Podcasts
Taking a Bite Out of the Controversial ‘Hard Candy’ [Horror Queers Podcast]
I Fucking Hate Goldfrapp.
After spending our month-long theme on toxic masculinity with difficult watches like Funny Games (listen) and Deadgirl (listen), as well as an easier watch in Murder By Numbers (listen), we’re wrapping up the month with a look at David Slade‘s controversial 2005 film Hard Candy.
Hard Candy sees precocious teenager Hayley (Elliot Page) go to a coffee shop to meet Jeff (Patrick Wilson), a photographer she met on the internet. Jeff thinks he is in for a real treat, but after a bit of flirtation Hayley drugs him and straps him to a chair, revealing that she knows Jeff preys on teenage girls. She has a plan to wring a confession from him, but Jeff doesn’t plan to do down without a fight.
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Episode 257: Hard Candy (2005)
We’re wrapping up our look at Toxic Masculinity with David Slade’s feature directorial debut, Hard Candy (2005).
This secret rape/revenge film features powerhouse performances from Elliot Page and Patrick Wilson and plenty of uncomfortable moments.
Plus: comparisons to Promising Young Woman (and Saw X?!), a frank discussion of pedophilia, plenty of strategic framing, and the prequel we want to see.
Cross out Hard Candy!
Coming up on Wednesday: We’re taking a reprieve from toxic masculinity and wrapping up November with our first foray into the world of cryptids with a look at Mark Pellington’s The Mothman Prophecies.
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It’s always a cruel summer, but 2026 is about to get crueler.
To blow off steam, the Losers hit the road to visit all the towns in Stephen King’s Dominion. Derry, Castle Rock, Ludlow, Boulder, the list goes on. They’ve got miles to drive and so many (scary) sights to see. At the end of the day, though, they have to ask themselves: Which one’s the best? And, more importantly, what does “best” mean in this context?
Stream the episode below. PayDays and Nozz-a-La, optional. For further adventures, join the Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. You can also unlock hundreds of hours of content in The Barrens (Patreon).