Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

Korean Pop Culture & the Facade of Fame

CW: This episode contains discussions of suicide and SA.
Imagine being eleven years old and told that you have what it takes to be a star. All you have to do to achieve this success is drop out of school, move out of your parents' house, go on a strict diet, train until you pass out, learn multiple languages, maybe get plastic surgery, possibly bleach your skin, never say the wrong thing, and be, well, "perfect." Oh, and you have to do this for at least 10, 13, maybe 19 years before finding out if you'll even make it as a performer.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: samhsa.gov
South Korea Suicide Helpline: lifeline.or.kr
 
Episode Sources:
“South Korea may look perfect, but behind the facade lies a devastating suicide crisis” by Raphael Rashid, The Guardian, Apr 29, 2023
“Death of ‘Parasite’ star puts spotlight on pressures facing South Korean celebrities” by Tara Subramaniam and Yoonjung Seo, CNN, Dec 29, 2023
“‘Like a giant Squid Game’: soul searching in South Korea after latest celebrity suicide” by Raphael Rashid and Justin McCurry, The Guardian, Feb 21, 2025
“BTS, Blackpink, Squid Game, kimchi … what’s the secret of South Korea’s world-conquering culture?” by Justin McCurry, The Guardian, Mar 6, 2024
“Cancel Culture, Pressure And An Ideal Image: What's Driving South Korean Celebrities To Suicide” by Hardika Gupta, NDTV, Feb 17, 2025
"Kim Sae-Ron Death: Actress's Last Instagram Post Was A Tribute To ASTRO Member Moonbin” NDTV, Feb 17, 2025
“A K-Pop Star’s Lonely Downward Spiral” by Motoko Rich and John Yoon, The New York Times, Mar 1, 2024
“I have reported on 30 Korean celebrity suicides. The blame game never changes” by Kim Dae-O, The Guardian, Jan 3, 2020
“The dark side of South Korean pop music” by Lucy Williamson, BBC News, June 15, 2011
“The Contracts Behind K-Pop” by Mariana Seagram, Woroni, Sep 19, 2017
“PROBLEMS WITH K-POP: RULES, SLAVES CONTRACTS, CYBERBULLYING AND LITTLE FOOD AND MONEY”
“Wheesung, a South Korean R&B Singer, Is Found Dead at 43” by Jin Yu Young, The New York Times, Mar 14, 2025
“Wheesung, South Korean Star Who Helped Bring R&B to K-Pop, Dead at 43” by Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, Mar 11, 2025
“New K-pop audition show under fire for allegedly exploiting minors” by Pyo Kyung-min, The Korea Times, Mar 19, 2025
“Most popular YouTube videos based on total global views as of February 2025” by Laura Ceci,  Statista, Feb 17, 2025
“Western Expansion of K-Pop: Origins and Present Day” Republic Network, Jul 3, 2024
“K-everything: the rise and rise of Korean culture” by Tim Adams, The Guardian, Sep 4, 2022
“Koreans give up their gold to help their country” BBC News, Jan 14, 1998
“The Capitalist Control of K-pop: The Idol as a Product” by Claudia Valge & Maari Hinsberg, Oct 2, 2019
“SM, YG, JYP busted for unfair contracts” by Park Jae-hyuk, The Korea Times, Mar 8, 2017
“MBN reconsiders airing of 'UNDER15' amid child sexualization controversy” The Korea Times, Mar 23, 2025
 
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Deadly Deception: The Crimes of Neville Heath

We're diving into the twisted tale of Neville Heath—a killer who inspired Hitchcock's unfinished film "Kaleidoscope." With a history of fraud, false identities, and a penchant for deception, Heath’s charm masked a sadistic nature that led to the brutal murders of Margery Gardner, a bohemian artist and film extra, and Doreen Marshall, a young woman seeking rest at the seaside. We’ll explore his calculated manipulation and the shocking trial that captivated post-war Britain.
 
Episode Sources:
“Neville Heath - a dangerous man for a woman to have known” from History by the Yard
“A very suave psycho killer: A new book examines what turned charming war hero into a savage murderer” by Annabel Venning for MailOnline, Published March 20, 2013, updated March 21, 2013, The Daily Mail
“Margery Gardner: The actress and the psychopath” by murdermap, March 10, 2021, Murdermap
“Margery Aimee Brownell Garnder” from Find A Grave
“Neville Heath - The Golden Haried Killer” from April 29, 2020, The Ministry of History
“Handsome Brute: The True Story of a Ladykiller” by Sean O’Connor, Copyright © 2013 by Sean O’Connor, First Published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2013. Accessed on Google Books on February 22, 2025
“Why Hitchcock’s Kaleidoscope was too shocking to be made” by Nicolas Barber, June 21, 2018, BBC
“Shadow of a Doubt (1943)” on IMDb
“The Wrens: Women Join the Navy” from the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
 
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Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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MoviePass: The $9.95 Dream That Became a Hollywood Scam

In this episode we dive into the rise, fall and shocking fraud behind MoviePass—the too-good-to-be-true subscription service that promised unlimited movies for just $9.95 a month. From its explosive growth to deceptive business tactics, investor scams and a jaw-dropping federal indictment, we unravel how greed and lies brought down a Hollywood dream. Plus, we explore its unexpected comeback—can MoviePass really rise from the ashes?
 
Episode Sources:
“MoviePass Ending Its Run, 2 Years After Millions Signed Up” by Julie Creswell, Published September 13, 2019, Updated June 8, 2021, The New York Times
“MoviePass Deceived Users So They’d Use It Less, F.T.C. Says” by Daniel Victor, June 8, 2021, The New York Times
“The Maddening MoviePass Scandal You Didn’t Know About” by Julie Miller, June 3, 2024, Vanity Fair
“Chairman and CEO of MoviePass’ Parent Company Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud Scheme and Conspiracy” from the U.S. Department of Justice, Updated February 6, 2025, Press Release Number: 25-23
“MoviePass Confirms Data Breach That May Have Exposed Credit Card Numbers” by Abid Rahman, August 22, 20219, The Hollywood Reporter
“MoviePass reportedly changed passwords to keep users from ordering tickets” by Abrar Al-heeti, August 9, 2019, CNET
“MoviePass was even shadier than we thought” by Alissa Wilkinson, June 9, 2021, VOX
“AMC Slams MoviePass, Threatening Legal Action” by Brent Lang, August 15, 2017, Variety
“MoviePass Launches ‘Peak Pricing’ Surcharge” by Dave McNary, July 5, 2018, Variety
“‘MoviePass, MovieCrash’: Founder Stacy Spikes on Mitch Lowe, Racial Bias and Where the Company Stands Today” by Katchy Stephan, May 29, 2024, Variety
“MoviePass co-founders speak their truth in HBO’s new documentary” by Laruen Forristal, May 29, 2024, TechCrunch
“How MoviePass Became Profitable” by Ben Sherry, February 13, 2024, Inc.
“Former CEOs of MoviePass and Parent Company Charged in Securities Fraud Scheme” from the U.S. Department of Justice, November 4, 2022, Updated February 6, 2025, Press Release Number: 22-1191
“MoviePass Is Relaunching in September After Failing in 2019” by Derrick Bryson Taylor, Published August 23, 2022, Updated August 29, 2022, The New York Times
“Former MoviePass Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud Over ‘Unlimited’ Plan” by Hank Sanders, January 7, 2025, The New York Times
“United States v. Theordore Farnsworth and J. Michell Lowe” from the U.S. Department of Justice Pending Criminal Division Cases, United States v. Theodore Farnsworth and J. Michell Lowe, Court Docket No.: 22-20521-CR
 
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Gary DeVore's Perplexing Final Act - Part 3

In this conclusion of our Gary DeVore three-parter we'll talk about what was found inside of Gary's truck after they pulled it out of the aqueduct, and why some people close to Gary don't agree with what law enforcement says happened the night he went missing.
 
Episode Sources:
“The Missing Scripts Of Gary DeVore: How A Podcast Helped Unearth Lost Work From Hollywood Screenwriter Who Disappeared” by Peter White, Deadline, Dec 13, 2023
“The Mystery of the Dead Hollywood Screenwriter Whose Hands Were Never Found” by Thomas Gane, Vice, May 5, 2016
“Autopsy Suggests Former Carp Screenwriter Was Murdered” Santa Barbara Independent, Aug 25, 2010
“Screenwriter mysteriously killed in 1997 after finishing script that revealed the ‘real reason’ for US invasion of Panama had been working for the CIA…and both his hands were missing” by Mia de Graaf, Daily Mail, Jan 17, 2015
“Mystery Surrounds Writer's Death” CBS News, Jul 9, 1998
“DeVore No Longer Suspects Sleuth” CBS News, Jul 14, 1998
FBI Records - Gary DeVore
“Witnessed: Fade to Black” Season 5
“The Bizarre Death – and Life – of Publicist/CIA Operative Michael Sands” by Frank Swertlow, The Wrap, Apr 13, 2012
“CIA’s Hollywood Liaison May Be Behind Disappearance of Hollywood Screenwriter Who Knew Too Much” by Mel Elorche, CovertAction Magazine, Oct 10, 2023
“You’ll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again” by Julia Phillips
“The Little Producer that Couldn’t” by Mark Frankel, Spy Magazine, Aug 1989
“Elite Attend Maria Cole DeVore Reception at Her $300,000 Home” JET Magazine, Nov 6, 1969
“Babylon Confidential” by Claudia Christian
“Maria Cole to Wed White TV Writer-Producer” JET Magazine, July 17, 1969
Gary Devore, Petitioner-appellant, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service, Respondent-appellee, 963 F.2d 280 (9th Cir. 1992)
“PRODUCTION CHIEF BUYS--AND SELLS—SCRIPTS” by David T. Friendly, Los Angeles Times, July 17, 1986
"Habitats/Echoes of Nat (King) Cole; A Berkshire Estate With a Special Beat” by Tracie Rozhon, The New York Times, July 24, 1994
“The Elegant and Busy World of Maria Cole” by Charles L. Sanders, Ebony Magazine, October 1981
“Maria Cole, Nat Cole’s Widow, Weds TV Producer” JET Magazine, Oct 30, 1969
“An offer they couldn't refuse” by Matthew Alford and Robbie Graham, The Guardian, Nov 13, 2008
“'The Writer With No Hands’ - An Interview With Matthew Alford” Standing Stone’s Blog, Oct 10, 2014
“Fatigue Cited in Screenwriter’s Fatal Crash” by Scott Glover, LA Times, Oct 10, 1998
“The CIA In Hollywood: How the Agency Shapes Film and Television” by Tricia Jenkins
“Did the CIA Kill A Hollywood Writer? | The Writer With No Hands (Crime Documentary) | Real Stories”
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Gary DeVore's Perplexing Final Act - Part 2

We're back with Part 2 of trying to figure what the hell happened to Gary DeVore. In this episode we'll retrace his final days before he went missing - who he talked with, what his demeanor was and how law enforcement handled the investigation (spoiler: not well).
 
Episode Sources:
“The Missing Scripts Of Gary DeVore: How A Podcast Helped Unearth Lost Work From Hollywood Screenwriter Who Disappeared” by Peter White, Deadline, Dec 13, 2023
“The Mystery of the Dead Hollywood Screenwriter Whose Hands Were Never Found” by Thomas Gane, Vice, May 5, 2016
“Autopsy Suggests Former Carp Screenwriter Was Murdered” Santa Barbara Independent, Aug 25, 2010
“Screenwriter mysteriously killed in 1997 after finishing script that revealed the ‘real reason’ for US invasion of Panama had been working for the CIA…and both his hands were missing” by Mia de Graaf, Daily Mail, Jan 17, 2015
“Mystery Surrounds Writer's Death” CBS News, Jul 9, 1998
“DeVore No Longer Suspects Sleuth” CBS News, Jul 14, 1998
FBI Records - Gary DeVore
“Witnessed: Fade to Black” Season 5
“The Bizarre Death – and Life – of Publicist/CIA Operative Michael Sands” by Frank Swertlow, The Wrap, Apr 13, 2012
“CIA’s Hollywood Liaison May Be Behind Disappearance of Hollywood Screenwriter Who Knew Too Much” by Mel Elorche, CovertAction Magazine, Oct 10, 2023
“You’ll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again” by Julia Phillips
“The Little Producer that Couldn’t” by Mark Frankel, Spy Magazine, Aug 1989
“Elite Attend Maria Cole DeVore Reception at Her $300,000 Home” JET Magazine, Nov 6, 1969
“Babylon Confidential” by Claudia Christian
“Maria Cole to Wed White TV Writer-Producer” JET Magazine, July 17, 1969
Gary Devore, Petitioner-appellant, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service, Respondent-appellee, 963 F.2d 280 (9th Cir. 1992)
“PRODUCTION CHIEF BUYS--AND SELLS—SCRIPTS” by David T. Friendly, Los Angeles Times, July 17, 1986
"Habitats/Echoes of Nat (King) Cole; A Berkshire Estate With a Special Beat” by Tracie Rozhon, The New York Times, July 24, 1994
“The Elegant and Busy World of Maria Cole” by Charles L. Sanders, Ebony Magazine, October 1981
“Maria Cole, Nat Cole’s Widow, Weds TV Producer” JET Magazine, Oct 30, 1969
“An offer they couldn't refuse” by Matthew Alford and Robbie Graham, The Guardian, Nov 13, 2008
“'The Writer With No Hands’ - An Interview With Matthew Alford” Standing Stone’s Blog, Oct 10, 2014
“Fatigue Cited in Screenwriter’s Fatal Crash” by Scott Glover, LA Times, Oct 10, 1998
“The CIA In Hollywood: How the Agency Shapes Film and Television” by Tricia Jenkins
“Did the CIA Kill A Hollywood Writer? | The Writer With No Hands (Crime Documentary) | Real Stories”
Join our Patreon!
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Creeptastic theme music by:
Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast
 
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Gary DeVore's Perplexing Final Act - Part 1

*Before we get to the episode, BIG news! We're nominated for an Ambie award for Best Indie Podcast Hosts! We're so excited!!*
Okay, now down to business.
Gary DeVore was many things: screenwriter...ladies' man...missing...
Born and raised in LA with a career in the entertainment industry, Gary had plenty of Hollywood friends he could count on. What he probably didn't count on was that those same friends would one day turn into a search party to find him.
 
Episode Sources:
“The Missing Scripts Of Gary DeVore: How A Podcast Helped Unearth Lost Work From Hollywood Screenwriter Who Disappeared” by Peter White, Deadline, Dec 13, 2023
“The Mystery of the Dead Hollywood Screenwriter Whose Hands Were Never Found” by Thomas Gane, Vice, May 5, 2016
“Autopsy Suggests Former Carp Screenwriter Was Murdered” Santa Barbara Independent, Aug 25, 2010
“Screenwriter mysteriously killed in 1997 after finishing script that revealed the ‘real reason’ for US invasion of Panama had been working for the CIA…and both his hands were missing” by Mia de Graaf, Daily Mail, Jan 17, 2015
“Mystery Surrounds Writer's Death” CBS News, Jul 9, 1998
“DeVore No Longer Suspects Sleuth” CBS News, Jul 14, 1998
FBI Records - Gary DeVore
“Witnessed: Fade to Black” Season 5
“The Bizarre Death – and Life – of Publicist/CIA Operative Michael Sands” by Frank Swertlow, The Wrap, Apr 13, 2012
“CIA’s Hollywood Liaison May Be Behind Disappearance of Hollywood Screenwriter Who Knew Too Much” by Mel Elorche, CovertAction Magazine, Oct 10, 2023
“You’ll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again” by Julia Phillips
“The Little Producer that Couldn’t” by Mark Frankel, Spy Magazine, Aug 1989
“Elite Attend Maria Cole DeVore Reception at Her $300,000 Home” JET Magazine, Nov 6, 1969
“Babylon Confidential” by Claudia Christian
“Maria Cole to Wed White TV Writer-Producer” JET Magazine, July 17, 1969
Gary Devore, Petitioner-appellant, v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service, Respondent-appellee, 963 F.2d 280 (9th Cir. 1992)
“PRODUCTION CHIEF BUYS--AND SELLS—SCRIPTS” by David T. Friendly, Los Angeles Times, July 17, 1986
"Habitats/Echoes of Nat (King) Cole; A Berkshire Estate With a Special Beat” by Tracie Rozhon, The New York Times, July 24, 1994
“The Elegant and Busy World of Maria Cole” by Charles L. Sanders, Ebony Magazine, October 1981
“Maria Cole, Nat Cole’s Widow, Weds TV Producer” JET Magazine, Oct 30, 1969
“An offer they couldn't refuse” by Matthew Alford and Robbie Graham, The Guardian, Nov 13, 2008
“'The Writer With No Hands’ - An Interview With Matthew Alford” Standing Stone’s Blog, Oct 10, 2014
“Fatigue Cited in Screenwriter’s Fatal Crash” by Scott Glover, LA Times, Oct 10, 1998
“The CIA In Hollywood: How the Agency Shapes Film and Television” by Tricia Jenkins
“Did the CIA Kill A Hollywood Writer? | The Writer With No Hands (Crime Documentary) | Real Stories”
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RERUN: The Tragic Deaths of Christy Giles & Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola

**As we mentioned last week we are rerunning this episode from 2022. If you missed our Case Update from Wednesday, one of the men involved - David Pearce - has been found guilty of murder.
 
Christy Lee Giles and her friend Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola were two amazing twenty-somethings that had everything going for them. Christy, a successful model, loved animals, soccer and her husband, Jan. Marcela was a talented architect and designer who had just moved from Mexico to Los Angeles after accepting a new job. She was really close with her family and shared Christy's love of animals. The two women had their whole lives ahead of them...until during a girls' night out they unfortunately encountered three shit stains by the names of David Pearce, Brandt Osborn and Michael Ansbach. This one is a rough one, Misfits.
 
Episode Sources:
People.com
Deadline.com
The U.S. Sun
Los Angeles Times
The Wrap
New York Post
 
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CASE UPDATE: The Tragic Deaths of Christy Giles & Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola

Hey Misfits, the verdict came in yesterday on the case of David Pearce, the man accused of first degree murder in the deaths of Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola. We discuss the case, new information that came out during the trial and where things stand at this point regarding his co-defendant Brandt Osborn.
 
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