'The Testaments' and 'Backrooms' Explore Different Kinds of Horrors

On the third episode of It Was A Book First, the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss "The Testaments," Hulu’s series adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Created by Bruce Miller as a continuation of his “Handmaid’s Tale” series adaptation, “The Testaments” stars Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday as teenagers coming of age in the dystopian society Gilead.

Before talking about the show, Sophie and Rudi have an extended chat (01:10) on A24’s Gen Z horror hit “Backrooms,” which is based on director and YouTuber Kane Parsons’ series of the same name, which is based on Internet creepypasta, which is based on an image of an abandoned office space.

Then they break down the first season of “The Testaments” (18:25) in a spoiler-filled chat that explores what the show chooses to omit from the book and invent for the show, why leaning into “Bridgerton”-esque courting rituals doesn’t fit the source material, and how Infiniti and Halliday’s performances get stronger as the season goes on.

Finally, Sophie makes her choice (50:23) for which she liked better: reading "The Testaments" or watching the series.

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Hosts and Producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg

Music by Cliff Blum and John Connelly; mix and production by Kevin Pons

Logo by Trisha Louise Prieto

Website by Kevin Pfab