Scary’s Voices: Sound Bites for January 21st
Welcome back to Sound Bites where I highlight the best horror podcasts I’ve heard through the week. If you’re looking for content to haunt your earbuds, these podcasts are just what you need.
My Scream of the Week goes to:
The Bad Movie Cult
Besides listening to podcasts, one of my favourite pastimes is watching bad movies. The more absurd the premise, the more I want to watch it, and while these films won’t be winning any special awards, they do hold a special place in my heart. So, I was absolutely delighted to come across The Bad Movie Cult podcast, where the hosts love these cinematic aberrations as much as I do.
From horror to action flicks, and everything in between, if it’s a groan-worthy production, hosts Dominic Lawton and Ken B. Wild are keen to take a look. Some of the episodes I’ve listened to include discussions on Arnold Schwarzenegger battling for his freedom in The Running Man, the weirdness that is Society, and Steven Seagal’s lovely robes in Belly of the Beast.
Dominic and Ken really crack me up with their witty comments and banter, and at one point in the Belly of the Beast episode I actually had to hit pause because I was laughing so hard. As much as they do poke fun at these films, it’s obvious they truly do appreciate the “so bad it’s good” genre. Since episodes cover the movies from start to finish, you will get the most out of them if you’ve seen the films they discuss, but the show is still enjoyable if you haven’t.
Once the dissection is complete, the hilarity continues as Dominic and Ken take turns pitching alternative versions of the films, including amusing plot twists and interesting casting choices (Carl Weathers forever!).
If you want even more bad movies, be sure to listen to the bonus episode “The Best & Worst Films Watched In 2021” and check out The Bad Movie Cult website which features written reviews as well as links to all the episodes.
New content is released on a bi-weekly basis, and episodes range from 1 to 2 hours in length. You can find The Bad Movie Cult on most podcast platforms as well as on YouTube where closed captions are available. www.badmoviecult.com
Shiver-Worthy Runner-Up:
Democracy Jones
Blending the historical fall of Late Republic Rome, American politics, science fiction, horror, and satire is the mind-bending fiction series Democracy Jones. Set in the year 2040, a violent coup rips the United States apart, leaving millions either killed or uprooted. Survivors, including a pregnant Haisley Jones, fight together to revive democracy.
If you enjoy biting social commentary and the sharp wit of satire, Democracy Jones needs to be on your playlist. Along with an uncanny resemblance to current global political attitudes and an examination of deep division between right- and left-wing parties, you’ll find creepy turkey vultures, scenes reminiscent of Mad Max, and a neural chip programmed to sound exactly like Maya Angelou.
Written and narrated by the very talented Eamon Loingsigh, this serialized story is not only thought-provoking but also highly entertaining. I recommend beginning with the “Teaser” episode, then “Opening Crawl” (noted as the trailer on Spotify), and then proceed to the numbered episodes. Alternatively, you could start with the episode titled “It’s Not Too Late” where Eamon talks about the inspiration behind the story and his real-life hopes to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Currently the series is in Act 1 of 4, so it’s a great time to catch up on past episodes, plus with an average runtime of less than 20 minutes it’s easy to listen to each instalment without interruption. You can find Democracy Jones on most podcast platforms or listen directly on the Art of Need website artofneed.com
That’s a wrap for this week’s Sound Bites!
As always, thanks so much to the awesome podcast listeners and creators who have been sending me terrific recommendations. Keep them coming via the comments section below, 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.
Remember, I’m all about scary things and spooky podcasts are what I’m after. Content focused on reviewing horror movies and horror books, true paranormal encounters, facts about cryptids, true crimes, and original scary stories are exactly what I want to hear.
Can’t wait to listen to all the dark podcasts you fine fiends suggest, and I hope you’ll join me next Friday for more Sound Bites.
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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