Penn State Altoona faculty members Brian Onishi and Jeff Stoyanoff have released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast in which they discuss Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize–winning “Beloved” as a haunted house and ghost story.
ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona faculty members Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, associate professor of English and of women's, gender and sexuality studies, have released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast. In the latest episode, the hosts welcome director, writer and producer BT Meza to discuss his new film, “Affection,” released in theaters May 8 and on video-on-demand June 5.
Meza connects horror and joy through his love of watching horror, recounts early influences like reading “Pet Sematary” and “Jaws” and watching “The Exorcist,” and explains how he began making work by constantly photographing and filming, including music videos. He describes getting “Affection” made through supporter collaboration, producer Austin Walk’s advocacy and persistence through pandemic delays.
The conversation highlights filmmaking’s collaborative demands, “Affection’s” blend of science fiction and horror rooted in plausible technology, and its commitment to practical effects created by Slither effects artist Dan Rebert with no CGI. Meza discusses the three-character cast (Ellie, Bruce and Alice), themes of memory, identity, grief and a tension driven by Bruce’s need for certainty.
The full episode of "Horror Joy" can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle.
