Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror

This week Abby and Alan discuss dowsing and divining rods, and how people believed a forked stick could reveal hidden water, buried treasure, minerals, or even supernatural forces. From early references to divining rods and their connections to magic and folklore to the rise of water dowsing in Europe and America, we trace how a simple forked branch became an instrument of supernatural belief. We look at the people, practices, and ideas behind dowsing rods, including rhabdomancy, the occult traditions surrounding magical wands, early modern beliefs about hidden forces, and the long-running debate over whether dowsing actually works. Along the way, we explore the folklore and history that turned an ordinary stick into a supposed supernatural tool. Follow us on social media @ TheLunaticsProject. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Death was a major part of everyday life in the Victorian era, and people developed elaborate ways to mourn, remember, and preserve the dead. In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the history of Victorian funerary traditions and the social and historical circumstances that shaped them in Britain and the United States. We look at Victorian mourning customs, postmortem photography, mourning jewelry, human hair art, funeral rituals, embalming, funeral biscuits, mourning stationery, death masks, and Victorian cemeteries. We also examine how the American Civil War helped popularize embalming in the United States and how Queen Victoria's mourning for Prince Albert influenced Victorian mourning culture. Along the way, we separate historical practices from later myths, including the popular story of Victorian "tear catchers." Finally, we trace these traditions into Gothic literature and horror movies, looking at how Victorian cemeteries, mourning clothes, old photographs, preserved bodies, and memorial objects became part of the visual language of supernatural horror. Because the Victorians weren't trying to make death scary. They were trying to find ways to live with it. Follow us on social media @ TheLunaticsProject. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show⁠. Sources The Gettysburg Compiler: Until We Meet Again: Victorian Mourning Practices by Ziv Camri The National Museum of Funeral History: 19th Century Mourning Eat Your Sorrow With These Victorian Funeral Biscuits: Atlas Obscura  Another Atlas Obscura article: Clearing Up Myths About Victorian ‘Postmortem’ Photography Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Abby and Alan dig into the strange history of witch bottles, a form of folk magic once used to protect from witchcraft, curses, and supernatural attacks. We explore where the practice came from, how witch bottles were made, why they were hidden in fireplaces, walls, and beneath floors, and what archaeologists have discovered centuries later. From 17th-century England to colonial America, witch bottles reveal a fascinating intersection of folklore, magic, superstition, and everyday life. We’ll also look at the objects and rituals believed to make these bottles work, and how this obscure piece of folk magic eventually found its way into the imagery and traditions of modern horror. If you’re interested in witchcraft, folk magic, occult history, supernatural folklore, haunted history, paranormal traditions, and the real history behind horror, this one is for you. Lunatics Radio Hour explores the history behind the things that scare us. Follow us on social media @ TheLunaticsProject. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Scary Scuffle reaches its bloody finale! In Part Two of our horror villain tournament, the remaining sequel monsters and villains face off in a series of one-on-one battles to determine who will be crowned the ultimate champion. Every matchup is judged on strength, abilities, durability, intelligence, and, of course, their overall potential to ruin your day. Abby is joined by Dan Roberts and Kate Rotunda as we break down the final matchups, argue for our picks, and decide which horror sequel villain deserves the title. Who will survive the bracket? Who will be eliminated? And who will walk away as the winner of the second-ever Scary Scuffle? Let the final fights begin.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part One of the Scary Scuffle, we’re putting the villains of horror sequels head-to-head in a one-on-one tournament to determine who is the ultimate sequel villain. Using a bracket-style showdown, each round pits two horror icons against each other as we debate who deserves to advance and who deserves to be sent back to the franchise graveyard. Who has the best kills? Who is the most terrifying? Who has the most staying power? And, most importantly, which sequel villain would actually win in a fight? Abby and Alan are joined by Dan Roberts and Kate Rotunda for a chaotic debate covering some of horror’s most memorable sequel villains, from slashers and monsters to supernatural killers and everything in between.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Lunatics Radio Hour, we're exploring the history of horror sequels. It might seem like an unusual topic, but sequels have played a major role in the development of the horror genre. Horror has embraced sequels and franchises more successfully than almost any other genre, creating some of the most recognizable characters in film history and filling the genre's archives with long-running series. In this episode, we trace the evolution of horror sequels from the Universal monster films of the 1930s through the slasher boom of the 1980s and into the modern era. We discuss why horror became the genre most closely associated with franchises and how sequels helped shape the industry. We're also kicking off the Second Scary Scuffle, our head-to-head tournament that pits horror's greatest sequel monsters and villains against one another to determine the ultimate champion. Listen in as we examine the history behind horror sequels and begin the battle to crown the greatest horror sequel character of all time.Sources Fangoria article by Will Jones: How The Horror Genre Created The World of Legacy Sequels  Den of Geek article by David Crow and Joe George: The 31 Best Horror Franchises of All Times, Ranked Entertainment Weekly article by Steven Thrash: The 20 best horror sequels of all time  Forbes article by Mark Hughes: Top 10 Most Successful Horror Sequels of All Time Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Lunatics Radio Hour we're talking through the fascinating history of horror taglines. We get into the history of film marketing, the evolution of taglines and some of the most iconic of all time. Sources 10 Greatest Horror Movie Taglines, Ranked Collider Article by Chris Williams Fangoria article by Justin Lockwood: How Much Shock Can You Stand? Top Horror Taglines Across The Decades An article from the Museum of The Moving Image on The Silent Film Era Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the history of the Final Girl, one of horror’s most recognizable character archetypes. From early examples in horror literature and film to the rise of the slasher genre in the 1970s and 1980s, we examine how the trope developed and why it became so important to horror storytelling. We discuss the academic origins of the term, the characteristics traditionally associated with the Final Girl, and how characters like Laurie Strode, Nancy Thompson, and Sidney Prescott helped define and evolve the role. We also look at how modern horror films have challenged, expanded, and reinterpreted the trope for new audiences. Join us as we trace the history of the Final Girl and her lasting impact on horror cinema. Follow @Sonrisalibrary on Instagram. Sources Men, Women, and Chain Saws by Carol J Clover (1992) Fandom article: Halloween Flips The Final Girl Trope on Its Head by Kim Taylor-Foster In Session Film article by Codie Allen: The Scream Queen’s Legacy: Janet Leigh and the Evolution of Horror Dread Central article by Mary Beth McAndrews: Jess’s Choice: How ‘Black Christmas’ (1974) Responsibly Addresses Abortion and Bodily Autonomy  Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the folklore behind masks, from ancient legends and seasonal traditions to the myths that gave rise to some of horror's most unforgettable imagery. Discover how masks have been used to ward off evil spirits, conceal identities, represent supernatural beings, and blur the line between the human and the unknown. Then, we trace how these age-old beliefs found new life in horror, inspiring some of the genre's most iconic masked villains. Join us as we uncover the folklore that continues to shape horror to this day. Sources The-noh.com article: Introducing the world of noh masks A Minneapolis Institute of Art article on African Masks and Masquerade  Thorn and Vine article: Krampus in The Alps  A paper from Shorehaven Behavioral Health: The Curious and Fascinating Psychology of Wearing Masks The Wikipedia entry on the False Face Society Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the history of masks, from prehistoric rituals and ancient Egyptian funerary masks to Roman death masks, Venetian Carnival, and the eerie plague doctor. Sources National Geographic Article by A. R. Williams - World’s Oldest Masks Modeled On Early Markers Ancestors  Death and Burial in Ancient Egypt by Salima Ikram A BBC article by Zaria Grovett: The lost art of the death mask  An Art and Object article by Effie Jackson: The History of Venetian Masks National Geographic Article by Erin Blakemore: Why plague doctors wore those strange beaked masks  Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the morning of February 9, 1855, residents across Devon, England awoke to a baffling sight. Strange hoof-like footprints stretched through fresh snow for miles, appearing in dozens of towns and villages. According to contemporary reports, the tracks crossed walls, rooftops, frozen rivers, and other obstacles, fueling rumors that the Devil himself had walked the countryside overnight. Nearly 200 years later, the Devil's Footprints remain one of history's most enduring unsolved mysteries. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Abby and Alex present two original works of horror fiction. Shadows was written by by Jon Adcock. Find more of Jon's work at https://linktr.ee/jonadcock. Family, Like Branches was written by Marisca Pichette. You can find Marisca at www.mariscapichette.com, on Instagram @marisca_write, on Bluesky @marisca.bsky.social, and on Twitter/X @MariscaPichette. Turn down the lights and enjoy two unsettling tales from two talented writers. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Modern UFO reports are often associated with the 20th century, but strange objects in the sky have been recorded for hundreds of years. Medieval chronicles describe unusual celestial events, mysterious lights, and unexplained phenomena that left witnesses searching for answers. Centuries later, some researchers and UFO enthusiasts have pointed to curious details in medieval and Renaissance artwork, arguing that certain paintings appear to depict objects that resemble modern ideas of UFOs. In this episode, we explore reports of strange sightings from the Middle Ages and examine some of the most famous examples of alleged UFOs in historical art. We'll look at the historical context behind these accounts, the explanations offered by historians and art experts, and why these images continue to fuel debate today. Are these records evidence of something extraordinary, misunderstood natural phenomena, religious symbolism, or examples of modern interpretations being applied to ancient works? Join us as we investigate the fascinating intersection of history, art, folklore, and the enduring mystery of unidentified objects in the sky. Sources Artnet article: Is There a UFO in That Renaissance Painting?  A burials and beyond article: Aliens Over Nuremberg  Wikipedia and Public Domain review  Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 12th century, villagers in Woolpit, England reported a strange discovery: two children with green-colored skin who appeared suddenly near the village. The children spoke an unknown language, refused most food, and seemed unable to explain where they came from. Over time, their skin color faded, and one of the children eventually learned English, sharing a story that only deepened the mystery. In this episode, we explore the history of the Green Children of Woolpit, one of medieval England's most enduring legends. We examine the original historical accounts, the theories that have emerged over the centuries, and why this unusual story continues to fascinate historians, folklorists, and paranormal researchers alike. Were the children simply lost travelers, victims of a misunderstood medical condition, or something far stranger? Join us as we separate fact from folklore and trace the origins of one of the most mysterious tales from the Middle Ages. Sources Historic, UK article by Ben Johnson: The Green Children of Woolpit  A Medievalists article by Timothy R Jones: Who Were The Green Children of Woolpit, a new look at a Medieval Mystery Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watch our footage from the Paris Catacombs HERE. Beneath the streets of Paris lies one of the most disturbing landmarks in the world: the Paris Catacombs. In this episode, we explore the real history behind the underground tunnels that hold the remains of more than six million people. From collapsing cemeteries and overflowing mass graves to the creation of the vast ossuary beneath the city, the Catacombs tell a story of disease, death, engineering, and urban legend. We cover how the tunnels were first created as limestone quarries, why human bones were transferred underground in the late 1700s, and how the Catacombs became tied to ghost stories, secret gatherings, wartime history, and modern urban explorers known as cataphiles. We also discuss the darker side of the Catacombs, including reports of people getting lost beneath Paris and the strange discoveries made deep underground. If you’re interested in dark history, horror history, haunted places, cemeteries, underground cities, French history, or paranormal legends, this episode dives into one of the most infamous locations in the world. Sources The official website of the Catacombs and our visit  Paris Unlocked article: History of The Paris Catacombs by Courtney Traub Culture Veuz article by Antione Vitek: The Unusual History of The Paris Catacombs History.com article The Dark Origins of The Paris Catacombs by Jessica Pearce Rotondi  Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Abby is joined by Alex Goleman to read two haunting stories about grief and death. Forgiving Amy was written by Mike Macera. Follow @mikemacera on Instagram and check out https://www.scene3.co/filmsIn Life and Death was written by Sam Logan. Visit samloganwrites.com and  sluggerfiction.com. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From ravens and vultures to killer flocks and supernatural omens, birds have played a major role in horror for decades. In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to explore the history of birds in horror and why these animals continue to symbolize death, fear, and chaos across film and folklore.  Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do audiences jump in horror movies? What are some of the greatest jump scares in cinema history? In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby and Alan explore the history of the jump scare, from early suspense filmmaking and the famous “Lewton Bus” scene in Cat People to the modern era of loud, fast-paced horror shocks. We break down how jump scares evolved, why they work psychologically, and the films that helped define the technique across horror history. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 Collider Article: A Brief History of The Jump Scare by Samantha Graves  Inverse Article: The Unexpected Psychology of Jump Scares by Ben Guarino  An article from The Lineup by Kelsey Christine McConnell: The Hair Raising History of The Jump Scare An Atlas Obscura Article by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw: The Startling History of The Jump Scare Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Abby and Alan discuss the reported haunting of the Bell Witch in Tennessee during the early 1800s. The events centered on the Bell family and centers around unexplained noises, voices, and physical disturbances. The entity, often called “Kate,” was said to target specific family members. The case became widely known and was later documented in An Authenticated History of the Bell Witch. There are also claims that Andrew Jackson visited the site. The episode reviews the reported events and their historical context. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 Authenticated History of the Bell Witch by Martin V. Ingram Tennessee State Museum article by Tori Kleinpeter: Tennessee Legends: The Bell Witch  MainStreetMediaTN.com article by Charlotte Reedy: Andrew Jackson and The Bell Witch Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Abby and Alan dive into the folklore behind horror’s most contagious curses, from The Ring to Smile to It Follows. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. 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 BBC article by Quinn Hargitai: The Strange Power of The Evil Eye A psmag.com article on The Aye-Aye and The Finger of Death by Jason Bittel Collider article by Gabrielle Grady: The Ring is Based on A Haunting Ghost Story The Evil Eye: The Classic Account of an Ancient Superstition by Frederick Thomas Elworthy. Yale Tropical Resource Institute Article by Eleanor Sterling, PhD Candidate: The Aye-Aye Lemur of Madagascar: Feeding Ecology, Social Behavior, and Microhabitat James George Frazer in The Golden Bough An Anthropology Review article by Claudine Casser: Contagious Magic - Items that have been in contact, remain connected  https://www.bellwitchcave.com/bell-witch-legend/ Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices