The buzz around Opus (2025) may have been more build-up than pay-off in the horror fandom, but it's time to give this flick the attention it deserves, Spookies. For our second installment of Pop Star Horror Month, we're heading out to Moretti's private compound with budding music journalist Ayo Edebiri, and we're ready to do our research on the lore while paying attention to all the small touches that make John Malkovich's star power shine. Though this movie may not be perfect, between its cast full of familiar faces and a soundtrack made up of bangers, there's a lot here to applaud.

References:

https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/the-facets-of-tribalism-a-conversation-with-opus-writer-director-mark-anthony-green

https://www.levelman.com/mark-anthony-greens-journey-from-gqs-style-guy-to-horror-auteur/

https://screenrant.com/opus-guests-invited-by-moretti-reasons-explained/

https://people.com/music/halsey-apologizes-world-trade-center-joke/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Justin_Tranter

Spookies, it feels like we've been waiting forever to work this theme month into our schedule, but one could also argue the genre was only invented in 2024. Nonetheless, we'd like to welcome Pop Star Horror Month to the stage, and we've invited Trap (2024) to be our opening act. A true daddy-daughter film where Josh Hartnett plays a doting father who moonlights as a serial killer, this flick also features a collab between writer-director M. Night Shyamalan and his own double act offspring, Saleka Shyamalan. Come join the concert with us on our newest Spooky Tuesday as we talk tunes, mommy issues, and more.

References:

https://people.com/all-about-m-night-shyamalan-kids-8691825

https://consequence.net/2024/06/trap-saleka-interview-lady-raven-release/

https://www.theringer.com/2024/08/05/movies/trap-movie-concert-music-lady-raven-m-night-shyamalan-saleka

https://ca.rollingstone.com/music/trap-m-night-shyamalans-daughter-saleka-as-lady-raven-shares-first-song-from-dads-new-film/

https://bloody-disgusting.com/music/3823462/saleka-releases-lady-raven-with-special-guest-kid-cudi-listen-now/

https://www.nylon.com/nylon-nights/saleka-shyamalan-trap-premiere-interview

We've got a lot to celebrate this week, Spookies! Not only is it our very own Monica's birthday, it's also a Fifth Tuesday and the sneaky unofficial start to a new themed month — so of course we had to cover The Phantom of the Opera (2004). A luxe movie musical that captures the theatrical flair of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway show and pairs it with the camp sensibilities of director Joel Schumacher, this flick practically jumps out of the screen when that first booming note hits. On a new Spooky Tuesday, we challenge you not to sing along as we talk all things score and book lore.

References:

https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/did-minnie-driver-and-emmy-rossum-feud-on-the-phantom-of-the-opera-set.html/

https://x.com/driverminnie/status/1275219191323217920

https://x.com/JohnTylerJRT/status/884599605601738752

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/how-to-explain-trumps-love-for-the-musical-cats

https://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2015/11/29/why-it-sucked-the-phantom-of-the-opera