Colors of the Dark Bonus Episode - Medieval Horror
Summary
This episode explores medieval horror, highlighting themes of isolation, plague, and religious guilt. The hosts discuss the video game *Dawnwalker*, where vampires exploit the Black Death, and analyze films like *The Witch*, *Hagazusa*, and Ingmar Bergman’s *The Seventh Seal*. They also recommend deep cuts such as the Soviet film *V* and *Sauna*, emphasizing how historical fears of the unknown and high mortality rates fuel the genre’s enduring appeal.
Topics discussed
Intro: Medieval Horror & Blood of Dawnwalker
Comparing medieval horror to Westerns
The fear of the forest and isolation
Plague, disease, and religious fear
Game plot: Vampires exploiting the Black Death
Vampire folklore and medieval settings
High mortality rates in the Middle Ages
Literary roots: Beowulf and Haxan
Ingmar Bergman's medieval films
Guilt themes in The Witch and game lore
Deep cut: The 1967 Soviet film Viy
The Headhunter (2018) and indie horror
Hagazusa and modern witch films
Sauna: A deep cut medieval horror
Black Sunday's opening and the Iron Maiden
Outro: Blood of Dawnwalker release details
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