Slasher Digest: April Showers Bring Mayflower Queens
Spring is here, and somehow the air feels different. Maybe it’s the pollen, or maybe it’s the sound of our production calendar shaking off its frostbitten slumber and stretching into something new.
We’ve spent the last month working on a wide range of episodes, from nostalgic parodies to gritty throwbacks, with some exciting experiments in format behind the scenes. You may not always hear the full picture in your feed, but the gears are always turning — and this season, they’re turning fast.
April was a full month — in life, in work, and in the quiet pockets of energy we each tried to preserve. It’s historically been a transitional month for us. In fact, the very first year of Hack or Slash, April marked our return from hiatus. Every year since, it’s felt like a personal checkpoint — a reminder that no matter how chaotic life gets, this podcast is a constant. It’s not just a project; it’s a priority. A home.
Even when real life comes crashing in — through work stress, personal demands, or shifting routines — this space, this community, and this rhythm we’ve built continues to ground me. It’s non-negotiable. The Discord still pulses with life even when we’re quiet. The relationships we’ve built here are the reason we keep showing up.
Behind the scenes, we’ve been laying the groundwork for the future. Slasher Digest FM is starting to take shape in exciting ways, thanks to Chel and Nathan leading the charge on bonus content. My own office is finally coming together — and soon, I may need to call on the community for decoration ideas. (Shelf recommendations welcome. Creepy doll heads optional.)
We’ve also been looking at feedback a bit more closely. This past month, while overall traffic was slightly down, we noticed something even more meaningful: the people who did find us stayed longer, listened deeper, and connected more. And with May shaping up to be a month packed with new releases, we’re hopeful the momentum will swing back up again — just in time for the halfway mark to Halloween.
So yes, we’re coming out of our cage. And yes, we’re doing just fine.
If you’re reading this, whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just found us recently, thank you for sticking around. Let’s keep making this space strange, special, and ours.
Publishing this Month
5/2: Until Dawn (2025) — From console to screen, we’re ready for the jump scares.
5/9: Honeydew (2020) — Strange cravings, stranger company.
5/16: Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) — Death’s design never dies.
5/23: Clown in a Cornfield (2025) — YA horror comes of age… again.
5/30: Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) — The corsage may be cursed.
Recording this Month
This month, we’re opening the doors to our virtual studio again and inviting Patrons to join us live as we record four very different horror episodes — from iconic classics to blood-soaked debuts.
Here’s what’s coming:
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
One of the most celebrated horror sequels of all time, this gothic gem redefines the monster mythos with style, tragedy, and a shockingly modern take on identity and autonomy. We’re revisiting the roots of horror cinema in a big way.
Clown in a Cornfield (2025)
Adapted from the YA slasher novel, this upcoming release pits small-town teens against a killer in a cornfield. We’re going in fresh with popcorn ready and pitchforks raised.
Jason X (2001)
It’s Jason… in space. Need we say more? This futuristic franchise entry launched a thousand memes and may just earn itself a fresh look during our live breakdown.
Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)
Based on the R.L. Stine book of the same name, this Netflix release drapes the dance floor in blood and secrets. Best of all? Everyone can stream it before the episode — no spoiler dodging required.
👉 Want to join us live? Check the Events tab in Discord to RSVP and be notified when we go live.
We hit the rewind button on horror satire and sprinted face-first into franchise fate. Here’s what we’ve been watching — and what we’ve been screaming about:
We revisited a parody-packed time capsule in Scary Movie (2000).
We bent the rules of death with Final Destination 5 (2011).
We summer camped with style in Hell of a Summer (2025).
We cracked open a cursed can of greens in Popeye: The Slayer Man (2025).
We flipped slasher tropes on their head with Cherry Falls (1999).
Right in the Childhood by Chel explores the trend of turning public domain characters into horror icons — from cuddly to cutthroat.
Host Highlights: The Essential Sean Collection curates some of Sean’s most memorable moments and macabre picks.
M3GAN 2.0 teases more synthetic savagery.
The Toxic Avenger remake oozed its way into our timelines.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is back (again).
Weapons dropped a cryptic first look.
Alien Day (April 26) gave us fresh terror from Alien: Earth.
Scream royalty is set to reunite at Silver Scream Con 4 this September, hosted by Ice Nine Kills.