Did you ever wonder how we got here, and how sometimes tiny pieces of history make up, and have shaped our lives?
Or realised how every day, all of us are making history?
Join me, Sarah Dowd, in exploring what has happened in the everyday lives of people for the better, or at least the experiences that have just make us laugh and say…
This is… History. For F***’s Sake, the podcast that explores untold stories that make a difference.
When the world seemingly shut down for almost two years, what were we doing? We were creating art, making history and crying out of human contact. We were craving our culture.
I’m your host, Sarah Dowd, and I have worked on over 200 history, heritage and arts projects in the last 20 years across the world, everywhere from the Imperial War Museum in London to exploring how we put a fleet of ships in the sky, or bringing wrecks back from Honolulu.
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD which has brought a whole new layer of thinking about creativity and how we get people – ALL PEOPLE – really engaged with our shared history and culture.
Stories. Art. Film. Books. Ships. Music. Museums. People. Joy. Experiences. Humour. Humanity.
Because it’s all History, For F***’s Sake.
Find out more at historyffs.com
What happens when Dracula trades gloomy castles for cul-de-sacs? In this special Halloween episode, host Sarah Dowd sinks her teeth into the modern vampire mythos with gothic horror expert, actor, director, and bona fide scream queen Megan Tremethick. Together, they trace the chilling lineage from the cynical, blood-soaked anthologies of Amicus Productions in post-war Britain to Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot and beyond.
From small-town terrors and Cold War anxieties to British “scream queen” heritage and the resurrection of iconic UK horror studios, Sarah and Megan unravel how horror films and books help audiences cope with trauma, paranoia, and everyday dread. Don’t miss this spooky episode!
Highlights:
- How post-war trauma in Britain and America inspired a new wave of horror
- Salem’s Lot at 50: why Stephen King’s vampires hit differently in the suburbs
- The rise, fall, and resurrection of Amicus Productions
- Megan’s path from Cats-obsessed schoolgirl to leading new British horror (via a fateful solo trip to Cannes)
- Why facing your fears on screen or in real life can be transformational
- Vampires as metaphors
- British vs. American horror: what makes an Amicus or Hammer film so distinct
- How history, anxiety, and creative arts help us process collective fears
- Behind the scenes of Amicus’s rebirth, and a sneak peek at Megan’s horror projects.
Film Recommendations:
The Blood on Satan’s Claw, Tigon – 1971
Asylum, Amicus Productions – 1972
Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors, Amicus Productions – 1965
The Vault of Horror, Amicus Productions – 1973
Invasion of the Body Snatchers – 1978
Witchfinder General, Tigon – 1968
About Megan Tremethick:
Megan is a Cornish actress, filmmaker, writer, and producer, known for her roles in The Reign of Queen Ginnarra (2025) and Hex Studios’ The Slave and the Sorcerer (2024), as well as appearances in The Vance Institute, The Lockdown Hauntings, and Ghost Crew. As a filmmaker, she has directed several horror shorts inspired by Giallo and H.P. Lovecraft, including Slot, The Haunter of the Dark, and Revenge of Innsmouth. Her latest project, Spoiling You, explores the unsettling side of ASMR, and she also stars in Amicus Productions’ forthcoming anthology In the Grip of Terror (2025), paying homage to Britain’s classic horror roots. Her work has been featured in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, Fangoria, and more.
Connect with Megan:
In the Grip of Terror, is available to pre-order on Backerkit.
Support the Kickstarter for Mr Whispers.
Patreon: British Horror Studio Patreon
Instagram: @megantremethick
About Sarah Dowd:
I’m Sarah Dowd – writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd – here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.
For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.
As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.
Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, from Drag Race to prefab tiny houses, with voices from musicians to mischief-makers.
Follow @HistoryFFS – because we’re all making history, one ridiculous, wonderful moment at a time.
Connect with Sarah:
Website:www.historyffs.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/
Patreon: HistoryFFS
YouTube: @HistoryFFSPod
Instagram: @historyFFSPod
TikTok: @historyffspod
Produced by: winteraudio.co.uk
Transylvania is out; the cul-de-sac is in. For this episode of History for F***’s Sake, I sat down with actress and modern scream queen Megan Tremethick to unpick what happens when vampires move from gothic castles to ordinary British/US neighborhoods—and why we just can’t look away.
Horror’s Real Roots: Trauma, Change & Community
It starts with Amicus Productions, the unsung British horror studio whose bloody portmanteaus in the 60s and 70s exported repression, terror, and the dark side of small-town life to the big screen. As Megan recounts, her love for horror began with a Tom Baker Amicus classic, igniting a lifelong fascination with stories that blend the everyday with the uncanny.
We explore how post-war Britain and America rattled by nuclear threats, social upheaval, and the slow decline of old orders used horror films to process their fears. Megan shares how acting, like loving horror, is a way to confront anxiety head-on and expresses the joy of connecting with heritage through creativity, even (especially!) when it’s scary.
Why Vampires Still Bite
Vampires, Megan explains, never really die, they just change costumes. From Hammer and Amicus sex-infused gothics, to King’s small-town monsters, these creatures embody the “other,” seduction, the fear of outsiders, and the allure of immortality. We trace what makes them timeless, why they empower even as they terrify, and how each era crafts its own brand of bloody seduction.
King, Community & Fear of the Familiar
Diving into Salem’s Lot, we explore Stephen King’s genius for making the monstrous deeply personal using suburbia, history, and community secrets to conjure real dread. “The scariest things aren’t always monsters, the scariest things are ourselves,” Megan says, revealing why horror endures as the genre that tells humanity’s hardest truths.
What We’re Making: Resurrecting Amicus for Today
Megan pulls back the curtain on Amicus’s resurrection, sharing how the new films pay homage to classic chills while making horror history accessible and just as eerie for new generations.
Why We Need Scary Stories
Whether it’s anxious kids finding courage or grown-ups processing the bloody chaos of history, horror is “about facing your fears and creating catharsis out of them.” We end on folklore, future projects, and why the best horror makes the ordinary feel uncanny.
Craving a fright that’s deliciously historical? Listen to the full episode [Link] for inside stories, Halloween recommendations, and horror wisdom from a true scream queen.