The Weight of Terror: VHS, Video Stores, and Horror Memory w/ CJ Duke

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The Weight of Terror: VHS, Video Stores, and Horror Memory w/ CJ Duke

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About this listen

Welcome back to Discover the Terror, hosted by Max Moenschmidt and Herbert, your ghoulish guide for the evening. In this episode, we sit down with CJ Duke — writer, visual artist, VHS box-art creator, and emerging filmmaker — for a deep dive into the strange alchemy of nostalgia, fear, and physical media. CJ traces his love of horror back to two formative childhood moments: accidentally witnessing a traumatizing scene from The Gate, and wandering through a foreboding rural Louisiana video store that felt more like a bomb shelter than a place of entertainment. There, a mysterious VHS box — The Jar — ignited a lifelong fascination with horror imagery, unanswered questions, and the power of suggestion. From there, the conversation unfolds into a rich exploration of: The lost magic of video stores and VHS box art Horror as intrigue rather than pure fear Why some films belong on VHS and lose something in HD or 4K The resurgence of physical media in a streaming-dominated world “Moon logic,” puzzles, and the forgotten art of point-and-click horror games FMV classics like Night Trap, The 7th Guest, and Shivers The cultural legacy of the video nasties era Being “the weird kid,” finding community through horror, and turning fear into creation CJ also discusses his work as a writer and artist, including his Video Nasties scripts, his love of thrift-store media ephemera, and how creating faux VHS box art unexpectedly became the centerpiece of his artistic career — leading to gallery shows, museum features, and deep roots in the horror community. The episode closes with an exciting look ahead to CJ’s upcoming debut feature, Witchcraft, a project blending horror, magic, and retro point-and-click video game aesthetics — and a heartfelt reminder to aspiring artists: stay open, follow what speaks to you, and let curiosity lead the way. A must-listen for fans of horror history, physical media, outsider art, and anyone who’s ever judged a movie by its box.

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