Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan

What happens when fear isn’t just in the shadows, but in the walls of your own home? When the weight of loss becomes a creature you can see, hear, and—perhaps worst of all—cannot escape?

This week, Mandy invites filmmaker, podcaster, and friend Tommy Metz III back to unpack one of the most unsettling films of the last decade: The Babadook.

Mandy and Tommy explore the architecture of horror itself, evaluating how Jennifer Kent’s 2014 cult classic reshaped the genre. From the film’s muted color palette to its sound design, they unpack how the movie doesn’t just tell a bedtime story—it feels like one.

What if the Babadook isn’t just a monster, but an author, a symbol of a mother’s unresolved trauma? Tommy presents a theory that might just make you rethink every frame of the film, complete with exhibits and photographic evidence. Mandy recounts her own nightmares, her love-hate relationship with creepy children’s books, and her newfound obsession with the film’s unsettling layers.

And what about this for unexpected twists: How did a shadowy, top-hat-wearing figure become a queer icon? Yes, you read that right. The Babadook’s journey from psychological horror to internet meme is a subplot worthy of its own deep dive.

Links & Notes

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What is Make Me A Nerd with Mandy Kaplan?

Hey folks. Mandy Kaplan here. I’d like to share a bit about my intentions and mission for MMAN if you’ll indulge me. You will? Huzzah!

Look, I am a lot of things. I’m a writer, actress, mother, and lover of musicals and cats, but NOT Cats, The Musical. Give me a little bit of credit, would ya? So...throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded (and intrigued) by all things nerd. A sister who plays D&D, a Star Wars-obsessed husband, friends who love anime, comic books, video games, and...well, you get the picture. Somehow, I have always held it all at arm's length. Not to get too deep, but maybe I never thought I was smart enough to follow it. Or maybe I have control issues and have never been able to embrace fantastical things like dragons and time travel. Until now!

So, with an open mind and heart, I am ready to join this massive (and beautifully inclusive) club and GEEK THE #%$ OUT! It’s time for all my wonderfully strange friends to baptize me into NERD-DOM. Please join me on this journey. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover or remember a side of yourself along the way. Or at least make fun of me as I try!