Hey there Horrorverse! What a treat it is to take over this incredible space for a bit. I’m Sean O’Connor, the Editor of the PAPER CUTS Horror Literature column over at MacabreDaily.com. And what exactly does an Editor for a horror literature column do, you may ask. Great question, turns out a hell of a lot of reading, and when that’s done, a bunch more reading, and when all that reading is done, I can finally get to the reading I’ve been putting off. Is all that reading worth it? You bet your life it is! I have the immense pleasure of reviewing some of the most incredible horror being written today, and interviewing the phenomenally gifted authors who create these beautiful nightmares. Getting to the point where I have publicists ask me to review a book or interview an author is “pinch me” exciting, and I still can’t believe I get to chat with some of the most dynamic voices in horror. Horror Literature is having the kind of bombastic moment not seen since the paperback horror heyday of the 80s, except this time the door is open for everyone, not just middle-aged white men. No matter who you are or what your vibe, horror has you covered.
This inclusivity not only makes the landscape richer but also opens amazing new avenues for creativity, leading to some of the best horror fiction ever to see print in the history of the written word! By now, you’ve realized that I’m an exhaustive windbag and something of a drama queen, but it doesn’t make these statements any less true. If you’re a dedicated horror reader or someone who has never taken the plunge but is horror curious, jump on in, the water's fine.
When I’m not buried in a book, I also co-host the “Fear on Film” Podcast with cinephile and all-around supermensch, Joe Velazquez. I’m so grateful to be part of the horror community, especially having one foot in the literary world and the other in the film world. It gives me a particular insight into just how important a solid script is in bringing terror to life.
IN THE NEWS
Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd
Will The Backrooms take over the box office this weekend? According to Bloody Disgusting’s Instagram, Kane Parsons’ film is expected to rake in $40-50M during its first weekend, most likely due to strong ticket sales and word of mouth, while Curry Barker’s Obsession continues to maintain a strong top presence.
After months, even years, of chatter about a new Maniac Cop film (remake), which at one time was said to be a television series, director Nicolas Winding Refn will begin filming in January 2027. The film, which is supported by Mubi, will release it in theaters in late 2027.
We may be months away from Scary Season, but that’s not stopping Shudder from delivering its June 2026 (US) schedule that’s full of chills and thrills! With a handful of Exclusives and Originals, including Find Your Friends, The Voices of Our Mother and The Ice Tower, other additions include Sleepaway Camp II and III, Evil Dead 2, and John Carpenter’s Vampires!
TRAILERVILLE
The trailer for Victorian Psycho has dropped on YouTube. The film, adapted from the book written by Virginia Feito, stars Maika Monroe and is directed by Zachary Wigon. (WATCH)
I’d be lying (and my nose would grow) if I didn’t say that I’m excited for Pinocchio Unstrung, the new film from the team behind the Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey films. The storyline sounds promising and, thanks to trailer spoilers, the kills look to be incredibly brutal (count me in!). The film will be released in July! (WATCH)
WHAT TO WATCH
May is almost over but there is still time for a little bit more folk horror! Lee Haven Jones' The Feast is not only folk horror, but gastro horror as well! This underseen and underrated gem is a slow burn film that will get under your skin. Final Girls Feast recently did an episode all about it joined by Keene Short, who you'll recognize from our Folk Horror Issue! (LISTEN)
Pontypool, the 2008 film directed by Bruce McDonald and based on the book by Timothy Burgess (who also wrote the script), is not to be missed. While the focus should be on the incredible cast and storyline, the "virus" that's making the rounds should be front and center. It's a simple film, set mostly in one location, but incredibly effective in how the premise unravels, creating an atmosphere that's both unsettling and unsafe, and how the characters must accustom themselves to sudden changes in order to stay alive. Watch this now!
ISOLATION HORROR
The theme I’ve chosen to pair with my movie choice is “Isolation.” A good “Radio/Podcast” horror film really soars when the protagonist is isolated from any kind of help. It dramatically escalates the stakes and works remarkably well at pulling the audience into the film. If you’d like to explore the theme of “Isolation” in horror further, check these movies out and enjoy! Check out the list on Letterboxd.
CREATORS CORNER
Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | Website
With this issue discussing podcasts and radio shows in horror, I thought it would be fun to shout out some of the horror podcasts I enjoy (including my own, sorry, not sorry)!
• A Nightmare on Fierce Street- A monstrous podcast about all things horror.
• Pleasers and Punishers Podcast- A weekly podcast about movies people love to watch, movies that ruin your today, tomorrow, and yesterday, and all things kinky & queer!
• The Pod and the Pendulum- A horror movie podcast covering every movie in every franchise. From heavy hitters like Friday the 13th, to the direct-to-video titles like Subspecies, they’ve got you covered, whether you want them to or not.
• Girl, That's Scary!- Your favorite homegirls choppin’ it up about all things Horror, Sci-Fi & more
• Rise from the Dead Podcast- AshXAshes, J3RM and Mike and Serial discuss lesser known horror gems and decide if they should “rise from the dead” or stay buried.
• Macabre Daily’s PAPER CUTS!- Macabre Daily's PAPER CUTS! is a podcast showcasing interviews with some of the most interesting authors working in horror literature today! Host Sean O'Connor takes you on a tour into the darker side of literature with weekly episodes every Thursday.
• The Macabre Daily Podcast- The Macabre Daily Podcast, an extension of MacabreDaily.com is your go-to podcast for all things macabre and scary in the world of Movies, TV, Books, Comics, and Games! Hosts Matt Orozco and Lowell Greenblatt share their favorite films, talk horror with interesting guests, and cover horror happenings around the world!
• Final Girls Feast- Carrie and Sarah have teamed up to create Final Girls Feast, a podcast discussing Gastro Horror and food in horror movies!
• Dads From the Crypt- Dads from the Crypt delves into the dark world of horror anthology TV and film, exploring such chilling tales as Tales From the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, Creepshow, and Black Mirror.
• Creepy and Geeky Podcast- Hosted by Robert Clark, Creepy and Geeky is a podcast that celebrates the love of horror, comic books, cult cinema, and more with episodes every week.
RIYL: THE FOG (1980)
For this takeover of “Radio/Podcast” themed terror, I chose one of the best, John Carpenter’s The Fog. The reason is simple. Seeing this film, at the very impressionable age of 12 or 13, I, like so many teens back then, fell madly in love with Stevie Wayne of WKAB Antonio Bay. We were probably meant to crush hard on Jamie Lee Curtis, and I’m sure we did, but it was the confidence and effortless cool of Adrienne Barbeau in the role that stayed with me. The simple fact that Stevie Wayne chose to stay on air, knowing she would be isolated, and eventually enveloped by the fog, and the nightmares born from the cursed ship Elizabeth Dane within it, so that she could try to save as many citizens of Antonio Bay as she could with the brief time she had left, makes her a hero and rad af in my opinion. Check out the list on Letterboxd.
MACABRE DAILY: WEEKLY UPDATES
💀 The Women of “SACCHARINE” (2026) Help Us Digest The Horror (INTERVIEW)
💀 Is “FACES OF DEATH” (1978) An American Mondo Masterpiece? (RANT)
💀 Costume Designer Blair James Shares The Secrets Behind The Wardrobe In "OBSESSION" (INTERVIEW)
💀 "sMOTHERed" (2026) Falters With Its Unique Folklore-Inspired Premise (REVIEW)
Established in 2020, Macabre Daily is your home for the dark side of pop culture on the internet providing news, reviews, interviews, and opinions about the world of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and cult films! Macabre Daily serves over 11,000 visitors per month to our website and over 13,7000 followers on our social media platforms. Our team of contributors covers a wide array of media such as movies, television, and physical media. Visit macabredaily.com for more.
RECOMMENDED READING
Candi Norwood | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | StoryGraph | Website
There’s something about listening to an audiobook who narrative is at least in part told through a podcast that makes it scarier and more real, so for this week’s focus on podcast and radio horror, I’m going to link you to my reviews of three books I recommend which follow that format (and do tandem written/audiobook if that works for you because, wow, is it immersive) and tell you about a fourth involving radio that’s on my TBR (to be read) list.
House of Margins by Tlotlo Tsamaase – A mix of African Gothic, a true crime podcast, and a haunted house. (Full Review)
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum – Can men and women be friends? Plus a true crime (and other near-death situations) podcast! (Full Review)
Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson – Poe witnessed her mother’s murder when she was 13, and now she hosts – a true crime podcast! – where her guests confess their crimes, small and large. (Full Review)
And the one on my TBR that sounds really good: Southern Gods by John Horner Jacobs – a Southern gothic novel where a broadcast of a phantom radio station is said to “make living men insane and dead men rise.”
Have you read any of these? What’s missing from this list that you recommend?
