DON'T WATCH AT NIGHT - Episode Blog

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (Apocalipsis Z: El Principio del Fin)

Published February 2, 2026

Today Ron and Val take you through Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, a 2024 Spanish zombie action thriller directed by Carles Torrens and based on the novels by Manel Loureiro.

**This is a scary movie & book focused podcast. Some content may not be suitable for some audiences. Be advised.

⁠⁠Join Don't Watch at Night on Patreon HERE.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Find the DWAN Letterboxd list here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Don’t Watch at Night is a Ness Production. Executive Producers are Valerie Gonzalez Street and Veronica Gonzalez. Editing by Valerie. Music by Omar Chakor. Special thanks to Lorenzo Villarreal and Alex Street for production support for this episode.

Episode Resources:

https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3846464/apocalypse-z-the-beginning-of-the-end-is-a-thrilling-retelling-of-a-familiar-story-review/

https://theorion.com/103120/uncategorized/he-said-she-said-apocalypse-z-the-beginning-of-the-end/

https://collider.com/apocalypse-z-movie-prime/

https://www.panoramaaudiovisual.com/en/2025/07/02/carles-torrens-rodaje-apocalipsisz/

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/zombie-movies-politics-fears

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE NOW.

BOOK CLUB: Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo

Published January 19, 2026

We're back with another awesome book club discussion, joined by amazing friend of the show, ⁠Perla Caballero⁠! This week we discuss Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo + we toast with our special cocktail and mocktail pairings (a Carajillo).

Find Perla here: https://www.instagram.com/pxcaballero/

MCBC West Seattle Chapter: https://www.instagram.com/mcbcwestseattle/

The Noir Pearl: https://www.instagram.com/thenoirpearl/

Seattle Horror Book Club: https://www.instagram.com/seattlehorrorbookclub/

**This is a scary movie & book focused podcast. Some content may not be suitable for some audiences. Be advised.

⁠⁠Join Don't Watch at Night on Patreon HERE.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Find the DWAN Letterboxd list here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Resources:

https://punchdrink.com/articles/mexico-city-party-coffee-cockail-carajillo-recipe/

https://cafe1820.com/carajillo-history-and-how-to-prepare-it/

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026779-carajillo

https://classbarmag.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1673/Classic_cocktails:_Carajillo.html

https://www.almave.com/blogs/recipes/ambar-carajillo?srsltid=AfmBOoqpMy1XLwl6IWt-TnUH0qbiapaQ2YGOLOACFozkmhGNlZjV_jtZ&country=US

https://lit.newcity.com/2021/05/10/the-pied-piper-is-back-a-review-of-children-of-chicago-by-cynthia-pelayo/

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/payment-is-due-on-cynthia-pelayos-children-of-chicago/

https://crimefictionlover.com/2021/02/children-of-chicago-by-cynthia-pelayo/

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE NOW.

Patreon Special: Drag Me To Hell (film commentary)

Published January 18, 2026

We're back with a film commentary of 2009's Drag Me To Hell, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Alison Lohman and Justin Long!

This is a full length film commentary episode (audio only) so it's designed to be listened to *as* you watch the movie along with us.

Join us on Patreon HERE: patreon.com/dontwatchatnight

A Sweet Cup of Joe

Published January 16, 2026

We've got an all new BOOK CLUB discussion episode coming up on MONDAY and in preparation for that, we've got some cocktail pairings for you! So go grab everything you need to make these delicious concoctions as you listen!

Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo tells the story of detective Lauren Medina, who sees the calling card at a murder scene in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood and immediately knows the Pied Piper has returned.

It's equal parts police procedural and moody, horror mystery and one thing we picked up quickly about our girl, Medina? She likes her coffee.

So no better excuse than this to make ourselves a Carajillo!

It's one of the best known and most loved coffee drinks in much of Latin America with origins that some place in Cuba, others firmly in Spain, but most definitely: during the time of the Conquest.

It's also become a beloved bevvie in places like Mexico City and the Licor 43 version is said to be the Mexican take on this drink (vs. the rum or brandy version is considered more of a Spanish influence).

Either way? Delicious! Recipe below!

Carajillo Cocktail:

2 oz espresso

2 oz Licor 43

Toss your two ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake it up! Go for that frothy topping and serve in a coup glass or Val's preference: an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube.
Recipe courtesy of NY Times Cooking

Carajillo Mocktail:

2 oz Almave Ámbar

1 oz Cold brew concentrate (Val just used espresso)

0.5 oz Agave Nectar

3 dashes NA Orange bitters and 1 dash NA Aromatic bitters (Val used All The Bitter brand)

Same as above, toss this is all in a shaker with a little ice and do a limited shake. Gently mix up the ingredients but avoid too much dilution that will just make your flavors weaken. Serve in a coup or in Val's preferred glass with ice.
Recipe courtesy of Almave

Cheers!

Don't forget to subscribe to Don't Watch at Night and tune in on Monday!

Want to get cocktail pairings early straight to your inbox ahead of book club episodes? Join us over on Patreon!

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

Published January 5, 2026

The gang's all here. Today Val and Ron bring 2010's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark to the discussion table as we ring in a new year!

Directed by Troy Nixey with screenplay by Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins. Starring Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison.

Plus, the sisters give out their latest recommendations for your viewing/listening purposes. 😘

Don't forget: Book club episode is coming January 19th! Join us in reading Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo and email us your thoughts on it at dontwatchatnightpod@gmail.com .

**This is a scary movie & book focused podcast. Some content may not be suitable for some audiences. Be advised.

⁠Join Don't Watch at Night on Patreon HERE.⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Find the DWAN Letterboxd list here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Don’t Watch at Night is a Ness Production. Executive Producers are Valerie and Veronica. Editing by Valerie. Music by Omar Chakor. Special thanks to Lorenzo Villarreal and Alex Street for production support for this episode.

Episode Resources:

https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/tv-movie-that-inspired-guillermo-del-toros-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshweiss/2020/10/30/dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark-turns-10-how-guillermo-del-toro-updated-an-obscure-horror-gem-from-1973/

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/06/dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark-review

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark-201

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE NOW.

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