J.R. disappoints Derek with his recommendation of After Midnight (2019), an offbeat monster movie / romance that charmed J.R. but left bitter ole Derek's cold heart unmoved. Grab your Peanut Butter & Jelly wine and prepare to miss your $4.99.
Episode 186 - I Think You'll Like 2: Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
Soon after 9/11, one Hollywood film was brave enough to feature three Arabic leads, the first studio film to ever do so. Critics couldn't stand the film, searching for a pretext like "seizure-inducing" to hate on it. That trailblazing film was Thir13en Ghosts. Finally, join us as we cover this momentous film.
Episode 185 - I Think You'll Like 1: The Dirties (2013)
J.R. recommends to Derek "The Dirties," the 2013 found footage film about a potentially brewing school shooting. For supposedly budding psychopaths, the two leads Matt Johnson and Owen Williams seem pretty awesome to hang out with. Come join us, it's time to get dirty!
Episode 184 - Horror Documentary 3: Cropsey (2009)
The duo discuss Cropsey, the 2009 documentary ostensibly about the "Cropsey" urban legend about a murderer who targets campers, but is actually about a child abductor who is (maybe?) the inspiration for the Cropsey legend. A bait and switch to lure you in. You know who else makes use of those? Child abductors. COINCIDENCE OR DOES IT ALL TIE TOGETHER, MAAAAAN!
Episode 183 - Horror Documentary 2: Haxan (1922)
The duo discuss Haxan, the 1922 Scandinavian silent-film quasi-documentary based on the Malleus Maleficarum that probably inspired the best imagery in your favorite metal videos.
Episode 182 - Horror Documentary 1: The Nightmare (2015)
The duo discuss The Nightmare (2015), a documentary about sleep paralysis. Or, well, eight weird peoples' weird impressions of sleep paralysis, and then their impression of some other stuff because it's hard to make a 90 minute feature about 8 people babblin'.
Episode 181 - Stories We Admire 6: Spurs and Stores
Concluding the stories we admire, we select some lesser-known stories about misfit societies. Derek goes with "Spurs," the basis for the infamous 1932 film Freaks, whereas J.R. goes with "Evening Primrose," the tale of a poet who finds others had the same idea to retire from life in the bowels of a department store.
Episode 180 - Stories We Admire 5: Shifts and Shrouds
Stephen King and Clive Barker, have you heard of them? The duo go mainstream in discussing some of their EC style formative influences. We pick two pulpy, lurid short stories of misbegotten monsters and ghastly revenge that affected us as young lads before our hearts hardened into the wretchedness you know and love (or tolerate on a weekly basis).
Episode 179 - Stories We Admire 4: Windows and Wires
J.R. and Derek return to selecting a story that they admire and discuss it in depth. Derek selects Bob Leman’s “Window,” where government scientists open a window to a pastoral landscape where all is not as it seems, and J.R. selects H.F. Arnold’s “The Night Wire,” about a lovely town named Xebico. Tune in for some stories by authors as prolific as they are well known, which is not at all!
Episode 178 - Horror Roundup, July 2020
If you're still not ready to head back out into the opening world, he duo cover a whole range of material for your home enjoyment: The Transfiguration, Edge of Sanity, The Clovehitch Killer, The Hat Man, Girl on the Third Floor, The Lodge, Come to Daddy, Blood Machines, Us, Watchers, Watchers 2, Watchers 3, Streets of Red, Maneater, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Episode 177 - LoveCRAFtian or LovePASStian 3: Phase IV (1974)
Wrapping up our discussion of potentially Lovecraftian films, the duo discusses Phase IV (1974), the sole directorial effort of legendary graphic designer Saul Bass and the first movie that pops up when you Google "ants take over world movie."
Episode 176 - LoveCRAFtian or LovePASStian 2: X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (1963)
In this series on the questionably Lovecraftian, we discuss The Man With the X-Ray Eyes (1963), about a scientist obsessed with discovering new vistas of hidden knowledge. Also, the eldritch horror of a bullish Don Rickles.
Episode 175 - LoveCRAFtian or LovePASStian 1: Banshee Chapter (2013)
In this series on the questionably Lovecraftian, we discuss Banshee Chapter, the 2013 independent horror found footage(ish?) blend of 'From Beyond,' high strange conspiracy theory fiction, and Joe Rogan-esque DMT obsessions.
Episode 174 - Fruiting Bodies and Other Fungi, Part 3
Calling all Lum-Chums! Join us on our last episode on Brian Lumley's story collection "Fruiting Bodies," featuring pit-yakkers, curiously thin people, obvious vampires, and a horrifying mollusk-off.
Episode 173 - Fruiting Bodies and Other Fungi, Part 2
The duo cover part 2 of Brian Lumley's collection "Fruiting Bodies." Join us for the fear of heights and an "inflamed idiot’s deadly stick," Lovecraftian spider gods, and fun with parallel dimensions.
Episode 172 - Fruiting Bodies and Other Fungi, Part 1
The duo cover the first three stories in Brian Lumley's 1996 career retrospective "Fruiting Bodies and Other Fungi." We get Haitian fungus voodoo, insanely dedicated artistes, and a man who just feels too darn much. Join us, we're fun guys!
Episode 171 - Horror Roundup, April 2020
Still trapped inside, still rounding up another bunch of things for your listening enjoyment. This episode; Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made, Daniel Isn’t Real, Howl, DOOM Eternal, Satanic Panic, The Nightshifter, The Hunt, The Wailing, The Invisible Man, and Cabal. Leave your cabin fever at the door and visit with our dulcet tones!
Episode 170 - Apocalypse Month 3: Threads (1984)
The duo cover the British nuclear apocalypse docudrama "Threads" from 1984, streaming now on Shudder, to help put our current pandemic into perspective. Think less ‘no toilet paper’, and more ‘eating a plastic bag of rats’. Sounds like a dream come true…
Episode 169 - Apocalypse Month 2: The Last Man on Earth (1964)
Like the event itself, apocalypse month continues with the 1964 Richard Matheson “I Am Legend” adaptation “The Last Man on Earth”. Mopey old Vincent Price uninspiring wanders a city lazily killing vampires, but don’t let Charlton “Omega Man” Heston’s jealous opinion of the film turn you off from the best adaptation of the novel yet. Let’s just say it was good neither had been made before him and VP worked together on The Ten Commandments...
Episode 168 - Apocalypse Month 1: The Birds (1952)
In kicking off apocalypse month, the duo discuss Daphne Du Maurier's strangely underappreciated 1952 short story "The Birds." The short story, unburdened by the silly love story and subplots of the Northern California-based 1963 Hitchcock adaptation, is more naturalistic, direct, ominous, pessimistic and, in our opinion, far superior.