Welcome to a podcast powered by curiosity, caffeine, and the occasional existential crisis. Most episodes are interviews with interesting people who teach me something new—sometimes surprising, sometimes profound, always human. Other times, it’s just me, thinking out loud about whatever’s been rattling around in my brain lately. It’s part conversation, part observation, and part “how did we end up here?” If you like honest chats, unexpected turns, and the feeling of learning something without realizing it, you’re in the right place. No niche—just stories, thoughts, and wondering out loud.
Today on Because I'm John Sellmeyer, I discuss the supernatural horror movie Hokum, starring Adam Scott. As I prepare to fly to Europe to wrap up some of my own manuscript revisions, this film's terrifying take on a writer's retreat abroad hit a little too close to home.
In this episode, we break down how Hokum masterfully shifts from a slow-burn mystery into a claustrophobic, mind-bending nightmare. We explore the brilliant use of jump scares that actually advance the plot, the bizarre inclusion of eerie conquistador literature, and why Adam Scott shines as horror novelist Om Bauman. I also outline my personal survival strategy for being trapped in a haunted hotel room, which strictly involves brute force and smashing through drywall, while airing a few minor grievances about the film's dark lighting and ambiguous ending.
If you enjoy bleak literature and things lurking beneath the surface, check out my self-published eco-thriller The Maw Beneath the Mane by JRJ Sellmeyer, available right now on Audible, Kindle, and Barnes & Noble.
Keywords: Hokum movie review, Adam Scott horror, Om Bauman, supernatural thriller, claustrophobic horror, Because I am John Sellmeyer podcast, JRJ Sellmeyer author, indie horror films.
8 Oct 2026
Harbinger (2026) Review
Welcome back to Because I'm John Sellmeyer. This week, we are ripping into the 2026 British horror film Harbinger. The premise sounds like campy gold: a notorious serial killer transfers his soul into a vintage arcade fortune-telling machine just before his death to terrorize his widow and a reality TV ghost-hunting crew. Unfortunately, the execution completely loses its grip on reality.
In this episode, we cover:
The Orlando Incident: My horrifying and deeply embarrassing encounter with a quarter-operated inmate at Old Town.
Rule-Breaking Ghosts: Why Harbinger fails at basic supernatural world-building, featuring villain powers that change from scene to scene.
Bizarre Script Contradictions: Characters getting thrown out of permanently locked, bulletproof windows, and a brief, completely absurd intimate moment that defies explanation.
A Mismatched Cast: A lead actress fighting for her life to carry the emotional weight of the film, surrounded by a distracting ensemble that feels pulled from an off-brand sketch comedy show.
Spoiler Warning: I ruin the entire movie for you.
If you want an actual page-turner where the supernatural rules make sense, check out my eco-thriller, The Maw Beneath The Mane by J.R.J. Sellmeyer. It is available right now on Kindle, Audible, and Barnes & Noble. Keep your quarters in your pocket, and thank you for listening!
7 Oct 2026
Widow's Bay Season 1
Today on Because I'm John Sellmeyer, we are packing our bags and hopping the ferry to Widow's Bay. I am joined by my wife Alondra to review the brilliant new Apple TV+ horror comedy created by Katie Dippold and directed by Hiro Murai. The series follows Mayor Tom Loftus, played by Matthew Rhys, as a skeptical widower trying to boost tourism on an isolated New England island while completely ignoring its deeply cursed history. We discuss the show's perfect balance of absurd workplace comedy and genuine scares, breaking down our favorite creepy moments involving terrifying basement crawl spaces, stalker sea witches, and literal bloodthirsty mist. We also debate how long it would take us to realize we were trapped in a horror movie at the Breakwater Inn and hand out our final ratings.
If you need a break from island curses and want to dive into some eco-horror instead, you can grab my book The Maw Beneath The Mane, available now on Kindle, Audible, and Barnes & Noble online.
Keywords: Widow's Bay, Apple TV Plus review, horror comedy series, Matthew Rhys, Katie Dippold, Hiro Murai, Halloween TV shows, spooky season, television review, The Maw Beneath The Mane.
Shout out to my sister-in-law Tiff for the rec!
Who has been a guest on Because I'm John Sellmeyer
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Joey
Demontae
Life and Pints with CoCo
Reese
Garrett
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
46
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 63 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
81
Social presence
0
YouTube
63
Engagement
51
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