The Drive-In Will Never Die

The end of a horror era is upon us. Recently, it was announced that The Last Drive-In has come to an end after eight seasons on Shudder. For a lot of people, that's just the cancellation of a television show. For me, it feels like the end of something much bigger.

Joe Bob Briggs has been a presence in my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my brothers and I watched Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater and later MonsterVision. I was already a night owl back then, the kind of kid who stayed up far too late watching horror movies and reading comic books under the covers. Joe Bob became part of that ritual. While everyone else was asleep, I was watching him introduce monster movies, slashers, and exploitation flicks with the kind of enthusiasm that made you feel like you were part of a secret club.

When I heard that Joe Bob was returning with The Last Drive-In, I was beyond excited. It felt like a big piece of my childhood was coming back. And it wasn't just Joe Bob that had me stoked. Darcy the Mail Girl (Diana Prince) brought her own deep knowledge of horror. She also built an online community that grew into the Mutant Fam, turning a late-night broadcast into a place where the rest of us weird-movie lovers could find each other. Since Shudder picked up the show, I haven't missed a single episode or special. Not one. For every Christmas Special, I donate at the highest tier, both to help out Joe Bob and Darcy's chosen causes and to get the sweet, sweet merch that comes with each tier. The show wasn't just entertainment to me. It was a phenomenon that had given me years of enjoyment, inspiration, and a sense of belonging.

What always made Joe Bob special was never just the movie commentary. There are plenty of people who can tell you what year a film came out or who directed it. Joe Bob could do that too, but he brought something else to the table. He celebrated the things other people mocked. He treated low-budget horror movies, drive-in schlock, exploitation films, and forgotten cult classics with the same respect that others reserved for Oscar winners. For many of us genre fiction fans, that was a big deal. For genre fiction creators, it was an even bigger deal.

If you've spent any time writing genre fiction, you've probably encountered people who look down on it. Some readers, critics, and academics seem to believe that stories have value only if they're serious, literary, and respectable. Joe Bob never bought into that. He loved stories that worked. He loved movies that entertained people. He understood that a film could be rough around the edges and still connect with an audience. That attitude helped me tremendously as a writer. It reminded me that you don't need gatekeepers' permission to create something meaningful. You just need to keep creating.

This brings me to one of my favorite Joe Bob moments, which occurred a few years back when he gave what has become known as his "Keep Rolling" speech. It was directed toward aspiring filmmakers, but the message applies to almost any creative endeavor. The idea was simple: stop waiting for permission, stop waiting for perfect circumstances, stop waiting for someone else to validate your work. Just keep rolling. And he wasn't just saying it. Joe Bob lives it. More on that later.

For me, that speech arrived at exactly the right time. Like many writers, I've battled imposter syndrome. I've wondered whether I was good enough, whether anyone cared, and whether I should be spending my time doing something more practical. Joe Bob's message cut through all of that and made me realize a few important truths: The only way to become a writer is to write. The only way to make stories is to make stories. The only way to build an entertainment career is to keep rolling.

Here's another time Joe Bob's influence showed up in my writing life. When I won Voices Magazine's fiction contest, I had to attend an event and accept the award in person. Anyone who knows me knows I struggle with social anxiety. Standing in front of a room full of people is not my natural habitat. So I did what any rational horror fan would do. I summoned my inner Joe Bob Briggs. I even dressed like him. Western shirt. Bolo tie. The whole deal. Part of me hoped I could borrow a little of his confidence. If I looked like Joe Bob, maybe I could channel some of that easygoing charisma he has whenever he's talking about movies. I don't know if it worked, but I survived the event.

The good news is that this isn't really goodbye. According to recent announcements, Joe Bob and Darcy the Mail Girl are already developing a new, unnamed show, along with a horror production company that will begin releasing projects in the near future. If there's one thing Joe Bob's career has taught us, it's that he always finds a way to come back. He practices what he preaches and keeps rolling.

The drive-in may have closed its gates for now, but the show isn't over. Not really. Because, as any Joe Bob Briggs fan (especially members of the Mutant Fam) knows, the drive-in will never die! As for me, I'll be there on day one for whatever comes next. Because Joe Bob Briggs didn't just teach me about horror movies; he taught me that it's okay to love weird things, that genre stories deserve respect, and, most importantly, that you just have to keep rolling.

And now, to cap off this appreciation post, I’d like you all to join me in reciting the Drive-In Oath:

“We are drive-in mutants. We are not like other people. We are sick. We are disgusting. We believe in blood, in breasts, and in beasts. If life had a vomit meter, we’d be off the scale. As long as one drive-in remains on the planet earth, we will party like jungle animals. We will boogie till we puke. The drive-in will never die. Amen.”

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