[FREE PREMIUM EPISODE] The Scream Queens Podcast Episode 1: Welcome to Derry Updates & The Long Walk Reveal

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Welcome to the very first episode of the Scream Queens Horror News Show! Join your hosts, Kelly and Jessica, as they take a deep dive into the 2026 horror landscape. From A24’s most unsettling new teasers to the return of Pennywise and Jason Voorhees, we are covering the news that keeps you up at night.

In This Episode:

Trailer & Poster Highlights

• Mother Mary (A24): We break down the teaser for this "transgressive dive" into the cult of celebrity. Is stardom the ultimate monster?
• Primal: Get ready for Johannes Roberts’ "killer chimp" movie. We discuss the D-BOX theatrical experience coming January 9th.
• The Strangers: Chapter 3: Renny Harlin’s trilogy concludes on February 6th. We analyze the new "Embrace Your Fears" poster.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Shark: "Sharkopine" is real. Prepare for this digital release later this month.

Production & Industry Updates

• Welcome to Derry (Max): Miles Eckhart joins us (via news updates) to discuss filming Season 2, jumping back to the 1935 Bradley Gang Massacre.
• Crystal Lake (A24): Huge news for the Friday the 13th prequel—we're officially getting a teenage Jason Voorhees.
• Box Office: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 hits a massive $200M milestone.

The 2026 Horror Watchlist

• The Long Walk: Stephen King’s dystopian nightmare hits screens January 10th.
• Cold Storage: Joe Keery vs. parasitic fungus? Sign us up for this February release.
• New Fear’s Eve: The holiday slasher you didn't know you needed.
• Giallo-uary: Arrow Video brings us restored classics like Deep Red and Blood and Black Lace.
• Indie Picks: Quick hits on The Plague, South Korea's Noid, and Norway's The Ugly Stepsister.

Merch Check

• NECA Reveal: We take a first look at the Santa Ghostface figure—the perfect blend of holiday cheer and 90s nostalgia.

Notable Quote

"If you aren’t feeling that deep sense of unease, then they aren’t doing it right." — Kelly

Transcript

Kelly: Welcome, to the very first episode of The Scream Queens Horror News Show, your ultimate guide through the dark corridors of the genre. I’m Kelly, your resident hall monitor of horror, and today is extra special because I’m not walking these creepy hallways alone anymore.

Jessica: Hey everyone! I’m Jessica, and I guess that makes me the brand new flashlight in these haunted hallways, but I have to be honest, I’m already starting to regret my life choices because Kelly told me we were just doing a light update today. And yet, looking at the stack of notes sitting in front of me right now…I’m realizing that was a total lie.

Kelly: Okay, I never actually said light, I am almost certain I said it was going to be fun, and there is definitely a huge difference between those two things! But since you have already seen the mountain of notes we have to get through, we should probably explain the vibe for anyone listening for the first time, so basically we are here to bring you all the freshest horror news and trailers, and we also dig into posters and production updates, plus we track all the release dates and those weird little indie gems that always manage to sneak up and haunt you for weeks.

Jessica: And I guess that is exactly where I fit in, because while you are tracking all those production updates and release dates, I am basically here to ask the questions that the audience is probably thinking, like why do we keep doing this to ourselves anyway? And honestly, with all these trailers and indie gems you have lined up, I really need to know if it is normal to be this excited and terrified at the same time.

Kelly: Oh, it is definitely not just normal, because feeling that exact mix of dread and adrenaline is actually the whole point of being a horror fan! And since we are both feeling that energy right now, let's just dive right in and kick this off the way any good horror night starts, which is by looking at the new visuals that are already starting to mess with our heads.

Jessica: Well, if we are talking about things messing with our heads, then we really have to start right out of the gate with A24 because they are up to their usual routine again, and honestly, they just dropped a teaser that feels less like a movie trailer and more like some kind of creepy ritual that you definitely were not invited to attend.

Kelly: Oh, you are exactly right, and that is because A24 has finally pulled back the curtain on Mother Mary, but if anyone out there thinks this is just going to be some standard pop star drama, then bless your innocent little heart. The word going around right now is that it is actually this harrowing and transgressive dive straight into the cult of celebrity, and as you noticed, the teaser leans incredibly hard into that ritualistic vibe that makes everything feel so unsettling.

Jessica: And I think that is really the thing with A24 because they do not even bother trying to tease you with a traditional plot, but instead they just hit you with those specific, heavy vibes that make you feel like you should probably double check your locks and then immediately text your therapist.

Kelly: That is so true, and it really looks like the kind of film that is less about your typical jump scares and more about that slow suffocation of pressure, obsession, and identity, so it is almost like stardom itself is the monster that just eats you from the inside out.

Jessica: So basically, fame is the creature feature.

Kelly: It really is, and honestly, that is the perfect way to look at it because it just leads us right into the literal creature features we have on the list for today. So, we actually just got a brand new poster for Primate, which is the upcoming movie from Johannes Roberts, and it is being billed as this absolutely brutal killer-chimp story that really is not being subtle at all about what it wants to do to you. It has this tagline that says "they thought he was family," and just seeing the image of this practical-effects chimp looking completely rabid is enough to make you never want to visit a zoo ever again.

Jessica: I am right there with you because as soon as I saw the words killer chimp on that poster my brain immediately went absolutely not, but then I saw the news that it’s actually coming out in D-Box theaters, and I realized the movie is literally going to be shaking us around in those moving seats while the chimp is attacking on screen.

Kelly: Well that is exactly the selling point because you get that intense seat-shaking along with all the gross practical effects and it really delivers on the promise that you are going to feel the horror right where you are sitting. So honestly if you have ever wanted a movie to physically bully you while you watch it then this is probably going to be your big moment. Primate hits theaters this January 9th.

Jessica: And honestly, that “movie physically bullying you” line is exactly what’s getting me, because I’m over here trying to picture myself getting tossed around in my seat while a chimp is just going full chaos on screen. Like yes, it’s immersive, but it also kind of sounds like an extreme endurance challenge, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to tap out halfway through.

Kelly: Well, I think most of us would probably fail that test, so let's move away from the wild and get into something truly wicked because those famous masked invaders are finally making their final move. We actually just got a brand new poster for The Strangers: Chapter Three and it features the tagline "Embrace Your Fears," which honestly sounds like some kind of motivational wall art you would find at a craft store, except in this version the wall art is actually holding a knife and waiting for you to come home.

Jessica: That is such a creepy way to put it, and honestly, telling someone to embrace their fears in a movie like this is just mean because this franchise has such a specific and grounded kind of dread. It is never about anything flashy or supernatural, but instead it is just about that awful and sinking feeling where you realize someone is standing right outside your door, and the scariest part of all is that they do not even need a reason to be there.

Kelly: I know exactly what you mean, and that is why this third chapter is so highly anticipated because it is actually being positioned as the big conclusion to Renny Harlin’s reboot trilogy. So, for all the fans who have been following this saga from the beginning, we are finally heading toward the end of that brutal cat-and-mouse game, and since we just found out it is officially hitting theaters on February 6, we really do not have to wait much longer to see how this whole nightmare actually wraps up.

Jessica: Oooh yes, and that’s why I’m excited—because it’s the conclusion, so it finally feels like we’re getting payoff for all that creeping dread. But also… I already know I’m going to be stressed the entire time. (laughs) Like, February 6 can’t get here fast enough, and yet I’m also sitting here thinking, “Cool, can’t wait to willingly pay money to feel unsafe in my own skin for two hours.”

Kelly: Well, honestly, that just means it is working exactly like it should, because if you aren't feeling that deep sense of unease then they aren't doing it right! But if you want to switch gears to a totally different flavor of stress—one that actually has a little bit of campy sparkle mixed in with the blood—then we definitely need to talk about the latest update for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Shark.

Jessica: Okay wait, you are going to have to give me a second because I am still just sitting here giggling at that title, and I honestly love how committed they are to it! It really feels like someone sat in a writers' room and just asked the question, "what if we take classic Gothic horror but then we also just add a shark into the mix?" and everyone just agreed it was a great idea.

Kelly: Oh, it is absolutely committed, and honestly the trailer reveal is exactly what you would hope for because it has all that moody Gothic energy but with a serious creature-feature bite to it. And since it is already generating a ton of buzz online, you should definitely keep an eye out for its digital release this January, especially if you have ever wanted to see a scientist turn himself into a man-shark after taking an experimental drug called Sharcopine.

Jessica: I honestly love it when horror remembers it can be totally fun like this, and even though I really enjoy that deep sense of dread we were just talking about, you also have to give me something wild that I can quote at my friends like a total lunatic. I mean, the name Sharcopine alone is basically worth the price of admission, and I just know I am going to be telling everyone about this scientist turning into a man-shark for the rest of the week.

Kelly: Oh, you are definitely going to be hearing that name for a long time! But now that we have properly fed the audience with all those trailers and posters and just pure chaotic energy, I think it is time to slide into what is happening behind the scenes because the production updates are starting to get really juicy. And with that we definitely have to talk about what is happening over at Max because we are finally getting some major updates on the second season of Welcome to Derry. It is honestly so impressive how this show has managed to expand on the IT universe, and Miles Ekhardt has actually been opening up recently about his journey from being a theater kid to landing such a huge role in this series, but the really exciting part is how he is teasing the sheer intensity of the new episodes. He basically hinted that filming in Derry has been an even heavier experience this time around, and since they are diving deeper into the town’s twisted history for season two, he warned fans that we are all in for an incredibly dark ride while we wait to see how the legend of Pennywise continues to unfold.

Jessica: Oooh I honestly love that whole pipeline from being a theater kid to landing in a massive horror project because it actually makes so much sense when you think about it. I mean, if you are trained to project your voice to the very back of a crowded room, then you definitely have the skills to scream in a way that just shakes people spiritually! And since Miles is already teasing how much heavier and darker season two is going to be, I feel like you probably need that kind of theatrical background just to handle the emotional toll of diving into the twisted history of Pennywise.

Kelly: That is exactly right, and honestly anytime an actor says a shoot was that intense, my brain immediately goes into investigation mode because I just have to know what they saw and if they are even okay! But it makes sense why it would be so heavy, because while the first season took us through the sixties, this new season is actually jumping even further back in time to 1935. So we are going to see a totally different era of Derry, and since we know that cycle ends with the infamous Bradley Gang massacre from the book, I think Miles is right to warn us that things are about to get incredibly dark and visceral as we explore how Pennywise was feeding during the Great Depression.

Jessica: And honestly, the whole idea of spending your days filming in a place like Derry sounds exactly like a cursed summer camp to me because you are just surrounded by all that dark history and heavy energy 24/7. But it is so wild that they are going all the way back to 1935 because the Great Depression already feels so bleak on its own, and then you add a murderous clown and a public massacre into the mix and it just becomes a total nightmare scenario. I can definitely see why Miles would call the shoot intense because you are basically living in the middle of these horrible moments that the town is trying to forget, so it really does sound like a stressful and cursed experience for everyone involved.

Kelly: Right? Like, you wrap for the day and you’re still looking over your shoulder for a red balloon. Now, let’s talk slashers, because the Friday the Thirteenth mythology is stretching its limbs again. Reports say the A24 prequel series Crystal Lake is going to feature a teenage version of Jason Voorhees.

Jessica: That is honestly just huge news because people tend to argue about Jason lore like it is ancient scripture and every little detail really matters to the hardcore fans. I think adding a teenage version of Jason into the mix is going to spark so many conversations because we have usually only seen him as either a little boy or a full-grown slasher, but seeing that middle stage is going to be such a game changer for the whole story they are trying to tell.

Kelly: Exactly, and this promises to fill in some of those long-debated gaps before he became the hockey-mask icon. More backstory, more breadcrumbs, more reasons for fans to spiral happily online.

Jessica: I’m already picturing the discourse. And I mean that lovingly. I’ll be reading it with popcorn.

Kelly: I am right there with you because those online debates are basically a sport at this point but honestly that just shows how much people love this franchise! And speaking of things that people clearly love we have some massive financial news to get into because Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 has officially crossed two hundred million dollars at the global box office and even though everyone expected it to be a hit it is still just wild to see it making that kind of money so quickly.

Jessica: That is just an unbelievable amount of money and it really proves that the animatronic agenda remains totally undefeated because clearly the fans are showing up in huge numbers to support it. I mean it is one thing to have a successful first movie but to see the sequel smashing records like this just shows that people are still obsessed with the lore and they are ready for even more of those creepy mechanical scares on the big screen.

Kelly: It really is incredible, and I think calling it a holiday titan is the perfect way to put it because it just proves that the global appetite for Freddy and the rest of the gang is not slowing down even a little bit. And since it is performing so well during the December break, it has basically turned into this huge seasonal event for the fans, so honestly, I would not be surprised at all if the studio starts fast-tracking a third movie almost immediately to keep this massive momentum going.

Jessica: I completely agree with you and I just love that we actually live in a world where so many people are like, you know what would really make my holidays feel cozier this year? Murder robots. It is just so funny to think about families heading out to the theater together during their winter break just to see these creepy animatronics cause total chaos, but hey, if it keeps making hundreds of millions of dollars then I am definitely ready to see how fast they can get that third one into production for us.

Kelly: It is definitely festive in its own terrifying way and I honestly think it just shows that horror fans have a very different idea of what makes a holiday special compared to everyone else! But even though we could talk about those creepy animatronics all day we really need to pivot into some serious watchlist planning because we have a ton of new release dates and upcoming titles that you are definitely going to want to have on your radar as we head into the new year.

Jessica: Oh I am totally ready for that because this is always the part of the show where I start opening up my calendar and honestly it feels like I am opening the Book of the Dead with how many terrifying dates I am about to write down. So definitely go ahead and give us the rundown because I need to make sure I have all my theater trips planned out so I do not miss a single one of these releases as we kick off the year.

Kelly: Well you better grab your pen then because you definitely need to mark down January 10 on your calendar since that is when the adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Long Walk is finally hitting Starz. It is being directed by Francis Lawrence, who you might know from the Hunger Games movies, and honestly this has been a long time coming for King fans because it is such a classic and brutal story. It is basically a dystopian survival thriller about a group of boys forced into this deadly walking contest where you literally have to keep moving or you die, so even though the premise sounds simple, it is definitely going to be one of those movies that feels really heavy and intense in that quiet, inevitable kind of way.

Jessica: Oh that premise alone is a absolute nightmare, because the whole idea of endurance just turning into a punishment, and then having that punishment turned into a public spectacle, is honestly so terrifying. It is really that specific kind of psychological horror that doesn't even need monsters or jump scares to get under your skin because it is just about the sheer physical and mental exhaustion of trying to survive something so cruel. I can already tell that watching those boys realize they just cannot stop walking is going to be incredibly difficult to sit through, and so I am definitely adding that to my list even if I know it is going to leave me feeling completely drained.

Kelly: Exactly. And if you need something sooner, New Fears Eve is getting a big push right now ahead of its digital and VOD debut. It’s being positioned as a must-see holiday slasher, which honestly sounds like the perfect way to ring in the new year if you like your celebrations with festive gore.

Jessica: I love the idea of watching a holiday slasher while everyone else is doing resolutions. My resolution is to survive the runtime.

Kelly: That is a very solid goal, and honestly, if you can make it through the runtime of some of these upcoming slashers without your heart rate hitting triple digits, you are doing better than me! But for all the collectors and completionists listening who want to keep that adrenaline going at home, Arrow Video just dropped their full streaming lineup for January 2026 and it is absolutely stacked with restorations of underground cult classics. They are doing this whole Giallo-ary celebration where they are bringing in heavy hitters like Deep Red and Blood and Black Lace, and they even have a Joe Lynch curated section that includes everything from Mute Witness to that wild body horror flick Bad Biology, so your calendar is about to be very busy with some high-quality carnage.

Jessica: Oh man, Arrow is honestly so dangerous for me because I will go in there just to browse for a second and then suddenly I have committed to three movies that I have never even heard of before. And before I know it, those obscure cult classics become my entire personality for a week and I am just obsessively talking about Giallo films and weird body horror to anyone who will listen. But I mean, with a lineup that includes Deep Red and Mute Witness, I guess I should just accept that my January is going to be completely taken over by these restorations.

Kelly: That is the absolute Arrow experience for you, and honestly, if you want to keep that weird body horror vibe going into the new year, then you really need to keep an eye out for Cold Storage. It is this sci-fi horror-comedy coming to theaters in February, and since it stars Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell as storage facility employees fighting off a parasitic fungus, it feels like it is going to be a total blast. Plus, they have Liam Neeson playing this grizzled bioterror specialist, so it definitely sounds like the kind of creature feature that is going to be both gross and hilarious at the same time.

Jessica: I’m always down for horror that lets you laugh right before it pulls the rug out from under you. Comedy makes the dread hit harder.

Kelly: That is so true because even though the big blockbusters are fun, the indie and international scenes are usually where you find the really experimental stuff that actually keeps you up at night. And since we are heading into January, I honestly love the idea of checking out some of these smaller titles while everyone else is focused on their normal New Year resolutions, so my only resolution is going to be surviving the runtime of some of these intense new projects. I mean, I have been hearing so much about the Australian indie We Bury the Dead and that Estonian musical horror movie Chainsaws Were Singing, so I am definitely ready to see what kind of wild and visceral stories are bubbling up outside of the mainstream.

Jessica: This is my favorite section, because it always feels like you’re discovering something you weren’t “supposed” to find.

Kelly: Exactly. There’s been a big year-end retrospective naming the ten best international horror films of twenty twenty-five, calling it a breakout year for South Korean and Scandinavian genre cinema.

Jessica: That absolutely checks out because those specific regions have been delivering some of the most stylish and brutal films of the whole year, and so it makes perfect sense that they would dominate a year-end retrospective like that. I mean, when you look at movies like the South Korean supernatural hit Noise or that gross but brilliant Norwegian film The Ugly Stepsister, you can really see how they are masters at making horror that is both emotionally sharp and physically intense. It is honestly that rare kind of experience where the movie totally hurts your feelings, but then you just end up thanking the director for the trauma because it was so well-crafted.

Kelly: And one indie title you need to keep on your radar is The Plague from Charlie Polinger. It’s being called a “cruelty-horror” debut, and the reactions are polarizing, which is usually a sign that it’s doing something bold. Critics are talking about how unflinching it is with group-think and survival, the kind of story where the real monster is what people become when they’re scared together.

Jessica: Oh, I already know that’s going to be the movie people argue about at parties. Like, “It was genius,” “It was unbearable,” “I hated it,” “I can’t stop thinking about it,” all in the same breath.

Kelly: Exactly that energy. Also, we’ve got word that festival hit Animale, from filmmaker Emma Benestan, has been acquired for VOD and digital distribution, so more people are going to be able to catch it soon.

Jessica: I love when festival stuff finally becomes accessible. Nothing worse than hearing about a movie for a year and feeling like it’s a cryptid.

Kelly: And lastly, because we love a good collectible moment, there’s a first look at the Neca Santa Ghostface figure, and it has horror fans buzzing. It’s the perfect little nod to that holiday-themed Scream marketing vibe, and it’s absolutely going to become a centerpiece on a lot of horror shelves.

Jessica: Oh I think a Santa Ghostface is just unreasonably delightful, and even though it is technically supposed to be scary, there is something so fun about seeing an icon like that in a little red hat. It really is the ultimate collectible for anyone who loves that festive slasher energy, and I can already hear the voice on the phone saying ho ho ho while he tells you he is calling from inside the house. I just know that as soon as it hits the shelves, it is going to be the top item on every horror fan's wishlist because it is just such a perfect mix of Christmas cheer and total 90s slasher nostalgia.

Kelly: I couldn't agree more, and honestly, since we are already talking about wishlists and new beginnings, that feels like the perfect high note to end on for today! So that is all the news we have for you this time, and I just have to say, Jessica, you totally crushed it and officially survived your very first trip through the Scream Queens Horror News Show. You handled the trailers, the production updates, and even the murder robots like a total pro, so I think it is safe to say you have earned your spot in the final girl club for this week.

Jessica: Oh I definitely feel like I have earned my stripes today and I am honestly just thrilled to have made it through in one piece! I mean it was a little bit terrifying hearing about all those creepy updates but I am still so thrilled to be here, and even though I might need to keep some snacks and a bit of emotional support nearby if this is the kind of pace we are going to keep, you can definitely count me in for the next round because I am already all in for whatever nightmares we talk about next.

Credit: Accredit iHorror, Dread Central, Bloody Disgusting, Parade, PopHorror, Fangoria