Get Premium Access
Info

Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Discussion about Horror Movies New and Retro on Decades of Horror / 1980's / 1970's / The Classic Era / Horror News Radio
RSS Feed iOS App Premium Podcasts
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2013
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2012
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May


2011
November
October
September


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Premium Episodes
Now displaying: August, 2018
Aug 30, 2018

"That's what's wrong with the present day horror films. There's no realism. Not like the old ones, the great ones. Frankenstein. Phantom of the Opera. Dracula - the one with Bela Lugosi of course, not this new fellow."  Could the speaker be referring to Christopher Lee, one of the stars of this episode’s topic? Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they investigate the case of The House That Dripped Blood. Their first question? Where’s all the blood!

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 80 – The House That Dripped Blood (1971)

The House That Dripped Blood is the fourth Amicus Productions horror anthology your Grue Crew has covered on Decades of Horror 1970s. Directed by Peter Duffell and adapted by the legendary Robert Bloch from four of his stories, the four segments are tied together by a police detective investigating a disappearance from a peculiar house with a series of occupants who have all experienced decidedly sinister fates. The stories include “Method for Murder” - a writer’s thuggish, literary creation seems to have come to life; “Waxworks” - a forlorn man sees his lost love in a wax museum; “Sweets to the Sweet” - a stern father doesn’t want his daughter reading the wrong books or playing with dolls; and “The Cloak” - an over-the-hill actor in horror films purchases a cloak that unbeknownst to him, has mysterious powers.

The film’s all-star cast includes fan favorites Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee. Additional standout performances in The House That Dripped Blood are given by Jon Pertwee, Denholm Elliott, Tom Adams, Joanna Dunham, Joss Ackland, the enigmatic Geoffrey Bayldon, Nyree Dawn Porter, and Chloe Franks.

The 70s Grue Crew is not bothered by the lack of blood (not a single drop, mind you) in The House That Dripped Blood. Bill goes on at length on how much he thinks of Ingrid Pitt, ,,, and he likes her performance in the film as well. Or maybe it is Chad who says that. Come to think of it, they are all a bit infatuated with Ms. Pitt. They all also remarked as to how disturbing Chloe Franks is as Christopher Lee’s innocent-looking daughter with the devilish smile. Jeff brings up Bloch’s tendency to build stories around ironic twists or jokes and how that tendency is in evidence in the segments of this film. Chad expresses his love for anthology films, and almost in unison, they all marvel at Geoffrey Bayldon’s quirky portrayal and just as quirky makeup as the proprietor of the shop in which the cloak is purchased. Rest assured that your Gure-Crew think The House That Dripped Blood is well worth a repeated watch and that they will definitely be covering more anthology films in the future.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans:  leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.

Aug 27, 2018

The trailer for the SUSPIRIA remake is here. Does it change our minds about the film? SLICE is a rollicking horror romp, check out the trailer. Christopher is all about the MAN OF MEDAN choose your adventure horror game, find out why. And, Dave, Christopher, Vanessa, and Doc review the Puppet Master reboot, PUPPET MASTER THE LITTLEST REICH. Then, the Grue-Crew follow that up with another puppet monstrosity, THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS. Join Dave Dreher, Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Vanessa Thompson as we discuss Horror News of the Week and review the latest horror offerings.

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you! Reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com. Also, please like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio
Episode 286 – Puppet Master The Littlest Reich - The Happytime Murders
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: Puppet Master The Littlest Reich

Recently divorced and reeling, Edgar returns to his childhood home to regroup his life. When Edgar finds a nefarious looking puppet in his deceased brother's room, he decides to sell the doll for some quick cash. Girl-next-door Ashley and comic book pal Markowitz join Edgar for a doomed road trip to an auction at a convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that's motivated by an evil as old as time.

Director: Sonny Laguna, Tommy Wiklund
Writer: S. Craig Zahler
Cast: Thomas Lennon, Michael Paré, Charlyne Yi

SUPPORT HNR:

Joseph C just became a patron! Thank you!
THIS MONTH ON PATREON
http://horrornewsradio.com/patreon
HNR T-SHIRTS
http://horrornewsradio.com/tees

WORTH WATCHING: The Happytime Murders

A murder mystery set in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, but puppets are viewed as second-class citizens. When the puppet cast of an '80s children's TV show begins to get murdered one by one, a former cop, who has since become a private eye, takes on the case.

Director: Brian Henson
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph

FEEDBACK: feedback@horrornewsradio.com

EXIT

Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
Next Week on HNR: BLOOD FEST

Aug 25, 2018

J.J. Abrams and HULU join forces to build upon the themes and characters created by Stephen King in the 10 episode TV series CASTLE ROCK. For this episode of HNR, the Grue-Crew take a look at the second two hours of the show, "Harvest" and "Filter," continuing "an epic saga of darkness and light" in the small town of Castle Rock, Maine. Join Dave Dreher, Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Vanessa Thompson as we discuss the next episodes of HULU'S CASTLE ROCK created by Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason.

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you! Reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com. Also, please like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio
Episode 284 – Castle Rock S01E05 and S01E06
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

 

HARVEST

A stranger comes to town; Castle Rock honors Sheriff Pangborn.

FILTER

Henry's son visits from Boston; a funeral stirs up unsettling memories.

CAST

  • André Holland as Henry Matthews Deaver
  • Melanie Lynskey as Molly Strand
  • Bill Skarsgård as "The Kid"
  • Jane Levy as Jackie Torrance
  • Sissy Spacek as Ruth Deaver
  • Scott Glenn as Alan Pangborn
  • Noel Fisher as Dennis Zalewski
  • Ann Cusack as Warden T. Porter
  • Chris Coy as Boyd
  • Terry O'Quinn as Dale Lacy
  • Frances Conroy as Martha Lacy.
  • Josh Cooke as Reeves
  • Charlie Tahan as Dean Merrill
  • Adam Rothenberg as Reverend Matthew Deaver
  • Chosen Jacobs as Wendell Deaver
  • Allison Tolman as Molly Strand's sister
Aug 23, 2018

“Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.” Of course, that poem is in reference to the Universal Classic Monster film, The Wolf Man! Join Chad Hunt, Whitney Collazo, and Jeff Mohr, along with guest host Jacob Allen, as they take a midnight stroll with Larry Talbot through the fog-shrouded woods on a moonlit night. Be sure to bring your walking cane, the one with the silver wolf’s head! You will most certainly need it.

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 39 – The Wolf Man (1941)

This episode’s Grue Crew loves The Wolf Man so much, they recorded this podcast twice! Whether beset by electromagic gremlins or cursed directly from film by Maleva, the first recording didn’t take, so they all went back for seconds. And you thought they’d been goofing off.

The Wolf Man might embody Universal’s most original monster. Based on an original screenplay by Curt Siodmak and directed by George Waggner, the film started much of the werewolf mythology still used in film today. The solid cast, sporting seven Oscar nominations among them, is led by Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot, and includes Claude Rains as his father, Evelyn Ankers as the female lead Gwen, Ralph Bellamy as Colonel Montford, Patric Knowles as Gwen’s boyfriend, Warren William as Dr. Boyd, and Fay Helm as Gwen’s friend. To top it off, the cast is blessed with Maria Ouspenskaya as Maleva and the inimitable Bela Lugosi as her son, Bela. The supernatural elements of the story or rendered entirely believable by the work of Jack Pierce, makeup artist extraordinaire.

Your Grue Crew marvels at the many facets through which Larry Talbot’s affliction can be viewed. Siodmak was surely thinking of the persecution he fled in Nazi Germany, but the story can be seen as a metaphor for a multitude of other conflicts common to most individuals’ lives, thereby explaining the film’s resonance with so many viewers.

Whitney proudly admits to being inspired by Jack Pierce’s makeup art. Claude Rains is only 17 years older than Lon Chaney Jr., who plays his son, and Jeff wonders how old Daddy Talbot must have been when his oldest son was born. Jacob is awed by the direction and organization it must have taken to complete the film in a short amount of time especially while working around the lengthy makeup process. When it comes to The Wolf Man, Chad is all about the mythic stature of Maria Ouspenskaya. As you may have guessed, their recommendation, assuming you’ve already seen this film, is see it again and again! Now!

We plan to release a new episode every other week. On the next episode in our very flexible schedule, we‘ll be covering Mario Bava’s Black Sunday (1960).

Please let us know what you think of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era! We want to hear from you! After all, without you, we’re just four nutjobs talking about the films we love. Send us an email or leave us a message, a review, or a comment at GruesomeMagazine.com, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcast, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.

To each of you from each of us, “Thank you for listening!

Aug 21, 2018

"Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It's fun to be a vampire." The tag-line for The Lost Boys (1987) captures the "Peter Pan" spirit of this classic Eighties vampire tale, romanticizing the creatures in an approachable and thrilling young adult spin without sacrificing the horror and the thrills. No sparkles here, folks! Josh Schafer joins Doc Rotten and Christopher G. Moore to revisit the film that solidified Joel Schumacher as a directing talent...well, at least until bat-nipples did him in.

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 137 – The Lost Boys (1987)

Released in 1987, The Lost Boys introduced horror fans to a variety of iconic horror flash and style rarely matched in this day-and-age. This is the first film to provide fans with the "Two-Coreys" teaming Corey Haim and Corey Feldman together - even though Feldman has Jamison Newlander and Frog Brothers wingman. Keifer Sutherland makes a striking impression as David, the blonde leader of the gothic punk vampires and Jason Patric (son of Exorcist star Jason Miller) emo-acts his way into every young girl's heart. And, above all, we have shirtless, oiled Timmy Cappello belting out "I Still Beleive" - what else do you need.

Christopher G. Moore, Doc Rotten, and guest-host Josh Schafer from Lunchmeat VHS gather to take a look at The Lost Boys perhaps one of the best and most influential vampire movies of the Eighties. The Grue-Crew debate the merit of director Joel Schumacher and whether Grampa was a werewolf in an alternate "Mandela Effect" universe. It's all about the style, the clothes, the stars, and the songs; The Lost Boys holds up well after 30+ years and the Grue-Crew reflect on it all. "One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach; all the damn vampires."

A mother and her two sons move to a small coast town in California. The town is plagued by bikers and some mysterious deaths. The younger boy makes friends with two other boys who claim to be vampire hunters while the older boy is drawn into the gang of bikers by a beautiful girl. The older boy starts sleeping days and staying out all night while the younger boy starts getting into trouble because of his friends' obsession.

Contact Us

We want to hear from you – the coolest, most gruesome fans:  leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at christopher@gruesomemagazine.com or dave@gruesomemagazine.com or docrotten@gruesomemagazine.com.

Special thanks to Neon Devils for their awesome song Bone Chillin!

Episode

Predator

 

Aug 19, 2018

Bruce Campbell returns as Ash for an upcoming EVIL DEAD game. THE NUN gets pulled from youtube. CASTLE ROCK gets renewed for a second season. And, Christopher, Vanessa, and Doc review the YA gothic horror entry DOWN A DARK HALL. Join Dave Dreher, Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Vanessa Thompson as we discuss Horror News of the Week and review the latest horror offerings.

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you! Reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com. Also, please like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio
Episode 285 – Down a Dark Hall
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • SHUDDER 30 DAY FREE TRIAL: Use Promo Code GRUESOME
  • HORRORHOUND WEEKEND: August 24 - 26, 2018
  • DRAGONCON: August 30 - September 3, 2018
  • WREAK HAVOC HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: September 21 - 22, 2018 - Greensboro NC
  • CINEMA WASTELAND: October 5 - 7, 2018
  • SPLATTERFLIX FILM SERIES: October 12 - 14, 2018
  • CASTLE ROCK Recap and Review Coming on HNR

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: Down A Dark Hall

Kit Gordy, a new student at the exclusive Blackwood Boarding School, confronts the institution's supernatural occurrences and dark powers of its headmistress.

Director: Rodrigo Cortés
Cast: AnnaSophia Robb, Uma Thurman, Isabelle Fuhrman

FEEDBACK: feedback@horrornewsradio.com

EXIT
Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
Next Week on HNR: Puppet Master The Littlest Reich

 

Aug 18, 2018

While The Meg gobbled up an ocean of horror related theatrical news this past week, SLENDER MAN was also released to theaters. With little fanfare and not much positive hype, the film manages to land at number 4 with an $11M haul. The regular Grue-Crew wisely choose not to partake in this particular cinematic disaster. However, guest hosts Joey Fittos and Chad Lab join Doc Rotten to gleefully tear the film apart...while managing to find a...few...things to spotlight. Join us for a special review-only episode about SLENDER MAN.

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you! Reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com. Also, please like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio
Episode 283 – Slender Man
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • SHUDDER 30 DAY FREE TRIAL: Use Promo Code GRUESOME
  • HORRORHOUND WEEKEND: August 24 - 26, 2018
  • DRAGONCON: August 30 - September 3, 2018
  • WREAK HAVOC HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: September 21 - 22, 2018 - Greensboro NC
  • CINEMA WASTELAND: October 5 - 7, 2018
  • SPLATTERFLIX FILM SERIES: October 12 - 14, 2018
  • CASTLE ROCK Recap and Review Coming on HNR

FEATURE TOPIC: SLENDER MAN

  • director: Sylvain White
  • script: David Birke (based on a character by Victor Surge)
  • cast:  Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Jaz Sinclair, Annalise Basso, and Javier Botet

 

Aug 15, 2018

"Well, I can't stand a thing about you, and that includes your hair!" How would you feel if your cousin came to stay and took over everything you own, including your family? Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Jeff Mohr, Bill Mulligan, and Chad Hunt - as they take a short staycation with just such a family during Wes Craven’s Summer of Fear!

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 79 – Summer of Fear (1978)

This subject of this episode is the result of the podcast’s latest Patreon poll and as such, has been foisted on, … er, rather, carefully selected for the Grue Crew by the loyal listeners of Decades of Horror 1970s. Adapted from the novel Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan, a renowned writer of young-adult novels, the film was originally released as a TV-movie under the title Stranger in our House. Directed by horror icon Wes Craven, Summer of Fear is his first direct-to-television effort and premiered over a year after The Hills Have Eyes (1977). Summer of Fear tells the story of a family whose fairy tale existence is shattered when a cousin/niece comes to live with them after her parents are killed in an automobile accident. However, there is one big problem. Their guest is a witch, not a relative, and she is after everything they own.

The key figure in the story is the witch, as played by Lee Purcell, but the film’s starpower comes from Linda Blair as the family’s daughter. Her parents are played by Carol Lawrence and Jeremy Slate with Jeff East as her brother. Rounding out the cast in supporting roles are Macdonald Carey as an occult expert and early-career Fran Drescher as the daughter’s friend.

Amazingly, none of the Grue Crew had seen this film prior to preparing for the podcast. Neither Wes Craven nor Linda Blair nor even Fran Drescher had garnered their interest. Bill couldn’t  figure out why the witch couldn’t be seen in photographs, wondering when that became part of the witch canon. Jeff recalls Jeremy Slate from his earlier days in biker movies and westerns and gets a kick out of his portrayal as the bewitched father. Doc likes the film the most and enjoys seeing that much of Linda Blair, but, oh, the hair! Chad was not impressed with the witch’s here-again-gone-again Southern accent but still thought she was the most interesting character i the film. The Grue Crew universally agreed even though Summer of Fear is one of Craven’s lesser works, it’s worth a watch viewed as a picture on the world of the cast and crew at that point in their careers.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans:  leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.

Aug 15, 2018

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost tease us with Slaughterhouse Rulez. American Horror Story: Apocalypse continues to ramp up its cast. Universal Halloween Horror Nights add Poltergeist to its mazes. And, Christopher, Vanessa, and Doc discuss the giant shark summer schlockfest The Meg. Join Dave Dreher, Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Vanessa Thompson as we discuss Horror News of the Week and review the latest horror offerings.

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you! Reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com. Also, please like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio
Episode 282 – The Meg
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • SHUDDER 30 DAY FREE TRIAL: Use Promo Code GRUESOME
  • SCARES THAT CARES WEEKEND: August 3 - 5, 2018
  • FLASHBACK WEEKEND: August 3 - 5, 2018
  • HORRORHOUND WEEKEND: August 24 - 26, 2018
  • DRAGONCON: August 30 - September 3, 2018
  • WREAK HAVOC HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: September 21 - 22, 2018 - Greensboro NC
  • CINEMA WASTELAND: October 5 - 7, 2018
  • SPLATTERFLIX FILM SERIES: October 12 - 14, 2018
  • CASTLE ROCK Recap and Review Coming on HNR

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: THE MEG

After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.

Director: Jon Turteltaub
Cast: Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson

SUPPORT HNR:

SPECIAL EVENT: SCARES THAT CARE WEEKEND

Doc Rotten, Vanessa Thompson, and Christopher G. Moore discuss their adventures at the Scares That Care Weekend just last week.

FEEDBACK: feedback@horrornewsradio.com

EXIT

  • Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
  • Next Week on HNR: Slender Man

 

Aug 12, 2018

J.J. Abrams and HULU join forces to build upon the themes and characters created by Stephen King in the 10 episode TV series CASTLE ROCK. For this episode of HNR, the Grue-Crew take a look at the second two hours of the show, "Local Color" and "The Box," continuing "an epic saga of darkness and light" in the small town of Castle Rock, Maine. Join Dave Dreher, Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Vanessa Thompson as we discuss the next episodes of HULU'S CASTLE ROCK created by Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason.

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you! Reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com. Also, please like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio
Episode 278 – Castle Rock S01E03 and S01E04
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

 

LOCAL COLOR

The past catches up with Molly Strand.

THE BOX

Henry prepares for his day in court; a coffin arrives in Castle Rock.

CAST

  • André Holland as Henry Matthews Deaver
  • Melanie Lynskey as Molly Strand
  • Bill Skarsgård as "The Kid"
  • Jane Levy as Jackie Torrance
  • Sissy Spacek as Ruth Deaver
  • Scott Glenn as Alan Pangborn
  • Noel Fisher as Dennis Zalewski
  • Ann Cusack as Warden T. Porter
  • Chris Coy as Boyd
  • Terry O'Quinn as Dale Lacy
  • Frances Conroy as Martha Lacy.
  • Josh Cooke as Reeves
  • Charlie Tahan as Dean Merrill
  • Adam Rothenberg as Reverend Matthew Deaver
  • Chosen Jacobs as Wendell Deaver
  • Allison Tolman as Molly Strand's sister
Aug 10, 2018

Doctor Sleep casts its Wendy Torrence and Dick Holloran. Did Venom finally get a trailer to get excited about? Arrow and Kino Lorbor release some killer Blu-rays including Schlock, City of the Living Dead, and Trilogy of Terror. And, Christopher, Vanessa, and Doc discuss the William Friedkin directed documentary The Devil and Father Amorth. Join Dave Dreher, Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Vanessa Thompson as we discuss Horror News of the Week and review the latest horror offerings.

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you! Reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com. Also, please like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio
Episode 281 – The Devil and Father Amorth
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • SHUDDER 30 DAY FREE TRIAL: Use Promo Code GRUESOME
  • SCARES THAT CARES WEEKEND: August 3 - 5, 2018
  • FLASHBACK WEEKEND: August 3 - 5, 2018
  • HORRORHOUND WEEKEND: August 24 - 26, 2018
  • DRAGONCON: August 30 - September 3, 2018
  • WREAK HAVOC HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: September 21 - 22, 2018 - Greensboro NC
  • CINEMA WASTELAND: October 5 - 7, 2018
  • SPLATTERFLIX FILM SERIES: October 12 - 14, 2018
  • CASTLE ROCK Recap and Review Coming on HNR

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: DEVIL AND FATHER AMORTH

Father Gabriele Amorth performs his ninth exorcism on an Italian woman.
Director: William Friedkin

SUPPORT HNR:

FEEDBACK: feedback@horrornewsradio.com

EXIT

  • Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
  • Next Week on HNR: The Meg and details from Scares that Care and Flashback Weekend
Aug 1, 2018

"Diabolical! Fiendish! Savage... You may not walk away from this one!" The Grue Crew are on a giallo kick, and as everyone knows, there’s always room for giallo. (Groan …) Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, and Chad Hunt, along with guest host Chad Lab - as they count the baker’s dozen of kills delivered in Mario Bava’s A Bay of Blood.

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 78 – A Bay of Blood (1971)

Like a lot of foreign films released in the U.S., A Bay of Blood had a bit of an identity problem as it experienced several re-titles. Originally known as Reazione a catena, among its many other titles are Twitch of the Death Nerve, Carnage, Blood Bath, and even The Last House on the Left, Part II.

Mario Bava serves as director, co-writer, and cinematographer in this giallo gem. An heiress is murdered at the outset and from then on, it is no holds barred as the rest of family schemes, maneuvers, and murders while trying to secure the family inheritance for themselves. You might need a scorecard to track who is being killed, how they are killed, and who the killers are. Yes, there are killers, as in plural. The first and second murders quickly reveal A Bay of Blood as not your ordinary run of the mill slasher flick.

Speaking of slasher flicks, Doc identifies several very familiar looking kills and the influence A Bay of Blood must have surely had on Friday the 13th (1980), and hence, other 1980s slasher fare. Bill reveals, not that it was a big secret, that Bava is his favorite director and notes the appearance of Nicoletta Elmi for the second episode in a row following her role in Deep Red (1975). Most of the film’s characters have little to like, creating a bit of a hurdle for Chad Lab, but as the innovative kills mount, he quickly gets over it and comes to love the film. Chad Hunt helps the rest of the Grue Crew keep the characters straight and recounts his repeated cries of, “What? … What?! ... What?!!” as the killings unfolded. With so many murders from which to choose - hanging, spear, octopus, billhook, etc. - the Grue Crew can’t resist picking each of their favorite kills

Of course, this episode’s Grue Crew gives a unanimous recommendation to this classic giallo film. If you haven’t seen A Bay of Blood, it is guaranteed you will not guess who commits the final murders.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans:  leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.

1