The Lunatics Project

04/13/2025

Abandoned Theme Parks become more and more prevalent as time goes on. Most parks, Disney and Universal aside, lack the investment to maintain rides and compete with the big guys to pull crowds. The result is usually a dystopian setting, where once children laughed and played, is now overrun with ivy and rust. Here are dystopian abandoned amusement parks across the globe:

Abandoned Theme Parks become more and more prevalent as time goes on. Most parks, Disney and Universal aside, lack the investment to maintain rides and compete with the big guys to pull crowds. The result is usually a dystopian setting, where once children laughed and played, is now overrun with ivy...

04/11/2025

In June of 1998, Peter Weir’s “The Truman Show” was released. While not technically a horror film, I think most of us would agree that the premise is indeed horrifying. For anyone not familiar, The Truman Show tells the story of Truman, played by Jim Carrey, who was officially adopted by a television studio after an unwanted pregnancy. Truman is the subject of an always on reality program that streams every second of his life to viewers. In the world of the film, the television station uses 5,000 cameras to cover every element of Truman’s life and present a relatable and honest program for viewers. Truman lives in a giant bubble dome where everything inside is a set that centers around him. Truman finds out that he is living in a reality show that’s being streamed around the clock and across the globe, and that every person in his life was an actor. More:

In June of 1998, Peter Weir’s “The Truman Show” was released. While not technically a horror film, I think most of us would agree that the premise is indeed horrifying. For anyone not familiar, The Truman Show tells the story of Truman, played by Jim Carrey, who was officially adopted by a tel...

04/10/2025

So excited to share that one month from today our short film Midnight Snack will screen at the Micro Short Film Festival in Atlanta! Get tickets here: https://microshortfilmfest.com/shorts-7

04/09/2025

The Lesser Key is a grimoire on demonology compiled in the mid-17th century. The text lists out 72 demons of hell in the Ars Goetia, the beginning of the grimoire, and a system for invoking the 72 demons, and allowing the invoker to control the demons if done properly. It outlines an incredibly specific and intense ritual, including diets and prep time. More here:

The Lesser Key is a grimoire on demonology compiled in the mid-17th century. The text lists out 72 demons of hell in the Ars Goetia, the beginning of the grimoire, and a system for invoking the 72 demons, and allowing the invoker to control the demons if done properly. It outlines an incredibly spec...

04/08/2025

Listen in to the final installment of our Space Horror series. We will conclude with two epic space horror stories for you. Lunatics Radio Hour anywhere you listen to podcasts: https://www.lunaticsproject.com/episodes

Pariah's Last Breath was written by Curtis A. Deeter and narrated by Denali Bartell. Check out Denali's work here. Follow Curtis on Facebook and Instaram is ._Deeter.

Orion Beckons was written by Benjamin Cooper and narrated by Mike Macera. Keep tabs on Benjamin's work here: www.MindofBenjaminCooper.com and listen to Mike's band Beach Therapy on Spotify.

04/07/2025

A look at some of the very best, and most iconic demonic horror movies of all time:

In honor of our demonic summoning series on Lunatics Radio Hour, let's talk about some of the best demonic horror films.The Witch (2015) Written and directed by Robert Eggers, The Witch is a fan favorite. Starring horror dream girl Anya Taylor-Joy, the film tells the story of a family in 1630s New E...

04/06/2025

Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo hit theaters in 1958. It’s known for its dizzying cinematic sequences, impeccable actors, haunting score and trippy effects. Vertigo was based on a novel by Boileau-Narcejac called The Living and The Dead. The novel was released four years before the film, but the English version only two years before. Many of Hitchcock’s films are based on novels, including Rebecca, Psycho, Strangers on a Train, The Birds, and The 39 Steps just to name a few. Hitchcock had tried to obtain the rights to a previous novel by Boileau-Narcejac called She Who Was No More, but was beaten out by Georges Clouzout who turned the story into a film called Les Diaboliques in 1955. While I don’t think Vertigo is a perfect film, there are some elements that stand out to me in a big way. First and foremost, Vertigo is a perfect example of a story that relies on the use of a Doppelgänger. A storytelling mechanic that is hard to pull off effectively. A mechanic that the twist behind Vertigo relies on.

Another element of Vertigo that stands out is the soundtrack. Many Hitchcock films, and thrillers from this time period in general, have incredible scores. But something about Vertigo stands above the rest. The score was composed by Bernard Herman, who was also responsible for composing the scores of The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), North by Northwest (1959), The Birds (1963), Psycho (1960), The Twilight Zone and Taxi Driver (1976), again just to name a few.

The Vertigo Effect has become a technique used by many filmmakers since Hitchcock first pioneered it in 1958. The effect results in the subject of the shot remaining stationary, while the background shifts either shrinking or growing. It’s accomplished by using a dolly. And has since been used by Scorcese, Speilberg and Jackson among others. Scottie, played by James Stewart, is exceptionally flawed, especially by today’s standards. Though he is the victim in some sense, the pawn in a plot, his obsessive and controlling behavior vilifies him by the end. Vertigo remains a stand out film, even within Hitchcock’s resume. More here: https://www.lunaticsproject.com/post/how-vertigo-1958-pushed-cinema-and-horror-into-uncharted-territory

04/05/2025

Rebecca (1940) is based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca is incredibly successful at tricking its audience. We are first so relieved that Joan Fontaine’s character meets a man who can steal her away from her awful employer. But things take a turn, a few more times, until the history of what’s happened is fully revealed to us. More:

Because I am in my Sleep No More era, I have been rewatching many of my favorite Hitchcock films. Rebecca (1940) is based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca is incredibly successful at tricking its audience. We are first so relieved that Joan Fontaine’s character meets a m...

04/04/2025

Welcome to Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown Connecticut. When operational, this psychiatric ward performed psychosurgery, hydrotherapy, insulin shock therapy, and lobotomy. Obviously, many of those treatments have since been proven harmful and incredibly painful and traumatizing for patients. Fairfield Hills was open from 1931 until 1995. At its peak, it had beds for 4,000 patients. Initially it opened because the two other psychiatric hospitals in Connecticut were over capacity. The hospital campus consists of 16 buildings, spread out over 100 acres of land. More here:

Welcome to Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown Connecticut. When operational, this psychiatric ward performed psychosurgery, hydrotherapy, insulin shock therapy, and lobotomy. Obviously, many of those treatments have since been proven harmful and incredibly painful and traumatizing for patients. Fai...

04/03/2025

One of the most famous tragedies from colonial New England was the Salem Witch Trial's. These trials took place about a century earlier than the New England Vampire Panic, and yet the Vampire Panic is much less well known. Let's talk about the history of the New England Vampire Panic.

One of the most famous tragedies from colonial New England was the Salem Witch Trial's. These trials took place about a century earlier than the New England Vampire Panic, and yet the Vampire Panic is much less well known. Let's talk about the history of the New England Vampire Panic. When Tuberculo...

04/02/2025

This month we are exploring theories behind aliens and UFO sightings on Lunatics Radio Hour. Here are some of the best horror movies about Aliens and UFOs.

A look at some of the very best horror takes on aliens.

04/01/2025

April Fools! Let's talk about the history of April Fools' Day: In 1957 the BBC reported that Switzerland’s spaghetti crop was out of control and even showed footage of farmers harvesting pasta. The BBC is responsible for several hoaxes, including claiming they were now testing Smell-O-Vision in 1965, which they tried again online in 2007. In 1992 an April Fools’ Day prank wrongly convinced the country that Nixon was running for office again, and in ‘96 Taco Bell announced that it had purchased and renamed the Liberty Bell to the Taco Liberty Bell. One year later in 1997 game show hosts Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek switched places in a gentle April Fools’ prank. More here:

In 1957 the BBC reported that Switzerland’s spaghetti crop was out of control and even showed footage of farmers harvesting pasta. The BBC is responsible for several hoaxes, including claiming they were now testing Smell-O-Vision in 1965, which they tried again online in 2007.In 1992 an April Fool...

03/31/2025

In honor of our exploration of theories behind UAP and UFOs on Lunatics Radio Hour, here are some of the most famous UFO and UAP encounters. And of course, there are many infamous cases that could be included in this list, this just scratches the surface.

In honor of our exploration of theories behind UAP and UFOs on Lunatics Radio Hour, here are some of the most famous UFO and UAP encounters. And of course, there are many infamous cases that could be included in this list, this just scratches the surface.Lubbock Lights In August and September of 195...

03/30/2025

I was surprised by Fresh (2022), in a good way. My sister told me to watch it, she said it was “right up my alley.” So, I’m still processing what she might have meant by that. I love horror films that feel contained and simple. Because when the concept and world is manageable, it leaves a lot of room for character.

I was surprised by Fresh (2022), in a good way. My sister told me to watch it, she said it was “right up my alley.” So, I’m still processing what she might have meant by that. I love horror films that feel contained and simple. Because when the concept and world is manageable, it leaves a lot ...

03/29/2025

For this weekend only! You can stream our feature film as part of the Cinejoy film festival!! You have to make an account and buy a virtual ticket for ~$10 https://creatics.org/cinejoy/showcase/moviepage/718/VOICES-CARRY/2025

03/29/2025

Gather 'round...

Text Abby and Alan (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/692845/open_sms) Abby is thrilled to introduce my new co-host for Campfire Tales in 2025,...

03/28/2025

It’s always fun to imagine yourself, as you are, being plopped down in the universe of your favorite movie, picturing how you would react to the plot unfolding around you. Would you make the same choices as the characters? Or do you think you would go about things in a different way? In my case my favorite movies are horror, so my question is always “would I be able to survive this?” I have compiled a list of some of my favorite horror films and answered the question of whether or not I would make it to the end of the film alive.

I have compiled a list of some of my favorite horror films and determined whether or not I would make it to the end of the film alive.

03/27/2025

For a brief time (until March 31st) you can see our feature film, Voices Carry, online as part of the Cinejoy film festival. https://creatics.org/cinejoy/showcase/features