We have another horror author on the pod today! Please welcome Kathleen Palm, author of The Nowhere Series (amongst other short stories and fiction), as we chat about an essential gateway horror for us both, Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist (1982). Kathy takes us on a journey to the drive-in and we discuss all things ghost hunting, clowns, trees, screaming skulls and special effects. But at the center of this story is family, so we also discuss our awesome horror-loving dads and sharing horror with our family and friends!
If you watch before you listen, please note that Poltergeist (1982) contains heavy strobe lights.
00:00-19:00- Intro / How Kathy Got Into Horror / How We First Saw Poltergeist / Our Own Paranormal Investigations
19:00-36:00- Brief Synopsis / Domestic Horror Elements
36:00-50:00- Paranormal Investigation Elements / Special Effects
50:00-01:07:00- Ending(s) / Sequels & Remakes / Score / Reception
01:07:00-01:19:30- Showing Your Kids Poltergeist / Double Feature Ideas / Outro
Please note, timestamps are estimates.
References:
Granger House Museum (where Chloe went ghost hunting)
Horror Writers Association- Chicagoland Chapter (where we met!)
The Little Girl Lost S3E26 (1962)- Twilight Zone episode
Poltergeist- S1E2 (2020)- Cursed Films episode
Scariest Places on Earth (paranormal reality show from the early 2000’s in which Zelda Rubinstein does the voiceover)
Snopes on Poltergeist using real skeletons
Find Us:
Follow Kathy on her website and buy The Nowhere Series.
Follow Chloe’s Letterboxd and Instagram.
Find other great film pods on the Now Playing Network.
The sound and music used in this episode is from Poltergeist (1982) trailer, film and soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith, used for educational purposes.
Listen to “Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to get new reviews and special features, please subscribe to my Substack. Thank you for listening!
