Episode 10.5: Monsters, meaning and media — A Halloween dive into horror cinema

Meet Russ Meeuf, professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Media at University of Idaho — and a scholar who knows monsters better than most. What makes a monster truly terrifying? What do these creatures reveal about our deepest fears, our society and ourselves? And why do monsters evolve as our cultural anxieties change? Meeuf will guide us through the haunted corridors of horror cinema, showing how monsters are more than just nightmares — they’re mirrors. So, grab your flashlight, lock the doors and tune to our Halloween episode...if you dare.

Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.

What is your favorite horror movie?

In this Halloween episode, Meeuf explores the enduring power of monsters in horror cinema. Drawing on Jeffrey Jerome Cohen’s monster theory, Meeuf explains how monsters defy easy categorization — blurring lines between life and death, human and other, evil and misunderstood — and why they continue to haunt our imaginations.

Monsters, Meeuf argues, reflect cultural anxieties and social boundaries. From Frankenstein’s tragic isolation to Freddy Krueger’s embodiment of teenage guilt and Vecna’s outsider rage, these figures help us confront what societies fear and repress. The episode also traces how horror films mirror historical moments, such as post-9/11 fears of cruelty, the 2008 housing crisis, and contemporary concerns about identity and belonging.

A highlight of the conversation is the evolution of the zombie — from Haitian folklore to George Romero’s critiques of consumerism and conformity, to modern portrayals in comedies and love stories. Meeuf shows how monsters adapt to reflect shifting societal tensions, making them powerful symbols as well as sources of fear. Ultimately, monsters endure because they reveal who we are.

Music

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified. 
“Dark Undercurrent” by Harold Schenk via Amphibious Zoo.

Chapters

(0:00) Favorite horror movie?
(3:50) Getting to know Russ Meeuf
(5:40) What makes a good movie monster?
(7:51) Two sides to every monster
(12:49) What does a director or writer bring to a monster?
(17:19) What do monsters reveal about ourselves
(20:06) Do monsters evolve over time?
(25:08) Final thoughts