Horror Movie Survival Guide

Julia Marchese and Teri Gamble
  • 4.6 (107)
  • VISUAL ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Horror Movie Survival Guide is a weekly podcast where two long time chums (and unlikely gorehounds) watch and talk about horror films from a survival point of view. We ask the question - how can *we* end up as the final girl? Join Julia Marchese and Teri Gamble as we take a deep dive into everything from OG horror to newly released films (but preferably classics on VHS). We'll talk about obscure details that no one else notices, spin off into alternate casting universes, crush on some foxy, dodgy fellows (and creepy uncles), and arm ourselves with the knowledge necessary to become The Final Girl!

  1. The 'Burbs - "Neighbors from Hell"

    5D AGO

    The 'Burbs - "Neighbors from Hell"

    The 'Burbs - "Neighbors from Hell" It's our Podcast Producer Sierra's Birthday this week! We are celebrating by covering one of her Horror Comedy picks - THE 'BURBS (1989). Director, Joe Dante, helms this production with an all-star cast lead by Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern & Corey Feldman. This was a fun revisit to check out as the new TV series rolls out this year on Peacock. We hope you enjoy this fresh episode! Support the show

    32 min
  2. HMSG Interview Daniel Kraus about his New Book! PARTIALLY DEVOURED!

    MAR 21

    HMSG Interview Daniel Kraus about his New Book! PARTIALLY DEVOURED!

    HMSG Interview Author Daniel Kraus - “Partially Devoured”  We have a special bonus episode coming at ya!  A fresh conversation with author Daniel Kraus about his new book PARTIALLY DEVOURED.  The book takes a frame by frame look at one of our favorite films - George A. Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)!  We hope you grab a copy of Daniel’s new book & enjoy this conversation about how it all came together!  More About Our Guest! Daniel Kraus is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. His novel, Whalefall, received a front-cover review in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more. The film adaptation, co-written by Kraus, will be released by 20th Century Studios in October 2026. With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored The Shape of Water, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co- authored Trollhunters, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. He co-wrote The Living Dead and Pay the Piper with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero. Kraus’s The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both Rotters and Scowler), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more. Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. He lives with his wife in Chicago. Follow Daniel Kraus Here: http://www.danielkraus.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kraus_author/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/danielkraus.com More About Partially Devoured Here: https://www.danielkraus.com/books/partially-devoured-how-night-of-the-living-dead-saved-my-life-and-changed-the-world/ Support the show

    52 min
  3. The New Kids - "You Hot Dog"

    MAR 16

    The New Kids - "You Hot Dog"

    The New Kids - "You Hot Dog" It’s Julia’s Birthday week and we are celebrating by discussing one of her favorite James Spader films THE NEW KIDS (1985). Spader leads a pack of town bullies to terrorize the new kids in town!  Have you seen this 80’s horror cult classic?  We hope you enjoy hearing all about the legend of DUTRA this week! And wish Julia a very Happy Birthday! Support the show

    39 min
  4. HMSG Interview Director/Producer Chelsea Stardust - "Donnie Darko"

    MAR 9

    HMSG Interview Director/Producer Chelsea Stardust - "Donnie Darko"

    HMSG Interview Chelsea Stardust - "Donnie Darko" This week we cover the cult classic DONNIE DARKO (2001) with one of our best friends, Director/Producer Chelsea Stardust! A film that both Chelsea & Julia have seen an obsessive amount of times and Teri has only seen twice!  We also discuss Chelsea’s incredible career and her new Horror Anthology GRIND (2026) that is premiering at the SXSW film festival this week -  that we all played a part in!  We hope you enjoy this fun & fresh episode!  More About Our Guest: Chelsea hails from the Midwest and has been working in Hollywood for over fifteen years. After working for titans Ivan Reitman, Judd Apatow, and Jason Blum, Chelsea started pursuing directing, writing, and producing full time. Chelsea’s first feature film, the science fiction thriller All That We Destroy, is part of the Blumhouse series Into The Dark and is currently available on Hulu.  Her second feature film, the horror comedy Satanic Panic, was written by novelist Grady Hendrix (My Best Friend’s Exorcism, How To Sell A Haunted House) and was featured in over 20 film festivals all over the world and is currently available on VOD, blu-ray and VHS. Chelsea produced the feature film anthology Grind, which was created, written and directed by Brea Grant and Ed Dougherty, and is premiering this year at SXSW! Chelsea also directed the wraparound segments of Grind. Most recently Chelsea produced a commercial for Loungefly, the popular brand owned by Funko. She also directed the music video Bloodbather for the indie rock band, Cursive. She has also produced 3 short films, two of which are heading to the festival circuit later this year. She is also the co-host of the Sitting In The Dark podcast and last but not least she is a published writer and her work has been featured in several books and online publications.  Support the show

    1h 2m
  5. Didn't Die - NEW FILM! See it in Theaters March 6th!

    MAR 6

    Didn't Die - NEW FILM! See it in Theaters March 6th!

    Didn't Die - In Theaters March 6th! A podcaster tries to make sense of the world as they approach their 100th episode while the zombie apocalypse takes hold in DIDN'T DIE (2026). We have never related more to a film! A fresh riff on one of our favorite classic genres. We hope you enjoy this mini-episode and check out the film this weekend in theaters! More about the the film: The Sundance Midnight feature film Didn’t Die, directed by Meera Menon, has been heralded by Variety as an “enticing character-centric comedy” and by Collider as a film that "forges its own bloody path by taking the story back to the barest of bones,” Didn’t Die premiered in 2025 at the Sundance Film Festival as a Midnight feature; merely weeks after director Menon’s home was tragically consumed by the fires which ravaged Los Angeles. Menon, who has directed episodes of “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Ms. Marvel,” and “Westworld,” describes Didn’t Die—a film about the human spirit rising from tragedy—this way: “I’m drawn to the question of what still makes life worth living when everything else has come undone. Being an indie filmmaker right now feels like podcasting in the middle of a zombie apocalypse—this film is about the grit it takes to simply keep going.” Starring stand-up comedian and Emmy-nominated actress Kiran Deol in the lead role of “Vinita”, Didn’t Die revolves around an unfolding zombie apocalypse in rural America, as a podcast host (Deol) struggles to maintain their dwindling audience amidst the chaos. Support the show

    8 min
  6. Battle Royale - “I don't know what any of this means!”

    MAR 2

    Battle Royale - “I don't know what any of this means!”

    Battle Royale - “I don't know what any of this means!” This week we enter the ring with a perfect & timely dystopian thriller - BATTLE ROYALE (2000). As the economy craters and teen morale crumbles in this world - as high school class is offered up as entertainment for the masses. The teens must fight to the death till there is one student left standing to be crowned the winner.  We hope you enjoy this freshly made episode! Support the show

    44 min
  7. Sinners - “Free for a Few Hours”

    FEB 23

    Sinners - “Free for a Few Hours”

    Sinners - “Free for a Few Hours” It’s TIME! This week we finally discuss our favorite film from 2025, Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS! A cinematic triumph with double Michael B. Jordan and a truckload of accolades behind it.  A vampire film containing layers of drama, deep thoughts and a dance number for the ages! Yes, please!  We hope you enjoy biting into this fresh episode as much as we enjoyed making it!  Support the show

    59 min
  8. Bitch Ass - “Are You Willing to Play?”

    FEB 16

    Bitch Ass - “Are You Willing to Play?”

    Bitch Ass - “Are You Willing to Play?” It’s 666 Night and young group of gang recruits are about to play deadly games that could result in deadly prizes with BITCH ASS (2022). A boy obsessed with games grows up to become a masked vigilante with a diabolical house of horrors! Featuring one of Tony Todd's last performances onscreen as he tees up the film playing a late night horror TV host! We hope you enjoy playing with us this week! Support the show

    30 min
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4.6
out of 5
107 Ratings

About

Horror Movie Survival Guide is a weekly podcast where two long time chums (and unlikely gorehounds) watch and talk about horror films from a survival point of view. We ask the question - how can *we* end up as the final girl? Join Julia Marchese and Teri Gamble as we take a deep dive into everything from OG horror to newly released films (but preferably classics on VHS). We'll talk about obscure details that no one else notices, spin off into alternate casting universes, crush on some foxy, dodgy fellows (and creepy uncles), and arm ourselves with the knowledge necessary to become The Final Girl!

Information

  • Creator
    Julia Marchese and Teri Gamble
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    473
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Horror Movie Survival Guide
  • Show Website
    Horror Movie Survival Guide

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