What does it actually take to make a horror film that matters? Not a studio green light. Not a VFX budget. Not a catering line.This month, Chelsea Stardust curates three films that answer that question on their own uncompromising terms. Jeremy Gardner's The Battery strips the zombie apocalypse down to two former baseball players, a Discman, and a friendship slowly coming apart at the seams. Starry Eyes follows a young actress as the machinery of Hollywood ambition grinds her into something unrecognizable — and possibly exactly what she always wanted to be. And Hellbender, made by a real family in their real backyard, turns the mother-daughter relationship into a folk horror inheritance no one asked for and no one can refuse.Together, these three films share a preoccupation with death and rebirth — not as plot mechanics, but as the thing transformation actually costs. Chelsea, Pete, Kynan, and Tommy dig into what it means to make something from almost nothing, and why the best low-budget horror isn't resourceful so much as honest.Featured Films<ul><li>Tonight's Triple Feature:<ul><li>The Battery - <a href="https://apple.co/4spi7jN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple TV</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/4rGXmyT" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon</a> </li><li>Starry Eyes - <a href="https://apple.co/4bCTSrs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple TV</a> </li><li>Hellbender - <a href="https://apple.co/4uMEyRO" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple TV</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/40GGyx9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://boxd.it/SzLRo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">View Our List on Letterboxd</a></li></ul><ul><li>(00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark</li><li>(03:34) - The Battery</li><li>(28:49) - Starry Eyes</li><li>(50:01) - Hellbender</li><li>(01:09:23) - Coming Attractions</li></ul><br />Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:<ul><li><a href="https://trustory.fm/join/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Become a member</a> for just <a href="https://trustoryfm.memberful.com/checkout?plan=54111" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$5/month</a> or <a href="https://trustoryfm.memberful.com/checkout?plan=54112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$55/year</a></li><li>Join our <a href="https://discord.gg/yW72E6M" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discord</a> community of movie lovers</li></ul>The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:<ul><li><a href="https://trustory.fm/cinema-scope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements</a></li><li><a href="https://trustory.fm/the-film-board/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Film Board</a></li><li><a href="https://trustory.fm/movies-we-like/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Movies We Like</a></li><li><a href="https://trustory.fm/the-next-reel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Next Reel</a></li><li><a href="https://trustory.fm/sitting-in-the-dark/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sitting in the Dark</a></li></ul>Connect With Us:<ul><li>Main Site: <a href="https://trustory.fm/movies-we-like/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Web</a></li><li>Movie Platforms: <a href="https://letterboxd.com/thenextreel/tag/movies-we-like/films/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Letterboxd</a> | <a href="https://www.flickchart.com/thenextreel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flickchart</a></li><li>Social Media: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheNextReel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thenextreel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.threads.net/@thenextreel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Threads</a> | <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thenextreel.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bluesky</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6MWAz0fVslXPz8xLBNP9tr6NOMMI_FL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/thenextreel/movies-we-like-posters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pinterest</a></li><li>Your Hosts: <a href="https://trustory.fm/host/chelsea-stardust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chelsea</a> | <a href="https://trustory.fm/host/kyle-olson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyle</a> | <a href="https://trustory.fm/host/kynan-dias" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kynan</a> | <a href="https://trustory.fm/host/pete-wright/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pete</a> | <a href="https://trustory.fm/host/tommy-metz-iii/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tommy</a> </li></ul>Shop &amp; Stream:<ul><li><a href="https://www.teepublic.com/stores/trustoryfm/albums/46052-the-next-reel-film-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merch Store</a>: Apparel, stickers, mugs &amp; more</li><li><a href="https://coda.io/@trustoryfm/the-next-reel-watch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch Page</a>: Buy/rent films we've discussed</li><li><a href="https://coda.io/@trustoryfm/the-next-reel-watch/the-next-reel-originals-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Originals</a>: Source material from our episodes</li><li>Special offers: <a href="https://thenextreel.com/audible" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Audible</a></li></ul>