Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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