We’ve reached lucky episode 13 of Our First Fears, and today, I get to talk with author Russell Ginns, or R. U. Ginns, about the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Together, we dig into how artists use elements of unease to create a sense of paranoia for their audiences. We talk zombies versus pod-people, cults of the 1970s, how much we love actress Veronica Cartwright, and finally, we discuss what many consider to be one of the most chilling endings of any horror film EVER and how it earns that distinction. 

R. U. Ginns’s latest collection of scary and funny tales is called 1-2-3 Scream!, and it is available now at your local bookshops and libraries. 

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(Content warning: mention of suicide, cults, violence, and a little chatting about the film's brief nudity)