Episode 111 - The History of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

This week we are thrilled to sit down with Jenn Wexler and Sean Redlitz, the filmmakers behind "The Sacrifice Game," and "The Ranger" to discus the intersection of demons and horror filmmaking. We chat through all things horror, the paranormal and how Jenn and Sean were inspired by The Lesser Key of Solomon while writing "The Sacrifice Game."

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Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Abby and Alan dive into the history of demonic summoning, and its impact on horror. Embark with us on a shadowy expedition into the origins and evolutions of demonic summoning, where ancient gods were recast into sinister spirits under the unforgiving light of monotheism. From the Lesser Key of Solomon to the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn, we discuss the history of cultures and peoples who have attempted to summon demons. 

The notorious Warrens, Pazuzu from "The Exorcist," and even Black Phillip of "The Witch" fame make appearances, showcasing how horror films have shaped our understanding of the infernal. We also chat through the threads of historical rituals from modern horror, examining the authenticity filmmakers strive for when portraying ancient summoning rites.

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Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Sources

• Book by Ed Simon called PANDEMONIUM: An Illustrated History of Demonology 
• PBS article by David Crary of the Associated Press: Ancient but small in number, Zoroastrians confront depletion of their faith
• Archeology.org article by Eric A. Powell, called: The World of Egyptian Demons
• The Rationality of Renaissance Magic by Gregory W. Dawes
• Aliester Crowley’s autobiography: The Confessions of Aleister Crowley
• Book by Owen Davies: Grimoires: A History of Magic
• Vice article The Men Who Love to Worship The Devil and Summon Demons by Grace Wilson
• Book by Ronald Hutton: The Wild Hunt and The Witches Sabbath
• Wikipedia + IMDB

Abby and Alan discuss the history of Truman Show delusion, an example of cinema influencing culture and society. Have you ever felt like your life is a TV show and you're the unwitting star? It's more common than you think.

We talk through the research of Joel Gold, a psychiatrist who coined the term "Truman Show delusion" after seeing patients who believed they were starring in a reality show against their will. We discuss how individuals' beliefs about being the centerpiece of a reality show mirror the narrative of the iconic film, "The Truman Show," and raise questions about the power of media to shape our innermost fears and fantasies.

lunaticsproject.com

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Sources

• The Truman Show movie from 1998, directed by Peter Weir.
• Psychology Today article by Mark D. Griffiths PHD - The Truman Show Delusion
• New Yorker Article by Andrew Marantz - Unreality Star
• WEB MD article by Suzanne Wright called Truman Show Delusion
• New York Times article by Sarah Kershaw called Look Closely, Doctor: See The Camera?
• National Post article called Reality Bites from 2008
• IMDB + Wikipedia.

Abby and Alan present amusement park themed horror stories. Ever wondered what dark secrets lurk beneath the thrills of amusement parks? We have unearthed a trio of harrowing tales that will chill you to the bone and make you question the shadows behind the carousel lights. 

Our journey kicks off with a look into the world of amusement park horror, a genre ripe with untapped potential. We recount the nerve-wracking experiences of a security guard in an abandoned park, where his reality is as twisted as the rusted rides he patrols. Our first story was written by John K Peck, follow John online twitter.com/johnkpeck and johnkpeck.com. Necropolis was narrated by Jon C Cook of the Fadò podcast.

But the terror doesn't stop at the creaking gates of deserted attractions. Join us as we dive into Sara Luke's riveting story, "Splashdown," which masterfully intertwines the themes of loss, family, and survival against the backdrop of a decaying water park. Follow Sara on Instagram @saraluke25.

Finally we share a story by Cooper Shreves, about the less-than-ideal escapades at Adventure Landing,  providing a chilling testament to the mishaps and memories made in these playgrounds of joy turned graveyards of innocence. So, tune in, hold on tight, and prepare for an expedition into the eerie enigma of carnivals and water parks that will forever alter your view of where you find your fun.

lunaticsproject.com

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Join Abby and Alan as they explore the intersection of horror and amusement parks, a match made in heaven sadly. Strap in for a historical rollercoaster that whisks you from the vintage charm of pleasure gardens to the ghostly whispers of long-forgotten theme parks. We unearth the transformative journey of rides, from ice slides to modern-day scream machines, and share a carousel of tales that might just make you think twice about your next fairground visit.

lunaticsproject.com

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Sources

• An article on Vox by Arthur Levine, The Story of Amusement Parks is The Story of America
• Smithsonian Magazine article by Kat Eschner - The Dizzy History of Carousels Began with Knights
• Ask.com article by Allyson Chen - Abandoned Amusement Parks with Even Creepier Backstories
• The Travel article by Laurence Watt - Haunted Theme Parks That Were Abandoned
• Mental Floss Article by Michele Hermann - 11 Fun Facts About Coney Island
• Worldabandoned.com article on Nara Dreamland
• Atlas Obscura, Wikipedia + IMDB

This week Abby and Alan present horror stories about exorcisms.

lunaticsproject.com

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Support the talent featured in this episode! Read Brittany's book here, and follow her on Instagram at noctiscriptor.  Listen to Adam and Mike’s band Beach Therapy here. And watch Long Beach Island here. You can purchase JR’s book, We Living Failures on Amazon.  Pre-order his next project here. Follow Lissa @lissasweeney on Instagram. Support Michael Crosa and check out Chattanooga Podcast Studios here.

Did you know that The Exorcist (1973) was inspired by true events? We talk through the life of Ronald Doe, the real-life boy who inspired this spine-chilling film. Join us as we delve into his unexplainable experiences and the horrifying tales that led to the creation of this unforgettable movie.

lunaticsproject.com

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Sources

• A Vanity Fair article by Rosemary Counter: The Haunting Real Story That Inspired The Exorcist
• NYTimes review of The Exorcist from 1973 by Vincent Canby
• All Things Interesting Article by William DeLong called Inside The Harrowing Exorcism of Ronald Doe 
• Screenrant article by Christopher Fiducccia, 30 Wild Details Behind The Making of The Exorcist
• CBSnews.com article by Rhadika Chalasani - Creepy Tales from Cursed movies
• Syfy.com article by Cydney Contreras: The Exorcist Cast Endured Deaths, Fires and More Mishaps - Was the set haunted? 
• The documentary Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist (1998) which is available on YouTube.
• An article from The Guardian: Boy Whose Case Inspired The Exorcist is Named by US Magazine
• Roger Ebert’s review of The Exorcist on rogererpert.com
• Wikipedia + IMDB

Abby and Alan present Bloody Mary themed horror stories. Our first story, The Mirror, was written by Abby Brenker and narrated by Adam McAlonie. The Sunday Stalker was written by JR Santos and narrated by Jeff Ayars. You can purchase JR’s book, We Living Failures on Amazon. And watch Jeff’s latest feature, This is Our Home (2019) on Amazon.

He Comes After Midnight was written by Courtney Eastman. Be sure to follow Courtney on Instagram @TheGhouldGuide. The story was narrated by Lissa Sweeney, follow Lissa @lissasweeney on Instagram. You can purchase your copy of the Feminine Macabre Volume 3 on Amazon.  And finally, excerpts from John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs were narrated by the amazing Mike Macera. Listen to Adam and Mike’s band Beach Therapy here. And watch Long Beach Island here.

lunaticsproject.com

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Are your sleepovers complete without the chilling game of Bloody Mary? The game's origins are steeped in mystery, intrigue, and eerie folklore. In this episode, we unravel the stories of three historical women who potentially inspired this bone-chilling game. From the turbulent reign of Queen Mary the First to the bloodcurdling tales of Elizabeth Bathory and the enigmatic Mary Worth, we walk you through the bloody corridors of history.

Imagine a time when King Henry the Eighth severed ties with the catholic church, setting in motion a series of events that shaped the course of history. Delve into the reign of his daughter, Queen Mary I, infamous for her attempts to restore Catholicism and her reign of terror. You will also hear about the chilling tales associated with Elizabeth Bathory, a noblewoman speculated to have bathed in virgin blood for eternal youth. Then, peruse the life of Mary Worth, whose narrative sways between hero and villain, adding an intriguing layer to the Bloody Mary folklore.

Do you know about the Toxler's fading effect? This episode dives into its connection with horror genre in relation to midnight rituals. Exploring its representation in classic horror films, and the modern depiction of the Bloody Mary ritual in popular video games, we take a chilling journey into the murky depths of horror lore. So, buckle up for an episode that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat, daring you to face the enigmatic and horrifying history of Bloody Mary. Tune in now, if you dare!

lunaticsproject.com

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Check out the work of our friend Sheldon Higdon here.

Sources

• The Myth of Bloody Mary by Meilan Solly on SmithsonianMagazine.com 
• History.com article, How Henry the VIII’s Divorce Led to Reformation by Sarah Pruitt.
• History.com article, What Inspired Bloody Mary’s Gruesome Nickname? By Una Mcilvenna.
• The Ghost in My Machine article on Bloody Mary
• A Mental Floss Article by Emily Petsko Bloody Mary: Why We Think  We See Faces in The Mirror 
• Wikipedia and Britannica.com
• Thanks to April Brenker for research help! 

Abby sits down with an old friend to talk through some of the experiences she has had living in a historic and haunted home.

You can watch this episode here.

From sleep paralysis to spectral encounters, Grace's tales will have you on the edge of your seat, questioning the boundaries between the physical and the spiritual realm.

As our conversation evolves, we discuss theories that our perception of reality is shaped by the energy we emit. We traverse the realms of consciousness and spirituality, extending far beyond the tangible. Come along, join us as we unearth the mysteries of Grace's historic home and delve into the captivating world of the supernatural.