The Lunatics Project

11/29/2025

The real inspiration behind Bram Stoker's Dracula.

One of the most famous tragedies from colonial New England was the Salem Witch Trial's. These trials took place about a century earlier than the New England Vampire Panic, and yet the Vampire Panic is much less well known. Let's talk about the history of the New England Vampire Panic. When Tuberculo...

11/28/2025

Every time I turn on The Wizard of Oz (which is fairly often), I end up in a rabbit hole trying to remind myself how the filmmakers pulled off such a realistic tornado in 1939. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it in a while, pull up a clip on YouTube.

The Wizard of Oz was the first film to show a tornado on screen, which ended up being one of the largest expenses of the film’s budget. The studio actually didn’t recoup the cost of the movie until it re-released it a decade after it first hit theaters.

Back in the 1930s, it would have been difficult to capture a real tornado on film (or even use archival footage that worked in the scene.) The filmmakers knew they would need to produce their own using special effects.

One of the earliest photographs of a tornado was taken in 1884, in Dakota Territory, where South Dakota is now. It’s truly such a fascinating photograph. The back of this photo says the “only cyclone ever photographed.” But we do know that, coincidentally, another tornado was photographed a few months previously in Kansas. There is some controversy over whether this photograph is real or a hoax. Some point to how perfect the clouds and funnels are formed.

At first, special effects Arnold Gillespe first attempted to create the tornado by constructing a 35-foot rubber cone. But this path proved unrealistic, the rubber didn’t have enough give and movement to look like a real cyclone.

Photos:
1 - A movie still of the tornado from The Wizard of Oz.
2 - Often called the first photo of a tornado, but some believe it to be a hoax.
3-6 - Other early photographs of tornadoes.

11/27/2025

There is a lot about Thanksgiving that’s horrifying, but it’s been a largely unexploited holiday in the world of horror.

In 2023 Eli Roth’s film Thanksgiving was released. Alan and I went to see this in theaters when it first came out, and sat next to a woman who fully ate a Thanksgiving meal in the seat next to us. It was packaged in a lot of tin foil. Thanksgiving (2023) is legitimately scary. I would even argue that there are scenes that are moments that go too far. I am not one of those horror fans that lives for the wildest or most graphic kills. For me, the less gory the better. But even still, I liked this movie. (I’ve successfully avoided watching Hostel thus far in life.)

On the other end of the spectrum, Thankskilling (2009) is one of the worst films ever made. And that’s not a controversial opinion. Some people, like Alan, love to watch horror movies that are so bad, they’re good. (I am not one of those people.)

In 1987 Blood Rage was released. Blood Rage is known for being a wild ride. To start, I like the perspective of Thanksgiving at an apartment complex in Florida. And I don’t mean that sarcastically, it’s refreshing to see Thanksgiving set anywhere but New England. Because, after all, the whole country celebrates it.

Another 80s Thanksgiving horror film, Home Sweet Home (1981) tells the story of a man who escapes from a mental health facility and terrorizes a family on the holiday. The escapee patient is played by bodybuilder Jake Steinfield, who would go on to found Body by Jake.

If you’re looking for a Lifetime flair, Kristy (2014) is a horror movie set during Thanksgiving Break. The film follows a college student who is stalked by a cult of killers.

Anyway, one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is giving to the American Indian College Fund. It’s a fantastic organization that helps support Native students and provides scholarships for education. If you can donate or spread the word about their cause, I promise you won’t regret it.

11/26/2025

Want to see something creepy? This is a photograph of the actors Fred A. Stone and David C. Montgomery in a stage production of The Wizard of Oz from 1903. This production ran in Portsmouth, NH in 1904. For more on the dark and strange history of The Wizard of Oz, listen to episode 166 of the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast. https://www.lunaticsproject.com/episodes

11/25/2025

This week we talk about the dark lore and true horrors from the set of The Wizard of Oz. Plus, the history of this enduring classic story that's been told over and over again.

Listen to the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast, anywhere you listen to podcasts. https://www.lunaticsproject.com/episodes

11/24/2025

There is a lot about Thanksgiving that’s horrifying, but it’s been a largely unexploited holiday in the world of horror.

There is a lot about Thanksgiving that’s horrifying, but it’s been a largely unexploited holiday in the world of horror.In 2023 Eli Roth’s film Thanksgiving was released. Alan and I went to see this in theaters when it first came out, and sat next to a woman who fully ate a Thanksgiving meal i...

11/21/2025

I’ve often and loudly proclaimed that The Strangers (2008) is incredibly offensive to me because it’s based on real life events. Now, this is somewhat bold and contradictory of me, considering I have an entire brand and podcast focused on exploring the history of horror. Horror is the exploitation of human fear. All horror films do this. So why did I take issue with The Strangers? So what if The Strangers was inspired by real events, is that more upsetting than Psycho (1960) being inspired by Ed Gein? Let’s talk about the true events that inspired The Strangers (2008) and figure it out together.

I’ve often and loudly proclaimed that The Strangers (2008) is incredibly offensive to me because it’s based on real life events. Now, this is somewhat bold and contradictory of me, considering I have an entire brand and podcast focused on exploring the history of horror. Horror is the exploitati...

11/19/2025

35mm photos from Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery. Originally founded in 1850.

11/18/2025

This week Abby and Alan present four modern day horror stories, all in some ways inspired by or adjacent to the Friday the 13th film franchise. Lunatics Radio Hour - anywhere you listen to podcasts. https://www.lunaticsproject.com/episodes

11/14/2025

On November 14th 1832, NYC's first form of public transit began in the form of horse drawn street cars. The service started on Forth Ave and Bowery in Manhattan, running between Prince and 14th street. Passengers paid 12.5 cents per ride.

"People are packed into streetcars like sardines in a box, with perspiration for oil. The seats being more than filled, the passengers are placed in rows down the middle, where they hang on by the straps, like smoked hams in a corner grocery." - The New York Harold.

11/13/2025

The Grim Reaper is a personification of Death.The Grim Reaper is usually shown as a tall, slender hooded figure. The glimpses of limbs and his face that we see under the black hood is skeletal and his signature weapon is a huge scythe that he uses to tear your soul from your body.

There are very strong harvest culture connections to the figure. The idea is that he is here to harvest what was sown, what is now ready to be reaped.

The Grim Reaper debuted in the 14th Century in Europe…around the time of the Bubonic Plague also known as Black Death. In 1347 twelve Ships from the Black Sea arrived in Europe and docked in Messina, Italy. Locals gathered along the docks, excited for the return of the fleet only to find that the majority of sailors had died during their journey.

Those who were alive were covered in black boils that were filled with pus and blood.
The ships were quickly removed from the harbor but it was too late. The virus has started to spread. Less talked about in Western history books is that the Black Death impacted Syria, Egypt, Persia, India and other non-European countries. And in fact, rumors of that devastation had reached Europe before the disease itself.

Many people thought that The Black Death was the start of the end time, a punishment from god. It was a horrific time. The Black Death impacted the world globally, not just in Europe. Scholars estimate that it reduced the world population at the time from 450 Million to 350 Million. A quarter of the human population on Earth at the time.

Because death was everywhere, we start to see common themes emerge in different art forms; literature, fine art and painting, poetry. Themes of skeletons, death and dying. From this we there is The Dance of Death or Danse Macabre. Depictions of the Grim Reaper.

11/12/2025

Is it too late for an October photo dump?