<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a genre-bending vampire period drama set in 1930s Jim Crow Mississippi. Joined by special guest Makeda Pennycooke, life and anti-racism coach, we unpack a film that is as gorgeous as it is unsettling, layering horror, history, and music. We break down vampire lore, our favorite characters, standout performances (Michael B. Jordan playing twins), the transcendent musical moments, and the symbolism woven throughout, from religion and ancestral knowledge to systems of white supremacy, power, and assimilation.Content &amp; Spoiler WarningThis episode contains full spoilers for Sinners and our discussion includes reference to violence, gore, and body horror (it’s a vampire movie). Some of the deeper horrors include racism, white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, lynching, and child loss. There’s also a snake that gets killed and drool. Really really gross drool.  Palate CleanserAfter all that intensity, Caroline and Makeda’s cure? TikTok’s National Parks content (also dubbed “Only Parks”)Passages with Amanda Jacobson from Wine &amp; Crime (Twilight season recap) RecommendationsFilms &amp; TV:<ul><li>Eight Mile for more from Omar Miller (Cornbread). </li><li>Friday Night Lights and The Wire for early Michael B. Jordan and Raising Dion - lighter Michael B. Jordan content for the kids.</li><li>What We Do in the Shadows  - always WWDITS</li><li>Blade, Interview with the Vampire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), Let the Right One In, Abigail, Dracula, Midnight Mass  for more vampire picks </li><li>The Haunting of Hill House, Fall of the House of Usher for layered horror storytelling with a director who likes actors and sticks with them.</li><li>Get Out for themes of appropriation and identity.</li><li>Lovecraft Country for horror grounded in racial history. </li><li>Across the Spider-Verse for Hailee Steinfeld fans </li></ul>Books &amp; Reading:<ul><li>The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone </li><li>A History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter </li><li>Passing by Nella Larsen </li><li>The Reformatory by Tananarive Due </li><li>Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark </li><li>The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett</li><li>A Discovery of Witches (book series) by Deborah Harkness </li><li>Ted Chiang’s Story of your Life and Others for the melding of time.</li></ul>Podcasts &amp; Other:<ul><li>Reel Conversations with Britt and Bree for black women’s perspectives on Sinners </li><li>The Next Best Picture Podcast Sinners episode for lots of background info.</li><li>Horror Joy podcast episode on Sinners and The Reformatory</li><li>Time Bandits for questioning who writes history </li></ul>Documentary/True Crime:<ul><li>Lost Women of Alaska - produced by Octavia Spencer </li></ul>Homework:Goodfellas - a lighter pick with a Chicago Mafia connection And Start reading The Devil in the White City - another Chicago-based story blending crime and history And remember, if someone asks to be invited in, say no! We’ll see you next time—only on Drawn to Darkness.Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of &lt;em&gt;Drawn to Darkness&lt;/em&gt;, we dive into Ryan Coogler’s &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt;, a genre-bending vampire period drama set in 1930s Jim Crow Mississippi. Joined by special guest Makeda Pennycooke, life and anti-racism coach, we unpack a film that is as gorgeous as it is unsettling, layering horror, history, and music. We break down vampire lore, our favorite characters, standout performances (Michael B. Jordan playing twins), the transcendent musical moments, and the symbolism woven throughout, from religion and ancestral knowledge to systems of white supremacy, power, and assimilation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Content &amp;amp; Spoiler Warning&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode contains full spoilers for &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt; and our discussion includes reference to violence, gore, and body horror (it’s a vampire movie). Some of the deeper horrors include racism, white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, lynching, and child loss. There’s also a snake that gets killed and drool. Really really gross drool.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Palate Cleanser&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After all that intensity, Caroline and Makeda’s cure? TikTok’s &lt;em&gt;National Parks&lt;/em&gt; content (also dubbed “Only Parks”)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Passages &lt;/em&gt;with Amanda Jacobson from &lt;em&gt;Wine &amp;amp; Crime&lt;/em&gt; (Twilight season recap) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommendations&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Films &amp;amp; TV:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Eight Mile&lt;/em&gt; for more from Omar Miller (Cornbread). &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Friday Night Lights&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Wire&lt;/em&gt; for early Michael B. Jordan and &lt;em&gt;Raising Dion&lt;/em&gt; - lighter Michael B. Jordan content for the kids.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;What We Do in the Shadows&lt;/em&gt;  - always WWDITS&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Blade&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Interview with the Vampire&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Buffy the Vampire Slayer&lt;/em&gt; (film), &lt;em&gt;Let the Right One In, Abigail, Dracula, Midnight Mass &lt;/em&gt; for more vampire picks &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Haunting of Hill House&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Fall of the House of Usher&lt;/em&gt; for layered horror storytelling with a director who likes actors and sticks with them.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Get Out&lt;/em&gt; for themes of appropriation and identity.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Lovecraft Country&lt;/em&gt; for horror grounded in racial history. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Across the Spider-Verse&lt;/em&gt; for Hailee Steinfeld fans &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Books &amp;amp; Reading:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Cross and the Lynching Tree&lt;/em&gt; by James H. Cone &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;A History of White People&lt;/em&gt; by Nell Irvin Painter &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Passing&lt;/em&gt; by Nella Larsen &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Reformatory&lt;/em&gt; by Tananarive Due &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ring Shout&lt;/em&gt; by P. Djèlí Clark &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Vanishing Half &lt;/em&gt;by Brit Bennett&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;A Discovery of Witches&lt;/em&gt; (book series) by Deborah Harkness &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ted Chiang’s &lt;em&gt;Story of your Life and Others&lt;/em&gt; for the melding of time.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcasts &amp;amp; Other:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Reel Conversations with Britt and Bree&lt;/em&gt; for black women’s perspectives on &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Next Best Picture Podcast &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt; episode for lots of background info.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Horror Joy&lt;/em&gt; podcast episode on &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Reformatory&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Time Bandits&lt;/em&gt; for questioning who writes history &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Documentary/True Crime:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Lost Women of Alaska&lt;/em&gt; - produced by Octavia Spencer &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Homework:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Goodfellas&lt;/em&gt; - a lighter pick with a Chicago Mafia connection &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And Start reading &lt;em&gt;The Devil in the White City&lt;/em&gt; - another Chicago-based story blending crime and history &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And remember, if someone asks to be invited in, say no! &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’ll see you next time—only on &lt;em&gt;Drawn to Darkness&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify). &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a genre-bending vampire period drama set in 1930s Jim Crow Mississippi. Joined by special guest Makeda Pennycooke, life and anti-racism coach, we unpack a film that is as gorgeous as it is unsettling, layering horror, history, and music. We break down vampire lore, our favorite characters, standout performances (Michael B. Jordan playing twins), the transcendent musical moments, and the symbolism woven...

31 - Ryan Coogler's Sinners with guest Makeda Pennycooke

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>Welcome back to Drawn to Darkness. This week, we are joined by special guest Gillian Pensavalle from True Crime Obsessed to discuss West of Memphis (2012), Amy Berg’s documentary that revisits the case of the West Memphis Three. In 1993, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were murdered and with little evidence and rising panic about satanic rituals, police quickly focused on three local teenagers: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelley. Despite inconsistent confessions, lack of physical evidence, and alibis, all three were convicted, and Echols was sentenced to death. West of Memphis follows the nearly 20-year fight to free and exonerate them. Meanwhile, the real perpetrator remains unidentified. We unpack wrongful convictions, moral panic, police misconduct, what Damien is like in real life, and the long, exhausting fight for justice. We explore how three teenagers were targeted as “weird kids,” how fear of satanism shaped a narrative with no evidence, and why decades later they may be free from prison, but still aren’t exonerated. Spoiler + Content WarningThis episode and the documentary include discussion and imagery of the murder of children, child abuse, castration, false confessions, prison abuse, solitary confinement, systemic injustice, wrongful convictions, and satanic panic. We also spoil the documentary.Palate Cleanser<ul><li>True Crime Obsessed – if you like a laugh along with your true crime. </li><li>Spending time with family (as simple as ice cream or Del’s Lemonade)</li></ul>Recommendations<ul><li>Bob Ruff’s Truth &amp; Justice podcast (Season 5) </li><li>Mara Leveritt’s Devil’s Knot (deep dive into courtroom details) </li><li>Wrongful Conviction podcast (featuring interviews with Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin) </li><li>Satan Wants You (documentary about Satanic Panic) </li><li>Sarah Marshall’s podcast You’re Wrong About + The Devil You Know </li><li>Stranger Things (Eddie Munson inspired by Damien Echols) </li><li>Mindhunter (John Douglas appears in the case) </li><li>The Crucible (mass hysteria and scapegoating) </li><li>Stand By Me, The Goonies, It (kids, innocence, and loss) </li><li>The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell for a Medical Examiner who knows what she’s doing.</li><li>The Hurricane with Denzel Washington for more wrongful convictions</li><li>The Craft and The Perks of Being a Wallflower - for the “weird” kids</li><li>Lord of the Rings  and listen to Pearl Jam  (support the celebrities who championed the West Memphis 3) </li><li>Damien Echols’ books, podcast, and Patreon </li></ul>HomeworkNext episode, we’ll discuss Sinners before shifting gears slightly with:<ul><li> Goodfellas </li><li> The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (it’s a book, so start now!) </li></ul>And remember, always insist on a lawyer!Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Welcome back to Drawn to Darkness. &lt;/b&gt;This week, we are joined by special guest Gillian Pensavalle from &lt;em&gt;True Crime Obsessed&lt;/em&gt; to discuss &lt;em&gt;West of Memphis&lt;/em&gt; (2012), Amy Berg’s documentary that revisits the case of the West Memphis Three. In 1993, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were murdered and with little evidence and rising panic about satanic rituals, police quickly focused on three local teenagers: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelley. Despite inconsistent confessions, lack of physical evidence, and alibis, all three were convicted, and Echols was sentenced to death. &lt;em&gt;West of Memphis&lt;/em&gt; follows the nearly 20-year fight to free and exonerate them. Meanwhile, the real perpetrator remains unidentified. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We unpack wrongful convictions, moral panic, police misconduct, what Damien is like in real life, and the long, exhausting fight for justice. We explore how three teenagers were targeted as “weird kids,” how fear of satanism shaped a narrative with no evidence, and why decades later they may be free from prison, but still aren’t exonerated. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Spoiler + Content Warning&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode and the documentary include discussion and imagery of the murder of children, child abuse, castration, false confessions, prison abuse, solitary confinement, systemic injustice, wrongful convictions, and satanic panic. We also spoil the documentary.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Palate Cleanser&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;True Crime Obsessed&lt;/em&gt; – if you like a laugh along with your true crime. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Spending time with family (as simple as ice cream or Del’s Lemonade)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommendations&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bob Ruff’s &lt;em&gt;Truth &amp;amp; Justice&lt;/em&gt; podcast (Season 5) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mara Leveritt’s &lt;em&gt;Devil’s Knot&lt;/em&gt; (deep dive into courtroom details) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Wrongful Conviction&lt;/em&gt; podcast (featuring interviews with Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Satan Wants You&lt;/em&gt; (documentary about Satanic Panic) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sarah Marshall’s podcast &lt;em&gt;You’re Wrong About&lt;/em&gt; + &lt;em&gt;The Devil You Know&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stranger Things&lt;/em&gt; (Eddie Munson inspired by Damien Echols) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Mindhunter&lt;/em&gt; (John Douglas appears in the case) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Crucible&lt;/em&gt; (mass hysteria and scapegoating) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stand By Me&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;The Goonies, It&lt;/em&gt; (kids, innocence, and loss) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Body Farm&lt;/em&gt; by Patricia Cornwell for a Medical Examiner who knows what she’s doing.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Hurricane &lt;/em&gt;with Denzel Washington for more wrongful convictions&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Craft &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;The Perks of Being a Wallflower&lt;/em&gt; - for the “weird” kids&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Lord of the Rings &lt;/em&gt; and listen to Pearl Jam  (support the celebrities who championed the West Memphis 3) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Damien Echols’ books, podcast, and Patreon &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Homework&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Next episode, we’ll discuss &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt; before shifting gears slightly with:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;em&gt;Goodfellas&lt;/em&gt; &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;em&gt;The Devil in the White City &lt;/em&gt;by Erik Larson (it’s a book, so start now!) &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;And remember, always insist on a lawyer!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify). &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Drawn to Darkness. This week, we are joined by special guest Gillian Pensavalle from True Crime Obsessed to discuss West of Memphis (2012), Amy Berg’s documentary that revisits the case of the West Memphis Three. In 1993, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were murdered and with little evidence and rising panic about satanic rituals, police quickly focused on three local teenagers: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelley. Despite in...

30 - Amy Berg's West of Memphis with Gillian Pensavalle

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this bonus “Chatroom” episode of Drawn To Darkness, I (Annie) chat with horror author Josiah Furcinitti to discuss his chilling short story Bedguard, featured in the anthology Lies Beyond, a horror anthology exploring death, fear, and the unknown. In Bedguard, Anna is at first only worried about the growing distance between herself and her husband David. But when he starts suffering from terrifying nightmares, seeing mysterious scratches on his body, and falling violently out of bed, Anna realises too late that something unspeakable is targeting them.  Listen to me read Bedguard, then stick around for our conversation on horror tropes (something under the bed, creatures that feed on fear, creepy kids, dolls), our horror origin stories, deeper fears, and our some of our favourite books and movies.  We also discuss the ambiguity of storytelling and what happens to a story when it’s released into the world, and the relationship between anxiety and horror consumption. Meanwhile, we gush over the media that scared and shaped us, including Revival, It, The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, Pet Semetary and Carrie by Stephen King, as well as The X-Files, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Midsommar, Sinners, Candyman, and Peter Jackson’s King Kong. But it’s not all horror. Josiah also loves Parks and Rec. Where you can find Lies Beyond:You can find Lies Beyond on Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, and IngramSpark. Follow Josiah on Instagram on @authorjosiahfurcinitti.Homework for Next EpisodeWatch: West of MemphisOur next episode will feature Gillian Pensavalle from True Crime Obsessed and The Hamilcast to discuss the West Memphis Three, and the ongoing fight for their full exoneration.Then, back to horror with Sinners, featuring Choctaw vampire hunters and 16 Academy Award nominations!Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this bonus “Chatroom” episode of &lt;em&gt;Drawn To Darkness&lt;/em&gt;, I (Annie) chat with horror author Josiah Furcinitti to discuss his chilling short story &lt;em&gt;Bedguard&lt;/em&gt;, featured in the anthology &lt;em&gt;Lies Beyond&lt;/em&gt;, a horror anthology exploring death, fear, and the unknown. In &lt;em&gt;Bedguard&lt;/em&gt;, Anna is at first only worried about the growing distance between herself and her husband David. But when he starts suffering from terrifying nightmares, seeing mysterious scratches on his body, and falling violently out of bed, Anna realises too late that something unspeakable is targeting them.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Listen to me read &lt;em&gt;Bedguard, &lt;/em&gt;then stick around for our conversation on horror tropes (something under the bed, creatures that feed on fear, creepy kids, dolls), our horror origin stories, deeper fears, and our some of our favourite books and movies.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We also discuss the ambiguity of storytelling and what happens to a story when it’s released into the world, and the relationship between anxiety and horror consumption. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, we gush over the media that scared and shaped us, including &lt;em&gt;Revival, It, The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, Pet Semetary &lt;/em&gt;and&lt;em&gt; Carrie&lt;/em&gt; by Stephen King, as well as &lt;em&gt;The X-Files, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Midsommar, Sinners, Candyman&lt;/em&gt;, and Peter Jackson’s &lt;em&gt;King Kong&lt;/em&gt;. But it’s not all horror. Josiah also loves &lt;em&gt;Parks and Rec&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Where you can find Lies Beyond:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can find &lt;em&gt;Lies Beyond &lt;/em&gt;on Amazon, Barnes &amp;amp; Noble, and IngramSpark. Follow Josiah on Instagram on @authorjosiahfurcinitti.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Homework for Next Episode&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Watch:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;em&gt;West of Memphis&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our next episode will feature Gillian Pensavalle from &lt;em&gt;True Crime Obsessed&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Hamilcast to &lt;/em&gt;discuss the West Memphis Three, and the ongoing fight for their full exoneration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Then, back to horror with &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt;, featuring Choctaw vampire hunters and 16 Academy Award nominations!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify). &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail In this bonus “Chatroom” episode of Drawn To Darkness, I (Annie) chat with horror author Josiah Furcinitti to discuss his chilling short story Bedguard, featured in the anthology Lies Beyond, a horror anthology exploring death, fear, and the unknown. In Bedguard, Anna is at first only worried about the growing distance between herself and her husband David. But when he starts suffering from terrifying nightmares, seeing mysterious scratches on his body, and falling violently ...

Chatroom: Bedguard with Josiah Furcinitti

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, we discuss the National Geographic documentary Sugarcane, which investigates the legacy of St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in Canada. Prompted by the discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites, the film follows members of the Williams Lake First Nation, including Julian Brave Noisecat and his father Ed, as they search for truth about what happened to children forced to attend the school. Through survivor testimony, archival material, and difficult conversations within families and communities, the documentary reveals the profound and ongoing consequences of the residential school system, where Indigenous children were separated from their families in an attempt to erase their culture. While Sugarcane does not shy away from the horrors of the system, including abuse, missing children, and institutional cover-ups, it also highlights resilience, cultural reclamation, and the long process of healing and accountability within Indigenous communities. Content &amp; Spoiler Warning:Child sexual abuse, institutional abuse, infanticide, unmarked graves, suicide, cultural erasure, genocide, and systemic racism connected to the residential school system in Canada. We also spoil Sugarcane. Palate CleanserNeed something a little lighter?<ul><li>Heated Rivalry – surprisingly moving hockey romance Sugarcane transcript</li><li>The Office - or introduce your favourite old sitcom to your kids.</li></ul>Recommendations:Podcasts:<ul><li>Surviving St. Michael’s (Connie Walker) – Deep investigation into abuse at another residential school. </li><li>Finding Cleo (also Connie Walker) -Explores ripple effects of residential schools through the story of one family. </li><li>Behind the Bastards – Canada’s Darkest Secret: Residential Schools (2020 episode) </li><li>Historica podcast - Residential Schools</li></ul>Television &amp; Film<ul><li>Reservation Dogs – funny and heartwarming series about Indigenous teenagers </li><li>The Lost Women of Highway 20 – Explores cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. </li><li>The Last Ice – A National Geographic documentary about Inuit communities and environmental change. </li><li>Newsies for shining a light on people who are being abused</li><li>Rabbit-Proof Fence – about Australia’s Stolen Generations, another example of forced child removal. </li><li>The Sapphires – A lighter film about an Indigenous singing group touring Vietnam during the war. </li><li>Spotlight and The Keepers – More investigations into abuse by the Catholic Church. </li><li>1923 (Yellowstone spinoff) – Includes a storyline about a young Indigenous woman at a residential school. </li></ul>Books<ul><li>The Only Good Indians and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – Horror novels by Stephen Graham Jones </li><li>The Broken Girls – A paranormal boarding-school mystery by Simone St. James. </li><li>We Survive the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat – A blend of memoir, Indigenous history, and storytelling. </li></ul>Homework for Next EpisodeWatch: West of MemphisOur next episode will feature our first guest, Gillian Pensavalle from True Crime Obsessed and The Hamilcast to discuss the West Memphis Three, and the ongoing fight for their full exoneration.Then, back to horror with Sinners, featuring Choctaw vampire hunters and 16 Academy Award nominations!Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we discuss the National Geographic documentary &lt;em&gt;Sugarcane&lt;/em&gt;, which investigates the legacy of St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in Canada. Prompted by the discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites, the film follows members of the Williams Lake First Nation, including Julian Brave Noisecat and his father Ed, as they search for truth about what happened to children forced to attend the school. Through survivor testimony, archival material, and difficult conversations within families and communities, the documentary reveals the profound and ongoing consequences of the residential school system, where Indigenous children were separated from their families in an attempt to erase their culture. While &lt;em&gt;Sugarcane&lt;/em&gt; does not shy away from the horrors of the system, including abuse, missing children, and institutional cover-ups, it also highlights resilience, cultural reclamation, and the long process of healing and accountability within Indigenous communities. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Content &amp;amp; Spoiler Warning:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Child sexual abuse, institutional abuse, infanticide, unmarked graves, suicide, cultural erasure, genocide, and systemic racism connected to the residential school system in Canada. We also spoil &lt;em&gt;Sugarcane&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Palate Cleanser&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Need something a little lighter?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Heated Rivalry&lt;/em&gt; – surprisingly moving hockey romance Sugarcane transcript&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Office - &lt;/em&gt;or introduce your favourite old sitcom to your kids.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommendations:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Podcasts:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Surviving St. Michael’s&lt;/em&gt; (Connie Walker) – Deep investigation into abuse at another residential school. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Finding Cleo&lt;/em&gt; (also Connie Walker) -Explores ripple effects of residential schools through the story of one family. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Behind the Bastards – Canada’s Darkest Secret: Residential Schools (2020 episode) &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Historica podcast - Residential Schools&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Television &amp;amp; Film&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Reservation Dogs&lt;/em&gt; – funny and heartwarming series about Indigenous teenagers &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Lost Women of Highway 20&lt;/em&gt; – Explores cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Last Ice&lt;/em&gt; – A National Geographic documentary about Inuit communities and environmental change. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Newsies &lt;/em&gt;for shining a light on people who are being abused&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Rabbit-Proof Fence&lt;/em&gt; – about Australia’s Stolen Generations, another example of forced child removal. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Sapphires&lt;/em&gt; – A lighter film about an Indigenous singing group touring Vietnam during the war. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Spotlight and The Keepers –&lt;/em&gt; More investigations into abuse by the Catholic Church. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;1923&lt;/em&gt; (&lt;em&gt;Yellowstone&lt;/em&gt; spinoff) – Includes a storyline about a young Indigenous woman at a residential school. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Books&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Only Good Indians &lt;/em&gt;and&lt;em&gt; The Buffalo Hunter Hunter&lt;/em&gt; – Horror novels by Stephen Graham Jones &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Broken Girls&lt;/em&gt; – A paranormal boarding-school mystery by Simone St. James. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;We Survive the Night&lt;/em&gt; by Julian Brave NoiseCat – A blend of memoir, Indigenous history, and storytelling. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Homework for Next Episode&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Watch:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;em&gt;West of Memphis&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our next episode will feature our first guest, Gillian Pensavalle from &lt;em&gt;True Crime Obsessed&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Hamilcast to &lt;/em&gt;discuss the West Memphis Three, and the ongoing fight for their full exoneration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Then, back to horror with &lt;em&gt;Sinners&lt;/em&gt;, featuring Choctaw vampire hunters and 16 Academy Award nominations!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify). &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the National Geographic documentary Sugarcane, which investigates the legacy of St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in Canada. Prompted by the discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites, the film follows members of the Williams Lake First Nation, including Julian Brave Noisecat and his father Ed, as they search for truth about what happened to children forced to attend the school. Through survivor testimony, archival material, and diff...

29 - Sugarcane by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, we descend into Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s 2020 bestselling novel set in 1950s Mexico. When glamorous socialite Noemí Taboada receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who claims she’s being poisoned in her new husband’s remote mountain mansion, she travels to High Place to investigate. There she finds a crumbling English manor transplanted into the Mexican countryside, steeped in decay, silence, and red flags. Catalina is wasting away under the watchful eye of her sinister husband Virgil, his ancient patriarch Howard, and the sanctimonious housekeeper Florence. The house reeks of rot, the wallpaper pulses, and mushrooms bloom in the foggy graveyard. Mexican Gothic explores inherited trauma, the stain of colonialism, eugenics, and the horror of being reduced to a vessel. We discuss gothic tropes, gaslighting, fetishisation, how we feel about dream sequences and complicity v. victimhood. Content &amp; Spoiler Warning:This novel and our episode includes discussion of sexual assault, incest, coercion, eugenics, racism, fetishisation of women of colour, colonial exploitation, gaslighting, medical abuse, cannibalism, body horror (including bile and vomiting), disturbing dream sequences, and reproductive coercion. We also fully spoil Mexican Gothic.Palate CleansersAfter all that bile, we recommend:<ul><li>The new Muppet Show (Disney+) -  joyful chaos, nostalgia, and Seth Rogen involvement.</li><li>Encanto – also explores intergenerational trauma and a characters repeats,  “Open your eyes.”</li></ul>Recommendations<ul><li>Talking Scared - Interview with Silvia Moreno Garcia (the novels include Certain Dark Things &amp; The Bewitching)</li><li>The Yellow Wallpaper  (episode 15)  - a big inspiration</li><li>Rebecca -  all the gothic tropes</li><li>Rosemary’s Baby - for gaslighting, reproductive horror</li><li>The Shining - isolation and atmosphere of dread </li><li>The Others – sheets over furniture in unused rooms  </li><li>The Skeleton Key  - no spoilers, just watch it</li><li>Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough – quite a twist</li><li>Venom, Stranger Things, The Last of Us, The Girl with All the Gifts, What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher – fungal and hive mind horror</li><li>Midnight Mass - corrupted communion ritual</li><li>Get Out - fetishisation &amp; bodily appropriation</li><li>The Portrait of Dorian Gray - immortality and decay</li><li>The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter- gothic fairytale retellings</li><li>Wuthering Heights &amp; Jane Eyre – gothic classics</li><li>Ghostbusters - When someone asks if you’re a god, you say yes.”</li><li>The Crow - “It can’t rain all the time.”</li><li>The Fall of the House of Usher - a creepy crypt</li><li>Starling House by Alix E. Harrow &amp;Old Gods of Appalachia (podcast) - mining horror </li><li>Always Mean Girls, Blue, Andor, and Arrested Development</li></ul>Homework”Watch: Sugarcane (National Geographic documentary, available on Disney+)We’ll be examining residential schools, colonisation, cultural erasure, and the lingering trauma of eugenic ideology, continuing our discussion of how history haunts the present.Until next time: clean your black mould, trust your red flags, and when someone warns you to leave while you still can… take the hint and GTFO.Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2509776/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we descend into &lt;em&gt;Mexican Gothic&lt;/em&gt;, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s 2020 bestselling novel set in 1950s Mexico. When glamorous socialite Noemí Taboada receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who claims she’s being poisoned in her new husband’s remote mountain mansion, she travels to High Place to investigate. There she finds a crumbling English manor transplanted into the Mexican countryside, steeped in decay, silence, and red flags. Catalina is wasting away under the watchful eye of her sinister husband Virgil, his ancient patriarch Howard, and the sanctimonious housekeeper Florence. The house reeks of rot, the wallpaper pulses, and mushrooms bloom in the foggy graveyard. Mexican Gothic explores inherited trauma, the stain of colonialism, eugenics, and the horror of being reduced to a vessel. We discuss gothic tropes, gaslighting, fetishisation, how we feel about dream sequences and complicity v. victimhood. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Content &amp;amp; Spoiler Warning:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This novel and our episode includes discussion of sexual assault, incest, coercion, eugenics, racism, fetishisation of women of colour, colonial exploitation, gaslighting, medical abuse, cannibalism, body horror (including bile and vomiting), disturbing dream sequences, and reproductive coercion. We also fully spoil &lt;em&gt;Mexican Gothic.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Palate Cleansers&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After all that bile, we recommend:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The new&lt;em&gt; Muppet Show &lt;/em&gt;(Disney+) -  joyful chaos, nostalgia, and Seth Rogen involvement.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Encanto &lt;/em&gt;– also explores intergenerational trauma and a characters repeats,  “Open your eyes.”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Recommendations&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Talking Scared - &lt;/em&gt;Interview with Silvia Moreno Garcia (the novels include &lt;em&gt;Certain Dark Things&lt;/em&gt; &amp;amp; &lt;em&gt;The Bewitching)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Yellow Wallpaper&lt;/em&gt;  (episode 15)  - a big inspiration&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Rebecca&lt;/em&gt; -  all the gothic tropes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Rosemary’s Baby&lt;/em&gt; - for gaslighting, reproductive horror&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Shining&lt;/em&gt; - isolation and atmosphere of dread &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Others&lt;/em&gt; – sheets over furniture in unused rooms  &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Skeleton Key&lt;/em&gt;  - no spoilers, just watch it&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Behind Her Eyes&lt;/em&gt; by Sarah Pinborough – quite a twist&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Venom, Stranger Things,&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;The Last of Us,&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;The Girl with All the Gifts,&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;What Moves the Dead&lt;/em&gt; by T. Kingfisher – fungal and hive mind horror&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Midnight Mass&lt;/em&gt; - corrupted communion ritual&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Get Out&lt;/em&gt; - fetishisation &amp;amp; bodily appropriation&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Portrait of Dorian Gray&lt;/em&gt; - immortality and decay&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Bloody Chamber&lt;/em&gt; by Angela Carter- gothic fairytale retellings&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Wuthering Heights &lt;/em&gt;&amp;amp; &lt;em&gt;Jane Eyre&lt;/em&gt; – gothic classics&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ghostbusters&lt;/em&gt; - When someone asks if you’re a god, you say yes.”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Crow&lt;/em&gt; - “It can’t rain all the time.”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Fall of the House of Usher&lt;/em&gt; - a creepy crypt&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Starling House&lt;/em&gt; by Alix E. Harrow &amp;amp;&lt;em&gt;Old Gods of Appalachia&lt;/em&gt; (podcast) - mining horror &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Always &lt;em&gt;Mean Girls, Blue, Andor, and Arrested Development&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Homework”&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Watch: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sugarcane&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; (National Geographic documentary, available on Disney+)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We’ll be examining residential schools, colonisation, cultural erasure, and the lingering trauma of eugenic ideology, continuing our discussion of how history haunts the present.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Until next time: clean your black mould, trust your red flags, and when someone warns you to leave while you still can… take the hint and GTFO.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify). &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we descend into Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s 2020 bestselling novel set in 1950s Mexico. When glamorous socialite Noemí Taboada receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who claims she’s being poisoned in her new husband’s remote mountain mansion, she travels to High Place to investigate. There she finds a crumbling English manor transplanted into the Mexican countryside, steeped in decay, silence, and red flags. Catalina is wasting awa...

28 - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia

Do your friends think you're weird because you rattle off facts about serials killers and watch horror movies to relax? We're here for you! Drawn to Darkness is a biweekly podcast where two best friends take turns discussing our favorite horror and true crime.&nbsp; Our cover art is by Nancy Azano. You can find her work on instagram @nancyazano.Our intro and outro music is by Harry Kidd. Check him out on instagram @HarryJKidd.

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