ALTOONA, Pa. — Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, assistant professor of English and women's, gender and sexuality studies, released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast, titled "The Babadook: Queerness in the Basement with S. Trimble."

The episode delves into the chilling world of “The Babadook,” a film that has been interpreted as both a study in grief and a queer icon, according to Onishi and Stoyanoff. They are joined in the podcast by S. Trimble, an assistant professor of women and gender studies at the University of Toronto, to explore these shadowy perspectives.

In the episode, the trio discusses the following topics:

• "Grief and the Monstrous": The film's exploration of grief and how it manifests as a monstrous figure.
• "The Babadook's Queer Identity": The reinterpretation of the Babadook as a queer character challenging societal norms.
• "Queer Feelings and Horror": How queerness can reveal emotions often overlooked in traditional horror.
• "Challenging Family Dynamics": The way "The Babadook" subverts the traditional family unit.

The episode is now available online. Learn more about the "Horror Joy" podcast.