The Horror Comedy Hangout

Send us Fan Mail

In this review of Dolly, I break down why this gritty, grindhouse slasher worked so well for me. With strong Texas Chain Saw Massacre vibes, a disturbing new killer, and a raw 1970s-style aesthetic, this film feels like a throwback to when horror was simple, brutal, and effective.

I talk about what makes Dolly stand out—from its uncomfortable atmosphere and practical gore to its potential new horror icon—while also touching on some of the flaws critics are pointing out.

If you're a fan of old-school slashers and dirty, backwoods horror, this might be one for you… but it’s definitely not for everyone.

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of After the Scream, we break down Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! — and let’s just say… we did not walk out feeling the same way.

Set in a stylized, gothic 1930s Chicago, the film follows Frankenstein’s Monster (Christian Bale) as he convinces a scientist to resurrect a murdered woman (Jessie Buckley) as his companion. But when the Bride awakens with her own will — and rage — the two outsiders plunge into the city’s criminal underworld while trying to figure out what it means to truly be alive.

The film mixes Frankenstein horror, gangster noir, feminist revenge story, musical numbers, and art-house satire— and that’s exactly where things get complicated.

One of us walked out mad, the other walked out confused.

We talk about:

• Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ambitious but chaotic direction
• Jessie Buckley’s incredible performance as the Bride
• Christian Bale’s underused Monster
• The film’s heavy feminist themes and “female rage” angle
• The strange meta-narrative involving Mary Shelley
• And why the movie might collapse under the weight of its own ideas

Is The Bride! a bold reinvention of Frankenstein mythology… or a self-indulgent mess?

Let’s talk about it.

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

SCREAM 7 REVIEW | Nostalgia vs Substance? Is the Satire Still There?

Chris and Jess are divided.

In this episode of After the Scream, we break down Scream 7 and the big question surrounding the franchise right now — is it still sharp satire, or has it become the very thing it used to mock?

Jess felt the nostalgia worked. The callbacks, the legacy energy, and the return to familiar territory felt earned and emotional. Chris? Not so much. For him, Scream 7 leaned too heavily on nostalgia and comfort instead of pushing the franchise forward.

We also talk about:

• Is the satire still effective in a seventh installment?
• Does self-awareness still feel clever — or predictable?
• Can a franchise critique repetition while repeating itself?
• Was the nostalgia meaningful… or overused?

We were both excited to see Neve Campbell return and to have Kevin Williamson back in the creative mix — but does that alone make the film work?

Is Scream 7 running on nostalgia… or evolving the meta commentary that made the original Scream iconic?

Drop a comment and pick a side:
Are you Team Nostalgia… or Not Fooled?

#Scream7 #ScreamReview #HorrorPodcast #AfterTheScream #Ghostface

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

In this review of Cold Storage (2026), we break down the new horror-comedy starring Liam Neeson and Joe Keery and ask a bigger question: Do horror comedies actually work?
Cold Storage follows two night-shift employees trapped inside a self-storage facility after a decades-old government experiment — a fast-mutating parasitic fungus — escapes containment. What starts as strange alarms underground turns into full-blown body horror chaos, mutations, and a race to stop an outbreak before it spreads beyond the building.

In this episode, we discuss:

What worked in Cold Storage (performances, creature concept, contained setting)
Where the movie struggled (tone balance, tension, pacing)

Whether the humor strengthens or weakens the horror

And if horror-comedies can truly scare you while making you laugh

Is Cold Storage a successful horror-comedy?

Does comedy kill fear?

Or can both genres coexist without canceling each other out?

If you’re into horror movie reviews, creature features, horror-comedy debates, and film analysis, this episode dives deep into what makes the genre mashup succeed — or fail.

Let us know in the comments:

What’s your favorite horror-comedy?
Did Cold Storage scare you, or was it just a fun ride?

#ColdStorage #HorrorComedy #MovieReview #HorrorMovies #FilmPodcast #LiamNeeson #JoeKeery

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

This week, we sit down with filmmaker, writer, director, and producer Trent Duncan to talk about his latest film, Axes and Os, dropping on Amazon and Apple this weekend.
From crafting a Valentine’s Day horror film to creating a Galentine’s film project, Trent breaks down how he essentially made two films from one bold concept. 

As a film professor, he gives us a full-on masterclass in horror filmmaking — covering story development, shooting efficiently, stretching a budget, and navigating the realities of independent distribution.

We dive into how Axes and Os came together, how he got the film onto major streaming platforms, and what indie filmmakers need to understand about the business side of horror. 

If you’re into independent film, smart production strategy, and learning how to actually get your movie seen, this episode is packed with insight.

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

In this review of The Strangers: Chapter 3, we’re split. Jess enjoyed it, while I didn’t connect as much. The film has some strong, brutal moments, solid performances, and is shot really well, but messy writing, pacing issues, and unnecessary story choices hold it back. 
It leans into a darker, more twisted relationship angle that works in moments but doesn’t feel needed overall. In the end, there’s a good, unsettling film buried inside a bad one — it just never fully gets out.

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of After the Scream, I break down Sam Raimi’s latest film, Send Help — a wild, darkly funny survival thriller that blends horror and comedy in a way only Raimi can pull off. I talk about the great acting by Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, the movieis well-shot cinematography, and the tense power struggle between the two leads that kept me unsure who to root for. 

Critics and audiences alike have praised the movie’s unpredictable tone and clever script, and it’s been earning some of Raimi’s best reviews in years, with a very strong Rotten Tomatoes score.

But this isn’t Evil Dead–style horror comedy — it’s more of a psychological survival battle with sharp humor and absurd moments, and at times the CGI and tonal shifts feel a bit off compared to Raimi’s classics.

Whether you loved it, found it weird, or think Raimi still has that signature kick, this episode breaks it all down — the good, the bad, the different — and my final rating.
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments!

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

Osgood Perkins is one of the most divisive voices in modern horror — and that’s exactly why we had to talk about him.

In this episode, Chris and Jess break down why Perkins’ films feel so different from everything else in the genre. From The Blackcoat’s Daughter to I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, Longlegs, and The Keeper, his movies trade jump scares for atmosphere, silence, and emotional dread — and not everyone is on board.

Is this “thinking man’s horror” pushing the genre forward… or is it alienating audiences who just want to be scared?

We dig into:

• What makes Osgood Perkins’ style so unique
• Why his films are slow, quiet, and deeply unsettling
• Why some horror fans love him — and others can’t stand his work
• Whether this kind of psychological, arthouse horror is the future of the genre
• And why his films linger long after the credits roll

Love the slow burn? Hate the ambiguity? Somewhere in between?

This episode isn’t about agreeing — it’s about what we want horror to be.

 Let us know where you stand in the comments.

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of After the Scream with Chris & Jess, we dive into The Keeper, a slow-burn, atmospheric horror film that sparked a very different reaction between the two of us.

Chris really connected with this one. It’s a quiet, thoughtful, and emotionally heavy film that leans more into mood and meaning than jump scares. Jess, on the other hand, didn’t feel the same way, and that contrast made for a great conversation. This is definitely one of those movies that depends on what you’re looking for when you sit down to watch.

We break down:

• Why The Keeper plays more like arthouse horror
• The emotional weight and themes beneath the surface
• The slow-burn pacing and heavy atmosphere
• Why this kind of horror works for some people—and absolutely doesn’t for others

This isn’t a loud or flashy movie. It asks you to pay attention, sit with discomfort, and think about what it’s really saying. If you like emotional horror, restrained storytelling, and films that linger with you, this might be your kind of experience. If not, it may leave you cold.

So the big question: should you see The Keeper—or skip it?
We break it all down.

Come scream (quietly) with us.

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of After the Scream with Chris & Jess, I break down one of the more surprising HORROR films to come along recently. It’s creepy, intense, and genuinely scary at times—while also clearly pulling inspiration from some truly iconic horror and sci-fi films.

I talk about what works, what doesn’t, and why certain moments really got under my skin. From the tension and atmosphere to the performances and themes, this movie knows how to build unease and keep you locked in. It may not reinvent the genre, but it understands it—and uses that knowledge in smart (and unsettling) ways.

I also dive into:

• What films it feels inspired by
• Why some scenes are far more effective than expected
• The scares that actually land
• And the big question: is this one worth your time?

If you’re a fan of intelligent genre films that blend suspense, horror, and big ideas, this is definitely one to talk about.

Watch, then come scream with us.

Support the show

Follow us at 
https://www.instagram.com/thehorrorcomedyhangout?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Email us at https://thehorrorcomedyhangout.com/

Thanks for hanging with us at the Horror Comedy Hangout—where the scares are real, but the laughs might kill you! See you next time... if you survive