Horror Joy

Jeff and Brian are joined by director Rod Blackhurst about his forthcoming independent horror film Dolly, releasing in theaters only on March 6, 2026.
Blackhurst explains how horror can produce joy by confronting internal dread—identity loss, isolation, and moral extremity—through a cinematic language that bypasses reason and provokes visceral response.
He describes Dolly as an extreme, unrelenting film rooted in a real person’s fears about inheriting a “monster” mother’s traits, and as a collision between opposing views of motherhood and family.
Dolls function as uncanny stand-ins for children and chosen family, with a larger, partially withheld mythology.
Blackhurst discusses casting, including Sean William Scott’s dramatic role and Fabianne Therese’s demanding lead performance, emphasizing actor safety, and he rejects “torture porn” as his aim. He also reflects on gatekeeping, genre labels, influences like Barbarian, and using proof-of-concept shorts (Baby Girl, Night Swim) to get features made.

This episode of Horror Joy turns to academic horror through Mariama Diallo’s 2022 film Master, set at the fictional elite Ancaster University. Our discussion treats the film’s central claim that what haunts is not the past but the present and future: racism, microaggressions, elitism, and the suffocating atmosphere of tradition.
We welcome returning guest T (S. Trimble Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Toronto) and first-time guest Joe Vallese (NYU faculty fellow, expository writing), editor of It Came From the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror.
The conversation then unpacks Master’s slow-burn dread: Gail Bishop (Regina Hall), the newly appointed first Black master; Jasmine, a first-year Black student; and Liv, a professor up for tenure, all navigating both explicit racism and subtler academic violence.
We discuss the Scarlet Letter as a canonical text used to police interpretation and power in the classroom, including Jasmine’s failing grade and the gaslighting embedded in academic evaluation.

In this episode of Horror Joy, we dive into the intertwining relationship between horror and joy with guest Daisy Pierce, author of 'Something in the Walls,' 'The Missing,' and 'The Silence.'
Daisy shares her thoughts on how horror provides a safe outlet for experiencing fear and anxiety, and discusses her origins and influences as a writer.
We explore the different cultural approaches to folklore in the US and UK, the power dynamics behind traditions, and the challenges of writing horror, especially from a female perspective.
Daisy also touches on her interest in ghost hunting and shares some recent horror media that has brought her joy.
Find Daisy at https://daisypearce.com/

In this episode of 'Horror Joy,' Jeff and Brian delve into Robert Rodriguez's 1998 film 'The Faculty.'
The episode explores the film's portrayal of high school alienation, the nineties cultural backdrop, and the use of alien parasites as a metaphor for societal issues.
We discuss the film’s all-star cast, its nostalgic nineties aesthetic, and its underlying themes related to drugs, authority figures, and football culture.
The episode also highlights the anti-lesbianism strain evident in late nineties teen movies and the joy found in the film’s tongue-in-cheek horror elements.

In this episode of Horror Joy's 'Meet Your Maker', we delve into a conversation with Stoker award-winning author Emily C. Hughes.
We discuss her book 'Horror for Weenies', designed to help the faint-hearted navigate through significant horror films.
Emily talks about the relationship between horror and joy, citing examples of modern twists on classic horror tropes.
She shares her personal journey from being a scaredy-cat to a lover of horror, underlining the importance of community and invitation in appreciating the genre.
Emily also highlights some of her current favorite horror films, books, and games, drawing attention to the breadth and appeal of horror.