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Quiet Little Horrors

Quiet Little Horrors

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A podcast about films of quiet horror

Quiet Little Horrors

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Episode 04.15: Skinamarink

We get experimental and existential with the minimalist horror of Skinamarink, the best low-budget way to relive your latchkey kid childhood trauma. Since this month's episodes are tied to haunted houses, we also discuss the short internet art film My house walk-through, another very fun and chill exploration of how simple things can scare the hell out of us on film.

Episode 04.14: The Other Carries

Now that we've discussed the original Carrie, we decided to look at both remakes and, just for good measure, the sequel. So in this episode we're talking about Carrie from 2002, Carrie from 2013, and The Rage: Carrie 2 from 1999, and, more importantly, what it is about this story that leads us back to it again and again.

Episode 04.13: Carrie (1976)

We usually play in the deeper, more obscure end of horror film, so this is probably the most well-known film we've covered so far—but there is plenty to talk about, psychologially speaking, in the original Carrie: the ultimate in slow-burn horror, buried female rage, and the explosive danger of being a teenage girl.

Episode 04.12: Jennifer's Body

We join the march to give Jennifer's Body its long overdue flowers. Demonic possession, the intense and complicated friendships between teenage girls, and how the filmmakers got done dirty by the media. Turn it up.

Episode 04.11: Possession

We could not in good conscience call ourselves a psychological horror podcast if we did not, at some point, discuss Possession, and now it's time. Infidelity, esponiage, losing one's mind in a subway, sex with eldritch horrors. There's a lot to discuss. Gird your loins.

Episode 04.10: Picnic at Hanging Rock

It's summer for us at Quiet Little Horrors, so it's the perfect season to picnic, loll dreamily on the lawn, and disappear into an ancient, mysterious rock formation, never to be seen by humans again. We get metaphorical with our coming-of-age theme while discussing 1975's Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Episode 04.09: Hatching

This month we're looking at some bloody coming of age tales, beginning with the 2022 Finnish film Hatching, which is half weirdly adorable creature feature and half what damage girls have do to deal with their inherited demons.

Episode 04.08: The Mafu Cage

We continue our discussion of twisted sisters with this overlooked gem of 1970s psychological horror: The Mafu Cage, featuring Carol Kane and Lee Grant as a pair of codependent siblings who drag each other past the point of repair. Content warning for implied animal harm (nothing graphic) and incest.

Episode 04.07: Sisters

This month we're taking on a couple of films about the relationships between twisted sisters, starting, appropriately enough, with Sisters, from Brian De Palma in 1972. We discuss women who cause trouble, women who aren't believed, and women who might not be what they seem.

Episode 04.06: You Are Not My Mother

And we're back! Apologies for the interruption in regular podcast programming. But we return with the second half of our discussion of modern Irish horror and a look at Kate Dolan's 2021's film You Are Not My Mother, which twists expectations of metaphorical folklore in fascinating ways.

Episode 04.05: Irish Horror

Our first episode of March is a springboard into the quietly blossoming world of contemporary Irish horror film. We discuss the emerging genre, its deep roots in folklore, and two representative recent films: 2015's The Hallow and 2022's Mandrake.

Episode 04.04: The Brood

We continue our Cronenberg discussion with one of his thorniest films, psychologically speaking: 1979's The Brood. Thesis statement: emotions are real and powerful and if you don't process them properly, murderous rage babies will result.

Episode 04.03: The Fly

It's David Cronenberg season here at QLH. We kick off a pair of episodes on his extensive, intensive, and twisted body of work (see what we did there) with 1986's The Fly. We discuss the film's connections to the original, disease metaphors, and the unbearable oddness of being Jeff Goldblum.

Episode 04.02: Lamb

We continue this month's parenthood theme with the 2021 horrific fairy tale Lamb, which turns out to be more than just a weirdly cute A24 marketing campaign. We discuss the dark side of wanting a child, the traditional martyrdom of mothers, and, once again, how fairy tales are actually kind of messed up.

Episode 04.01: Eraserhead

Happy New Year! This month we're discussing films that deal with the topic of parenthood, so the first film we're taking on is, of course, David Lynch's 1977 Eraserhead. What a way to start the year. Hold on to your hair.

Episode 03.11: Butterfly Kisses

It's several complicated layers of found footage horror in our discussion of 2018's Butterfly Kisses. We talk some more about the genre's advantages and limitations, some more of our favorite found footage horror films, and a couple of our least favorite found footage horror films.

Episode 03.11M: We're All Going to the World's Fair

This month we're tackling "found footage" horror films and shaking it up right out of the gate by first discussing this year's We're All Going to the World's Fair, directed by Jane Schoenbrun. We cover the evolution of found footage, internet storytelling culture and how the kind of low-key horror in this form opens up exploration.

Episode 03.10: Near Dark

We wrap up our discussion of 80s horror by going deep into one of the decade's most idiosyncratic offerings: Kathryn Bigelow's solo directorial debut from 1987, Near Dark. Let's talk incredible vibes, the ongoing evolution of the vampire, and Bill f-ing Paxton.

Episode 03.10M: 80s Horror

This month is all about horror films from the 80s. We each talk about a film we find interesting from the era: Jen brings The Hunger and Jessi discusses Inferno—both of which, coincidentally, are part of the current 80s Horror collection streaming on the Criterion Channel.

Episode 03.09: Favorite Horror

Happy Halloween! This month we each brought a film that was influential in our love of horror film. Since our picks were secrets to the other one before recording, we'll keep the bit going and let you discover what films we chose to discuss for yourself.

Episode 03.09M: The Tingler

Happy October! This month we're doing something slightly different and discussing some of our favorite horror movies that we've never talked about on the podcast before. To get warmed up, we chat about the Vincent Price classic The Tingler and what we all get out of watching scary movies in the first place.

Episode 03.08: What's the Matter with Helen?

We continue our discussion of the Hag Horror genre with one of its underappreciated gems: What's the Matter with Helen? Come for Debbie Reynolds dancing, stay for Shelley Winters losing her mind.

Episode 03.08M: Strait-Jacket

It's time for Hagsploitation. We discuss why we unironically love this genre of psychological horror featuring grand dame actresses, starting with Joan Crawford in Strait-Jacket. Find the right axe to match your pearls and join in.

Episode 03.07: The Innocents

A classic of psychological horror, 1961's The Innocents is a delicious mix of all the things we love to talk about: ghosts, sexual deviancy, women losing their minds, etc. We also cover the roots of the story from Henry James's The Turn of the Screw as well as how everyone loved to get all Freudian in the 50s.

Episode 03.07M: Eye of the Cat

Who wouldn't like to chat about elaborate murder plots, sexual deviancy and cats? We gear up for our discussion of this month's full-length episode on The Innocents with a mini episode on 1969's Eye of the Cat.

Episode 03.06: A Dark Song

This month we're covering films with the theme of a loss of a child, and A Dark Song ratchets this theme to a whole new level of transformation. We discuss its complex characterizations, evolving emotions and transcendent turns.

Episode 03.06M: The Changeling

This month we're talking about movies that deal with the loss of a child, beginning with 1980s The Changeling. It's a good start, but this one falls short of what we were hoping for. We discuss the psychological underpinnings we were expecting to see emerge more and how expectations for that sort of thing in horror films have evolved.

Episode 03.05: Gretel & Hansel

We continue our discussion of horror and fairy tales with 2020's Gretel & Hansel, a slow-burn, coming-of-age tale from director Oz Perkins, and dive deeper into our thoughts about how horror mirrors the journey of a girl moving through a challenging world.

Episode 03.05M: The Company of Wolves

The story of Red Riding Hood gets meta and bloody as we kick off a month of fairy tale horror with 1984's The Company of Wolves. We discuss the legacy of fairy tales, the influence of writer Angela Carter and why horror is such a perfect vehicle for female coming-of-age stories.

Episode 03.04: The Medium

We head into a world of Thai folk beliefs, evil spirits and familial strife with 2021's The Medium. This one ends up diving headfirst into traditional horror, but we're more affected by what's going on under the surface.

Episode 03.04M: La Llorona

We begin a month's discussion of folklore in psychological horror film with 2019's La Llorona. Despite its honor as Guatemala's submission for best international film, this one seems to have been overshadowed by lesser films with the same story device, but we think it deserves more recognition for its effective and affecting use of myth.

Episode 03.03: Nightmare Alley (2021)

We continue our month of discussing the intersection between horror and noir with the 2021 adaptation of Nightmare Alley. We compare it to the original adaptation and delve into the differences in character motivations, plus we consider if director Guillermo del Toro's influence tips this film into full "horror" territory.

Episode 03.03M: Nightmare Alley (1947)

This month we discuss the dark intersection between horror and noir, beginning with the 1947 adaptation of Nightmare Alley. Carnivals, cons and a slow descent into fated madness. Fun for the whole family!

Episode 03.02: Relic

We continue this month's discussion of the horror of old age and generational trauma with 2020's Relic, directed by Natalie Erika James. A slow-burn psychological horror woven among three women of the samily but different generations, this one leads to surprisingly tender hidden places.

Episode 03.02M: The Manor

We begin a month of discussion about films dealing with age, disease and generational trauma with 2021's The Manor, which tells us that getting old is really scary and sometimes there are ancient tree demons.

Episode 03.01: The Wind

There's something out there on the prairie. Isolation, jealousy, psychosis, demons—or maybe it's just the wind. We cover it all in our discussion of 2018's The Wind from director Emma Tammi.

Episode 03.01M: Wake in Fright

This month we're discussing wide, open spaces and the horror lying in wait beyond civilization. So what better place to begin than with 1971's Ozploitation classic, Wake in Fright. Topics include the facade of morality, the danger of the outcast and, um, kangaroo hunts. Content warning! This film has very graphic scenes of violence against animals and we talk about it, in general terms, in the episode. Be aware if you haven't seen the film yet.

Episode 02.11: Season 2 Review & Season 3 Preview

It's the end of the year and so it's time for some reflection. We look back on our second season, discuss our favorite episodes and list the goals we have for the podcast next year. This is also a great opportunity to send us feedback or suggest a future film to cover! Email us at hello@quietlittlehorrors.com. Thank you for coming along with us! Happy New Year!

Episode 02.10: Last Night in Soho

We're ending 2021 and our second season with a big one: Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho. It's dazzling, twisty and maybe a little thematically muddled, but talking about what works and what doesn't is a fun ride. This episode's related recommendations: * Stir of Echoes * Sixth Sense * Peeping Tom * Black Swan

Episode 02.10M: Repulsion

We kick off this month's pairing with a classic of the psychological horror genre: Repulsion, directed by Roman Polanski in 1965. Isolation, untreated trauma, the downsides of moving through the world as a woman and also why people should maybe just leave women alone already.

Episode 02.09: Candyman (2021)

We continue our Candyman discussion with the sequel/reimagining from 2021, directed by Nia DaCosta. Spoiler alert: we're a little mixed on this one, with one half of the podcast warmer on it than the other. We cover the threads picked up from the original film, what has happened to Cabrini-Green and Chicago in the meantime and how this film takes on themes of historical racial violence and segregation more deliberately than the first.

Episode 02.09M: Candyman (1992)

In which we forget to determine ahead of time if the "say Candyman five times" rule still applies if you say it over the course of a podcast episode. If so, we're doomed. But, before our doom, we discuss 1992's Candyman. Topics include the history of Chicago's structural racism, this story as gothic horror and the awesomeness of Tony Todd. Strongly recommended reading: Steve Bogira's 1987 Chicago Reader article about the real-life case that might have inspired parts of Candyman's storyline, "They Came in Through the Bathroom Mirror."

Episode 02.08: The Invitation

We continue our month-long cult discussion with Karyn Kusama's 2015 The Invitation. We talk about the patterns of imprisonment, overwhelming grief and how this film's cult deals with grief differently than the one in our earlier mini episode. Also which cult we would prefer to join, just in case we ever have to make that decision (you never know).

Episode 02.08M: Midsommar

We kick off a month of cults and grief with 2019's Midsommar and discuss emotional catharsis, the humor of dark absurdity and inventive ways of dealing with horrible boyfriends.

Episode 02.07: Suspiria (1977)

We continue our Suspiria discussion by taking a look at the original 1977 film, which we overall like better than the newer version. We talk about the context of giallo, the film's visual and audio flair and the mysteries of the connections between women.

Episode 02.07M: Suspiria (2018)

This month we take on both incarnations of the Italian horror staple Suspiria, beginning with the 2018 version—of which, spoiler alert, we are not terribly fond. We'll discuss what the new one adds and what the new one is missing, with a detour to praise performances and a couple of set pieces.

Episode 02.06: Images

Hallucinations, apparitions and doppelgangers, oh my. Director Robert Altman's only foray into horror film is a rich psychological landscape where Susanna York battles fears, insecurities and reality itself. We discuss the various layers of theme and metaphor, the stunning contributions from the filmmaking team and the complex woman at the heart of the story. This is the kind of film we made this podcast for.

Episode 02.06M: Rosemary's Baby

Are women losing their minds or is it just Satan? So hard to tell. We kick off a month of women experiencing questionable reality with a brief discussion about Rosemary's Baby.

Episode 02.05: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

This month we talk about the grand dame of the "Grand Dame Guignol" genre: Robert Aldrich's 1962 film, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? We discuss the horror the movies make of women aging, the twisted relationships between competive women and the dark psychology behind the demands of showbiz. Plus: Bette Davis and Joan Crawford gossip drama.

Episode 02.04: The Wailing

Strangers, ghosts, illnesses, possessions, impotence, murders and legends meet and mix in 2016's The Wailing, an exquisite piece of South Korean folk horror. We discuss the film's twists and turns, its intersection of religion and folklore, and the way it reflects and heightens the confusion of the modern world.

Episode 02.04M: Parasite

We begin a month of South Korean film with Parasite, a movie that isn't horror but isn't not horror either. We discuss its unique yet universal perspectives, how expertly it uses metaphor and subtext and the darkness it reveals at every level.

Episode 02.03: Crimson Peak

Cinematic gothic horror gone wild, Crimson Peak is a lush, romantic descent into visual styling and spectacular terror. We discuss the tradition of gothic horror, how to interpret this film in the context of its influences and the power of what's underneath its flourish.

Episode 02.03M: The House of Usher

We begin our descent into florid, sensational gothic horror cinema with 1960s The House of Usher. We discuss how Roger Corman and Vincent Price bring Edgar Allan Poe to technicolor life and how the classic story elements set a new standard for gothic horror in film.

Episode 02.02: The Haunting

As a classic adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting is one of the all-time great psychological horror films. We discuss how it employs character, atmosphere and subtext to create fear, how it depicts the societal contraints placed on midcentury women and how it gets Shirley Jackson right.

Episode 02.02M: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

In which we introduce mini episodes: short episodes covering films connected in some way to upcoming full monthly episodes. This month we're discussing adaptations of work by writer Shirley Jackson. Here we talk about 2018's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, directed by Stacie Passon, and consider domestic horror, handling unreliable narrators in film and the inherent difficulties in adapting Jackson's stories.

Episode 02.01: The Babadook

An acclaimed Australian horror film, The Babadook presents the danger of repressed grief and calls into question whether we manifest our own monsters. We discuss this untraditional horror and how it beautifully represents the everyday stressors—from single parenthood, to external judgements—that can cause the most damage.

Episode 01.06: The Lighthouse

We wrap up our first season with a bookend of our first episode: director Robert Egger's second film, The Lighthouse, which gives us the opportunity to discuss mythology, masculinity, isolation and reality. And Willem Dafoe's beard.

Episode 01.05: The Wicker Man

It's time to discuss the gold standard of folk horror on film, 1973's The Wicker Man. We explore the various themes around nature, religion, and culture as well as the tension between expression and repression. And also how great Christopher Lee is.

Episode 01.04: The Others

Ghosts, fogs, mysterious illnesses, creepy servants and Nicole Kidman slowly coming unhinged: We revisit 2001's gothic-tinged haunted house story, The Others, to discuss the themes of invaders, motherhood and coming to terms with what we can't control.

Episode 01.03: Hereditary

Ari Aster's debut feature takes on family demons, inside and out. We discuss what Hereditary says about parents and children and how we pass along what we can't handle ourselves.

Episode 01.02: Carnival of Souls

A cult classic movie that inspired the likes of Night of the Living Dead, this little movie out of Kansas highlights some of the real everyday horrors such as gender conformity, trauma, and lurking threats. Carnival of Souls is a great lesson in male gaze of the 60s and how even an unpolished film can be great.

Episode 01.01: The Witch

A slow-burn witch tale turned on its head. We explore how director Robert Eggers uses film to guide our perception to tell this tale of survival against the wilds in New England. Masculine toxicity, isolationism, coming of age, and general fear of the unknown play a key role in this film as we continually question: what’s really witchcraft and what’s not.

Episode 0: About the Podcast

Quiet Little Horrors is a new podcast discussing films of quiet horror. In this first intro episode, get quick insight into how the podcast was born and what your hosts, Jessi and Jen, hope to accomplish in Season 1. You’ll hear what we love about these types of movies, why we are drawn to them, and how we think they are a rising sub-genre in the industry.

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