The Lunatics Project

03/07/2025

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was built in 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Over the years, it’s had several different owners and its design and decor have been overhauled. The building houses 300 hotel rooms, spread across 12 floors. In 2015, the hotel was renovated yet again for a cool $25 million. All of this transformation hasn’t stopped the spirits who allegedly reside here to scare the modern guests during their visit. But before we get into that, let’s talk about Roosevelt's monumental history:

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was built in 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Over the years, it’s had several different owners and its design and decor have been overhauled. The building houses 300 hotel rooms, spread across 12 floors. In 2015, the hotel was renovated yet again for a cool $25 mill...

03/05/2025

From giant women, to giant bugs, to a giant amorphous substance....Science Fiction films from the 1950s remain some of my favorite. They've also done a lot to pave the way (and the storylines) for Sci-Fi that came after.

02/26/2025

Tune in to the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast, as we explore the vast and terrifying history of Space Horror in film and literature. 🔭 📡 👽 In this episode we discuss alien invasion films, but this is only part one.

Episode 153 🚀 Lunatics Radio Hour, anywhere you listen to podcasts. https://www.lunaticsproject.com/episodes/episode/8129ca76/episode-153-the-history-of-space-horror-part-1

02/25/2025

The Bat from 1959, starring Vincent Price, is about a masked murderer who is terrorizing a household. Overall this movie is a wild ride, it’s creepy and brooding and at times goes off the rails. And it’s peppered with the soothing, intoxicating voice of Vincent Price.
It feels like a classic Noir thriller meets hammer horror. As the film goes on, the man who goes by The Bat releases an actual Bat into a house as a weapon.

I personally love the visuals of the movie, and the great performances. It was originally distributed on a double bill with The Mummy from the same year. The Bat was based on a novel from 1908 called The Circular Staircase, written by Mary Roberts Rinehart. At the time, the film was not a smash hit. But it's gained a bit of popularity with modern audiences.

02/24/2025

These are illustrations from the first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by Frank L. Baum. The illustrations are by W. W. Denslow from the year 1900. Needless to say, I love them so much. Over on Patreon, I'm exploring the very first book. I'm sharing illustrations, passages from the text (especially the most bizarre and horrifying), and history on the book and movie. https://www.patreon.com/lunaticsproject

02/22/2025

My perfect snow day.

This is the Milford Cemetery in Connecticut. It was established in the mid-1600s. Tune in to the Lunatics Radio Hour Podcast, anywhere you listen to podcasts...

02/20/2025

In our Patreon Exclusive series on the terrifying source-material of Oz, listen in as I read the Tinman's transformation scene. I would say one of the more horrifying scenes from the original book released in 1900. https://www.patreon.com/collection/1305978?view=expanded

02/18/2025

A snowy spooky good time. Lake George, New York. February 2025.

02/17/2025

On April 21st, 1865 The Lincoln Special left Washington D.C. The train, carrying Lincoln’s coffin and a coffin containing the body of his son Willie, was headed to Springfield, Illinois. About 300 people accompanied the procession. Abraham Lincoln’s portrait was attached to the front of the train.

On April 21st, 1865 The Lincoln Special left Washington D.C.

02/16/2025

There is so much to say about Possession (1981). It was written and directed by Polish filmmaker Andrzej Zulawski. Possession doesn’t fit cleanly into any specific genre. It’s equal parts drama, thriller and horror…maybe with a sprinkle of sci-fi. If you haven’t seen this movie, it starts out with a husband and wife who are dealing with infidelity and separation. But it devolves into something nightmarish, feverish and horrifying.

This article will certainly contain spoilers. You have been warned.There is so much to say about Possession (1981). It was written and directed by Polish filmmaker Andrzej Zulawski. First of all, this film is difficult (but not impossible) to find. It’s worth the effort though. It’s currently sh...

02/16/2025

A very spooky good time.

02/15/2025

Ishiro Honda was a Japanese Filmmaker, responsible for the original Godzilla and many of the subsequent films. Born in 1911, he directed 46 feature films in total. He’s also one of the creators of both the disaster film genre, and the Kaiju genre. For more https://buff.ly/3DFvkNK

02/14/2025

It wasn't always chocolates and roses...

Text Abby and Alan (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/692845/open_sms) Listen in as Abby discusses the dark origins of Valentine’s Day, tracing...

02/13/2025

Here are our favorite ♥️ Valentine's Day Horror Movies ♥️ Listen to episode 152 of the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast for more. Thanks to Kate Rotunda for this horrifying list.

🩸 Lisa Frankenstein (2024): I assume if you’re watching horror on Valentine’s Day you’re looking for a little bit of love gone violent, if this is the case this is the perfect movie for you.

🔥 Valentine (2001) This film is the epitome of a 2000s slasher flick. A main cast of hot mean girls being hunted by a vindictive killer. It seems like a lot of this film's plot is taken up by weird relationship problems, as they try to tie it back into Valentine’s Day, but there are some great kill scenes.

🩸 My Bloody Valentine (1981) Just as the name suggests this film is perfect if you want your Valentine’s Day to be bloody. This is a classic 80s slasher full of cheesy dialogue, poor choices made by teenagers, and an iconic mask worn by the murderer.

🔥 Abby's pick: Raising Cain (1992) I’m a mega-fan of Brian De Palma films, especially his films like this. Raising Cain explores the extreme side of love and possession.

🩸 Jennifer’s Body (2009): Jennifer’s Body shows horror through the eyes of a teenage girl; colorful, feminine, and of course murderous. The general upbeat 2000s aesthetic of this film allow the real horror scenes to stand out so much more.T

🔥 Abby's pick: Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) A different vibe for the gentle lovers. Picnic at Hanging Rock is based on an Australian historical fiction novel by Joan Lindsay. It’s an Australian film famous for its soft and dreamy visuals.

🩸 Death Becomes Her (1992): Death Becomes Her is a campy masterpiece and is perfect to watch on Valentine’s Day if you wanna laugh at the absurdity of love and jealousy.

🔥 The Love Witch (2016): While this film is not explicitly Valentine’s Day themed it does perfectly match this holiday’s aesthetic. The Love Witch is a contemporary movie that is filmed to look like a 1960s technicolor dream. This movie closely follows a young witch as she navigates herself through the hardships of love.

02/12/2025

You’re probably already familiar with Cupid, a cherub God of love and attraction. The ancient Greek version is Eros. Cupid has been adorning cartoons and greeting cards for decades, and Cupid’s heart-tipped arrow has become a symbol of Valentine’s day. Though an armed, flying, baby in a diaper seems like a weird icon for love, folks have assigned meaning to all of his qualities. For example, it’s said that he carries an arrow and torch because of the often harmful and inflammatory side effects of love and passion. His wings represent the fickleness of lovers. Cupid’s arrows have two types of powers. His golden-tipped arrows can inject and instigate love, while his dull lead arrows can cause a lover to retreat. But, because it’s so interesting, let’s talk more about the history of Cupid. Why is the symbol of romance and love a baby in a diaper?

For more, listen to episode 152 of the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast.

Cupid started out as the Greek God Eros, and was later reskinned by the Romans into Cupid.
Eros is the Greek word for desire. Eros’s parents were Aphrodite and Ares. Or, on the Roman side Venus and Mars. Either way, his parents are the gods of love and war. Blending into a fiery passionate son.

Many scholars interrupt Cupid as coming with a bit of a sinister sentiment to those who believed in him. But around the 4th century BCE, there was a shift in popular perception of Eros. Before this point in history he was described as incredibly powerful. A being to fear, despite his association with love.

And while perhaps his reputation can be traced back to the power of his father, it’s actually the power of his mother that softens his image. It came to be a common belief that Eros answered to his mother, The Goddess of Love. And if that was true, then there was nothing to fear. This shift in perception softened Eros’s image quite significantly. Another way to limit his power and strength, is of course, to depict him as a child.

By the time he made it to Roman belief, he was already seen as a cherub. Cupid’s popularity surged again with renaissance painters, who seemed to be particularly taken with him, painting him as a child.

02/10/2025

Valentine's Day has become a sickly sweet Hallmark holiday. But, as with so many modern holidays, the roots of Valentine's Day are much darker than how we celebrate today. In honor of it's brutal history, here are the best horror movies to watch on Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day has become a sickly sweet Hallmark holiday. But, as with so many modern holidays, the roots of Valentine's Day are much darker than how we celebrate today. In honor of it's brutal history, here are the best horror movies to watch on Valentine's Day. My Bloody Valentine (1981) Just as...

02/09/2025

Listen in as Abby discusses the dark origins of Valentine’s Day, tracing its roots from ancient Roman rituals to the modern celebration of love. We explore how traditions like Lupercalia influenced the holiday and examine the lesser-known stories of St. Valentine and the evolution of Cupid. Lunatics Radio Hour, anywhere you listen to podcasts or: https://www.lunaticsproject.com/episodes

02/06/2025

Join us for a new Patreon exclusive mini-series all about the strange and terrifying original Oz text, written by Frank L. Baum in 1900. Just a little scrapbook of my favorite bits and bizarre bobs from the books. https://www.patreon.com/collection/1305978