Spooky Town Episode 7: Scott Benson Interview & The Evolution of Folk Horror

Ashley and Stephanie sit down with Scott Benson, animator, illustrator, writer, and co-creator of Night in the Woods, to talk about how horror has influenced his creative work, what projects he’s working on now, and the wonderfully spooky world of folk horror. From Häxan (1922) to The Wicker Man (1973), Kill List (2011), Midsommar (2019), and more, folk horror takes audiences on a wild (and often trippy) ride through the horrors of the natural world and the stories we tell about our connection to each other. Join us as we uncover the subgenre’s roots and discuss how the themes have evolved since its inception.

References mentioned:

British Film Institute: Where to Begin with Folk Horror  

The Guardian: Devils and debauchery: Why We Love to be Scared by Folk Horror

Folk Horror Revival: From the Forests, Fields, Furrows and Further: An Introduction by Andy Paciorek

Ghoulish Media: The Heathen Wilderness: A Tour of American Folk Horror

Smoky Mountain Living Magazine: Superstition in Southern Appalachia

Ashley and Stephanie sit down with Scott Benson, animator, illustrator, writer, and co-creator of Night in the Woods, to talk about how horror has influenced his creative work, what projects he’s working on now, and the wonderfully spooky world of folk horror. From Häxan (1922) to The Wicker Man (1973), Kill List (2011), Midsommar (2019), and more, folk horror takes audiences on a wild (and often trippy) ride through the horrors of the natural world and the stories we tell about our connection to each other. Join us as we uncover the subgenre’s roots and discuss how the themes have evolved since its inception.