Podcast Recommendation: Video Palace
“When video collector Mark Cambria watches a mysterious VHS tape, he begins talking in his sleep in a language that doesn’t exist. Mark and his girlfriend Tamra set out to investigate the tape’s origin and find themselves caught up in a web of conspiracy, occult, and dread.”
Being a reformed VHS collecting fanatic and horror fan myself, it was an obvious choice to listen to Video Palace, a Shudder Original Podcast.
This series hits all the geek buttons for me. It captures the specific nostalgia of the video store era while telling a modern, compelling story. The chemistry between the two leads, Chase Williamson (Mark) and Devin Sidell (Tamra), is excellent, anchoring the supernatural elements in a believable relationship.
Production Pedigree
The show was created by Nick Braccia and Michael Monello. Monello is notably one of the co-creators of The Blair Witch Project, and that DNA is evident here. Much like *Blair Witch* did for film, *Video Palace* utilizes a “found footage” (or “found audio”) aesthetic to build dread.
To keep the sound natural and authentic to the “investigative journalist” trope, recording was done at Iceman Audio utilizing a Zoom H4N—a popular tool for actual podcasters. The result is an immersive soundscape designed by Jeremy Lee with scoring by Michael Teoli.
Credits:
- Created by: Nick Braccia & Michael Monello
- Written by: Ben Rock & Bob DeRosa
- Starring: Chase Williamson & Devin Sidell
Highly recommended for horror fans, tape collectors, and anyone who loves a good mystery box story.
Episode 1: Somniloquy
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