It’s a stacked episode this week but, most importantly, we are finally digging into one of our most requested movies, and one that we waited too damn long to watch! This week, we close out our top-secret film fest with Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998), and this movie really has it all. Zombies (duh), ghosts (a must), werecats (didn’t see that one coming), authentic Louisiana gumbo, and a group of intrepid skeptics with a talking dog, hoping they’ll finally find proof of the paranormal.

NEW! Full video version of this very podcast is now available on YouTube. Join ussssss.…

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Nightmare on Film Street is a labor of love – and Terror! Support us on Patreon at nofspodcast.com/fiendclub to unlock frightfully good rewards; like bonus episodes, watch parties, exclusive merch, producer credits, and much more!

RELEASED:

June 4th, 2026

LINKS:

Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Youtube –  Fiend Club – Discord – Merch – Leave a Review

WHERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S FILM:

The post Podcast: SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND (1998) *Season Finale* appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

Join your horror hosts Kimmi & Jon as they sit down to discuss and dissect the wild and weird labyrinthian world of Backrooms. Are the Backrooms another dimension? Do you go on forever or is there a beginning and an end to this nightmare realm? And (maybe most importantly), what the hell was this confusing movie even about??!?

Note: Drive Home from the Drive-in reviews are FULL SPOILERS (with a quick 15-or-so minute spoiler free review at the top of the show). Want to know whether to watch or pass without the spoil?

Verdict: The leadup to Backrooms was such a rollercoaster that we really didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t really care much at all about the movie until that first trailer dropped, and then we were hooked. The anticipation was real, the premise was super scary, but we were pretty underwhelmed by the finished product. It’s another secret A24 Art House Horror so you’re probably either going to love it or hate it. We did not love it.

And as a special treat, we’ve recorded this DHFTDI in video! Glorious color! All the dimensions! Tune in via The Fiend Club on Patreon and see all our silly facial expressions while we review the most divisive movie of the year.

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Nightmare on Film Street is a labor of love – and Terror! Support us on Patreon at nofspodcast.com/fiendclub to unlock frightfully good rewards; like bonus episodes, watch parties, exclusive merch, producer credits, and much more!

RELEASED:

May 30th, 2026

LINKS:

Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Youtube –  Fiend Club – Discord – Merch – Leave a Review

WHERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S FILM:

The post BACKROOMS Podcast: A NeverEnding CreepyPasta Nightmare appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

In Backrooms, a failing furniture store owner named Clarke (Chiwetel Ejiofor) stumbles into limitless real estate hidden under his store. The more he explores, the more he discovers, and it seemingly has no end. Oh, and also, there are monsters in there.

“Backrooms is bound to be one of the most divisive and debated movies of the year.”

That said, the movie is much more of an art film than I think it is advertising itself to be. Like a lot of A24 movies, it has an incredible premise and these really spooky sequences, but in the finale of the movie it becomes an unapologetic art piece. So if that’s something that you’ve been complaining about with A24 movies for a long time, heads up, you’re getting the same thing here with Backrooms. It’s got some really good characters, it’s got some spooky sequences, but it is a little bit weirder than I think a lot of people have been expecting. Even in my own screening, someone in the audience scoffed out loud, “So there’s just no ending?“.

That choice is a real bummer because the movie has a few incredible found footage sequence, proof that they can craft great scares for this space, and I think this movie would’ve been infinitely scarier if it was found footage through and through from start to finish. It is definitely a movie that’s going to spark conversation, so if you’re willing to have a chat with your friends afterward about some weird philosophical principles or whether or not humans have the ability to perceive (or create!) another dimension, then Backrooms might be the movie for you.

I don’t think this will go down as the scariest movie of the year for me, personally, but I am clearly in the minority on this one. Sold out screenings across the nation are proof that this is a property fans are hungry to eat up, and I can’t deny that it is cool to see mainstream audiences embracing the wild and weird world of non-commercial cinema. On the other hand, if you’re the kind of person who likes answers at the end of your movie and you don’t want the responsibility of doing a bunch of detective work to figure out what the f*ck the movie was about, then Backrooms might not be for you.

Regardless, the movie has some great found footage sequences so there’s definitely something in here for almost every horror fan, and I’m very excited to see what the internet thinks because Backrooms is bound to be one of the most divisive and debated movies of the year.

“This wasn’t for me, but I can’t deny that it is cool to see mainstream audiences embracing the wild and weird world of Art House Cinema.”

We recorded a full, detailed review picking apart our own thoughts and delving into the more complicated immediately after getting out of the movie theater. If you want to hear what we thought about this liminal nightmare, check out the Nightmare on Film Street podcast! And share your thoughts on Backrooms over in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord. Join usssss…

BACKROOMS Review: Liminal Space Horror Builds A Neverending Maze of Unanswered Questions

TL;DR

I don't think this will go down as the scariest movie of the year for me, personally, but I am clearly in the minority on this one. Sold out screenings across the nation are proof that this is a property fans are hungry to eat up, and I can't deny that it is cool to see mainstream audiences embracing the wild and weird world of non-commercial cinema. Regardless, Backrooms is bound to be one of the most divisive and debated movies of the year.

Found Footage Sequences

80

Story

55

Concept

80

Atmosphere

60

69

SCORE

The post BACKROOMS Review: Liminal Space Horror Builds A Neverending Maze of Unanswered Questions appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

Fans of the short films will definitely appreciate some of the nods and the overall vagueness of the film, but newcomers (like myself) may find it a little underbaked. I’m fine to not receive answers, and definitely expected few of them, but I don’t know if there was enough substance to turn me into a Backrooms fan. After seeing the trailers I got an As Above, So Below (2014) vibe and was expecting more of an exploration expedition, which we do get some of – we even have some camcorder shaky cam sequences throughout the film. 

“Fans of the short films will definitely appreciate some of the nods […] but newcomers (like myself) may find it a little underbaked”

We follow a furniture store manager named Clarke (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who, after discovering some electrical anomalies in his store, notices a pulsing light in a store wall and soon discovers he can walk right on through. Soon he’ll drag young employees and even his therapist through, as we try to figure out just what the backrooms might be. 

I will say, I did love the 90s aesthetic and furniture store vibe. If I was going to be a liminal space, I’d definitely go full carpet and patterned wallpaper. 

Kane Parson’s Backrooms is in theatres now! Let us know what you thought of this new unsettling nightmare (and what you would do if you found yourself stuck in this never-ending labyrinth of office furniture) over in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord. Join ussss….

BACKROOMS Review: A Haunting Labyrinth of Easter Eggs For Fans of The Liminal Horror Web Series

TL;DR

Story

60

Concept

80

Scares/Atmosphere

60

Characters

60

65

SCORE

The post BACKROOMS Review: A Haunting Labyrinth of Easter Eggs For Fans of The Liminal Horror Web Series appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

Join your horror hosts Kimmi and Jon as they get to the bottom of a decades long murder mystery, uncover a ghost in the walls, and toil in the family troubles of New Zealand’s finest horror comedy.

After Kylie gets caught trying to break into an atm, she’s sentenced to 8 month house arrest at her childhood home with her estranged mum, Miriam, and step-dad Graham. Starved for entertainment, Kylie begins down a rabbit-hole chasing after the mystery of a restless spirit potentially haunting the house. Her mum swears she saw a figure in a sheet down in the basement, just ask her.

NEW! Full video version of this very podcast is now available on YouTube. Join ussssss.…

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Nightmare on Film Street is a labor of love – and Terror! Support us on Patreon at nofspodcast.com/fiendclub to unlock frightfully good rewards; like bonus episodes, watch parties, exclusive merch, producer credits, and much more!

RELEASED:

May 28th, 2026

LINKS:

Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Youtube –  Fiend Club – Discord – Merch – Leave a Review

WHERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S FILM:

The post Podcast: HOUSEBOUND (2014) appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

A couple throw all of their belongings into storage and hit the road in a souped-up camper van, but life on the road isn’t as idyllic as they had hoped. After coming across a strange accident on the road a mysterious traveler seems to have hopped on board, and it’s having a fun time toying with the pair in supernatural ways. (the means jumpscares. lots of jumpscares)

Note: Drive Home from the Drive-in reviews are FULL SPOILERS (with a quick 15-or-so minute spoiler free review at the top of the show). Want to know whether to watch or pass without the spoil?

Verdict: We’re both on the fence with this one. It has a couple good sequences, but otherwise it’s a cursey lore-builder without a cool enough entity to justify its many repetitive less-than-lethal appearances. There is a very cool lighting scare sequence in the middle that is worth checking out in the theatre, however!

And as a special treat, we’ve recorded this DHFTDI in video! Glorious color! All the dimensions! Tune in via The Fiend Club on Patreon and let us know how you feel about video content. Love it? Hate it? Want to see our silly faces more often?

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Nightmare on Film Street is a labor of love – and Terror! Support us on Patreon at nofspodcast.com/fiendclub to unlock frightfully good rewards; like bonus episodes, watch parties, exclusive merch, producer credits, and much more!

RELEASED:

May 24th, 2026

LINKS:

Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Youtube –  Fiend Club – Discord – Merch – Leave a Review

WHERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S FILM:

The post Podcast: PASSENGER (2026) – Drive Home From The Drive-in Review appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

Because we’re only following one couple (played by Jacob Scibio & Lou Llobell), the entity is quickly defanged, resigned to jump scares and unable to pierce the plot armor of the leads. They can’t be killed or injured too seriously, or the road trip and his free trip across America is over. There is a really creative scare sequence with a film projector that was wonderful, but for the most part, the more you see the entity, the less you fear him. Which, by the end of the film, is quite a lot. 

The film also tries to build up supernatural lore and rules for the entity, which doesn’t really earn enough to be a Samara level villain with her VHS tape and seven-day lore. That said, life on the road is full of superstitions, and apart from the Jeepers Creepers franchise, we haven’t explored a lot of the supernatural lore of life on the road. There are plenty of Hitcher’s and Joyrides, but not a whole lot of supernatural hitchhiker horrors…unless you count Disney’s Haunted Mansion.

Follow us for more horror reviews and check out our full thoughts on Passenger over on the Nightmare on Film Street horror podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And while you’re at it, let us know what you thought of this new road trip nightmare over in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord. And definitely also share your own road trip horror stories with us while you’re at it. It’s scary out there…

PASSENGER Review: A #VanLife Couple Meets Their Dead End in Supernatural Hitchhiker Horror

TL;DR

Because we’re only following one couple, the entity is quickly defanged, resigned to jump scares and unable to pierce the plot armor of the leads. The film also tries to build up supernatural lore and rules for the entity, which doesn’t really earn enough to be a Samara level villain. That said, life on the road is full of superstitions, and we haven’t explored a lot of the supernatural lore of life on the road.

Premise

90

Lore

60

Scares

70

Characters

60

70

SCORE

The post PASSENGER Review: A #VanLife Couple Meets Their Dead End in Supernatural Hitchhiker Horror appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

That’s the main thrust of Natalie Erika James’ newest nightmare, Saccharine, centers around a mysterious new diet trend that is giving people results that would (literally) die for. All you have to do is start eating ashes in pill form, and you’ll start losing weight at paranormal speed.

Saccharine follows Hana (Midori Francis, Ocean’s Eight), who’s a really resourceful lead character, and approaches everything in her life (whether that’s weight loss or ghost hunting) from a purely scientific perspective. After reconnecting with an old friend who gifts her a small sample of weight loss medication, Hana is shocked to see how quickly her body reacts to this magic medication. Unwilling to pay the absurd price tag for the mysterious pills, Hana leans on her medical school training to reverse engineer her own this new weight loss drugs. As it turns out, the secret ingredient in this dream medication i something she already has pretty easy access to: Human Remains. And as gross as it might seem, she starts shedding the lbs as soon as soon as she starts taking the pills.

“A little bit Body Horror, a little bit Generational Trauma, and full of Super Spooky Ghosts”

It’s a little bit Body Horror, it’s a little bit Generational Trauma, and it’s full of Super Spooky Ghosts. But seriously; Imagine yourself in Hana‘s scenario. You’ve been given this new wonder drug that is helping you become the person you always wanted to be, but then you’re utterly haunted by the ghosts of the people who’ve been consuming. What do you do? How do you go back from that?

Saccharine has some fiendish ideas, a ton of scary ghost sequences, and a really interesting take on diet culture and beauty. Which is to say that if you were a big fan of The Substance I think you will also dig this slower burn chiller, but also, if you hated all of those gross close up shots of people eating, there are a couple key sequences in Saccharine that you might not want to watch immediately after eating. I thought it was great, but I’m also a big fan of gross stuff 🙂

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the release schedule lately you already know how spoiled we’ve been at the cinema this month. There is a record setting amount of A+ Horror hitting theatres right now, but if you want to enjoy an indie film- something a little smaller, a little quieter, something that’s really gonna give you nightmares when you hear bumps in the house at night, check out Natalie Erika James’ Saccharine.

Surely you remember her James’ first film, Relic (2020), which was an absolute gut punch of a horror story. Or her follow up, the visually stunning Rosemary’s Baby prequel Apartment 7A. Of course, if you’ve missed both of those films you can watch her short film Creswick for free on YouTube, to get a taste of what Natalie Erika James’ unique blend of haunting horror feels like before heading sitting down in a dark movie theatre and officially kick off Haunted Girl Summer with Saccharine.

“….gonna give you nightmares when you hear bumps in the house at night…”

Natalie Erika James’ Saccharine is in theatres now! Let us know what you thought of this body horror/ghost story over in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord….and also tell us if you’d be willing to eat a few human ashes if you knew you could have a summer bod by the Summer Solstice. We won’t tell anyone. It’ll be our little secret. 🤐

SACCHARINE Review: Spooky New Diet Trend Promises A Haunted Girl Summer

TL;DR

Saccharine has some fiendish ideas, a ton of scary ghost sequences, and a really interesting take on diet culture and beauty. It's a little bit Body Horror, it's a little bit Generational Trauma, and it's full of Super Spooky Ghosts.

Story

75

Cinematography

85

Ghouls

80

Score

80

80

SCORE

The post SACCHARINE Review: Spooky New Diet Trend Promises A Haunted Girl Summer appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

Note: Drive Home from the Drive-in reviews are FULL SPOILERS (with a quick 15-or-so minute spoiler free review at the top of the show). Want to know whether to watch or pass without the spoil?

Verdict: Go check it out! We both dug this this supernaturally charged love story.. if you can call it that. The movie is twisted, brutal, and extremely uncomfortable. Girlfriends have never been so spooky.

And as a special treat, we’ve recorded this DHFTDI in video! Glorious color! All the dimensions! Tune in via the Fiend Club on Patreon and let us know how you feel about video content. Love it? Hate it? Want to see our silly faces more often?

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Nightmare on Film Street is a labor of love – and Terror! Support us on Patreon at nofspodcast.com/fiendclub to unlock frightfully good rewards; like bonus episodes, watch parties, exclusive merch, producer credits, and much more!

RELEASED:

May 19th, 2026

LINKS:

Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Youtube –  Fiend Club – Discord – Merch – Leave a Review

WHERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S FILM:

The post Podcast: OBSESSION (2026) – Drive Home From The Drive-in Review appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.

Our lead, Bear (Michael Johnston) wishes that his longtime crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), Would fall in love with him. More specifically, that she would love him more than anybody else on the planet. And, surprise-surprise, that obsessive love leads (eventually) to murder because instead of getting struck by cupid’s arrow, Nikki acts as though she’s been stabbed in the heart with a 100,000cc dose of Love Potion no. 666.

“…spends a lot of time mining its horrors in eerie and unsettling sequences, but Obsession isn’t afraid to get GORY”

The true intensity of the story takes a little while to build but there is no looking back once Bear has put this whole mess into motion. By the time the bodies start piling up it’s already too late and for a movie that spends a lot of time mining its horror in eerie and unsettling sequences, Obsession isn’t afraid to get G O R Y. The darkest moments of the movie come from the exploration of its own themes but it still finds the space to be incredibly brutal and bloody.

The movie plays with tropes and story beats that you’re super familiar with but goes in completely different directions than you’re expecting. You can probably name a dozen Monkey’s Paw movies as fast as ChatGPT can but it’s all about the little decisions and mini tweaks that make Obsession such a wild ride.

Sight unseen, I’m sure you have a lot of reasonable questions about this whole One Wish Willow thing. Questions like: Okay, so this person has been changed completely from what they used to be, but are they the same person? Is that original person in there somewhere, or are they someone else entirely? And how the hell does this supernatural Wish Willow work anyway?

Barker answers a lot of those questions up front but it’s largely through the unpredictable actions of Nikki and the dynamite performance from Inde Navarrette who embodies both Nikki and Whatever The Hell Nikki Has Become is a dual role of spliced personalities. Thankfully, the story isn’t too concerned with explaining the inner workings of its supernatural engine. It only gives you enough info to understand what’s happening and to buy in to the nightmare as it unfolds in front of you.

“…features a dynamite performance from Inde Navarrette who embodies both Nikki and Whatever-The-Hell-Nikki-Has-Become in a dual role of spliced personalities”

If you are looking for sequences that are going to keep you awake at night, relationship horror that might give you nightmares, I highly recommend checking out Obsession. It’s in theaters right now, continuing to prove that May 2026 is going to be the best month for Horror this month. I don’t know if you’ve look at what else is playing at your local cinema right now, or what other freaky stories we have waiting for us on the release calendar, but you are super spoiled right now if you’re a Horror fan. So, if you have the time to see another(!) contender for Best of The Year, see Obsession with a packed audience because you are absolutely going to hear people scream.

Curry Barker’s Obsession is in theatres now. Let us know what you thought of this Monkey’s Paw fright fest in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord! Social Media is A Cesspool. Come Hang Where The Cool Creeps Are.

OBSESSION Review: The Most F*cked Up Horror Version of Romeo & Juliet

TL;DR

for a movie that spends a lot of it's time mining its horror in eerie and unsettling sequences, Obsession isn't afraid to get G O R Y. The darkest moments of the movie come from the exploration of its own themes but it still finds the space to be incredibly brutal and bloody.

Twist On A Classic

85

Performances

90

Premise/Pacing

85

Scares

80

85

SCORE

The post OBSESSION Review: The Most F*cked Up Horror Version of Romeo & Juliet appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street.