Samantha McLaren

@themeatispeople.bsky.social

Queer Scottish writer, artist, and horror fanatic. Words at Fangoria, MovieJawn, and Horror Press. Occasional Chesapeake Stripper.

MJ's @themeatispeople.bsky.social says, "CORPORATE RETREAT aspires to the “eat the rich” satire of films like THE MENU, READY OR NOT, or AMERICAN PSYCHO, but it has neither the brains nor the dexterity to find a nerve to strike." #CorporateRetreatMovie is now available on demand

CORPORATE RETREAT’s satire doesn’t even cut skin deep — Moviejawn

by Samantha McLaren, Associate Editor Corporate Retreat is a horror-comedy that mistakes squeamishness for fear and seemingly forgot to write any jokes.

moviejawn.com

MJ's @themeatispeople.bsky.social says, "Between Calder’s immaculate performance, Spajic’s flawless production design, and Marovic’s cinematography, which balances eerie detachment with shockingly tender intimacy, BROKEN BIRD is remarkably well realized..." #BrokenBird now playing in theaters

BROKEN BIRD is an audacious debut feature that isn’t afraid to poke at taboos — Moviejawn

by Samantha McLaren, Associate Editor Broken Bird is remarkably well-realized for a first-time feature, at turns bitter and sweet, with a feverish edge.

moviejawn.com

Deciding to chaotically start doing drag at the ripe age of 32 has been truly liberating, but nothing will make you feel older faster than watching a 23 y/o throwing themselves around the stage like it's nothing, then giving yourself two-week bruises just for skidding across the floor on your knees.

This was a lot of fun and I will always seize the opportunity to tell people about RAVENOUS, an underrated queer cannibal gem 🥩

MovieJawn@moviejawn.com · 6mo ago

MJ PODS 🚨 AVAILABLE NOW! The March episode of our movie trivia gameshow podcast Intermission is available now, with guest @themeatispeople.bsky.social playing on behalf of RAVENOUS (1999). Sign up on the MJ patreon to listen today! www.patreon.com/moviejawn 🎥🎦📽🎞🎬🎟🍿 #filmsky #moviesky

A cropped and altered image from the RAVENOUS poster featuring Guy Pierce and Robert Carlisle, with the text "INTERMISSION Mar. 2026, with guest Sam McLaren".

Additional added text includes
"MovieJawn Podcast Network Presents
Intermission
season 2, episode 9
with Sam McLaren
Premiered on Sun. Mar. 1st
MovieJawn.com"

The MJ Podcast Network logo and MJ logo have been added as well

Sitting at my hotel bar tonight reading my book about the Scottish witch trials and having a quiet drink, a 60+ year old man approached me and struck up a conversation. Because I am an idiot, I didn't immediately shut it down. Here is a thread of things that transpired, in no particular order 🧵

I have some reservations about WHISTLE, the new teen horror flick from THE NUN dir. Corin Hardy (and THE HALLOW, which is worth checking out!) but I can't deny it's got some wickedly vicious kills. I especially enjoyed the contortionist work from Twisty Troy James & co. Full review @moviejawn.com

MovieJawn@moviejawn.com · 7mo ago

MJ's @themeatispeople.bsky.social says, "WHISTLE isn’t afraid to get vicious when it comes to offing teens, though it shirks the sly humor of those films in favor of a more serious exploration of survivor’s guilt and choosing life." #Whistle is in theaters Friday.

There's some banger international horror coming out this month by the looks of it! I'm especially curious about South Korean anthology GHOST TRAIN but the sapphic vibes of DIABOLIC also have me intrigued. Read more in my latest for @fangoria.bsky.social 👇✈️

FANGORIA@fangoria.bsky.social · 7mo ago

This month's roundup of new horror movies from across the globe includes a haunted South Korean subway station, one sinister Spanish senior, and more. Full list right here!

Thinking about how I was chatting to a lassie about 'IT: Welcome to Derry' a few weeks ago and my sweet mother piped up with "oh, I saw an advert for that on the telly - it's the Irish version, right?" Lads, she thought it was set in Derry, Northern Ireland.

In the summer of 2023, I visited the set of @bryanfuller.bsky.social's DUST BUNNY in Budapest, and you can read all about it in the next issue of @fangoria.bsky.social! But first, you should go see the movie - one of my favorites of the year - which is in theaters RIGHT NOW! 🐇🐇🐇

FANGORIA@fangoria.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Look out! Sigourney Weaver and a giant DUST BUNNY are on the newsstand cover of FANGORIA #30. Pre-order your copy now and come on in for a peek at what you'll find inside.

Tonight, in a classy midtown Manhattan bar at a holiday function, I gradually became aware that the classy instrumental playlist they were piping in included the score to fucking Cannibal Holocaust 💀 Loudly announcing that it was the score from Cannibal Holocaust also did not go down well.

My last international horror round-up of 2025 for @fangoria.bsky.social is live! I've been doing these for three years now and it has helped me discover so many interesting international titles that might otherwise have slipped under my radar. Check it out if you wanna do the same! ✈️🌏

FANGORIA@fangoria.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Norwegian kaiju clashes, time-loop terror from the UK, blasphemous Swedish miracles—and so much more. Follow in Santa's footsteps and travel around the world with these new and upcoming releases.