Forget the vampire tropes this week; let’s hallucinate and appreciate. Horror scholar Lea Anderson (Fangoria, Shudder) is here to look deep into 1973’s "Ganja & Hess" (and honestly, help me understand it). This beguiling Black vampire story stars Marlene Clark and Duane Jones as a pair of cursed, blood-craving immortals reckoning with the beauty and horror of forever togetherness. We break down ‘70s movie blood, this film's complex take on theology, and why Marlene Clark’s performance “is everything” to Lea.

'Ganja & Hess' with Lea Anderson | Vampires of America

Brimming with vicious bloodletting, neon beer signs, and Bill Paxton hootin’ and hollerin’, “Near Dark” might be the high watermark for vampire Westerns. I’m elated to have film critic and author Sarah Welch-Larson (Bright Wall/Dark Room) on the pod this week. She’s a “Near Dark” turbofan, with as many deep thoughts on what the film suggests about Manifest Destiny as she has musings on whether these Oklahoma vampires have ever tried roadkill. Let’s ride!  

Read Sarah’s “Near Dark” essay here: 
https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2022/08/03/youre-gonna-give-me-back-my-spur/

Keep up with all her writing here:
https://www.dodgyboffin.com/

'Near Dark' with Sarah Welch-Larson | Vampires of America

I’ll put it this way — “Sinners” has everything you could want as the centerpiece of a “Vampires of America” podcast series. Tommy guns, blues guitars, two Michael B. Jordans, vampires as jig-dancing cult leaders, and visually entrancing commentary on folk art and oppression. Bennett Campbell Ferguson (Fools Who Dream) is back for a deep dive into Ryan Coogler’s strikingly original horror musical. 

'Sinners' with Bennett Campbell Ferguson | Vampires of America

Marc Mohan moved to Portland from Wisconsin in 1991, and has been exploring and contributing to the city’s film culture almost ever since, as the manager of the landmark independent video store Trilogy, the owner of Portland’s first DVD-only rental spot, Video Vérité; and as a freelance film critic for The Oregonian for nearly twenty years. Once it became apparent that “newspaper film critic” was no longer a sustainable career option, he pursued a new path, enrolling in the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College in the fall of 2017 and graduating cum laude in 2020 with a specialization in Intellectual Property. He now splits his time between his practice with Nine Muses Law and his continuing efforts to spread the word about great (and not-so-great) movies, which include a weekly column at Oregon ArtsWatch.

The Art of the Critic w/ Marc Mohan

Our “Vampires of America” kick has one last burning question—what if vampires were teen fashion icons? "The Lost Boys" (1987) gives us a vampire corruption tale that mixes post-hippie paranoia with a dash of "The Goonies," Peter Pan, music video sheen, and the costume-conscious filmmaker who later bravely put nipples on the Batman suit. 

Noah Ballard (Verve) is here to close out this series in style. We cover best performances, dangly earrings, and the life story of Sexy Sax Guy. Let's get to it. 

'The Lost Boys' with Noah Ballard | Vampires of America

Patrick Belin, Fools Who Dream's Christopher Nolan correspondent, returns to the podcast to discuss Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of "The Odyssey," slated for July 2026.

Previewing Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" w/ Patrick Belin

You will know a man by his relationships. In Terrence Malick's "Knight of Cups," the life of screenwriter Rick (Christian Bale) is divided into eight chapters, each spotlighting one of the bonds that defines him, be it romantic or familial. For this episode, Malick acolytes Bennett Campbell Ferguson and Patrick Belin join forces to analyze (and rate) each chapter of the film.

"Knight of Cups" Chapter Ratings w/ Patrick Belin

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and the 20th anniversary of "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith." Both are considered by many fans to be the best of their respective trilogies, but which is the superior "Star Wars" film? Bennett Campbell Ferguson and Josh O'Rourke debate the matter...with a twist.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" vs. "Revenge of the Sith" w/ Josh O'Rourke

What makes a great Superman movie? Over the decades, filmmakers as different as Richard Donner, Richard Lester, Bryan Singer, and Zack Snyder have struggled to answer that question (to varying degrees of success).

Now, director James Gunn ("Guardians of the Galaxy") offers his take. Super-fans Bennett Campbell Ferguson, Ray Gill Jr., and Morgan Shaunette sit down to discuss the cinematic legacy of the last son of Krypton...and Gunn's place in the pantheon.

What Makes a Great Superman Movie w/ Ray Gill Jr. and Morgan Shaunette

Eric Ash guest hosts the Fools Who Dream Movies Podcast, interviewing Bennett Campbell Ferguson about his recently published oral history of the first "X-Men" film.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" vs. "Revenge of the Sith" w/ Josh O'Rourke

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