I’m haven’t always been a big horror fan – jump scares and gore and the general lack of hope are just not for me. But Hello from the Hallowoods is about as far from any of that as a story can be while still having vampires and werewolves and undead.
It’s also a fascinating blend of very different genres. Imagine all the set dressing of horror, the epic scope and worldbuilding of the most sprawling fantasy, the futuristic techno-dystopia of science fiction, and the tender intimacy of slice-of-life romance.
The story begins at the end. Or rather, a little over 20 years after the end. Before global warming could end things in a more traditional way, the last surviving masterwork of a dead cosmic being was unearthed from the melting ice and corrupted the world. Some people turned into literal monsters, some decided to slumber in the depths of the northern lakes until the end of the world, and some retreated into the dreaming boxes of the Botulus Corporation.
But with society done with… life continues. Hello From the Hallowoods follows the people and the people-adjacent just trying to live their lives in the post-apocalyptic world that remains. Sure the evil megacorporation might try to squeeze them for every last drop of profit despite the end of the world, and the cruel Church of the Hallowed Name might try to sacrifice them in the name of their dark god, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still find joy and cherish each other.
The entire story is narrated by the cosmic lord of dreams, Nikignik. It was his lover who died and left a twisted artifact buried in Earth’s ice, and he just wants to stick around to see how it plays out. He broadcasts the stories of the main characters to dreamers throughout the cosmos so everyone can follow along with him and see the beauty of this world’s final moments. Unfortunately, his broadcasts keep being interrupted by the dream propaganda of the Botulus Corporation as they try to influence people in their dreams to join their dreaming boxes.
The snark as Nikignik and Bot Co clash with each other is beautiful. Admittedly it starts a little forced and their conflict feels repetitive in the first few episodes, but it reaches levels of pettiness that I can only aspire to.
I will always be a fan of stories that revolve around finding joy in life regardless of how shitty things might be in the world. The queer found family built in this podcast is so damn heartwarming. There’s a trans ghost in love with a non-binary Frankenstein-esque monster, a gender-fluid weather witch just looking to find somewhere to belong, a devil reluctantly finding family with a werewolf and a mecha-skeleton… and so much more.
Honestly, look at the above art from Hello-Archivist’s Tumblr and tell me this isn’t the most wholesome “horror” you’ve ever seen.
If listening to stories of outcasts find family and fight against the evils of capitalism and organized religion sounds appealing to you, give Hello from the Hallowoods a listen. The sheer range of the voice acting, the extensive representation of so many genders/sexualities, and the fascinating worldbuilding all hooked me early and kept surprising me in all the best ways.
For podcast fans, this felt like the ideal combination of The Bright Sessions with The Magnus Archives. Horror-as-comfort is not a genre I knew existed-or ever could exist-but I will keep coming back for more until no more Hallowoods episodes are posted.
Hello From The Hallowoods is a free “horror” audio drama by William A. Wellman. This audio drama is available through iTunes or wherever you find podcasts. Check out its website for more information or listen to the trailer right now:
