Podcasts
Rob Zombie’s ‘Halloween II’ Is the Best Depiction of Final Girl PTSD [Horror Queers Podcast]
Deb-o-rah.
October has been a pretty exciting month: we celebrated our 250th episode of the podcast with Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, then tackled one of Jason Voorhees’ best entries with Friday the 13th Part 2 before getting real serious with Bryan Singer’s Apt Pupil.
We’re closing out the month with a seasonally appropriate film: Rob Zombie‘s 2009 return to the Halloween franchise, Halloween II. Important note of distinction, however, we’re talking about the Unrated Director’s Cut.
In the film, it’s been two years since Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) faced down Michael Myers (Tyler Mane) but she’s still suffering from serious PTSD. Despite Annie (Danielle Harris) and Sheriff Brackett’s (Brad Dourif) claims that she’s safe, Laurie is spiraling as Halloween approaches.
Not helping matters is Dr. Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell), who has written an insensitive new book about the murders. As Michael returns to finish what he began, can Laurie survive or is she doomed to be reunited with her Ghost Mom Deborah (Sheri Moon Zombie) and that damn white horse?
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Episode 253 – Halloween 2 (2009) Unrated Director’s Cut
Look out for Ghost Mama and avoid death-magnet Laurie Strode because we are talking about Rob Zombie’s much maligned Halloween 2 (2009). C/W: the dog dies.
The film has problems, but we’re fond of its all-star cast (Brea Grant! Margot Kidder! Nurse Octavia Daniels!), as well as the film’s surprisingly nuanced consideration of Final Girl PTSD.
Plus: MVP Danielle Harris and Annie’s powerful death scene, human caricature Dr. Loomis, a misogynistic strip club scene, and all of the changes that makes the Director’s Cut an improvement over the Theatrical Cut.
Cross out Halloween 2!
Coming up on Wednesday: We’re continuing to court controversy with the debut of a new theme month where we’ll look at nothing but films depicting Toxic Masculinity! First up: Michael Haneke’s disturbing Funny Games (1997 or 2007)
P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for 270 hours of Patreon content including this month’s new episodes on No One Will Save You, Totally Killer, Saw X, Exorcist: Believer, and our audio commentary on John Carpenter’s classic Halloween.
Deadpool isn’t typical horror fare, despite the franchise potentially being the bloodiest throughout the Marvel kingdom. (And in spite of the titular main character breaking the Fourth Wall and acknowledging the audience, which some people may find as jolting as a jump scare).
And look, the guy’s divisive! For the average person, the 2016 movie Deadpool may have been their introduction to the character, with Ryan Reynolds giving the titular character an abrasive, dirty sense of humor that some might place in the edgelord category.
But the character was spawned from a comic book series that’s changed hands a number of times and continues to this day. Naturally, that means there are several different interpretations of the antihero formerly known as Wade Wilson, including some that dial down the chimichanga jokes (a common fandom shorthand for the Deadpool of the comics’ baser comedy instincts).
This week on Guide to the Unknown, Kristen and Will discuss the good, the bad, and the unfortunate of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool. They also learn about some of the comic storylines that highlight a little bit more of the pain Deadpool goes through, which makes the overabundance of A Lot-ness feel more palatable to people who may not be into that sort of thing.
Breaking the Fourth Wall a la the man himself: This is Kristen, cohost and writer of these GTTU posts. This week was not great for Will or me and included hospital stays and beloved dog goodbyes. We blew off some steam with a punchdrunk episode in which I complained about Deadpool’s dearth of euphemisms for male genitalia. If that sounds like your thing, dig in! If not, proceed with caution. Ooh, we’re so edgy.
Subscribe to Guide to the Unknown on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to get a new episode every Friday.
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