Humanoids from the Deep Dive: Recent Episodes
Jeff Ewing
Humanoids from the Deep Dive is a bi-weekly podcast that digs into the meanings, stories, and contexts behind your favorite monsters and monster movies.
Throughout all of recorded history, monsters have been a deep part of the human experience. They've been our threats and our protectors, reflected our fears and our hopes. They've allowed us to symbolize our world, ourselves, and the majesty of nature with their complex and multilayered meanings. They're often both universal and culturally specific, grounded in their time yet eternal. Join us on a deep dive into the realm of monsters and their meanings.
Each episode will center around a creature from folklore or film, and we'll do a deep examination of the entity (and a famous piece of associated media) with experts, filmmakers, and more. Each journey will be navigated by your host Jeff Ewing (blogger for Forbes and Looper, and co-editor of Alien and Philosophy and Stranger Things and Philosophy) and rotating co-hosts.
Join us every other Monday as we all become Humanoids... from the Deep Dive.
Host: Jeff Ewing
Co-hosts: Andre Couture (editor of That's The Take; co-host/editor of Humanoids from the Deep Dive) Andrew Flemming-Dunn (Twitch affiliate: twitch.tv/Dark_crowe) Luna Minuit (co-host of Humanoids from the Deep Dive; artist and horror fan) Michael Vaughn (founder, videoattic.com; author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema)
Editor: Andre Couture
Today we're celebrating the home release of an exceptional piece of horror filmmaking (and my favorite horror film of the year thus far), The First Omen! Before you take the antichrist home, we sat down to chat with director Arkasha Stevenson and star Nell Tiger Free about a truly frightening and gorgeously shot film. Details about the film, and the home release, inside.
Host: Jeff Ewing
Editor: Jeff Ewing
Today we're chatting the excellent and terrifying new Indonesian supernatural horror film Dancing Village: The Curse Begins, the prequel to the record-setting 2022 outing KKN di Desa Penari with the talented director Kimo Stamboel (The Queen of Black Magic, Sewu Dino).
Host: Jeff Ewing
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's minisode, we review a monstrous amount of new films: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the prequel The First Omen, the monster coming-of-age yarn Arcadian, the vampire ballerina showcase Abigail, as well as violent action movie Boy Kills World, Alex Garland's Civil War, and Luca Guadagnino's ode to tennis lust, Challengers.
Host: Jeff Ewing
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In our third review minisode, Humanoids reviews the new Ghostbusters outing, the horror features Immaculate and Late Night With The Devil, the animated series X-Men 97, and Doug Liman's action feature Road House.
Host:
Jeff Ewing
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In our second episode, Humanoids reviews Dune Part 2! We also cover Madame Web, Lisa Frankenstein, and the decidedly monster-free action comedy Argylle.
Host:
Jeff Ewing
Editor: Jeff Ewing
Today we experiment with a new minisode format, covering the excellent upcoming monster-centric films Godzilla Minus One and The Boy and the Heron.
Co-host(s):
Jeff Ewing
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we discuss our must-see titles at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival! Throughout the rest of the fest we'll be reviewing our favorites.
Co-host(s):
Andre Couture
Michael Vaughn
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we talk about the cinematic spirit of Halloween itself, the new horror icon Sam from the fun anthology Trick 'r Treat! We chat about the rules of Halloween, our favorite of the film's shorts, and more.
Co-host(s): Andre Couture Luna Minuit Michael Vaughn Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we talk about our favorite 1950's American Atomic Monsters, covering fan-favorites from Them! to Tarantula! and more.
Co-host(s): Andre Couture Michael Vaughn Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode, we talk about John Carpenter's masterful 1982 outing The Thing! It's a favorite at the show that just had its 40th anniversary, and we dig into many facets of its contemporary relevance.
Co-host(s): Andre Couture Luna Minuit Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we chat one of cinema's most iconic beasties... werewolves! Special guest Molly Henery joins us for a conversation about two modern classics, John Fawcett's masterful Ginger Snaps and Neil Marshall's action-horror hybrid Dog Soldiers. We chat werewolf lore and film history, its complex thematic usage in film, and more!
Special guest(s): Molly Henery (The Blogging Banshee) Co-host(s): Andre Couture Luna Minuit Michael Vaughn Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode, we're exploring the creatures of one of our favorite monster movies (directed by the inimitable Guillermo del Toro), Pan's Labyrinth! We explore the predatory Pale Man, the mysterious Faun, and more!
Co-Hosts:
Andre Couture Michael Vaughn
Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode we dig into creepypasta history and lore to give an account of our creepiest internet myth, the Slenderman!
Co-Hosts:
Andre Couture Michael Vaughn
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we chat a host of dangerous dolls, terrifying toys, and more, in a wide-ranging episode that covers everything from the Twilight Zone to Chucky to the horrific implications of Toy Story!
Co-Hosts:
Andre Couture Michael Vaughn
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we celebrate Valentine's Day by exploring characters who become monstrous from love (as they see it)... the Phantom of the Opera and the absolutely abominable Dr. Phibes!
Co-Hosts:
Andre Couture
Luna Minuit
Michael Vaughn
Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode, we discuss one of the most terrifying entities in the folklore of many Native American and First Nations tribes throughout North America, the Wendigo! We discuss a variety of different adaptations, including Antlers, Pet Sematary, Ravenous, and Don't Say Its Name.
Co-Hosts:
Andre Couture Luna Minuit Michael Vaughn
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we explore one of the coolest entities in Jewish folklore, the Golem! We chat the folklore and stories behind it and explore its classic appearance in the 1920 film "The Golem: How He Came Into The World."
Co-Hosts:
Andre Couture
Michael Vaughn
Editor: Andre Couture
We resume our Cohost Takeover celebrations with Stephen Volk's classic, infamous British mockumentary... Ghostwatch! Host: Andre Couture
Co-Hosts: Jeff Ewing Mike Vaughn
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we celebrate the holidays by digging into the lore and characterizations of elves in film and folklore! We chat a few very different interpretations of Elves with Elf (2003), Krampus (2015), and more!
Co-Hosts:
Andre Couture
Luna Minuit
Michael Vaughn
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we celebrate by discussing one of the most iconic slasher antagonists of all time, The Shape aka Michael Myers! We discuss the 1978 classic Halloween, dig into what Michael really is, different timelines, and what it all means.
Co-hosts:
Andre Couture (co-host, editor HFTDD)
Luna Minuit (co-host, HFTDD)
Mike Vaughn (author, co-host HFTDD)
Editor: Jeff Ewing
To celebrate the show's 1 year anniversary, each cohost will be taking a turn at the wheel on a topic of their choice. Today we dig into the Hammer Horror classic, 1965's The Nanny!
Host: Mike Vaughn Co-Hosts: Jeff Ewing Andre Couture Luna Minuit
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we talk about the myriad monsters of a cult classic... SPOOKIES! We chat our favorites, attempt to classify them, and more with the the Acquisitions and Special Features Producer for one of our favorite cult film distributors... Vinegar Syndrome's own Brad Henderson!
Special guest(s): Brad Henderson (Acquisitions and Special Features Producer, Vinegar Syndrome) Co-host(s): Andre Couture Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode we discuss many of the monsters from perhaps the most influential living horror author, Stephen King himself! We chat Pennywise, El Cuco (of the Outsider), the entities of Revival, The Overlook, and more, with the hosts of Fangoria's Kingcast podcast--Scott Wampler and Eric Vespe!
Special Guests:
Scott Wampler (cohost, The Kingcast) Eric Vespe (cohost, The Kingcast)
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today’s episode we chat the themes, meanings, and general excellence of both the original 1992 Candyman and it’s 2021 sequel!
Co-hosts:
Andre Couture (co-host, editor HFTDD)
Luna Minuit (co-host, HFTDD)
Mike Vaughn (author, co-host HFTDD)
Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode the Humanoids cover some more of our favorites from the Fantasia International Film Festival, including the newest from one of our favorites--Takashi Miike!
Co-host(s): Andre Couture (HFTDD cohost, editor) Luna Minuit (HFTDD cohost) Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic, author)
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we say goodbye to summer by celebrating the first blockbuster and one of the greatest summer monster movies of all time--Jaws! We chat the film, its themes, and its modern relevance (with a detour into some of Spielberg's other classics).
Co-host(s): Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic, author) Andre Couture (HFTDD cohost, editor)
Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode we continue our Fantasia coverage with another batch of reviews. Check out our favorites, critiques, and more!
Co-host(s): Andre Couture (HFTDD cohost, editor) Luna Minuit (HFTDD cohost) Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic, author)
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we discuss a figure that in history has often been culturally treated as a monster--witches. We dig into the lore, the misogyny behind witch myths, and other aspects of the topic from a modern lens while discussing GRETEL & HANSEL (with a bit of THE WITCH thrown in there too!
Special guest(s): Donna Lynch (novelist, poet) Co-host(s): Luna Minuit (HFTDD cohost) Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode we discuss our first batch of favorites from the Fantasia International Film Fest! Co-host(s): Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic, author) Andre Couture (HFTDD cohost, editor) Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we chat the Invisible Friends that so many of us had as children (and especially the ones that get monstrous) with Daniel Isn't Real director Adam Egypt Mortimer!
Special guest(s): Adam Egypt Mortimer (director of Daniel Isn't Real, Archenemy) Co-host(s): Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic, author) Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode we dig into one of the best from the master of body horror himself, David Cronenberg's 'The Brood'! We discuss the film, it's themes, and its complicated psychology with writer-director Izzy Lee, and chat everything you need to know about those little rage monsters.
Special guest(s): Izzy Lee (director of Innsmouth, My Monster, and others) Co-host(s): Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic, author) Luna Minuit (co-host of HFTDD and The Goth and The Sloth) Editor: Andre Couture
In today's episode, we continue our Pride month celebrations by digging into another of our favorite horror entries with a complex relationship to LGBTQ themes... Hellraiser! Continuing our NOES 2 conversation, we chat the film's themes and more!
Co-host(s): Andrew Flemming-Dunn (co-host of HFTDD) Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic) Luna Minuit (co-host of HFTDD and The Goth and The Sloth) Andre Couture (HFTDD co-host and editor)
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we continue our Pride month celebrations by digging one of our favorite horror entries with a complex relationship to LGBTQ themes... A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge! We discuss the film, it's legacy, the excellence of star Mark Patton, and more!
And stay tuned for the Humanoids crew explorations of another film with a complex LGBTQ legacy, Hellraiser! Coming soon...
Co-host(s): Andrew Flemming-Dunn (co-host of HFTDD) Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic) Luna Minuit (co-host of HFTDD and The Goth and The Sloth) Andre Couture (HFTDD co-host and editor)
Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we discuss the infamous 'Andy Warhol' creature features (both directed by Paul Morrissey): Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) and Blood for Dracula (1974). We chat the films' themes on sexuality and class, their comedy, and more!
Co-host(s): Andre Couture (HFTDD co-host and editor) Mike Vaughn (author of 'The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema' and founder of The Video Attic) Editor: Andre Couture
Art adapted in part from the Severin Films cover by Elizabeth Yoo (TW: @lejazznik).
In today's episode, we're celebrating Pride month by chatting our favorite LGBTQIA films and filmmakers! James Whale, F.W. Murnau, Luca Guadagnino, Clive Barker, and more are discussed by our diverse and largely LGBTQ crew. Happy Pride!
Co-host(s): Andrew Flemming-Dunn (co-host of HFTDD) Mike Vaughn (founder of The Video Attic) Luna Minuit (co-host of HFTDD and The Goth and The Sloth) Andre Couture (HFTDD co-host and editor)
Editor: Andre Couture
Doctor Who, the widely beloved British sci-fi TV series, is the longest running science fiction series of all time. The show follows the extraterrestrial Time Lord 'The Doctor' and his ever-rotating companions as they heroically combat threats across the universe... and many of those threats are some of the coolest, most iconic monsters in TV history. We chat the show and its monstrous legacy with the author of Who is Who? The Philosophy of Doctor Who, Dr. Kevin Decker!
Special guest(s): Dr. Kevin Decker (Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Washington University; author of Who is Who? The Philosophy of Doctor Who) Co-host(s): Andre Couture (HFTDD co-host and editor) Luna Minuit (co-host of HFTDD and The Goth and The Sloth) Editor: Andre Couture
The beloved British sci-fi-horror classics in the Quatermass series (serials and film) are some of the most influential of all time (seriously: ask John Carpenter) and FULL of high concept, apocalyptic monster threats. We chat the series and their history and monsters with Kurt Sayenga, the showrunner/writer/director of AMC's excellent History of Horror!
Special guest(s): Kurt Sayenga (showrunner/writer/director of Eli Roth's History of Horror on AMC) Co-host(s): Andre Couture (HFTDD co-host and editor) Editor: Andre Couture
In this special episode, we interview Ryan Spindell, the writer-director of the excellent (and monster-filled) horror anthology film The Mortuary Collection. We chat the film's production and all its exceptional monsters.
Special guest(s): Ryan Spindell (director/writer, The Mortuary Collection) Co-host(s): Mike Vaughn (author of 'The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema' and founder of The Video Attic) Andrew Flemming-Dunn (regular co-host and Twitch streamer) Editor: Jeff Ewing
In today's episode, we discuss one of the most widely known cryptids in the U.S., the legendary Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch)! We chat the history of Bigfoot legends, its current popularity, and more with Exists director Eduardo Sánchez (The Blair Witch Project) and writer Jamie Nash (Lovely Molly).
Special guest(s): Eduardo Sánchez (director; Exists, The Blair Witch Project) and writer Jamie Nash (screenwriter; Exists, Lovely Molly). Co-host(s): Andrew Flemming-Dunn (Twitch streamer) Editor: Andre Couture
A classic tale about the destructive evils within, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is both thematically rich and wildly influential. In this episode, we discuss its themes, adaptations, and implications by focusing on the Hammer Horror Hyde films - The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960) and Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971).
Special guest(s): Chris Vander Kaay (author, screenwriter, and professor) Co-host(s): Michael Vaughn (author, founder of 'The Video Attic'), Luna Minuit (artist and horror fan) Editor: Andre Couture
In this special episode, we interview creature performer Alan Maxson (Eli Roth's History of Horror, Godzilla KOTM, Blade the Iron Cross) and dig deep into what it is to perform the creatures we see on screen.
Special guest(s): Alan Maxson (creature performer) Co-host(s): Mike Vaughn (author of 'The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema' and founder of The Video Attic) Editor: Jeff Ewing
Clive Barker remains one of the horror genre's greatest visionaries. In this episode, we dig into his own screen adaptation of his novella Cabal... Nightbreed! We discuss the adaptation, its monsters, the implication of a creature civilization, and more! Midian and Humanoids are where the monsters live.
Special guest(s): Richard Newby (author; The Hollywood Reporter, Fangoria journalist) Co-host(s): Andrew Flemming-Dunn (guest co-host, Twitch streamer) Editor: Andre Couture
Come True is one of the most exciting sci-fi horror films of recent years, a singular vision steeped in dream logics and Jungian archetypes. In this episode, we sit down with writer/director Anthony Scott Burns and Executive Producer Vincenzo Natali to discuss the film, it's meanings, and it's Jungian nightmare people.
Special guests: Anthony Scott Burns (Come True writer/director/etc) Vincenzo Natali (director, Come True EP)
In this episode, we discuss the most famous kaiju of all... Godzilla! We start with the horror and depth of the iconic '54 classic, then shift gears into his subsequent portrayals, legacy, and more!
Special guests: Andrew Flemming-Dunn (guest co-host, Twitch streamer and co-host of The Rotating Chair podcast) Thomas Casper (filmmaker and co-host, Twin Shadow Podcast) Kelly Warner (author and co-host of One Missed Pod)
In this episode we chat one of the most influential massive monsters of all time: King Kong! We chat its influence, the innovative techniques they used to bring Kong to life, and more!
Special guests: Andrew Flemming-Dunn (guest co-host, Twitch streamer and co-host of The Rotating Chair podcast) Thomas Casper (filmmaker and co-host, Twin Shadow Podcast) Kelly Warner (author and co-host of One Missed Pod)
In this episode we talk about literary monsters from two of the most cutting edge, genre-bending authors of our day: Nathan Ballingrud and Shaun Hamill. We chat the creatures in their respective works, the power of the monstrous and cosmic nihilism, and more!
Special guests: Nathan Ballingrud is an award-winning author whose work has most recently been adapted in Monsterland and Wounds, both on Hulu. Shaun Hamill's debut novel A Cosmology of Monsters has been on a number best-of-the-year lists, including for Esquire and The New York Public Library.
In this episode we chat angels, but not the kind you think. We dig into the deeper mythos, discussing the four-headed, six-winged, or rotating eye-covered wheels of fire that populate the deeper heavens in Jewish and Christian folklore. We examine why the angels get less human and stranger as you get closer to the throne of God (and what that means for God's own nature) and more!
Special guests:
Cory McCullough (teen horror blogger and filmmaker) Andrew Flemming-Dunn (guest co-host, Twitch streamer and co-host of The Rotating Chair podcast)
In this episode we discuss one of the most unique and interesting entities from Islamic and earlier Arabian folklore, Djinn! With Wishmaster scribe Peter Atkins, we discuss the classic horror series, the history of these folkloric beings, and more in the first part of an engaging two-part episode! (The second part drops next Monday).
Special guests:
Peter Atkins (author and screenwriter, including Wishmaster) Andrew Flemming-Dunn (guest co-host, Twitch streamer and co-host of The Rotating Chair podcast)
In this episode we visit one of the very best adaptations of a classic type of demon, succubi, in Karyn Kusama's Jennifer's Body. We look at the film's unique interpretation of the entity, its proximity to rape-revenge films, demonic transmission, and more!
Special guests:
Nolan McBride (Host of Dead Ringers Podcast) Emily von Seele (Co-host of Dead Ringers Podcast and horror blogger)
In this episode we prepare for the holidays with a visit from Krampus! We chat about the history of the menacing anti-Klaus, the film's other creatures, and what exactly that ending means.
Special guests:
Jon DeHaan (co-founder and co-host of Nightmare on Film Street) Kimberley Elizabeth (co-founder and co-host of Nightmare on Film Street)
In this episode we discuss everything Lovecraft with director and Re-Animator / From Beyond producer Brian Yuzna! We chat about both films, Lovecraft and Lovecraftian entities, his collaborations with Stuart Gordon, and more!
Special guests: Brian Yuzna (producer of Re-Animator, From Beyond and director of the Re-Animator sequels and more) Andrew Flemming-Dunn (aka Dark Crowe; Twitch streamer and co-host of The Rotating Chair podcast) Mike Vaughn (author of 'The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema' and founder of The Video Attic)
In this episode, we discuss Death Itself as exhibited in the beloved horror film series Final Destination... with series creator Jeffrey Reddick! We discuss a variety of aspects of Death, it's history of personification, and how it works in the series... and in an unprecedented situation, Death tried to kill the podcast mid-recording for getting too close to its grand design.
Special guests:
Jeffrey Reddick (writer, director, and creator of the Final Destination franchise) Andrew Flemming-Dunn (aka Dark Crowe; Twitch streamer and co-host of The Rotating Chair podcast)
In this episode, we discuss the iconic Gill-Man from 1954 classic Creature from the Black Lagoon with detours into The Shape of Water and The Thing. We also discuss topics like: how does the Gill-Man challenge human dominance? How do we think about inter-species love and the personhood of monsters (aka the 'Shape of Water' question)? Would it be bad to be 'the Thing', or would that potentially be amazing?... and much more.
Special guests:
Thomas Casper (filmmaker and co-host, Twin Shadow Podcast) Mike Vaughn (author of 'The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema' and founder of The Video Attic)
In this first episode, we discuss monsters in general, touching on what a monster is, how to discover their meanings, and what they mean to us and people more broadly. We touch on creatures like Medusa (Clash of the Titans), the Xenomorph Queen (Aliens), the Kuchisake-onna (the 'slit-mouthed woman' of Japanese folklore and the film 'Carved'), the Babadook, and the titular creature of John Carpenter's The Thing. Also discussed are Friday the 13th films and the movie Revenge.
Special guests: Sezin Koehler (blogger for Black Girl Nerds and Looper and author of 'American Monsters' and 'Crime Rave') W. Scott Poole (Professor of History at the College of Charleston and author of 'Monsters in America' and 'Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror')