Over the past decade or more, one of the most prevalent trends in creepy internet storytelling involves so-called analog horror, a subgenre similar to found footage that utilizes old analog media, particularly VHS and retro television broadcasts, to tell its stories. Sometimes featured in the analog subgenre is the concept of liminal space, generally described as a sort of in-between place that’s abandoned and unsettling. The idea of eerie liminal spaces went viral in about 2019, with the onset of the collaborative online creepypasta known as The Backrooms. On this disquieting episode, Tom and Jenny discuss the history of analog horror and liminal spaces and talk about why these types of stories are so effectively spooky for such a large number of people.

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Channel art and audio & video editing by Jenny Ashford. Music & sound effects courtesy of freesound.org users jamespotterboy, corsica-s, enjoypa, capturedlv, luffy, kiddpark, and justkiddink. Video clips courtesy of Videezy & Videvo.