Scary’s Voices: Sound Bites for June 18
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 Gloom by Violet Hour Media
Last year, Violet Hour Media captured my imagination with their two phenomenal audio dramas In Another Room and Between the Devil (check out my full Kendall Review from October HERE). Now this talented production company has a new terrifying series out called The Gloom.
This audio drama follows Samantha Williams, an investigative journalist working on her first big solo story for the RFE Radio series called “Lifting the Rug.” Her project begins after talking to the brother of one of the teenagers dubbed the Filmore Four after tragedy struck the Filmore Psychiatric Facility in the early 1990s. Shrouded in mysterious deaths and questionable healthcare practices, the deeper Samantha digs into the Filmore Four, the more horrific the case becomes.
Most curious of all though is how the hospital intake recordings for all four teens includes descriptions of a sinister presence, an entity that pushes them all to the brink of sanity and hides within “the gloom.”
By using a blend of the teens taped therapy sessions and Samantha’s present-day interviews, along with insights into the journalist’s own troubled past, The Gloom immerses the listener into this frightening story. As I’ve come to expect from Violet Hour Media, this series features an impressive script written by Michael Assip and Peter Lancucki, terrific director Frank Merle, and superb voice talents, including Tobin Bell (yes, Mr. Jigsaw himself!).
Each episode runs approximately 30 minutes in length, and the finale is scheduled to drop on Monday, June 21. You can find links to listen to The Gloom in its entirety on the Violet Hour Media website: www.violethourmedia.com/the-gloom
Shiver-Worthy Runner-Up:
The Cast Files
My next recommendation is sure to be a hit for fellow fans of The X-Files. In The Cast Files, hosts Kristen Riley and Daive Reed review all the adventures of beloved FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, one episode at a time.
This fun podcast not only discusses the plot and characters of the TV series, but also takes a trip down 90s memory lane and digs into the world of cryptids and aliens, plus some hilarious tattoo ideas based on images actually used in the show.
Whether you’re an original fan of The X-Files like Kristen or watching the show for the first time like Daive, The Cast Files is wildly entertaining and sure to have you laughing out loud. For maximum enjoyment, I suggest you watch one of the TV episodes and follow up by listening to the corresponding podcast episode. Kristen and Daive are fantastic hosts with a playful banter that will soon get you hooked to their show, and maybe craving a few more pictures of #HotMulder.
All episodes are about an hour in length, with new episodes mysteriously appearing every Wednesday. Find out where you can listen to The Cast Files (including a YouTube channel with closed captioning) via LinkTree
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 a special Scary’s Voices Spotlight.
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
Thank you so much for listening, reviewing, and suggesting our spooky fun podcast!