in the gaps we missed. This year, there were a number of good films, and according to Robin, one GREAT film. This year, we watched fourteen films and thirty shorts. Give our recap a listen to hear our thoughts on the 2026 Overlook presentation.
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A man in a red shirt with hands raised inside a pawnshop.

Buffet Infinity (2026): Overlook Film Festival Review

★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

Intensity 🩸🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Buffet Infinity is a film as strange as its name. This lo-fi cosmic-horror oddity spins its story through local advertisements that slowly escalate from commercial competition to societal domination. It is a clever concept that takes a while to comprehend, but it manages to combine initially incongruent media into a cohesive story of dread and destruction.

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American Dollhouse (2026): Overlook Film Festival Review

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

Intensity 🩸🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

American Dollhouse is what you get when a slow-burning liminal horror film decides to step on the gas and slams you into psycho murder madness. Sarah is a woman who hasn't been given many breaks in her life. When she inherits her dilapidated childhood home, she thinks she has struck the lottery. Unfortunately, the house retains awful memories, and worse yet, has a psychotic neighbor who has a strange obsession with her. Tensions rise as the neighbor's behavior escalates into violence, pushing Sarah deeper into a nightmare that threatens everything around her.

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