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Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, a packed, fact-filled account of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the terrifying crimes of H. H. Holmes. Along the way, we unpack Daniel Burnham’s impossible project management nightmare, Frederick Law Olmsted’s dramatic hatred of flowerbeds, power boats, and mediocre gravel paths, the invention of the Ferris wheel, the rise of Kodak snapshots, Juicy Fruit, Cracker Jack, the dishwasher, spray paint, zippers, Shredded Wheat, and far too many things that apparently came from one fair.

But beneath the White City’s glowing spectacle is Holmes’ so-called murder castle: a labyrinth of rooms, corridors, chutes, gas lines, hidden spaces, and a basement that feels straight out of Silence of the Lambs. We discuss Holmes’ charm, aliases, fraud, manipulation, blue eyes, possible small ears of vice, and his horrifying ability to sense vulnerability “the way another man might capture the trace of a woman’s perfume.”

We also ask the important questions: would you rather go to an event at Harvard or Yale? Is Chicago deep dish actually pizza or a casserole? And how many red flags does a man need to wave before someone checks the basement?

Content & Spoiler Warning

Serial murder, fraud, gaslighting, grave robbing, gassing, botched or illegal abortions, the horrors of life without modern dentistry and vaccines, and the intense stress of impossible project management. We also spoil The Devil in the White City, including the crimes of H. H. Holmes.

Palate Cleanser

After all that murder and fraud, watch Maul on Disney+ for the Star Wars completists, and Daredevil in preparation for the next Spider-Man movie, and Stranger Things with the kids.

Recommendations:

Erik Larson’s other books, including Dead Wake and Isaac’s Storm.

The Wager for more novelistic nonfiction that will make you annoy everyone around you with historical facts.

The Alienist for an old-timey hunt for an 1890s serial killer.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll for a fictionalised challenge to the idea that Ted Bundy was some criminal genius.

The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule.

The Five, about Jack the Ripper’s victims.

If you want to know more about H.H. Holmes, check out Last Podcast on the Left’s episode on H. H. Holmes and Lore's episode “The Castle.” And for more information about the era, try the Dollop episodes on the Pinkertons, Tesla and Edison, and “Cereal Men” with Patton Oswalt.

Titanic for Gilded Age vibes, plus the book’s Titanic connection.

Loving Frank for Frank Lloyd Wright-related drama.

Heretic, Barbarian and Black Phone for scary basements.

American Psycho and The Talented Mr Ripley for monsters with a facade.

Horns by Joe Hill, inspired by Holmes’ own claim that his head and face were becoming devil-like.

Instant Dream Home on Netflix for stressful, probably-not-real renovation timelines.

Weezer’s Pinkerton.

And always:

Arrested Development, because Buster Bluth was also a mama’s boy, as H.H. Holmes claims, and Olmsted has Lucille Bluth-level dramatic energy.

Parks and Recreation, because of the Harvest Fest, Leslie Knope-level organisation, and Ben Wyatt-style cost-cutting.

Homework

Horror double feature. Amontillado wine features twice on menus at the fair, so read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” and watch Silence of the Lambs because the real Buffalo Bill performed at the fair.

And remember:

Beware of charm, aliases, suspicious life insurance requests, and men who need a shovel to bury “potatoes” in the cellar.

Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).

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In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we ask the important questions: Is Jurassic Park actually horror? And would not having a favourite dinosaur be a dealbreaker?

We dive into Steven Spielberg’s iconic dinosaur summer blockbuster, from trembling cups of water and bloody goat legs to whatever chaos theory is, Chekov’s electric fences, and Jeff Goldblum’s unbuttoned shirt. Along the way, we unpack the film’s blend of adventure, horror, and sci-fi, discuss whether the dinosaurs were scientifically accurate (spoiler alert: no), and debate the ethics of cloning extinct creatures, billionaire hubris, and scientists “playing God.”

We also talk about childhood dinosaur obsessions, the trauma of The Land Before Time, why the T-Rex attack sequence and velociraptor attack qualify as horror, and how Spielberg balances awe, suspense, humour, and terror. Expect deep dives into practical effects vs CGI, the terrifying implications of AI and unchecked technology, casual ’90s sexism, theme park capitalism, and how “clever girl” has become a part of our family vocabularies.

Content & Spoiler Warning:

Dinosaur attacks, jump scares, graphic injuries, severed limbs, electrocution, animal deaths (including a goat and a cow), children in peril, broken glasses, and people being eaten by dinosaurs (obviously). We also discuss sexism, commenting on appearance in professional settings, scientific ethics, AI anxiety, and of course we spoil Jurassic Park.

Palate Cleanser:

After all that dinosaur-fuelled chaos and billionaire recklessness:

• Watching TikTok collectively lose its mind over a businessman being served enormous glasses of wine at a Courtyard Marriott in Westbury, New York.
• Big Mistakes on Netflix - dark crime comedy featuring Daniel Levy and Laurie Metcalf.

Spielbergian Recommendations:

• Spielberg’s E.T, The Goonies, Hook (justice for Hook), and of course Jaws.

Creature Features & Survival Horror

• Deep Blue Sea for Samuel L. Jackson
• Rogue for another creature feature that will make you pull your feet up.
• The Birds – because they descended from dinosaurs.

Science, Ethics & Playing God:

• Gattaca
• M3GAN
• King Kong
• Westworld (especially Season 1)
• Never Let Me Go
• Klara and the Sun
• Frankenstein
• Project Hail Mary

Dinosaurs & Paleontology:

• See Jurassic Right podcast (for truly dedicated Jurassic Park fans)
• Jurassic Park Minute podcast
• The Shortest History of Dinosaurs by Riley Black
• Dinosaur Train and Night at the Museum for the kids
• Toy Story for short T-Rex arms
• Friends — because Ross Geller was a palaeontologist.
• Go to Universal Studios Jurassic Park attractions and The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles

Actor Appreciation Corner:

• The Big Chill and Ragnarok for more Jeff Goldblum
• Law & Order: SVU for BD Wong fans
• Big Little Lies for Laura Dern fans

Homework:

Read The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

We’re heading into the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and an exploration of murder, ambition, architecture, and historical chaos..

And remember:

Don’t underestimate wild animals.

Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).

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In this episode of Drawn to Darkness, we dive into Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, the “glorious,” “classic” mob epic that somehow feels both iconic and unsettling.

From razor-blade-sliced garlic in prison to cocaine-fuelled paranoia and helicopter chases, we unpack the rise and fall of Henry Hill, a kid who always wanted to be a gangster, and ended up a broke, bored “schnuck” in witness protection. We explore the film’s unforgettable characters (Jimmy the Gent, Tommy the loose cannon, and Karen, our MVP), iconic scenes (Funny how?), and the uneasy tension between glamour and brutality. Expect deep dives into the insular world of the mafia, the real Lufthansa heist, cult dynamics, toxic masculinity, and why this isn’t actually the bro movie some people think it is. We also what our mafia nicknames would be and discuss all the cameos and familiar faces.

Content & Spoiler Warning

This episode contains discussion of graphic violence (shootings, beatings, strangulation), drug abuse (especially cocaine), emotional and domestic abuse, and gaslighting. It also includes full spoilers for Goodfellas and references to other crime and horror media.

Palate Cleanser

After all that coke-fuelled chaos and mob violence:

• Company Retreat (Jury Duty Season 2) - a mockumentary where (almost) everyone is in on the joke. “Delightful,” absurd, and a much-needed reset.
• Saying “Hey—oh!” like you’re in The Sopranos (very quotable).

Recommendations

Mafia & Crime:

• The Godfather, The Sopranos, A Bronx Tale
• The Prince of Providence by Mike Stanton for corruption in Providence.
• Mob Wives (for chaotic reality TV energy)
• Crime Town podcast - organised crime beyond the usual cities (and dedicated to Annie’s uncle)
• Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi (the book about Henry Hill’s life that inspired Goodfellas)

True Crime & Culture:

• Adolescence and Inside the Manosphere (Louis Theroux) for confronting toxic masculinity
• Sweet Bobby – both Goodfellas and this have witness protection (or do they?)

Films & TV:

• The Night Of for addiction when incarcerated
• Stir of Echoes - underrated Kevin Bacon thriller featuring Illeana Douglas, Tommy’s girlfriend in Goodfellas
• Stand By Me for kids that find a body
• The Studio for a Scorsese cameo

Unexpected Connections:

• Mean Girls - because Tommy is basically Regina George with a gun
• Parks and Recreation - questionable interior design parallels
• Sing - for a very different “My Way” experience
• When Harry met Sally for another movie with the director's mom.

Homework:

Watch Jurassic Park – is it horror? Maybe. We’re continuing with a ‘90s classic that helped shape our love of film (and Ryan Coogler’s), with a surprising connections to Goodfellas (hi Samuel L. Jackson).

And after that: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Keep your temper. Trust your gut. Don’t do coke. Don’t piss off psychopaths. And don’t marry into the mafia.

We’ll see you next time on Drawn to Darkness.

Special thanks to Nancy Azano for our cover art (Instagram: @nancyazano) and Harry Kidd for our music (Instagram: @harryjkidd, Spotify).