Ep. 264: Vampires VS Zombies – The Battle for the White House

·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

Host Daniel Glenn reveals a theory that the winning political party determines whether vampires or zombies dominate horror movies.

Host Daniel J. Glenn introduces the episode by noting its release near Election Day and Halloween, framing it as a politically-adjacent but non-partisan discussion. Guest T. Krulos explains he didn't originate the theory but researched it after encountering it around 2008. The theory posits that vampire movies correlate with Democratic administrations, playing on fears of foreigners and bloodsuckers, while zombie movies align with Republican ones, reflecting fears of mindless conformity and war. Krulos details his methodology, starting with George Romero's 1968 film 'Night of the Living Dead' as a turning point for zombie depictions. He compiled lists from IMDB, Letterboxd, and fan sites, counting movies from Nixon to the present, though he acknowledges flaws like not accounting for production timelines. Historical context is provided: vampire movies spiked during Carter's term, zombies dominated the Reagan era, and vampires returned under Clinton. The Bush years saw a massive increase in zombie films, partly due to easier filmmaking technology. Under Obama, zombie numbers remained high, but vampire hits like 'Twilight' gained cultural heft. The Trump administration broke the pattern with a rise in killer clown movies, such as 'Terrifier' and 'Joker', linked to perceptions of chaos. The conversation also touches on broader horror trends, like atomic-age monsters and 1980s slasher films. Krulos predicts future trends based on the election outcome, and the episode concludes with promotions for his book and the show.

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