Episoder

  • Due to some scheduling adjustments and coinciding with some proximal current events, we bring to you a very different episode this week. Each week, we explore what scares us in order to find what saves us. This week, we're digging a little deeper on the last part of that motto.

    Whether you are burnt out, stressed, worried, anxious, fearful, saddened, burdened, confused, lonely, or all of the above and more, we hope to offer you just a few words of encouragement and hope this week.

    Reed is joined by friends of the show Andrew Nelson, Vera Goudie, and Dave Courtney for an open-hearted conversation about what we turn to when we're seeking hope or strength. From the simple practice of finding something to do with our hands to the creative meditations of a story or song, we're offering up a few things that we hope will make you feel just a little bit better and a little bit less alone.

    We'll be back next week with our regularly scheduled programming, but for this week we want you to take a moment to breathe and we hope this episode helps you feel just a little bit better. Thank you for listening.

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  • We have finally arrived at the primary reason we chose to march through the Alien franchise this spooky season (AHHHHH). As we've made our way through #halloweylanyutani, we've had the 2024 release of the latest installment in our minds. So now, after all the facehugging, chestbursting, and j-j-j-j-jaw-dropping conversations, we have finally arrived at ALIEN: ROMULUS.

    We sit down with two old friends, Blake Collier and Andy Whitfield, while all nestled together in a cabin in the California mountains to discuss why this film seems to have successfully reinvigorated the franchise 7 years after Alien: Covenant, what works and doesn't about this return to form, and the compelling way this particular entry explores our relationship with our technological and artificial companions.

    It's an earnest and thoughtful conversation and we really hope you enjoy it!

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  • This week we feature our second Redux episode in the Alien Franchise run for Spooky Season (AHHHHH) #Halloweylanyutani. Redux episodes feature films we've covered on the show before but with fresh takes, new voices, and lots of renewed perspectives. This time around we're joined by friends of the show Vera Goudie and Matt Ruff to unpack the often frustrating specifics of ALIEN: COVENANT. Following the more polarizing response to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant feels like a deliberate correction -- perhaps an overcorrection -- away from the more thematic, existential questions the franchise was posing to get back to more xenomorphic carnage. The result is a film that abounds in wasted potential, though not without its moments.

    Also featuring a Patron only segment with our final Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode for this year, this is a hearty, lively, and thoughtful discussion we really hope you enjoy!

    Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XV

    5:48 - ALIEN: COVENANT

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  • We continue our Spooky Season (AHHHH) run through the iconic Alien franchise (#Halloweylanyutani) with the film that saw the return of Ridley Scott to the film series that he had originally launched. PROMETHEUS initially played things a bit light on whether or not it actually was an Alien film, choosing instead to go for philosophical and existential ideas exploring our origins and our purposes within the framework of alien worlds.

    We invite friends of the show Jess Fischli, Andrew Nelson, and Steve Beckley for a wonderful and hearty conversation full of thoughtful questions, poignant observations, and an absurd amount of laughter. Also featuring a Patron only segment covering The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XIV, this is an extremely fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!

    Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIV

    9:52 - PROMETHEUS

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  • We have a fun October Surprise for you this morning. We invited now-frequent guest and friend of the show Dr. David Gushee to discuss with us his newly released book, THE MORAL TEACHINGS OF JESUS: Radical Instruction in the Will of God.

    The book focuses on 40 unique moral teachings of Jesus from throughout the gospels and can be read as intermittent devotions, as a scholarly text, as a community of dialogue with friends and peers, or as a means to challenge yourself with the astonishing relevance, power, and gravity of the teachings of Jesus for our current world.

    We dive into how the book came to be and why such a text is so important, perhaps now more than ever, and then we open up a listener mail bag to explore thoughtful questions about politics, theology, church community, and faithfully walking in the way Jesus taught us.

    This is a conversation we are very grateful to have had, and we hope you enjoy it!

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  • We continue our Spooky Season (AHHHHH) run through the Alien franchise with unquestionably the silliest and most absurd entry in the franchise: ALIEN: RESURRECTION. After Ellen Ripley is cloned centuries following her death, she is forced to unite with a renegade group of space pirates to destroy the newest iteration of the Xenomorph species, including facehuggers, Xenomorphs, a queen, and a new monstrous hybrid creation unlike anything she'd ever seen. We're joined by friends of the show Drew Pasanen and Jackson Harper to laugh, critique, defend, and generally dissect all of the "very 90s" nooks and crannies of this gonzo installment.

    Also featuring a Patron-only segment about THE SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XIII, this is a lively and fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy!

    Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIII

    5:15 - ALIEN: RESURRECTION

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  • We continue our Spooky Season franchise run of the Alien films (#Halloweylandyutani) with an examination of the notoriously troubled production and polarizing finished product that was David Fincher's directorial debut: ALIEN3. We're joined this week by friends of the show and fellow podcasters Lindsey Dunn and Blake Collier (hosts of the shows 1ofmystories and Fly By Films respectively). Together we try to make sense of what this film was trying to be and how well (or not) it succeeded.

    Also featuring a Patron-only segment where Reed and Nathan dive into The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XII, this is a really fun discussion and we hope you enjoy it!

    Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XII

    5:55 - ALIEN3

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  • We have another special interview episode for you this week featuring writer/director Michael Felker talking with us about his new film THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT. The film is released to theaters and VOD as of October 4th, and we had the chance to sit down with Michael to discuss its lush production, its innovative and thought-provoking premise, and its often profound emotional qualities.

    The film centers on two estranged siblings who, following a robbery, evade the authorities by hiding in a unique house which permits them to be displaced in time. While there, sudden unexpected challenges push their familial bond to its devastating limit. We had a wonderful discussion with Michael about his film's production, its themes, and -- remarkably -- the Legend of Zelda.

    It's a fun discussion and an excellent film. We hope you'll check out the film and our chat and we hope you enjoy them both!

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  • We continue our spooky season franchise run (#Halloweyalnd-utani) with the next stop in the Alien franchise: ALIENS. Writer/Director James Cameron took inspiration from Ridley Scott's horror/sci-fi landmark and expanded both the scope and the possibilities with his own vision of a more action-packed, brisker paced thrill ride. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley, accompanied by a host of gun-stacked space marines, a corporate shill, and an android she cannot bring herself to trust. Cameron's vision opened the storytelling possibilities for this franchise and arguably made it possible to continue with any further sequels at all.

    Joining us to unpack all of the thematic, aesthetic, and narrative layers of Aliens is Sarah Welch-Larson, author of the excellent book, Becoming Alien (which we highly recommend you check out). Also featuring a Patron-only segment covering the laughs and joys of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XI, it's a thoughtful and fun episode that we really hope you enjoy!

    5:13 - Two Questions with guest, Sarah Welch-Larson

    19:43 - Becoming Alien: The Beginning and End of Evil in Science Fiction's Most Idiosyncratic Franchise by Sarah Welch-Larson

    Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XI

    26:47 - ALIENS

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  • It's almost Spooky Season once again at The Fear of God and this year, we're keeping the annual tradition alive of marching through a whole franchise by tackling deep space, where no one can hear you scream. That's right, we'll be making our way through the entire ALIEN franchise through the rest of September and October, and we start this week with a Redux conversation about the landmark original by Ridley Scott.

    We're joined aboard the Nostromo by friends of the show Brandon Grafius and Matt Murray to unpack why this franchise is not only still captivating and relevant, but why it also seems to stand apart from its peers as respected beyond the trappings of its genre.

    Also featuring a Patron-only chat about the recently released ALIEN: ROMULUS, this is a hearty, lively, and thoughtful discussion that we hope you enjoy!

    Patron Only Segment: ALIEN: ROMULUS

    14:36 - ALIEN REDUX

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  • We close down our march through a handful of recent Dracula-inspired films by taking a look at last year's RENFIELD. Starring Nicholas Hoult and Akwafina, Renfield is an energetic, humorous, and remarkably thoughtful take on codependency, oppressive relationships, and rampant injustice. Oh.... and Nic Cage plays Dracula.

    We're joined this week by FoGers and friends, Vera Goudie and John Viinalass to unpack all the mayhem, all the laughs, and the disarming amount of depth this film carries with it. Also featuring a "Whatcha" Patron-Only segment, we really hope you enjoy our conversation!

    Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

    8:02 - RENFIELD

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  • We continue our series of recent takes on the Dracula mythos by examining last year's THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER. Nestled in the first third of Bram Stoker's original novel is the tale of a ship which unknowingly carried Dracula from his homeland to London, losing crew member after crew member along the way. Until now, that specific chapter had never been given a deeper cinematic exploration. The result, directed by Andrew Ovredal, has a sleek production, competent performances, and a well-structured script. But we are joined by FoG friend Dave Courtney to debate how well the film captures the themes it's so clearly interested in.

    With apologies for the slightly late release, we hope you enjoy this week's episode!

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  • We have another special interview for you this week, this time with Mikael Hafstrom, director of 1408, The Rite, and his latest film, SLINGSHOT (in theaters August 30th). Slingshot tells the story of an expedition into deep space, where a small crew must execute a risky slingshot maneuver propelling off of Jupiter's orbit. When the mission's security becomes questionably compromised, one particular crew member (Casey Affleck) must fight to maintain his grip on reality amidst possible hallucinations, potentially faulty equipment, and fellow crewmates possibly more precariously compromised than he is. While the film's space narrative proceeds, we also witness the blossoming romance Affleck's character left back on earth, and the relationship between the two experiences may prove more consequential than he could have imagined.

    Slingshot is a love story, a mind-bending science fiction drama, and an existential exploration of isolation and the importance of connection. It's an excellent film that we hope everyone checks out and we hope you enjoy our conversation about it with director Mikael Hafstrom.

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  • We continue our series this week on recent interpretations of Dracula with a subversively entertaining new thriller from the Radio Silence boys: ABIGAIL. When a motley crew of kidnappers take captive a young girl, they are locked in a mansion for 24 hours while the man who hired them seeks ransom. Little do they know, but quickly do they discover, that this is no ordinary job and they're holding captive no ordinary girl.

    We're joined by recurring guests Jackson Harper and Jocee Worley for a laugh-filled chat about this highly enjoyable film that may have some quibble-worthy elements but is overall a simply fantastic time at the movies. This conversation was a real blast and we hope you enjoy it!

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  • We kick off a brand new mini-series this week all about the most infamous bloodsucker in all of culture. Earlier this year, we drilled down on some recent films which were inspired by Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. Coincidentally, the same thing has been happening with Bram Stoker's original classic vampire tale, inspiring a handful of films in the last year or two based upon different aspects of the Dracula story.

    So we start this series with a direct adaptation, one which forever influenced the way vampires were depicted in pop culture entirely. 1992's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a lush and excessive production full of gothic grandeur and theatricality. It features incredible performances from Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins and a script which drills in on the concept of lost love, abandonment of faith, and the nature of appetite and longing. We're joined this week by fellow film critic and host of the "1 of my Stories" podcast, Lindsey Dunn, to discuss the film's rich tapestry of religious symbolism, desperate romance, and -- of course -- bloodsucking vampires.

    Also featuring a Patron-only segment where we catch up on our "Whatchas", this is a fun and hearty episode that we really hope you enjoy.

    6:24 - Getting to Know Lindsey Dunn

    Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

    15:52 - BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA

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  • In October of 2019, we covered this horror sci-fi landmark as part of our #ilovethe70s series. This week, we're revisiting it as part of our tribute to the late Donald Sutherland. This time around, we've invited two friends of the show: bestselling author Matt Ruff and Gorey Gamer Matt Murray. We all have a tremendous amount of positive things to say about this excellent film that explores paranoia, humanity, and societal destabilization. It holds up remarkably even almost 50 years since its release.

    Also featuring a Patron-only "Whatcha" segment, this is a fun conversation that we really hope you enjoy.

    Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To?

    5:31 - INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS Redux

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  • We have another very special bonus interview for you today featuring writer and director Marcus Dunstan. Marcus first broke into the industry as a co-writer for the winning screenplay of Project Greenlight season 3, on which Wes Craven himself was an advisor. From there, he's directed The Collector, The Collection, Pilgrim, Unhuman, and co-written nearly half of the Saw franchise.

    His latest film, out in theaters and on demand as of August 2nd, is #AMFAD ALL MY FRIENDS ARE DEAD. When a group of friends rent an Airbnb to attend the biggest music festival of the year, their plans quickly turn sour when someone begins killing them one by one, each according to one of the seven deadly sins.

    Marcus was gracious enough to sit down with us to talk about his inspirations for this latest piece and what makes working within the horror genre such a rewarding joy. Check out our conversation and check out Marcus's latest film. We hope you enjoy both!

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  • We continue our series paying tribute to the late Donald Sutherland by covering an unconventional, Oscar-winning thriller from 1971. KLUTE tells the story of a man (Sutherland) in search of his missing friend. His only lead is a tempestuous call girl named Bree (Jane Fonda). As the two of them pursue answers to this mystery, a richly layered and disarmingly human story unfolds between them. The film is filled with provocative nuances and challenging subtleties. It's a somewhat demanding, but also rewarding film, that has a lot to say about the ways we present ourselves to each other and what that says about who we truly are.

    This conversation also features a Patron-only segment where we share some preliminary thoughts on the recent horror film starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe that's been generating a ton of buzz: Longlegs. We hope you enjoy it!

    Patron Only Segment: Oz Perkins' Longlegs

    9:33 - KLUTE

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  • We continue our tribute series to the late Donald Sutherland with a film that is perhaps more well known for the shadow cast by its sibling TV series. Scripted by Joss Whedon, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER tells the story of valley girl cheerleader Buffy who learns that she was born destined to rid the world of evil vampires. Sutherland plays her trainer and mentor Merrick in a cast that also features Rutger Hauer, Luke Perry, David Arquette, and a delightfully funny turn from Paul Reubens.

    We're joined this week by regular FoG voice Vera Goudie and long-time-listener-first-time-caller Ned Canepa in a conversation that is brisk, fun, and full of laughs at this bonkers, tonally confused, and somehow still totally fun film. We hope you enjoy our conversation!

    8:03 - BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

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  • We kick off a new mini-series this week celebrating the work of the late Donald Sutherland, who passed away last month. We start by one of the most highly regarded horror films in his whole catalog: the dread-soaked, melancholy tale of grief and premonition called DON'T LOOK NOW.

    Set in Venice amidst the tragedy of a deceased child, married couple John and Laura (Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie) are trying to move on with their lives when two older women approach them with the news that their daughter is in a happier place now, but is trying to warn them. The encounter sparks a chain of events that touches on matters of memory, intimacy, faith, and ultimately horror as they seek to make sense of what to do next.

    Also featuring our preliminary thoughts on Ti West's recent thriller MaXXXine, exclusively for our Patrons, this is a thoughtful, contemplative, and often disarmingly funny conversation that we really hope you enjoy.

    Patron Only Segment: Ti West's MaXXXine

    4:00 - DON'T LOOK NOW

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