The Spinal Abyss | Podcast in RSS.com

The Spinal Abyss

The Spinal Abyss

di Briana Kersten & Tommy Isbell

Stagione 1

"Mama" We're Meant For The Flies

Greetings and another happy Wednesday to all of you! We're back this week with another "spirit"ed discussion around the 2013 fairy tale horror story of Andy Muschietti and GDT's film "Mama". And as always, we stay on that train for as long as possible until inevitably, it loses control, goes over a cliff and must be raised by a malevolent forest entity that may or may not have been an escaped psychiatric patient. Discussion topics include: Jessica Chastain, the efficacy of mold portals, child actors across the decades, the importance of casting directors and the abominable choice to not run your next project past your wife

Putting The Fier In "Fear Street"

Many happy returns, dear listeners! Come along with us this week as we discuss not one, not two... but an ENTIRE TRILOGY of horror-flavored delights. That's right, we're taking it all the way back to 2021 (and 1994... and 1978... and 1666) while we discuss the Netflix original "Fear Street" movies. Discussion topics include: Which witch is which?, Winona Rider (as always), Men and their continued failings, Deals with The Devil (far less Prada than you'd think) and Upton Sinclair's never-ending search for the most devastating sentence possible.

A Ground Ball Straight "Underwater"

Welcome back, dear listeners! Due to life changes for our dearest little sister, we kind of sidestep our usual deep dive mentality and end up going on the deepest possible "dive" as we discuss the 2020 pandemically-jilted film "Underwater". Discussion topics include: The importance of characterization, emergent pacing, fish people, the gender dynamics of Lovecraftian horror appreciation, queer-coded horror (HAPPY PRIDE TO ALL) and how to kill Cthulu. SPOILER ALERT: It's with a nuke. As usual.

Raven Mad About Edgar Allan Poe

Nevermore will you be able to say that we don't love some Poe... or Mike Flanagan. And when the two come together, something amazing is born. This week we take on the Netflix series "The Fall of the House of Usher" and the broad spectrum works of one Edgar Allan Poe. Discussion topics include: The inescapable magic of Mike Flanagan, the moral decay of billionaires, the autistic need to explain things, what is gothic literature anyways? and continued disgust at the book "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair.

Bitchin' About Some Witchin'

Get out your CrockPot, your cookbooks, your blenders and your full moon-charged crystals. That's right, this week our intrepid hosts take on the touchy yet misunderstood subject of WITCHES. Small disclaimer: All of their opinions on the matter are just that... Opinions. They don't know everything and they don't pretend to. They just have some thoughts on the matter. Mainly Briana. A lot of Briana thoughts here. Discussion topics include: Witchcraft, the patriarchy, the church, why men hate women, why the church hates women, why the church hates witchcraft, why women hate men, the practical magic of singing to cookie dough, Tommy's inability to figure out if "dude witch" is just a meatball sub and new revelations on Sam Neill.

We Finally Did An "Alien" Episode (Part 2)

They mostly made another "Alien" episode... mostly. That's right, this week we wrap up our discussion of the "Alien" franchise when talking about "Prometheus" (2012), "Alien: Covenant" (2017), "Alien: Romulus" (2025) and the FXX series "Alien: Earth" (2025). Discussion topics include: Corporations and their inability to stay out of politics, the creepy affectations of Timothy Olyphant, the eventual rise of artificial intelligence, Nazi robots and just how much one man can loathe everything about "The Boys"? SPOILER ALERT: Tommy hates it. A lot. A lot, a lot. Whole bunches, in fact. One could say... oodles.

We Finally Did An "Alien" Episode (Part 1)

Mount up, proud Weyland-Yutani employees! This week, we tackle the original entries in the "Alien" franchise starting with the OG goat "Alien" (1979), "Aliens" (1986), "Alien 3" (1992) and the seminal classic "Alien: Resurrection" (1997). Subjects discussed include: Billionaires and the search for youth, corporate America, the enduring fiscal solvency of Walmart and a whole bunch of thoughts on H.R. Giger and phallus..es? Phallusi? Phallus's? Tube shaped things...?

The V Word... No, Not That One.

Velcome back, dear mortals! This week we take some time to give some flowers to our beloved horror and discuss the recent achievement of the film "Sinners" starring MIchael B. Jordan (and some other people Bri is not going to remember because they look nothing like Michael B. Jordan) and take some time to talk about our plasma-addled neck-suckers, the eponymous VAMPIRE of the times. So take some iron, throw on some garlic and come along as we delve the crypts of our relationship with our favorite bloodfiends. Discussion topics include: The Oscars treatment of horror, MIchael B. Jordan's hypnotic abilities, types of vampires, types of vampires to avoid, and all things fanged and creepy.

The Absolute Wrong "Hill" Upon Which To "Silent"ly Die On

This week, we take a look (begrudgingly) at the film adaptations of the "Silent Hill" video game franchise. Are they good? No. Are they bad? Not entirely. But mostly, yes. So grab your static-riddled radio, your never-trusty flashlight and an unmistakably brown bottle of anti-psychotics and join us as we try to discern what went right and what went horribly, horribly wrong with these films. Topics include: Video game movies and the plethora of reasons we shouldn't make them, a growing concern over Princess Zelda, Tommy's ability to withstand trauma for the sake of those he loves and the promise of popcorn and a wide assortment of general buffoonery.

Dystopia. Dat Topia. Any Topia At All, Really.

Happy Wednesday, friends! This week, we take a look at a type of horror that applies to not only our literary and film interest but also, LITERALLY EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES AT THIS POINT IN HISTORY. That's right, we're talking Dystopian Fiction. So come along with us as we dip a toe or two into such topics as: Brave New World, Orwellian nightmares, gender equality, Tommy's unending battle against The Patriarchy from the inside of it, an amount of Star Wars love and genuine fear and trepidation in regards to how the world is being run in 2026. It's gonna be a doozy!

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