Scary’s Voices Halloween Spooktacular: Audio Dramas
Greetings spooky fiends! Hope your earbuds haven’t been collecting dust since my last batch of podcast recommendations, but if they have it’s time to clear out the cobwebs. From now through the end of the month, I’ll be helping you to amp up your Halloween season with some shows I think you’ll scream over.
These posts are partly a “best of” list from my first full year of exploring the vast expanse of horror podcast content, with a few new recommendations along the way. And, since I’m looking back and feeling nostalgic, I thought the best place to start is where Scary’s Voices all began – Audio Dramas.
Linda Listens
The very first podcast review I did was for Linda Listens written and performed by Augie Peterson. Spanning 6 main episodes ranging in length from 5 to 15 minutes, plus a Halloween special, the series is like a podcast within a podcast. Main character Linda is a middle-aged woman trying to rediscover herself and heal her traumas a few years following the tragic deaths of her husband, daughter, and son. Acting on the suggestion of her therapist, Linda starts a podcast called “Linda Listens” where she hopes to provide advice to questions posed by her Twitter followers.
However, Linda soon finds out this podcasting thing might not be as easy as it appears. Some questions rip open emotional wounds, and then there’s her noisy neighbour, nicknamed “Mr. Metallica,” who begins blasting music while she’s trying to record. But Linda’s equipment seems to pick up more than just heavy metal. Could that be screaming in the background?
Combining drama, comedy, and, of course, horror, Linda Listens would make an excellent addition to your Halloween activities. The story is a slow burn and doesn’t reach any frightening scenes until the last few episodes, but the scares are well worth the wait!
And if you like what you hear, stay tuned for Peterson’s newest podcast series called Augie’s Attic: A Horror Anthology Podcast which is set to be released on October 31.
In Another Room by Violet Hour Media
Last year, Violet Hour Media captured my imagination with 3 phenomenal audio dramas: In Another Room, Between the Devil, and The Gloom. While I loved all of them, In Another Room was my favourite.
This haunted house story, written and directed by E3W Productions, follows Wendy Morrow as she investigates the paranormal activity of different rooms in the infamous house on Harvard Boulevard. “Ep. 01: The House” introduces Wendy and provides background on the tragedies that have plagued the home but avoids feeling like exposition. The episodes that follow focus on different rooms of the house, even going back in time so you can experience the horrors as they take place. Dire warnings on an Ouija board in the 1970s, a tragic gathering of friends for a 1960s Christmas party, a WWII vet trying to make peace with a soldier left behind, Wendy slowly unravels why these spirits have been bound to the foul dwelling, tracing all the way back to its 1870s construction.
Full of atmospheric dread and a fantastically talented voice cast, In Another Room made my skin crawl and I’m not ashamed to say it also made me jump and scream. Each episode runs about 30 minutes in length, and I highly recommend getting comfortable in a dark room without distractions to dive into this story.
Violet Hour Media recently launched their latest series called Red Riding Hoods about a team of final girls hunting down malevolent entities. I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, however based on the superb quality of their previous productions I’m sure it’ll be a blast.
All Violet Hour Media podcasts are available on most platforms, or visit their website for all the links you need: www.violethourmedia.com
Curdle Holler
For those of you looking for something the entire family can enjoy this Halloween season, I highly recommend Curdle Holler. This series reminds me of some of my favourite cartoons as a kid, like Scooby-Doo, Beetlejuice, and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. There’s a fantastic blend of mystery, comedy, and weirdness in each episode which makes you immediately want to listen to more.
Upon entering the afterlife, former newscasters Chip Clearly and Bonita von Wangencamp take over as shopkeepers for the Bootique in a Halloween themed town called Curdle Holler. Together with help from their monstrous friends, Chip and Bonita help solve disturbances such as a shortage of fright power, a murderous music box, and even something slimy. Their adventures are terrifically fun and unique, plus the theme song and outro are a hoot and will have you singing along in no time.
Written by Rebekah Burchfield and Will Malone, and voiced by a wonderfully talented cast, Curdle Holler seasons are about 6 episodes long released just in time for Halloween, plus a couple of other special episodes throughout the year. The show is currently releasing new episodes for Season 3 each Thursday, which are typically 45 minutes in length. To get the most out of your listening experience I suggest starting with Season 1.
If you like what you hear, and enjoy the nerdier side of life, you should also check out other podcasts put together by Rebekah, Will, and Scott Hurley, under the name The Wizard’s Nightshirt. Everything you need to have a spooky-cool time can be found on their website www.curdleholler.com
And that’s a wrap for my Audio Drama edition of Scary’s Voices Halloween Spooktacular. Hope you join me again soon as I dig into other blood-curdling categories such as Paranormal Encounters, True Crime, and Freaky Fiction.
In November I’ll be back to post my weekly Sound Bites recommendations, so if you know of any podcasts you think should be on my radar, feel free to let me know via the comments section, or direct messaging on Twitter or Instagram (links below). I can’t promise I’ll enjoy every podcast you throw my way, but I’ll give everyone a fair shot.
J.A. Sullivan
J. A. Sullivan is a horror writer and paranormal enthusiast, based in Brantford, ON, Canada. Attracted to everything non-horror folks consider strange, she’s spent years as a paranormal investigator, has an insatiable appetite for serial killer information, and would live inside a library if she could.
As curator of “Scary’s Voices” on Kendall Reviews, an article series reviewing horror podcasts, Sullivan loves listening to all things spooky. If you have a horror podcast recommendation, let her know.
On top of contributing short stories to Kendall Reviews, her fiction has appeared in Don’t Open the Door (2019), It Came From The Darkness (2020), and she acted as an assistant editor for Black Dogs, Black Tales (2020). Other spooky tales and updates on her writing journey can be found on her blog.
You can follow J. A. on Twitter @ScaryJASullivan
Check out her blog https://writingscaredblog.wordpress.com
Find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/j.a_sullivan
Find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/j.a_sullivan
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