While Pennywise the clown is back in the cinemas, with IT: Chapter 2, Stevie and Emmet did not particularly like the first one. So they have not gone to see it. 

This inspired a conversation all about Stephen King's four decades of immense commercial success and just why is it people are attracted to his stories about flawed characters facing off against cosmic horrors. 

In this episode: IT, The Shining, Salem's Lot, The Mist and Mike Flanagan's upcoming adaptation of Doctor Sleep. 

Also discussed –

Japanese and American Horror by Katarzyna Marak 

"You have always been the caretaker: the spectral spaces of the Overlook Hotel, Mark Fisher's discussion of trauma and abuse in The Shining, collected in K-Punk from Repeater books. 

Mud and Starlight: The Alan Moore Interviews 2008—2016 by Pádraig Ó Méalóid

20 years on we take a look at The Matrix, its influence on the broader pop culture and the reported return of the franchise courtesy of Lana Wachowski. 

Plus we oo and aah over the ageless Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. 

In addition:

• The Matrix as a gateway to cyberpunk
• The changing meaning of 'red pilling'
• That time Grant Morrison thought The Invisibles was ripped off
• And when Australia was the site of film culture in 1999!

Our recommendations this episode –

High Weirdness by Erik Davis
https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/high-weirdness

Television by City Calm Down
https://youtu.be/alws83lvELM
http://smarturl.it/CCDTelevision