Come join me by the fireplace.

In this episode, we return to Camp Crystal Lake, right in the middle of winter, to revisit Friday the 13th and unravel why this date still gives us chills.

We start with a nostalgic slasher classic: summer camp counselors, bad decisions, and a mother’s revenge. We'll dig into why this simple film still works—and why campfire stories are so popular.

From there, we step off the screen and into the fear itself.

Why does Friday the 13th feel cursed? Is it myth, history, coincidence, or something darker? We explore the origins of the superstition, from Norse mythology and biblical symbolism to the Knights Templar and the psychology behind paraskevidekatriaphobia. We examine real-world crimes associated with the date, including the haunting murder of Kitty Genovese and the ripple effects that helped create 911. We even look at disasters, defiance of superstition, and the people who dared to mock bad luck itself.

We close out with a Final Fright rooted in summer camp folklore. Ghosts in the woods, phantom cabins, porcelain dolls (absolutely not), and the real-life tragedy that may have inspired one of horror’s most iconic stories.

Is Friday the 13th truly cursed…
or do we just keep giving it reasons to be?

Join Kristin in the Dark Academy Library as we unwrap the chilling legacy of Black Christmas. The cult classic that gave us our first final girl and killer POV just in time for the holidays. After we explore the urban legends and true crime story that influenced the movie, we'll go to another snowy location where a killer known as the Vampire Rapist prowled. Also, Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, but not for everyone. We'll discuss the fear some have in our final freight. So grab your blankets, and join me by the fire for some dark and chilling tales.

Chapters

0:00 Intro Story

4:35 Warning

5:15 Welcome

5:50 Black Christmas

8:00 Origin Story

11:01 Vampire Rapist

18:43 Final Freight - The Fear of Christmas

20:17 Farewells

Join Kristin at the Dark Academy clearing for a chilling journey through the origins of Halloween. From ancient Celtic rituals and headless horsemen to Victorian love charms and modern mischief, explore the eerie, fascinating, and sometimes deadly traditions that shaped our favorite spooky holiday. Along the way, encounter folklore, haunted histories, and strange customs that reveal how Halloween evolved into the celebration we know today. Gather ‘round the fire, grab a marshmallow, and beware… by listening, you are now an Inductee of Dark Academy.