Spooky Frog Horrifying Books Podcast

The Queen (2022), Nick Cutter | Horror Book Club Review | S02E15

On this episode of the Spooky Frog Podcast, Samantha and Jeffy dive into Nick Cutter's The Queen. A one-day, body-horror nightmare about a missing girl, twisted science, and a transformation that becomes the goal. They follow the breadcrumb mystery, the pheromone-driven hive mind, and the escalating physical changes that erase a sense of self.
The hosts discuss themes of friendship and grief amid gruesome, Lovecraft-adjacent imagery, compare Cutter’s work to The Void and The Fly, and share book-club plans and trigger warnings for graphic body horror and insect-related material.

April Fools Day (1986), Fred Walton | Horror Movie Club Review | S02E14

Imagine the ultimate weekend getaway: a private island, old college friends, and a hostess obsessed with elaborate pranks. What starts as trick cigars and collapsing chairs quickly spirals into severed heads and bloody clues — and suddenly the joke isn’t funny anymore.This 1980s-style slasher blends horror, dark comedy, and mystery as the final girl, Kit, navigates a booby-trapped mansion where every gag could be lethal. With synth-heavy music, practical effects, and a twisty ending, the film asks how well you really know your friends — and how far is too far for a killer punchline.

Retown (2022), Boris Bacic | Horror Book Club Review | S02E13

On a routine work trip, salesman Jason drives into Riverton and discovers he can't leave. The town traps newcomers in a repeating, inescapable loop where dying only brings you back and the environment shifts to prevent escape.
As Jason learns the rules (respawn points, a wary town cop, a mysterious girl, and unsettling townspeople) he and others struggle with survival, curiosity, and the crushing loss of control. This episode discusses the book's world-building, themes of entrapment, and comparisons to small-town and loop horror.

Innocent Blood (1992), John Landis | Horror Movie Club Review | S02E12

Jeffy and Samantha dive into a wild John Landis–era vampire mob movie: a French vampire named Marie prowls 1992 Pittsburgh feeding on criminals and accidentally turns mob boss Sal into an undead godfather. They break down the film’s neon-noir tone, explosive practical gore effects, memorable cameos (including Sam Raimi and Don Rickles), and its mix of horror, dark comedy and moral questions about vigilante justice.Hosts discuss soundtrack, makeup effects, cult status and whether this outrageous blend of Sopranos‑meets‑Near Dark works — and why this movie remains a deliciously messy 90s hidden gem.

To Cut a Man (2023), Justin Holley | Horror Book Club Review | S02E11

Hosts Samantha and Jeffy discuss Justin Holley’s psychological thriller To Cut a Man, about Annette, a woman with PTSD who skips medication on a weekend getaway and begins to notice the same strangers trailing her at every stop.
Dismissed as anxiety by her polite boyfriend Sebastian, Annette must trust her instincts, rely on her service dog Nu, and use her prepper skills when the threat proves real. The episode explores gaslighting, mental-health treatment, and the tension between paranoia and genuine danger.

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), Jim Jarmusch | Horror Movie Club Review | S02E10

This episode dissects Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive, a slow-burning, atmospheric film about immortal artists grappling with a decaying world. The hosts debate the movie’s pacing, hipster aesthetics, and standout performances from Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton.They explore the Detroit vs. Tangiers contrast, the vinyl-and-blood motifs, Eve and Adam’s differing responses to modernity, and how Ava’s arrival upends their fragile supply—recommending the film to viewers who prefer mood, world-building, and style over fast-paced scares.

One Evil Summer (1994), R.L. Stine | Horror Book Club Review | S02E09

Some towns have history, some towns have secrets-this episode of the Spooky Frog uses R.L. Stine’s One Evil Summer as a gateway to explore the Fear Street universe, its place in the rise of 80s-90s YA horror, and how paperbacks, VHS and school book fairs made teen terror accessible. The hosts mix personal nostalgia with analysis of the books’ lore, the Netflix films, and the cultural backlash of the satanic panic.
They discuss key themes-teen autonomy, social horror, and small-town curses-share personal anecdotes about childhood reading and fandom, and give content notes (PG‑13 violence, occult themes, bullying) along with a few community event announcements.

Near Dark (1987), Kathryn Bigelow | Horror Movie Club Review | S02E08

In this episode the hosts Jeffy and Spencer dive into Near Dark (1987), a gritty vampire-western scored by Tangerine Dream. They discuss the film’s sunlit-then-twilight visuals, slow-burn pacing, violent set pieces (including the infamous bar massacre), and the nomadic “family” of vampires who feel more like dusty drifters than aristocrats. They compare Near Dark to other 80s vampire films like The Lost Boys, praise its practical effects and cinematography, and debate character depth, tone, and whether the movie’s seriousness helped or hurt its box office. The episode also includes personal asides about the hosts’ lives, upcoming community events, and book-and-movie club plans.

In The Clurb We're All Monsters (2023), Phrique & Asher Darks | Horror Book Club Review | S02E07

On this episode of the Spooky Frog Podcast hosts Samantha and Jeffy dig into In the Clurb we're all Monsters, a glitter-soaked, blood-spattered queer horror romp by Freak & Asher. They discuss the chaotic opening of Club Hedonia run by the narcissistic Dorian Gray, hallucinogenic drinks, disco spiders, and the messy, sex-fueled attempt of two best friends to repair their bond while monsters and mythic mayhem unfold.
The conversation covers the authors’ back-and-forth collaboration, tone and genre (splatterpunk/LGBTQ horror), standout scenes and Easter eggs, and related community happenings like goth prom and upcoming book events.

House II: The Second Story (1987), Ethan Wiley | Horror Movie Club Review | S02E06

Hosts Jeffy and Samantha dive into House II, an over-the-top 1980s horror-comedy packed with a crystal skull, an undead party-loving Gramps, dinosaurs, cowboys, puppetry creatures, and plenty of practical effects and synthy soundtrack vibes.
They describe the film as light, goofy schlock. PG-friendly gateway horror with slapstick violence, quirky characters (including a John Ratzenberger cameo), and a fun, chaotic tone that makes it great for fans of weird, nostalgic 80s genre mashups.