Barbara Crampton, who played Meg Halsey in Re-Animator, gets a Re-Animartini in Ted Raimi’s haunted parlor for an episode celebrating the film’s 40th anniversary. Beside them is co-host Mortimer Dustworth, a reanimated head in a jar voiced by The Last Podcast on the Left’s Ed Larson. Mortimer and Raimi have a love-hate relationship.
The drink in her November 6 episode of Your Dearest, Darkest Friend with Ted Raimi is a green melon martini made with house-made kiwi citrus syrup and Macabre Spirits Ghostface Vodka. That adds another horror connection: Macabre Spirits was co-founded by Scream’s Matthew Lillard.
Crampton’s appearance is the show’s second episode and includes stories about making Re-Animator. The film opened October 18, 1985, and Crampton spent 2025 celebrating its 40th anniversary with screenings, Q&As with Jeffrey Combs and convention appearances.
The podcast collaboration extends through the puppet cast, voiced by Larson, Henry Zebrowski, Marcus Parks and collaborator Holden McNeely. McNeely’s also a lead writer, while Matt Cunningham of Groovy Monsters creates and puppeteers the creatures. A decaying stuffed rat is among the show’s recurring inhabitants.
Ted is Sam Raimi’s brother and played possessed Henrietta in Evil Dead II. He brought Henrietta back in Ash vs Evil Dead, where he also played Chet Kaminski. His other horror credits include Darkman and Candyman.
Producer Charlie Queen credits Raimi with the show’s concept, blending horror, comedy and guest conversations in a gothic haunted manor setting filmed in Chicago. Raimi makes themed cocktails and mocktails throughout the unscripted series, which has 6 half-hour episodes ordered. It premiered October 30, 2026, on Screambox, with new episodes arriving on Fridays.
The early lineup also pairs Joe Swanberg with a “Necroni” in episode 1 and Charlie Benante of Anthrax and Pantera with a “Chemical Warfare” tiki drink in episode 3.
