In this episode of The Deadlights Podcast, we saddle up and head into the brutal frontier with “Bone Tomahawk” (2015) — a film that quietly reinvented the western by injecting it with relentless horror.

We break down how S. Craig Zahler fought to get the movie made, explore the film’s extremely tight shooting schedule, and discuss how its stripped-down production helped amplify the tension. From Zahler’s uncompromising vision to the film’s shocking introduction of the troglodytes, we examine why “Bone Tomahawk” remains one of the most unsettling genre hybrids of the last decade.

Chapters:

00:00 Teaser

00:47 Welcome to the Deadlights

01:36 Logline + General Thoughts

05:13 THE CAN

19:42 “It’s Showtime!”

22:43 THE MEAT

37:43 THE COOK

43:40 THE THRILL

52:54 THE RIDE

55:07 Smashed Pumpkin Ratings + Creepiest Kitty Award

🔔 Subscribe to The Deadlights Podcast for more horror deep-dives every week!

📺 YouTube: @thedeadlightspod

🎧 Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The Deadlights Podcast

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @thedeadlightspod

Is it a western first? A horror movie in disguise? Or something far more disturbing?

Let us know what you think of Bones Tomahawk in the comments — and where it ranks among your favorite modern horror films.

Credits:

Shot at Playground Social Studios (https://www.playgroundsocial.com/)

Technical Director: Rudy Schieder (@rudyschieder)

TV Wall Installation: Mike Sinas (@mike.tv)

Director of Photography: Andrew Degner (@gnomeresearch)

#BoneTomahawk #HorrorWestern #SCraigZahler #ModernHorror #IndieHorror #WesternHorror #Troglodytes #HorrorPodcast #TheDeadlightsPodcast #HorrorMovies

In this episode of The Deadlights Podcast, we review Eyes Without a Face (1960) and explore how this French horror classic left a lasting scar on the genre. From its haunting visuals to its exploration of toxic relationships to its influence on films like Halloween (1978) and The Skin I Live In (2011), this one deserves a second look.

Chapters:

00:00 Teaser

00:43 Welcome to the Deadlights

02:10 Logline + General Thoughts

8:00 THE CAN

21:16 THE MEAT

29:01 THE COOK

32:44 THE THRILL

40:43 THE RIDE

46:49 Smashed Pumpkin Ratings + Creepiest Kitty Award

🔔 Subscribe to The Deadlights Podcast for more horror deep-dives every week!

📺 YouTube: @thedeadlightspod

🎧 Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The Deadlights Podcast

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @thedeadlightspod

What are some films in which you can see the influences of Eyes Without a Face (1960)? Let us know in the comments!

Credits:

Shot at Playground Social Studios (https://www.playgroundsocial.com/)

Technical Director: Rudy Schieder (@rudyschieder)

TV Wall Installation: Mike Sinas (@mike.tv)

Director of Photography: Andrew Degner (@gnomeresearch)

In this episode of The Deadlights Podcast, we dive deep into Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow (2024), a haunting and surreal exploration of identity, memory, and the pull of nostalgia. We discuss how the film channels the neon-soaked aesthetic of the 90s, the importance of highlighting trans stories in modern horror, and how certain moments resonated with our own personal experiences.

Chapters:

00:00 Teaser

00:45 Welcome to the Deadlights

01:27 Logline + General Thoughts

06:44 THE CAN

18:54 THE MEAT

24:55 THE COOK

39:52 THE THRILL

53:06 THE RIDE

56:09 Smashed Pumpkin Ratings + Creepiest Kitty Award

🔔 Subscribe to The Deadlights Podcast for more horror deep-dives every week!

📺 YouTube: @thedeadlightspod

🎧 Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The Deadlights Podcast

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @thedeadlightspod

What did you think—did the film’s surreal style connect with you emotionally, or did it leave you in the dark? Let us know in the comments below!

Credits:

Shot at Playground Social Studios (https://www.playgroundsocial.com/)

Technical Director: Rudy Schieder (@rudyschieder)

TV Wall Installation: Mike Sinas (@mike.tv)

Director of Photography: Andrew Degner (@gnomeresearch)