Out in the phone booths of podcasts where death stalks the airwaves, somewhere between a cursed VHS tape and the ghost of a Blockbuster Video, lurks My Bloody Podcast, a horror show equal parts terrifying and delightfully unhinged. Imagine if The Criterion Channel got possessed by a demon, or if your horror-obsessed friend from high school actually started a podcast with their equally disturbed and well-read pals. That’s the vibe.
Hosted by Bryan Kluger, a man who speaks fluent Freddy and Jason with the academic rigor of a TED Talk on gore, My Bloody Podcast is a weekly séance-slash-horror-symposium where no monster is left behind and no bloody boil goes unpopped. Preston Barta joins him like a vampire with a PhD, dissecting dread with surgical precision, while Chelsea Nicole; cultural critic, scream queen, and walking IMDb of feminist horror, makes sure every terrifying nuance gets its due.
This week on a very special My Bloody Podcast, and by “special” I mean the kind of special usually reserved for holiday episodes of long-running sitcoms or the sudden arrival of a beloved character cameo, we bring you yet another bonus installment. Maybe it’s the season of giving. Maybe it’s that rare moment in the cultural barometer when everyone collectively decides murder mysteries pair beautifully with peppermint bark. Or maybe, just maybe, the rumor mill has finally caught up with reality, the cool kids want on this podcast. Who are we to question fate?
Today, we’re rolling out the proverbial red carpet for someone making his debut appearance on My Bloody Podcast, director Stephen Shimek. If the name rings a bell, don’t worry, you’re not suffering from cinematic déjà vu. You’ve probably stumbled across Invitation to a Murder, The Maze, Joey and Ella, or the delightfully enigmatic The Magician’s Raincoat. Yes, Stephen made those. And if that’s not enough, he’s also married to Kristy Shimek. The editor, a frequent guest, and the unofficial patron saint of making directors look good in post.
Together, we dive into Stephen’s newest film, Murder at the Embassy, a sequel to Invitation to a Murder and the latest entry in what we’re now confidently calling the Shimek Murder Expanded Universe. Stephen regales us with tales of working with Mischa Barton, the joys and logistical nightmares of creating a historical period piece, and the strangely soothing discipline required to choreograph a proper on-screen murder. He even lets slip a few of his cinematic influences, though we won’t spoil which auteurs haunt his artistic conscience.
We had a thoroughly delightful time that was equal parts laughter, fascination, and mild existential dread (the good, genre-appropriate kind). So consider this your gentle nudge to watch Murder at the Embassy, and perhaps rewatch Invitation to a Murder for good measure. Shimek has built a world of intrigue that politely demands your attention.
Listen everywhere you’d normally listen. Preferably with the lights dimmed just enough to feel mysterious.
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Thank you for listening.
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.
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