Episode 202 - The History of Horror Sequels

Episode 202 - The History of Horror Sequels

Author: The Lunatics Project August 4, 2026 Duration: 49:43
This week on Lunatics Radio Hour, we're exploring the history of horror sequels. It might seem like an unusual topic, but sequels have played a major role in the development of the horror genre. Horror has embraced sequels and franchises more successfully than almost any other genre, creating some of the most recognizable characters in film history and filling the genre's archives with long-running series. In this episode, we trace the evolution of horror sequels from the Universal monster films of the 1930s through the slasher boom of the 1980s and into the modern era. We discuss why horror became the genre most closely associated with franchises and how sequels helped shape the industry. We're also kicking off the Second Scary Scuffle, our head-to-head tournament that pits horror's greatest sequel monsters and villains against one another to determine the ultimate champion. Listen in as we examine the history behind horror sequels and begin the battle to crown the greatest horror sequel character of all time.Sources Fangoria article by Will Jones: How The Horror Genre Created The World of Legacy Sequels  Den of Geek article by David Crow and Joe George: The 31 Best Horror Franchises of All Times, Ranked Entertainment Weekly article by Steven Thrash: The 20 best horror sequels of all time  Forbes article by Mark Hughes: Top 10 Most Successful Horror Sequels of All Time Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror for a deep and often unsettling journey into the shadows of our past. Produced by The Lunatics Project, this series operates on a compelling premise: that the history of horror and the horror of history are inextricably linked. Rather than reviewing movies, each episode digs into documented, real-world events where primal forces like fear, violence, and the struggle for survival left a permanent mark on cultures and individuals. You’ll hear about the dark historical episodes and psychological phenomena that have haunted humanity for centuries, as well as the folklore born from genuine terror. Furthermore, this podcast meticulously traces the line from these factual atrocities and anxieties to the silver screen, analyzing how our most profound real-world fears are processed, shaped, and reflected in the horror films we watch. It’s an exploration for anyone curious about where our darkest stories truly come from and how the echoes of actual events resonate in the genre’s most iconic imagery and narratives. The result is a rich, thought-provoking listen that challenges the boundary between entertainment and the unsettling truths from which it often springs.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror
Podcast Episodes
Episode 208 - The History of Atomic Horror: Part 1 - The Atomic Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:49
The atomic bomb changed the world in 1945, but it also changed the way people imagined horror. In Part One of our history of Atomic Horror, Abby and Alan look at how the Manhattan Project, the bombings of Hiroshima and N…
Episode 207 - The History of Divining and Dowsing Rods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:58
This week Abby and Alan discuss dowsing and divining rods, and how people believed a forked stick could reveal hidden water, buried treasure, minerals, or even supernatural forces. From early references to divining rods…
Episode 206 - The History of Victorian Era Death Rituals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:30
Death was a major part of everyday life in the Victorian era, and people developed elaborate ways to mourn, remember, and preserve the dead. In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the history of Victorian fun…
Episode 205 - The History of Witch Bottles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
This week Abby and Alan dig into the strange history of witch bottles, a form of folk magic once used to protect from witchcraft, curses, and supernatural attacks. We explore where the practice came from, how witch bottl…
Episode 201 - The History of Horror Taglines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:07
This week on Lunatics Radio Hour we're talking through the fascinating history of horror taglines. We get into the history of film marketing, the evolution of taglines and some of the most iconic of all time. Sources 10…
Episode 200 - The History of The Final Girl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:29
In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the history of the Final Girl, one of horror’s most recognizable character archetypes. From early examples in horror literature and film to the rise of the slasher genre…
Episode 199 - The History of Masks in Folklore and Horror: Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the folklore behind masks, from ancient legends and seasonal traditions to the myths that gave rise to some of horror's most unforgettable imagery. Discover how masks ha…
Episode 198 - The Dark History of Masks: Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:24
This week on Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the history of masks, from prehistoric rituals and ancient Egyptian funerary masks to Roman death masks, Venetian Carnival, and the eerie plague doctor. Sources National Geogr…