Hack or Slash - A Horror Movie Review Podcast
Each week a panel of horror fans discuss horror movies past and present. We believe horror is for everyone, regardless of how familiar you are with the genre, or which flavor of fear you fancy most. We dissect new releases, compare originals to reboots, and tell you whether or not the movies are a hack (a waste of time) or a slash (totally killer - pun intended).
2026 Spooky Season Recap
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're recapping our 2026 Spooky Season. We revisit our Halloween celebrations, compare the horror movies and television that defined October, and confess our questionable seasonal purchases. We also celebrate our favorite games, books, and music while looking ahead to the horror releases closing out 2026.
Mentioned in the Episode
Related Episodes
240: The Craft (1996)
465: Resident Evil (2026)
466: Carrie (2026) | Episode 1: First Period
467: Bride of Chucky (1998)
468: Annabelle (2014)
469: Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Crystal Lake | Episode 1: Camp Crystal
2026 Spooky...
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re resurrecting Halloween: Resurrection (2002). We revisit Laurie Strode’s fate, dissect the film’s internet spectacle, and celebrate Busta Rhymes’ showdown with Michael Myers. In this episode's b-side, we pitch horror reality shows featuring deadly dating, cooking competitions, and the Real Housewives of Horror. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 32:40.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Film
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Watchalong | Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Related Episodes
125: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
179: Hallowee...
Annabelle (2014)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re unpacking Annabelle (2014). We dissect the quality of its scares, reflect on its influences from other iconic horror films, and debate whether its characters give this Conjuring spinoff enough soul. In this episode's b-side, we investigate the Warrens’ accounts of the real Annabelle doll and consider a visit to her haunted museum. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 18:42.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Film
Annabelle (2014)
Related Episodes
142: Happy Death Day (2017)
174: The Conj...
Crystal Lake | Ep. 1: Camp Crystal
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re unpacking Crystal Lake (2026), Episode 1: “Camp Crystal.” We examine Linda Cardellini’s portrayal of Pamela Voorhees, debate the circumstances surrounding Jason’s drowning, and dissect the premiere’s bloody turn into survival horror.
Watch the Show
Crystal Lake (2026)
Related Episodes
027: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
127: Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
167: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
213: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
254: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
295: Friday the 13...
Bride of Chucky (1998)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re resurrecting Bride of Chucky (1998). We celebrate Jennifer Tilly’s Tiffany, dissect the film’s Bride of Frankenstein parallels, and marvel at its practical doll effects. In this episode's b-side, we debate horror’s most toxic relationships and where mutual dysfunction gives way to manipulation. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 25:09.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Film
Bride of Chucky (1998)
Main Episode
Chucky Creator Don Mancini on Why It Was Time to Bring Everyone...
Carrie (2026) | Episode 1: First Period
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re unpacking Carrie (2026), Episode 1: “First Period.” We dissect the premiere’s documentary-style framing, explore its reimagined mother-daughter dynamic, and examine how modern bullying amplifies Carrie’s humiliation. We also connect its Stephen King Easter eggs and consider where Flanagan might take the series next. This episode contains spoilers.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Carrie (2026)
Related Episodes
154: Carrie (1976 vs. 2013)
159: Doctor Sleep (2019)
139: Oculus (2013)
182: Hush (2016)
319: The Mist (2007)
Ma...
Resident Evil (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re reviewing Resident Evil (2026). We examine how Zach Cregger recreates survival-horror gameplay, unpack Austin Abrams’ frantic everyman performance, and dissect the film’s practical creature effects and body horror. In this episode's b-side, we consider which games should be adapted to film next. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 35:17.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Film
Resident Evil (2026)
Related Episodes
242: Resident Evil (2002)
244: Barbarian (2022)
405: Weapons (2025)
137: The Thing (1982 vs. 2011)
069...
31 Days of Horror | 2026 Kickoff
Send us Fan Mail
We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a special bulletin from WHOS-13 Television.
Spooky Season has officially begun, and Kris and Chel are kicking off Hack or Slash’s 2026 31 Days of Horror celebration with a trip back to the glory days of Blockbuster runs, late-night horror movies, sleepovers, trick-or-treat candy, and the memories of being a baby horror fan.
This year’s month-long celebration is built around nostalgia, with themed programming every day of October, community watch parties, gaming marathons, late-night hangouts, and a brand-new inte...
Buddy (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re reviewing Buddy (2026). We dissect its collision of ’90s children’s television and graphic horror, explore Buddy’s need for love as a form of control, and praise Keegan-Michael Key’s emotional range. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 25:33.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Buddy (2026)
Main Episode
Casper Kelly dives into the darkness of kids’ television with ‘Buddy’
The Black List Interview: Casper Kelly on BUDDY
Child’s Play (2019)
The Ban...
The ’90s Horror Kid Starter Pack
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re building the ’90s Horror Kid Starter Pack. We revisit the movies that scared us too young, retrace the video-store rituals that shaped our tastes, and celebrate the books, television, games, and toys that made horror feel like a childhood lifestyle.
Support the show
Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?
Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep the show alive and slashing.
Support us on Patreo...Halloween: The Game | First Impressions
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re unpacking our first impressions of Halloween: The Game (2026). We examine how Haddonfield captures the atmosphere of the original film, dissect how playing Michael and the civilians reshapes the asymmetrical horror formula, and assess how Michael’s story expands the events of Halloween. We also weigh the game’s launch-week bugs, controversial closet mechanic, and long-term potential as the community learns how to play.
Mentioned in the Episode
Halloween (1978)
461: Halloween: The Game | Pre-launch Preview (2026)
Halloween: Everything You Need to Know About...
Halloween: The Game | Pre-launch Preview
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re previewing Halloween: The Game (2026). We unpack IllFonic’s approach to single-player and asymmetrical horror, explore how the game recreates Haddonfield and Michael Myers, and assess whether its customization and gameplay systems can give the experience lasting power.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Day 1 Gameplay Live Stream
Halloween: The Game
Related Episodes
179: Halloween Kills (2021)
242: Resident Evil (2002)
315: Silent Hill (2006)
325: Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)
020: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Halloween: The Game | Pre-launch Preview
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re previewing Halloween: The Game (2026). We unpack IllFonic’s approach to single-player and asymmetrical horror, explore how the game recreates Haddonfield and Michael Myers, and assess whether its customization and gameplay systems can give the experience lasting power.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Day 1 Gameplay Live Stream
Halloween: The Game
Related Episodes
179: Halloween Kills (2021)
242: Resident Evil (2002)
315: Silent Hill (2006)
325: Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)
020: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
2026 Spooky Season Preview
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re previewing Spooky Season 2026. We revisit the horror memories that shaped us, preview the movies and franchises returning to our lineup, and unpack our plans for Halloween: The Game and Crystal Lake. We also spotlight our community’s 31 Days of Horror themes, and share the spooky-season reviews we’re anticipating most.
Support the show
Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?
Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, watchalongs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more ways to help keep th...
Summerween Memories & What Comes Next
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re gathering for the Summerween Bondfire. We revisit standout moments from the season, celebrate the community shenanigans that fueled Camp Hack or Slash, and answer listener questions about horror crushes, movie-watching habits, and films we wish we could experience again for the first time. We also look ahead to spooky season, preview upcoming movies and franchise throwbacks, and tease our first experiments with horror games and television coverage.
Support the show
Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?
Join us o...
Our Definitive Jason Voorhees Ranking
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re ranking every version of Jason Voorhees. We break down thirteen incarnations of Crystal Lake’s most infamous killer, scoring each on his look, presence, creativity, and brutality before combining our wildly different opinions into one definitive ranking. From Sackhead Jason and the original hockey mask to undead Jason, the feral 2009 reboot, and the chrome-plated absurdity of Uber Jason, we debate which versions best capture the icon, revisit the kills that defined them, and reckon with a final ranking that surprises even us.
Support the show
Than...
Ranking Summer Camp Slashers
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re ranking Summer Camp Slashers. We debate which killers deserve legendary status, defend unforgettable camp icons against modern challengers, and sort twelve slashers into four definitive tiers. In this episode’s b-side, we explore real-life adult summer camps, imagine a Hack or Slash meetup at Camp Crystal Lake, and tease future Summerween plans.
Create Your Summer Camp Slasher Tier List
Support the show
Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?
Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus...
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re diving into Deep Blue Sea (1999). We look back on its stacked cast, dissect its balance of creature-feature and ethical sci-fi horror, and debate how its shark approach holds up against the Jaws legacy. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 21:57.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Related Episodes
024: Scream (1996)
097: Alien (1979)
162: Jaws 2 (1978)
222: Jaws 3-D (1983)
279: Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
416: Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Sharksplo...
Summerween Draft | Best Summer Horror Movies
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re drafting the best summer horror movies. We define the essential ingredients of summer horror, defend our selections across six themed categories, and assemble three competing twelve-film rosters.
Mentioned in the Episode
Main Episode
Best Summer Horror Movies Draft - YouTube
Related Episodes
Episode 453: Summerween Starter Pack
Episode 401: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
Episode 398: I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006)
Episode 390: Honeydew (2020)
Episode 3...
Evil Dead Burn (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re firing up Evil Dead Burn (2026). We dissect its relentless practical gore, debate its tonal shift away from camp, and examine how it expands the franchise mythology. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 30:54.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Evil Dead Burn (2026)
Related Episodes
169: The Evil Dead (1981 vs. 2013)
261: Evil Dead 2 (1987)
266: Army of Darkness (1992)
268: Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Main Episode
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy Intervi...
Summerween Starter Pack
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re building a Summerween starter pack. We define what makes a Summerween movie, recommend sweaty seasonal essentials across camps, beaches, and back roads, and map out ways to celebrate beyond the watchlist.
Mentioned in the Episode
Main Episode
Gravity Falls: “Summerween”
Spirit Halloween Summerween
Summerween 2026: Alternate picks if you missed out on Spirit Halloween’s “Terrifier” drop
Summerween Home Décor | Official LEGO® Shop
Old (2021)
Super 8 (2011)
Addams Family Values (1993)<...
The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re surviving The Purge: Anarchy (2014). We trace its leap from home invasion to citywide bloodshed, dissect its class-war commentary, and weigh how its action-thriller pivot reshapes the franchise. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 36:05.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
Related Episodes
096: The Purge (2013)
086: A Quiet Place (2018)
110: Ready or Not (2019)
343: A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
438: 31 (2016)
447: Obsession (2025)
Main Episod...
Iron Lung (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week our patrons have chosen for us to step aboard Iron Lung (2026). We dissect Markiplier’s self-financed bottle-movie ambition, evaluate Simon’s claustrophobic survival arc, and debate whether the film’s slow-burn pacing sharpens or softens its cosmic horror. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 22:44.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Iron Lung (2026)
Related Episodes
299: Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
242: Resident Evil (2002)
315: Silent Hill (2006)
325: Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)
389: Until Dawn (20...
Backrooms (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re unpacking Backrooms (2026). We dissect its liminal-space atmosphere, debate its trauma-driven emotional core, and weigh how its nineties found-footage framing reshapes internet-born horror. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 33:04.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Backrooms (2026)
Related Episodes
447: Obsession (2025)
419: Cloverfield (2008)
Main Episode
Kane Parsons to Direct A24 Movie ‘The Backrooms’ Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve
The Backrooms - YouTube Series
Support the show<...
Hokum (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re exploring Hokum (2026). We dissect the efficacy of its atmosphere, debate the quality of its layered plot, and weigh how Adam Scott’s performance shapes a compellingly abrasive horror lead. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 35:33.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Hokum (2026)
Related Episodes
448: Oddity (2024)
447: Obsession (2025)
437: Undertone (2026)
379: The Monkey (2025)
074: Krampus (2015)
Main Episode
The Scariest Ideas Win: A Conversation with Damia...
Oddity (2024)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re unpacking Oddity (2024). We assess its atmosphere, dissect the relationships between its characters, and weigh how Carolyn Bracken’s dual performance sharpens the film’s grief, tension, and dark humor. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 21:35.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Oddity (2024)
Main Episode
Interview with Damian McCarthy
How Olin Lost His Eye
Support the show
Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the sh...
Obsession (2025)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re unpacking Obsession (2025). We examine how the One Wish Willow turns longing into control, praise Inde Navarrette’s unnerving performance, and assess how the film unravels its central antagonist. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 30:37.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Obsession (2025)Related Episodes
298: Hereditary (2018)248: Terrifier 2 (2022)Main Episode
Obsession’s Filmmaker Takes Horror to the Next Scary LevelTogether (2025)Twilight (2008)Wayne’s World (1992)The Housemaid (2025)Aventura feat. Judy Santos — “Obsesión”Special Thanks<...
Inside The Cullen Chronicles: Legacy - 1935
Send us Fan Mail
This week we’re spotlighting The Cullen Chronicles: Legacy - 1935. We trace Lily Bellucci’s fan-film origin story, unpack Jake Fogg’s take on Emmett Cullen, and examine how the project pushes Twilight into darker horror territory. We also explore the Indiegogo campaign, preview the team’s Forks festival plans, and celebrate the kind of sanctuary they hope the film creates for Twilight fans.
Mentioned in the Episode
The Haus of Luce on YouTube
Haus of Luce on Instagram
The Cullen Chronicles: Legacy - 1935 b...
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're unpacking The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995). We trace its messy production history, praise Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger's committed performances, and debate how its tone turns backwoods grime into cult appeal. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 28:31.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995)
Related Episodes
020: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
152: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
202: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
M...
Critters (1986)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're checking out Critters (1986). We debate the impact of its Gremlins shadow, praise its practical Crite effects, and weigh the detriment its thin human characters. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 34:09.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Critters (1986)
Related Episodes
072: Gremlins (1984)
119: Night of the Living Dead (1968 vs 1990)
198: Tremors (1990)
307: The Gingerdead Man (2005)
381: Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)
440: Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)
441: Slumber Party Massacre II (1987)
<...
Send Help (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're surviving Send Help (2026). We unpack its corporate horror, assess Rachel McAdams' feral final-girl turn, and unpack how Sam Raimi blends survival tension with dark comedy. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 31:50.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Send Help (2026)
Related Episodes
169: The Evil Dead (1981 vs 2013)
261: Evil Dead 2 (1987)
266: Army of Darkness (1992)
431: Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
432: The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026)
442: Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)
Main E...
Godzilla (1954)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're unpacking the legacy of Godzilla (1954). We reflect on its national-trauma allegory, praise its practical effects, and consider the weight of its somber ending. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 28:59.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Godzilla (1954)
Related Episodes
419: Cloverfield (2008)
297: Dracula (1931)
255: M3GAN (2023)
Main Episode
Hack or Slash Subreddit
Godzilla and World War II: Long Live the King of Monsters
D...
Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're joined by Cristina Giraldo to unwrap Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026). We unpack Cronin's grief-soaked reinvention, dissect the film's oppressive body horror, and debate whether its ending lands with satisfying force. In this episode's b-side, we plan our respective wakes, and conjure a new recipe for Sean's Kitchen. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 41:18.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)
Related Episodes
What happened to The Mummy? | 1932 - 2017
251...
What happened to The Mummy? | 1932 - 2017
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're unraveling nearly a century of cinematic history as we explore what happened to The Mummy. We debate whether the franchise ever had a true identity, compare the gothic horror of the original films to the swashbuckling spectacle of the 1999 version, and unpack why the 2017 reboot lost the heart that made the property iconic.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
The Mummy (1932)
Related Episodes
251: The Mummy (1932)
297: Dracula (1931)
316: Frankenstein (1931)
372: The Wolf Man (1941)
417: The...
Slumber Party Massacre II (1987)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're drilling into Slumber Party Massacre II (1987). We unpack the sequel's wild tonal pivot, praise its fever-dream rockabilly villain, and consider how its campy musical energy reshapes the slasher formula. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 24:46.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Slumber Party Massacre II (1987)
Related Episodes
082: The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
99: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
191: Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
310: Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
...
Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're heading back underground with Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996). We reflect on its legacy as a direct-to-video sequel, break down the evolution of the graboids into something new, and explore how its shift toward action-comedy changes the experience. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 25:36.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)
Related Episodes
198: Tremors (1990)
Main Episode
Tremors 2: Aftershocks – Production and Development
Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
St...
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026)
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're back in theaters to check out Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026). We explore how the sequel expands the world beyond the original, break down its balance of chaos, comedy, and character development, and discuss whether the larger ensemble enhances or muddies the experience. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 35:25.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026)
Main Episode
'Ready Or Not 2' To Freak Out Moviegoers Earlier T...
Horror Games | Round 6 Recap, Champion Reveal
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're breaking down the final showdown of the 2026 Horror Games and crowning a new champion. We revisit the biggest upsets, fan-favorite moments, and chaotic twists that defined the tournament, from The Babadook's controversial run to Candyman's rise and fall, all leading to a final clash between Jennifer Check and The Thing with Michael Myers looming over it all.
Support the show
Thanks for listening to Hack or Slash! Want more from the show?
Join us on Patreon for extended episodes, bonus reviews, B-sides, wa...
31 (2016)
Send us Fan Mail
This week have decided we're checking out Rob Zombie's 31 (2016). We look back on its road to production, question the efficacy of its characters, and discuss the impact of its third act. This episode contains spoilers, beginning at 26:44.
Mentioned in the Episode
Watch the Movie
31 (2016)
Related Episodes
Episode 136: House of 1,000 Corpses (2003)
Episode 235: The Munsters (2022)
Episode 280: The Devil's Rejects (2005)
Main Episode
Episode 96: The Purge (2013)
Episode 117: Hell Fest (2018)<...
Horror Games | Round 5 Recap, Championship Reveal
Send us Fan Mail
This week we're breaking down Round 5 of the 2026 Horror Games as the competition forces its remaining tributes out of their comfort zones and into unfamiliar territory. We debate legacy versus modern terror with Jennifer Check facing off against Frankenstein's Monster, argue over one of the most controversial matchups yet with Art the Clown versus The Thing, and unpack what it really means for a horror icon to survive without home field advantage. As we head into the final round, the stakes hit their peak as Jennifer Check and The Thing must prove they...
