Matriarchs of Horror

Milicent Patrick

Hello, Matriarchs! Today, I want to do something a little different. If you followed me on TikTok before I started this podcast, you might remember that I used to regul

The Female Director Problem Hollywood Refuses to Fix

Hello, Matriarchs! The topic of today’s episode is something that has been weighing on my mind a lot lately. Because despite all the progress we’ve supposedly made when

Who Decides What Women Are Allowed to Desire?

Hello, Matriarchs! This week's episode includes a recycled conversation with Haley Piper because it coincides with the release of Jane Shoenbrun's latest film, Teenage

The Curse of Inheritance

Hello, Matriarchs! This week, author Cynthia Gomez joins the podcast to discuss her new novel, Muñeca which is a haunting exploration of identity, class, race, and the p

Horror's Long History of Villainizing Single Mothers

Hello, Matriarchs! Single mothers have long occupied a complicated place in horror, often portrayed as unstable or even monstrous. In this new episode, I unpack the his

The Good Guy Trap

In this episode I’m getting into the “good guy” trope in horror and why it never really feels as safe as it’s supposed to. I talk about how horror keeps showing us this f

Why Hollywood Treats Aging Women Like Horror Stories

Hello, Matriarchs! In this episode, I’m diving into the horror of aging as a woman in Hollywood and the cultural fear that surrounds it. Using films like Sunset Boulevard

The Consent Illusion: What Kink Gets Right About Power and Communication

Why do men rape women? It’s a question people have been asking for years and one that still doesn’t have an easy answer. In this episode, I’m digging into how we actually

Tudor History Meets Feminist Horror

In this episode I’m joined by author Rebecca Lehmann to discuss her new novel The Beheading Game, a chilling reimagining of Anne Boleyn’s story, where she rises from the

Why Marriage Used to Terrify Me

For a long time, marriage felt like something to fear rather than to desire. And historically, that fear wasn’t unfounded. In the 19th century, marriage often meant losin

The Horror Beneath Love Story

Before you press play, this episode does contain discussions on sexual assault. I examine a chilling trope that runs through horror and real life alike: when a woman’s lo

Authorship in the Age of AI

Hello, Matriarchs! In this episode, I’m unpacking the controversy surrounding Mia Ballard’s novel Shy Girl, from allegations of AI use to questions about editing and acco

Monstrous Women: The Power of Female Rage

What happens when women stop trying to be likable? In this episode, I dive into the “unhinged woman” archetype in horror, and why they're often underperform at the box o

Sacred Fear: Polygamy, Patriarchy & Religious Horror

In this first episode of The Matriarchs of Horror, host Sandra Rose Salathe dives into the terrifying side of religion. Beginning by breaking down horror films like The O