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Now displaying: 2018
Dec 30, 2018

“I expected to be frightened on my wedding night, but nothing like this!” With a quote like that, you might be expecting a body-horror film. Come to think of it, with retractable needles in fingers and eyeballs on hands, you might be right. Join this episode’s Grue Crew - Joseph Perry, Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr - as they sing a chorus of “Old Man Larkin had a Phone” and laugh until the cows come home in Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 48 – Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)

Directed by B-movie legend Edward Cahn and written by Al Martin and Robert J. Gurney Jr., Invasion of the Saucer Men is all about some Brussels sprout-headed aliens with eyeballs in their hands and hypodermic needles filled with 100%-pure alcohol, which extend from and retract into their fingers. The Saucer Men use their finger needles to inebriate a couple young hoodlums and Farmer Larkin’s bull, Walt. They also manage to kill Joe-the-alcoholic by increasing his already high blood-alcohol-content to a lethal level. Between these injection events, there's a lot of driving back and forth by young “hoodlums” while encountering Farmer Larkin (Raymond Hatton) repeatedly uttering “consarn,” a pair of small-minded opportunists (Frank Gorshin and Lyn Osborn), an amazing collection of incompetent military and law enforcement personnel, and an assortment of clueless, adult townspeople. There's even a couple (Gloria Castillo and Steven Terrell) whose plan is to elope amidst all this chaos. Now that’s what you call fun!

Invasion of the Saucer Men is as much a comedy as it is science fiction/horror and the Grue Crew had a lot of fun with it. Though the laughs are plentiful, they all agree there are some genuine scenes of horror. Whitney gets a kick out of Farmer Larkin’s dialect and wonders about the construction of Paul Blaisdell’s alien design, all the while cringing at Walt-the-bull’s injection event. Chad loved the creature design and has his own theory of why the Saucer Men landed. A lifelong fear of disembodied hands was the film’s gift to Joseph, but he’s glad the alien hand had an eyeball so it could see where it was going. Jeff takes a short jaunt into Raymond Hatton's filmography and thinks he might have figured out the significance of the title of the short story that served as the screenplay source material.

If you want a fun time combined with a few icky parts and innovative creature design, the Grue Crew recommends Invasion of the Saucer Men. It’s a hoot!

The Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule will be another Edward Cahn extravaganza, Invisible Invaders (1959)!

Please let us know what you think of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era! After all, without you, we’re just a bunch of nincompoops talking about the films we love. Send us an email at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com, leave a review on iTunes, or comment at either GruesomeMagazine.com or the Gruesome Magazine Horror News Radio Facebook group.

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

Dec 29, 2018

It's that time of year again where the Grue-Crew take a look back at the Year in Review. For the segment this week, we take a look at the TOP 5 HORROR TV SHOWS OF 2018. The Grue-Crew also review AQUAMAN (2018) from director James Wan. While it may be a superhero film, you can count on James Wan to include a creepy, scary scene as Arthur and Mera face The Trench. Join Dave Dreher, Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Vanessa Thompson and special guest-host Jeff Mohr 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 304 - Aquaman (2018)
The Top 5 Horror TV Shows of 2018
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HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: Aquaman

Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world.

Director: James Wan

Cast: Jason Mamoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison

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YEAR IN REVIEW: The Top 5 Horror TV Shows of 2018

  • The Haunting of Hill House
  • Ash vs Evil Dead Season 3
  • Castlevania Season 2
  • The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
  • The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell

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Next Week on HNR: The Year In Review - The Best Horror Films of 2018

 

Dec 24, 2018

"But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, 'Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.'" a demented Santa Claus merrily cheers as he drives his sleigh covered van into the X-Mas night sky for the forgotten Yuletide classic, CHRISTMAS EVIL. Christopher G. Moore is joined by co-host, Doc Rotten, and special guest-host, Chad Lab, to discuss a holiday horror film that tackles the slaughtering Santa less like a slasher and more like a tragic character study. I guess it's coal for everyone!

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 143 – Christmas Evil (1980)

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than to consume the season psychotic slasher film of festive fear and crimson cheer. What's surprising is how Christmas Evil treats its lead villain, Brandon Maggart as Harry, a demented, blood-thirsty Santa. The film examines the motivation behind Harry's fall into uncontrollable and deadly fantasy with purpose and care, wrapping his demise in a bow of horror and spurts of splatter.

Perhaps the best way to enjoy Christmas Evil is to consider the film as being told by Harry, who is an unreliable narrator. How else to explain some of the bizarre experiences in the film, including but not limited to a mob of torch-wielding villagers and a skyward flight toward the Christmas sky. Christopher, Doc, and Chad take a long look at a forgotten and often overlooked entry into X-Mas horror films.

A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning Santa Claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a Yuletide killing spree.

Dec 22, 2018

It's that time of year again where the Grue-Crew takes a look back at the horror films from the past twelve months. And for the Year in Review segment this week, we take a look at the WORST HORROR FILMS OF 2018. The Grue-Crew also review YOU MIGHT BE THE KILLER (2018) from director Brett Simmons who takes a meta-fueled look at the slasher subgenre with a heavy injection of humor and gore. 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 303 - You Might Be The Killer (2018)
The Worst Horror Films of 2018
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HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: You Might Be The Killer

A camp counselor suffering from blackouts finds himself surrounded by murder victims. He turns to his horror movie enthusiast friend for advice, and to contend with the idea he may be the killer.

Director: Brett Simmons

Cast: Fran Krans, Alyson Hannigan, Brittany S. Hall

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YEAR IN REVIEW: The Worst Horror Films of 2018

Christopher G. Moore

  • Slice
  • Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich
  • Unsane
  • The Devil and Father Amorth
  • Hellraiser: Judgement
  • Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
  • Unfriended: Dark Web
  • Pacific Rim: Uprising
  • The Nun
  • Hellfest

Doc Rotten

  • Slice
  • Hell's Kitty
  • Bad Apples
  • The Open House
  • Curse of the Witch's Doll
  • Truth or Dare
  • Christmas Presence
  • Slender Man
  • The Possession of Hannah Grace
  • Winchester

Vanessa Thompson

  • Hell's Kitty
  • Day of the Dead: Bloodline
  • The Face of Evil
  • The Dead House
  • Bonehilll Road
  • The Toy Box
  • 7 Witches
  • Ouija Seance
  • Jurassic Dead
  • Herschel Gordon Lewis's Bloodmania

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EXIT

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Next Week on HNR: Aquaman

Dec 20, 2018

"This is the story behind the most incredible series of murders to ever occur in the city of Seattle, Washington. You never read about them in your local newspapers or heard about them on your local radio or television station. Why? Because the facts were watered down, torn apart, and reassembled… in a word, falsified." Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - while they once again hangout with Carl Kolchak, this time in Seattle, as he solves the case of The Night Strangler (1973).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 87 – The Night Strangler (1973)

After the success of The Night Stalker in 1972, Dan Curtis gathered the gang back together and the result was The Night Strangler. The gang, of course, included Richard Matheson to write the screenplay, and Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland to reprise their roles as Carl Kolchak and Tony Vincenzo. This time, producer Curtis would also direct and Bob Cobert would again provide the music. In his second appearance, Kolchak is after a killer that inhabits the Seattle Underground. His investigation discovers that six women have been murdered every 21 years since 1868, and guess what? Nobody believes Kolchak.

The crew of The Night Strangler is rounded out by seasoned veterans: cinematographer Robert B. Hauser and editor Folmar Blangsted. Curtis then gathered up some of the best character actors in the business to support McGavin and Oakland, including Jo Ann Pflug, Scott Brady, Wally Cox, Margaret Hamilton, John Carradine, Al Lewis, and last, but not least, Richard Anderson.

The Grue Crew loves The Night Strangler, almost without exception. Bill is not quite as enthusiastic as the rest but proclaims, “There is no bad Kolchak. There’s only great Kolchak and good Kolchak.” He also points out that Mathison’s script included one of the earliest depictions of a lesbian relationship on network TV, presenting Virginia Peters and Nina Wayne as husband and wife in a fairly matter-of-fact, sympathetic way. Chad once again voices his love, love, love for all things Kolchak with particular emphasis on the extra dose of humor in this outing. Doc is the Johnny-come-lately of the group as this was his first viewing of The Night Strangler, but that didn’t diminish his love for the film. In his view, this is when the relationship between Kolchak and Vincenzo depicted in the TV-series begins to take shape. Jeff also loves The Night Strangler despite its flaws, and provides a sampling of some of the extras included on the new Kino Lorber Blu-ray and pronounces it well worth the purchase price. As for as Richard Anderson? Long live Oscar Goldman!

If it’s been a bit since you’ve seen The Night Strangler, give yourself a treat. McGavin’s and Oakland’s energetic performances are a joy to watch and the constant stream of legendary supporting actors are the frosting on this Kolchak cake. 

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.

Dec 15, 2018

It's crazy trailer week with the second trailer for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS impressing with its stunning visuals and Kaiju aplenty. The rumored James Gunn produced horror film lands with a title and a kick-ass trailer - check out BRIGHTBURN. Another hot film gets a teaser and a title with AVENGERS: END GAME. the end is near. The Grue-Crew review LEPRECHAUN RETURNS (2018) from director Steven Kostanski; who would have thought that the response to a Leprechaun sequel would garner such a positive response - list to find out. 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 302 - Leprechaun Returns (2018)
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HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: Leprechaun Returns

The Leprechaun returns once again when a group of girls unwillingly awaken him when they tear down a cabin so that they can build a new sorority house.

Director: Steven Kostanski (The Void)

Cast:

Taylor Spreitler…Lila
Pepi Sonuga…Katie
Sai Bennett…Rose
Linden Porco…The Leprechaun
Mark Holton…Ozzie

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Next Week on HNR: You Might Be the Killer

Dec 13, 2018

“You can take all the baths you want. I’m not one to make a fuss about a thing like that.” Sounds like a great landlady, right? Join this episode’s Grue Crew - Joseph Perry, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr - as they take as many baths as they want and go dancing at the Carnival of Souls (1962)! After all, who would make a fuss about that?

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 47 – Carnival of Souls (1962)

Sprouting from the imagination of director Herk Harvey and writer John Clifford, Carnival of Souls didn’t exactly take Hollywood by storm and, in fact, almost faded into oblivion. In the fifty-plus years since its original release, however, the film has gone from hard-to-get mythical status to legitimate legend with a coveted Criterion Blu-ray edition. As their only fictional film, Carnival of Souls is quite a legacy for Harvey and Clifford, a pair of co-workers at Centron Corporation, the maker of industrial and educational films.

Carnival of Souls tells the tale of May Henry (Candace Hilligoss) who narrowly escapes death as the car in which she is a passenger crashes through bridge guardrails and plunges into the river. As Mary’s life moves forward after the accident, she encounters the landlady (Frances Feist) at her new apartment, her new neighbor (Sidney Berger), the minister (Art Ellison) at the church where she plays the organ, and a doctor (Stan Levitt) who notices Candace is acting strangely. Throughout these encounters, Candace is haunted by the recurring vision of a ghoulish man (Herk Harvey). What does the ghoul want and who is he? What’s wrong with Candace? How will this all end?

Joseph saw Carnival of Souls in a theater during its official re-release in 1989-1990 and dug the film’s dreamlike surrealism. Chad and Jeff saw the film much later and were not quite as impressed but agree that decades of viewing Twilight Zone-type fare may have jaded them. The winning interpretation of the story comes from Chad while Jeff seems more interested in Herk Harvey’s background. The Grue Crew is unanimous in calling Carnival of Souls a must see for all horror fans.

The Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule will be Invasion of the Saucer-Men (1957)! Whitney Collazo is on a film shoot and couldn’t be with us for this episode but she should be back for this one.

Please let us know what you think of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era! After all, without you, we’re just some whack-a-doodles talking about the films we love. Send us an email at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com, leave a review on iTunes, or comment at either GruesomeMagazine.com or the Gruesome Magazine Horror News Radio Facebook group.

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

Dec 12, 2018

"It's too bad we had to kill her. I really liked the outfit she had on." 80s scream queen Linnea Quigley as Spider delivers her lines in SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIMEBALL BOWL-O-RAMA as only she can - classic. This week brings a campy cult classic to the podcast from director David DeCoteau. Christopher G. Moore is joined by co-host, Doc Rotten, and special guest-host, Vanessa Thompson, to discuss the first film to pair up Linnea Quigley, Michelle Bauer, and Brinke Stevens. Suddenly, all was right in the horror world, but watch out for that Imp!

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 142 – Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988)

Christopher has been clamoring for this film to be included on the podcast since long before he joined the show. It's been mentioned in passing and has been included on Patreon polls again and again, but it never seems to quite land in the right spot at the right time. Well, that all changed when HNR co-host, podcasting rockstar, and international cosplay queen, Vanessa Thompson,  mentioned watching the film on the Joe Bob Briggs' Last Drive-In Special which played on Shudder. And...that's all it took. Finally, the Grue-crew tackle a schlocky genre film with one of the best titles ever to grace a VHS cover, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama. Hold on to your Imps.

This film feels very much like a "Charles Band" film, director David DeCoteau brings an innocent but dirty charm to the film with his direction, shot choices, and cast. Linnea Quigley, Michelle Bauer, and Brinke Stevens elevate the moniker of Scream Queen with their delightfully deadpan but incredibly humorous turns as Spider, Lisa, and Taffy. The Imp paves the way for future "Band" creations such as the Puppets in Puppet Master, Gingerdead Man, and other campy creatures. There are 80s cinematic classics that push the envelope, then there are films like Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama - and, sometimes, that's all you need. Enjoy!

As part of a sorority ritual, pledges and their male companions steal a trophy from a bowling alley; unbeknownst to them, it contains a devilish imp who makes their lives a living Hell.

Dec 7, 2018

Christopher returns from the Big Apple to discuss the 2018 New York City Horror Film Festival. The trailer for HAPPY DEATHDAY 2U (2019) and the director of the CANDYMAN (2020) remake top the Horror News of the Week. The Grue-Crew review THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE (2018) from director Diederik Van Rooijen, featuring Shay Mitchell as a cop-turned-morgue-assistant encountering the dead body of a once possessed Hannah Grace. 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 301 - The Possession of Hannah Grace (2018)
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FILM FESTIVAL REPORT: New York City Horror Film Festival

  • Christopher G. Moore shares his adventures in New York City attending the NYCHFF: a screening of his film GUT PUNCHED; meeting Mick Garris and Tony Todd; and much more.

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: The Possession of Hannah Grace

When a cop who is just out of rehab takes the graveyard shift in a city hospital morgue, she faces a series of bizarre, violent events caused by an evil entity in one of the corpses.

Director: Diederik Van Rooijen
Cast: Shay Mitchell, Grey Damon, Kirby Johnson

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Next Week on HNR (a toss-up, depending on which film the Grue-Crew gets to screen): Anna and the Apocalypse, Leprechaun Returns, or You Might Be the Killer

Dec 6, 2018

Who knew Dracula had a lake? Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they go for a swim in Lake of Dracula (1971) volume two in Toho’s legendary vampire trilogy.

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 86 – Lake of Dracula (1971)

At one time, because it was so hard to get, Toho’s Legacy of Dracula trilogy was thought of as a holy grail by fans of Toho and vampire movies. Through the wonders of the world in which we live, all three films are available via streaming sources and as Arrow Video Blu-rays, repackaged as The Bloodthirsty Trilogy: Vampire Doll (1970), Lake of Dracula (1971), and Evil of Dracula (1974).

Written by Ei Ogawa and Masaru Takesue, Lake of Dracula (the middle volume in the trilogy directed by Michio Yamamoto), tells the story of a Japanese descendant of Dracula in search of women to serve as his “brides.” Owing to the film’s title, it comes as no surprise that he hunts these women on the shores of a lake. The action soon moves to the vampire’s secluded home, a castle that looks curiously European, and an all-out battle ensues between one of the women’s boyfriends and Dracula’s descendant.

Of course, the Grue Crew was excited to see Lake of Dracula and, it should again be no surprise, Bill is the only one to have previously viewed Lake of Dracula. Even so, he was excited to see a visually improved version. Everyone thought the film looked very much like what you would expect a Japanese version of a Hammer Film to look like. Bill surfaced several logic flaws in the story and the lack-of-depth of the characters but loved the look of the film. The somewhat plodding and visually muted early portions of the film were a distraction to Doc and Chad. However, Doc thought the final fight sequence was one of the better vampire battles he’d seen, and Chad thought the vampire himself (Shin Kishida) was the best part of Lake of Dracula. Jeff probably liked the film the most but couldn’t argue against the existence of the plot flaws and the generally lackluster early portion of the film. His judgment was understandably clouded by his infatuation with the porcelain-faced vampire bride. The entire crew agrees, whatever you do, don’t miss the scene with the crescent wrench-wielding Kyûsaku (Kaku Takashina). It defies … logic? Or physics? Or surely, something?

Even though Lake of Dracula is not the best vampire movie you will ever see, it is definitely worth watching for the place it holds in horror history as Toho’s contribution to vampire film canon and its unique take on vampire lore.

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. 

Nov 30, 2018

For our 300th episode, we are honored to interview Robert Kurtzman, the legendary effects artist who also oversaw the effects for THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE. The Grue-Crew also review THE NIGHT EATS THE WORLD (2018) from director Dominique Rocher, due to a troll-worthy recommendation from the one-and-only Stephen King. 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 300 - The Night Eats the World
Interview Robert Kurtzman - The Haunting of Hill House
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, November 29 - Sunday, December 2, New  York, New York

INTERVIEW: Robert Kurtzman

The Grue-Crew discuss the effects that went into the phenomenal NETFLIX horror TV show, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE with the legendary effects artist Robert Kurtzman. He also shares some memories and behind-the-scenes secrets from his long list of effects credits, including Evil Dead 2, Intruder, Army of Darkness, From Dusk Till Dawn, and John Dies at the End.

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

  • R.I.P. Nicolas Roeg, director of Don't Look Now, The Witches, and more
  • Friday the 13th stars team up for the indie film - 13 FANBOY
  • We get our first solid look at David Harbour as HELLBOY
  • THE WALKING DEAD kills off another main character - amid controversy - and gets scary again.

FEATURE TOPIC: The Night Eats the World (La Nuit a dévoré le monde)

The morning after a party, a young man wakes up to find Paris invaded by zombies.

Director: Dominique Rocher
Cast: Anders Danielsen Lie, Golshifteh Farahani, Denis Lavant

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EXIT

Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
Next Week on HNR: The Possession of Hannah Grace

 

 

Nov 29, 2018

“... I leave before the dark. We live over in town, miles away. … We couldn't hear you. In the night. No one could. ... No one will come any nearer than that. In the night. In the dark.”  Okay, get the picture? Hill House is an inviting and comforting place to stay, right? In fact, you’ll feel so at home, you might never want to leave. Join this episode’s Grue Crew - Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr - as they brave a few nights in Hill House with The Haunting (1963)!

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 46 – The Haunting (1963)

Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson), a researcher in psychic phenomena, has gained permission to stay in Hill House, a 90-year-old mansion with an evil, deadly history. Markway invites six people with a variety of psychic abilities to accompany him as research assistants, but only two take the bait: Eleanor (Julie Harris), a woman with a history of poltergeist phenomena, and Theo (Claire Bloom), who has proven ESP abilities. Luke (Russ Tamblyn), a member of the owning family and a skeptic, comes along to keep an eye on his property. Mrs. Dudley (Rosalie Crutchley), one of the caretakers of Hill House, makes an appearance early on to ominously warn the researchers that after dark, they will be alone and no one will come to help them. Almost immediately, Hill House begins to exert its power over the interlopers. They only last three nights and not everyone survives The Haunting.

The film is brilliantly directed by Robert Wise, sandwiched between his Oscar-winning efforts on West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965). Wise, one of Val Lewton’s acolytes at RKO, exhibits mastery of Lewton’s preference for implicit, rather than explicit, danger in The Haunting. The screenplay by Nelson Gidding, adapted from Shirley Jackson’s novel, The Haunting of Hill House (1959), deftly establishes the four personalities of the research team members, their interpersonal relationships, and how Hill House interacts with and affects them. The acting, cinematography, and music fit the filmmakers’ vision perfectly, ramping up its nearly unbearable, sinister atmosphere.

Once again, the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew have a much greater appreciation for the film they discussed than they had going into this episode. Whitney loves the character of Eleanor and Julie Harris’ portrayal. She also likes the way the story walks a tightrope between the supernatural and insanity. On the other hand, Chad is all over the supernatural justification of events in The Haunting and loves the scenes with the inexplicable pounding on the Eleanor’s and Theo’s bedroom walls. Jeff was entranced with the optical distortions created by Wise’s intentional use of a not-ready-for-primetime lens and loved the introductory “history of Hill House” scenes. Of course, Chad managed to, yet again, find a Batman reference. Your Grue Crew highly recommends The Haunting (1963) as one of the top haunted house films in history, and especially now as a comparison to the recent Netflix series, The Haunting of Hill House.

The Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule will be Herk Harvey’s one-off classic, Carnival of Souls (1962).

Please let us know what you think of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era! 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, or the Gruesome Magazine Horror News Radio Facebook group.

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

Nov 24, 2018

New genre films are announced for Bad Robot and Blumhouse. Look for FOODIES and KNOB GOBLINS from co-host Christopher G. Moore on Hulu and Amazon Prime. And, it looks like they've made a crappy sequel to THE CAR (1977). The Grue-Crew review MAY THE DEVIL TAKE YOU (2018) from director Timo Tjahjanto, currently streaming on NETFLIX. 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 299 - May the Devil Take You (2018)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, November 29 - Sunday, December 2, New  York, New York

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: May the Devil Take You

When her estranged father falls into a mysterious coma, a young woman seeks answers at his old villa, where she and her stepsister uncover dark truths.

Director: Timo Tjahjanto
Cast: Chelsea Islan, Pevita Pearce, Ray Sahetapy

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Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
Next Week on HNR: The Night Eats the World (d. Dominique Rocher, La Nuit a Dévoré le Monde)

Nov 21, 2018

"Greetings to you, Earthlings. I am Princess Dragon Mom. I have taken over this planet. Now I own the Earth and you'll be my slaves for all eternity." Oh no! What will we ever do? Never fear fellow Earthlings! Infra-Man to the rescue! Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they try to describe the indescribable.  Of course, the topic for this episode is the Shaw Brothers 1975 classic, Infra-Man, the man beyond bionics!

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 85 – Infra-Man (1975)

What could be more fun than a band of ten-million-year-old mutant monsters and thirty henchmen bent on owning Earth and enslaving all Earthlings? What if their fearless leader’s curiously translated title is Princess Dragon Mom? And what if the Earthlings just happen to have, at the ready, a complete set of plans for a being to battle Princess Dragon Mom and her minions? A sort of Chinese Superman, if you will? With another curious translation - and there are plenty of them - this Chinese Superman, aka Zhong guo chao ren, became known in the U.S. as Infra-Man!

Under the category of more curious translations, in the original Chinese dub, the monsters of Infra-Man are named Demon Princess Elzebub, Witch Eye, Fire Dragon, Spider Monster, Plant Monster, Drill Arm, Long-Haired Monster, and Iron Armor Monsters.  However, they are renamed in the English dub as Princess Dragon Mom, She-Demon, Emperor of Doom, Giant Beetle Monster, Octopus Mutant, Driller Beast, Laser Horn Monster, and Iron Fist Robots.

Danny Lee plays Infra-Man and because this is the third of his films covered by the Grue Crew in 2018, Doc has proclaimed Lee their actor of the year. The Oily Maniac (1976) and The Mighty Peking Man (1977) are the other two of Lee’s Shaw Brothers releases they’ve covered. Chad saw this film at the time of its U.S. theatrical release. He loved it then and he loves, loves, loves it now! He also points out some pant-splitting moments in the film that Bill and Jeff missed; they’ll have to watch it again! Though he wasn’t ga-ga over Infra-Man the first time he viewed it, Bill has gained an appreciation of the film over the years. He jokingly wonders how Infra-Man decides when to use his powers and when not to use his powers. They all agree it’s a bit of a mystery that only adds to the film’s appeal. Only Jeff had not seen Infra-Man before preparing for this podcast and he is forever grateful to Chad, Doc, and Bill for introducing him to its wonders and thinks it is one of the funniest movies he’s seen in a long while. In fact, he’s so enamored of the film, he promises his next step is to introduce it to his grand-munchkins and to search out the pant-splitting.

The members of the Grue Crew all agree Infra-Man is not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination. However, watching it is more fun than a movie should be allowed to be. It’s time to make it a family viewing tradition! The Black Saint and Chad had often trumpeted their love of Infra-Man and Princess Dragon Mom in the past and the Decades of Horror 1970s Grue Crew decided now was the time. This one’s for you, Santos.

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.

Nov 21, 2018

"Once it gets inside you, it will do anything to get out!" the tagline for Parasite 3-D .promised buckets of 3-D gruesome gore. The film partially delivers with Stan Winston creature effects that hold up and the presence of a young Demi Moore. And, then there is the 3-D, effective and restrained, not as over-the-top as later films or the previous Comin' At You. Christopher G. Moore is joined by co-host, Doc Rotten to discuss a Charles Band classic seen in its original 3-D presentation at the Carolina Theater in Durham, North Carolina..

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 141 – Parasite (1982)

On Horror News Radio, week after week, as the Grue-Crew mentioned the upcoming Splatterflix Film Series, Christopher shared his memories of seeing stills from Parasite in Fangoria, specifically the shot of a victim with a hollow pipe sticking out of his chest with blood dripping out the far end. Each week, we would eagerly announce that Parasite would be showing at the event. To see Parasite in 3-D would certainly be amazing. On Saturday, October 13, 2018, Christopher is finally able to see this scene on the big screen...and in its original 3-D presentation thanks to Jim Carl, from the Carolina Theater and Harry Guerro, from Exhumed Films. Finally, all is right in the world.

But, let's not forget this is a Charles Band film. Despite his reputation, Parasite proves there is more to the low-budget legendary director than mere schlock and exploitation...well, yes, there remains plenty of that too; but...the film holds up remarkably well. This is mostly due to the terrific early effects work from Stan Winston, a quick plot, and retro-fueled fascination in its 80s 3-D work. While not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, it may be better than the discouraging reviews heaped upon the film during its release. Christopher and Doc take a look at the film, the cast, the director, the 3-D, and the Parasite creature itself this week. It's in 3-D, so you know Doc is happy. Ha! Take a listen, and you may be convinced to give the film a second chance...maybe.

Paul Dean has created a deadly parasite that is now attached to his stomach. He and his female companion, Patricia Welles, must find a way to destroy it while also trying to avoid Ricus, his rednecks, and an evil government agent named Merchant.

 

Nov 17, 2018

Finally, the gang wraps up their thoughts about CASTLE ROCK. Pop culture geekdom says goodbye to a legendary icon, Stan Lee. And, horror fans may get to see a lost George A. Romero film from 1973, THE AMUSEMENT PARK. The Grue-Crew review OVERLORD (2018) from director Julius Avery. 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 298 - Overlord (2018)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, November 29 - Sunday December 2, New  York, New York

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: Overlord (2018)

A little squad of American soldiers finds horror behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day.

Director: Julius Avery
Cast:

  • Jovan Adepo ... Boyce
  • Wyatt Russell ... Ford
  • Mathilde Ollivier ... Chloe
  • Pilou Asbæk ... Wafner
  • John Magaro ... Tibbet
  • Iain De Caestecker ... Chase
  • Jacob Anderson ... Dawson
  • Dominic Applewhite ... Rosenfeld
  • Gianny Taufer ... Paul
  • Joseph Quinn ... Grunauer
  • Bokeem Woodbine ... Rensin
  • Erich Redman ... Dr. Schmidt

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EXIT

Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
Next Week on HNR: May the Devil Take You (d. Timo Tjahjanto, NETFLIX)

 

Nov 15, 2018

“Look, Ann, this is a mistake any one of us might've made. And I'm getting a little sick of being called an irresponsible drunk, now believe me I am.” Who hasn’t accidentally unleashed a pack of killer creatures while irresponsibly drunk? Join this episode’s Grue Crew - Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, Joseph Perry, and Jeff Mohr - as they journey to a remote island and are trapped with The Killer Shrews (1959)!

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 45 – The Killer Shrews (1959)

Gordon McLendon, the owner of a chain of drive-in movie theaters and a network of radio stations, decided to cut out the middle man and formed a short-lived movie production company to crank out a pair of typical, regional horror films. He enlisted Ray Kellogg as his director and Jay Simms as his screenwriter. The products of their efforts are The Killer Shrews and The Giant Gila Monster (1959).

The Killer Shrews tells an oft-told tale of pseudoscience gone wrong. Scientists on a remote island experiment on shrews in search of a way to reduce food shortages and the effects of population growth by making people smaller. Instead, they manage to enlarge the tiny creatures to the size of large dogs.  Entering this cozy enclave is the captain of a charter vessel delivering supplies and his crewman, coincidentally arriving as a hurricane hits the island and are trapped. They soon learn that one of the island-dwellers recently released the enlarged shrews while “irresponsibly” drunk. The result is a horde of hungry, teeth-gnashing, rampaging killer shrews on the loose!  

The original residents of the island are played by Baruch Lumet (Dr. Craigis), Glendon McLendon (Dr. Baines), Ingrid Goude (Dr. Craigis’ daughter, Ann), Ken Curtis (Ann’s fiance), and Alfredo de Soto (Mario, their assistant).  James Best is Captain Thorne Sherman and Judge Henry Dupree is Rook Griswold, his crewman.

No one will ever mistake The Killer Shrews as a great movie. The effects, the dialogue, and some of the acting rank high on the cheese-factor scale. It is, however, a boatload of fun! Whitney recounts seeing the film as a child with her grandmother and gives us the “You do what you have to do” mantra of the low-budget, independent filmmaker. Though he has come to love it, Chad hated the movie when he saw it as a child. He also wishes Judge Henry Dupree and Alfredo de Soto had lasted longer into the film, though they both did have heroic deaths. Joseph points out that Baruch Lumet was director Sidney Lumet’s father and opines that James Best is giving it his all as the lead protagonist. The colorized version of The Killer Shrews gets a short test run from Jeff and he also reveals the connection between Ken Curtis and legendary director John Ford. Unsurprisingly, your Grue Crew gives a unanimous, cheese-dipped, thumbs-up to The Killer Shrews!

The Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule will be The Haunting (1963). We thought it was time to revisit the original following the recent release of The Haunting of Hill House as a Netflix series.

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 so much for listening!

Nov 9, 2018

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE WALKING DEAD, and LEPRECHAUN RETURNS top the horror news of the week. The Grue-Crew review SUSPIRIA (2018) from director Luca Guadagnino which promises to be a divisive and challenging horror film, possibly one that will be discussed for years and years. 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 297 - Suspiria (2018)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, November 29 - Sunday December 2, New  York, New York

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEATURE TOPIC: Suspiria (2018)

A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.

Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Doris Hick

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EXIT

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

 

Nov 7, 2018

"So think about it and try to tell yourself wherever you may be, in the quiet of your home, in the safety of your bed, try to tell yourself, It couldn't happen here." As all horror fans know, of course, it could happen here. It always happens here! Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they journey back to 1970s Las Vegas with Carl Kolchak in search of The Night Stalker (1972).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 83 – The Night Stalker (1972)

Before it premiered in 1972, no one predicted the impact The Night Stalker would have on the horror genre as seen on network television. Produced by Dan Curtis, directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, written by Richard Matheson from a novel by Jeff Rice, the film unexpectedly set a ratings record for TV-movies. Its success led to a follow-up telefilm, The Night Strangler (1973), and a legendary TV series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-1975). To top it off, The Night Stalker was the first film in the successful pairing of Curtis and Matheson that would last for half-a-dozen films through Dead of Night (1977).

The story of The Night Stalker is told through a series of audio tape recordings, documenting an unprinted story written by Carl Kolchak, a rebellious, idealistic reporter. Kolchak believes a series of killings have been committed by a vampire but, not surprisingly, he can’t seem to convince anyone else. When the powers-that-be are finally forced to face the truth, a temporarily triumphant Kolchak discovers he’s been playing a rigged game all along.

Darren McGavin is Carl Kolchak as he creates an iconic character from Matheson’s brilliant screenplay. McGavin is supported by a cast of venerable character actors that include Simon Oakland as Vincenzo, Kolchak’s editor; Ralph Meeker as Bernie Jenks, one of Kolchak’s few allies; Claude Akins as Sheriff Butcher; Kent Smith as D.A. Paine; Charles McGraw as Chief Masterson; Elisha Cook Jr. as Mickey Crawford, Kolchak’s key source; and Larry Linville as Coroner Makurji. The superlative cast of The Night Stalker is rounded out by Carol Lynley and Barry Atwater, as Kolchak’s girlfriend Gail and the vampire Janos Skorzeny, respectively.

The 1970s Grue Crew all saw the television premiere of The Night Stalker and are adamant regarding how well it holds up. Chad reflects on the after-effects experienced by his young self when he first saw the film, and emphatically declares his love for all things Kolchak. As a vampire aficionado, Bill is impressed by the feral nature of Atwater’s portrayal of Skorzeny, and voices his appreciation for the unique elements this film brings to the vampire canon. Jeff talks about how well Bob Cobert’s score enhances the film and gives some shoutouts to the classic era of horror by means of a short quiz about two of the film’s many character actors. Kolchak’s signature attire (porkpie hat and shabby suit) gets Doc fired up and the final confrontation between Kolchak and Skorzeny fans his flame even higher.  As the Grue Crew’s fearless leader, Doc does his usual masterful job keeping everyone on track and what would a Gruesome Magazine podcast be without a demonstration of his skill at the innovative pronunciation of names? How many ways can you say "Janos Skorzeny?" (We love you, Doc!)

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.

Nov 3, 2018

NIGHT OF THE COMET, DAWN OF THE DEAD, and THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE top the horror news of the week and we remember the prolific character actor James Karen. The Grue-Crew review APOSTLE (2018) from director Gareth Evans who hides something far more supernatural than a dangerous cult in his harrowing period film. 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 296 - Apostle
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • HNR Is brought to you by the generous contributions to our Patreon account
    Thank you to our patrons
  • NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, November 29 - Sunday December 2, New  York, New York

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

  • R.I.P James Karen (Return of the Living Dead, Poltergeist)
    https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3529434/r-p-return-living-dead-poltergeist-star-james-karen-died/
  • Night of the Comet remake on its way from Director Roxanne Benjamin
    https://www.slashfilm.com/night-of-the-comet-remake/
  • Hmmm. A 3-D conversion of Dawn of the Dead (1978) exists...
    https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2018/10/23/a-talk-with-richard-p.-rubinstein-on-the-3d-version-of-dawn-of-the-dead
  • Trailer: The Possession of Hannah Grace
    https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/284475/284475/
  • Adam Scott takes on the Shatner role for Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone
    https://www.slashfilm.com/twilight-zone-reboot-cast/
  • NECA sends Valek (The Nun) set to haunt your toy shelf
    https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3529969/exclusive-neca-brings-demon-valak-toy-shelf-upcoming-nun-figure/
  • Not scary enough: Howzabout It!
    https://bloody-disgusting.com/toys/3529533/neca-reveals-ultimate-well-house-pennywise-action-figure/

FEATURE TOPIC: Apostle (2018)

In 1905, a drifter on a dangerous mission to rescue his kidnapped sister tangles with a sinister religious cult on an isolated island.

Director: Gareth Evans (The Raid/The Raid 2, "Safe Haven" V/H/S 2)
Cast: Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Lucy Boynton, Bill Milner, Kristine Froseth, Paul Higgens, and Mark Lewis Jones

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Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
Next Week on HNR: Suspiria (2018)

Nov 1, 2018

“I know you'll think I'm crazy, but... in a half-an-hour the moon will rise and I'll turn into a wolf.” “You and 20 million other guys!” Join this episode’s Grue Crew - Chad Hunt, Whitney Collazo, Jeff Mohr, and Joseph Perry - as they chuckle and guffaw their way through the comedy classic, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 44 – Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Once director Charles Barton was on board, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello reluctantly signed on for the Universal International Pictures’ production of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. The film features a trio of Universal classic monsters - Dracula, Frankenstein (the monster), and the Wolf Man - as played by Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, and Lon Chaney Jr. respectively. Although the three monsters are there, the story-line doesn’t fit anywhere in the Universal monster canon, reinforcing its place as somewhat of a novelty among the other films.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein’s plot features two baggage handlers, Chick (Bud Abbott) and Wilbur (Lou Costello), tasked with delivering two large, coffin-sized containers holding Frankenstein and Dracula to McDougal’s House of Horrors. Dracula is in league with Dr. Mornay (Lenore Aubert), a mad scientist of sorts. In the meantime, Lawrence Talbot is trying to prevent delivery of the crates. The cast is supported by Jane Randolph in her last credited role, and the ever-present Frank Ferguson. As the brilliant comic duo roam the castle, much hi-jinks ensue!

The Classic Era Grue Crew couldn’t stop gushing about Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Chad goes into depth on the life of Bud Abbott and reminds us that this film includes Bela Lugosi’s second and last role as Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr.’s last role as the Wolf Man.  An infatuation with Jane Randolph, first revealed in Episode 37 (Cat People, 1941), is reiterated by Joseph. Whitney identifies noticeable differences in Lon Chaney Jr.’s makeup between that used in this film and 1941’s The Wolf Man (Episode 39), and expresses her appreciation for a strong female role as a scientist. Several connections with 1925’s Phantom of the Opera (Episode 42) are pointed out by Jeff, including cameraman/director of photography Charles Van Enger. They all remarked on this film’s ability to still have them rolling in the aisles after decades of watching it. Yes, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is still funny and it’s a great “horror” film to watch as a family!

The Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule will be The Killer Shrews (1959), starring Roscoe P. Coltrane and Festus.

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 so much for listening!

Oct 30, 2018

"Stephen King's masterpiece of terror directed by the master himself." the tagline for Maximum Overdrive promises the masterpiece horror film of 1986. Hell, the trailer amped up that pledge with Mr. King proclaiming he would "scare the hell out you!" However, when the machines take over the world, shit gets real. Christopher G. Moore is joined by Stephen King aficionado, Dave Dreher.

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 140 – Maximum Overdrive (1986)

Filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, Maximum Overdrive brought not only the Stephen King short story Trucks to the big screen but also had the maestro himself behind the wheel providing the screenplay and sitting in the director's chair. While the film tanked at the box office upon its 1986 release, it has garnered a cult following over the years with the "Green Goblin" truck becoming iconic, the bombastic AC/DC soundtrack, and the legendary rumors of on-set turmoil & chaos. The cast includes Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, and Laura Harrington.

Christopher G. Moore and Dave Dreher revisit the classic/no-so-classic monster-piece recounting the time they saw the film for the first time and how it holds up today. They discuss its path to becoming a cult classic and the troubles and rumors along the way. The cast and the effects are examined along with the conflicting internal logic the film sometimes follows. It's all here for a special episode demanded by the DoH listeners: Maximum Overdrive.

When Earth passes through the tail of Rea-M rogue comet, the machines come to life and start to kill mankind. A group of survivors is under siege from fierce trucks at the Dixie Boy truck stop gas station and they have to fight to survive.

 

 

Oct 27, 2018

THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA, ANNABELLE 3, and DEATH HOUSE top the horror news of the week. The Grue-Crew review HALLOWEEN (2018), Michael Myers is back to terrorize Laurie Strode 40 years later. And, he's brought a film full of carnage and mayhem. Netflix and Mike Flanagan thrill genre fans with a top-notch horror TV series, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE - this week, we take a look at the bottom 5 episodes, six through ten. 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 295 - Halloween - The Haunting of Hill House
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK

  • Spring 2019 brings THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA from Michael Chaves and James Wan
  • Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson to appear n ANNABELLE 3 which begins filming this week
  • Can you find your way out of the...ESCAPE ROOM
  • Sly Stallone faces a monster in a film from an abandoned sci-fi RAMBO script
  • Georgie from "It" to scare us again w/ THE PRODIGY trailer
  • LeBron James on board to bring us the return of FRIDAY THE 13TH. WTF?
  • The Expendables of Horror is coming: watch the DEATH HOUSE trailer
  • SHUDDER shares All Hallow's Eve love with the Ghoul Log

FEATURE TOPIC: Halloween (2018)

Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

Director: David Gordon Green
Cast:  Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak

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WORTH WATCHING: The Haunting of Hill House (eps 6 - 10)

Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.

Director: Mike Flanagan
Cast:  Mckenna Grace, Carla Gugino, Michiel Huisman

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EXIT

Thanks to Rocky Gray for our killer new HNR theme song
Next Week on HNR: Apostle (2018)

Oct 25, 2018

"The Hands of Jack the Ripper Live Again...As His Fiendish Daughter Kills Again...And Again...And Again..." Time for another Hammer Films production from the 1970s! Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they tear (notice I didn’t use “rip”) into Hands of the Ripper (1971).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 83 – Hands of the Ripper (1971)

This somewhat lesser-known Hammer film is directed by Peter Sasdy and written by Lewis Davidson from a story by Edward Spencer Shew. Hands of the Ripper tells the story of Anna (Angharad Rees) who is Jack the Ripper’s daughter, and Dr. Pritchard (Eric Porter) who thinks he can save Anna from the family curse. You see, when Anna was a toddler, she witnessed the death of her mother at the hands of dear old Dad. Now, as a young woman, she seems to be carrying on her father’s work, but is it the result of psychological trauma or is she possessed by her father’s murderous soul? As Pritchard searches for the answer, the body count rises.

Without Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee, Hammer’s frequent headliners, Hands of the Ripper was bound to receive less attention than films featuring one or both of them. The cast, however, does an excellent job. Rees and Porter are supported by Jane Merrow, Pritchard’s son’s blind fiance Laura; Derek Godfrey as Dysart, a character despicable in all aspects; Dora Bryan as Mrs. Golding, a fake psychic; Margaret Rawlings as Madame Bullard, a real psychic; Marjie Lawrence as Dolly, Pritchard’s housemaid; Keith Bell as Pritchard’s son; and Lynda Baron as Long Liz, a local prostitute,.

Despite not featuring Frankenstein or Dracula, Hands of the Ripper is a worthy addition to the canon of Hammer Films. Jeff is intrigued by the killer’s innovative use of everyday items to stab their victims. This one has long been a favorite of Doc’s and he points out the use of the Baker Street set at Pinewood Studios and how it added to the atmosphere and tone of the film. As an aficionado of Ripper lore, Chad thinks this story has a unique take and notices that Long Liz, one of the real Jack the Ripper’s victims, is used as the name of a character in this film. Bill ponders whether the killer suffers from some psychological or supernatural influences and ranks this film squarely in the middle of the pack as Hammer films go. Even though the story lays its cards on the table very early, the Decades of Horror 1970s Grue Crew think The Hands of the Ripper is absolutely worth a watch.

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.

Oct 22, 2018

“You're a fool, Andreas! A complete, utter fool! Your fate is to be what you are - as mine is to be what I am... your Master!”  It’s always best to know your place, and who could resist the commanding voice of Bela Lugosi, right? Join this episode’s Grue Crew - Joseph Perry, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr (Whitney Collazo was on special assignment, but should be back next episode) - as they chase down the hidden 1940s gem, The Return of the Vampire.

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 43 – The Return of the Vampire (1943)

Remember that classic sequel to Tod Browning’s Dracula (1931)? The one featuring Bela Lugosi’s second appearance as Dracula? Well, this is it, except this is not a Universal Picture and Lugosi doesn’t play Dracula. Instead, The Return of the Vampire is a Columbia Picture and the names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent.

Directed by dependable journeyman Lew Landers, and written by Griffin Jay from an idea by Kurt Neumann, The Return of the Vampire features the legendary vampire, Armand Tesla. Really. His name is Tesla. Lugosi does double duty as Tesla and Dr. Hugo Bruckner, the famous vampire expert. The film also features an unexpectedly articulate, talking werewolf, whose lines are ably enunciated by Matt Willis. The hero of the story is Lady Jane Ainsley (Frieda Inescort), a very smart, take-charge scientist who out matches Sir Frederick Fleet (Miles Mander), the Scotland Yard Inspector on the case. The focus of Tesla’s efforts is the young and beautiful Nicki Saunders, played by the impressive and versatile Nina Foch. The cast is rounded out with some comic relief from two gravediggers (those guys are always funny) and a couple of detectives reporting to Sir Frederick Fleet.

Despite its relatively low budget, The Return of the Vampire has an impressive cast and crew and the Grue Crew all agreed it is far better than one might have expected at first. Joseph saw this as youngster and the final scene has stuck with him for all the decades that have passed. The werewolf looked more like a dog to Chad, but even so, he appreciated the character and the genuine arc he had. Jeff, on the other hand, was really impressed with the quantity and quality of the fog in the graveyard. At any rate, this episode’s Grue Crew strongly recommends The Return of the Vampire as somewhat of a hidden gem of the 1940s.

The Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule will be Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), the runaway winner of our latest Patreon Poll. Yay! More Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., and Jane Randolph and our first film with Glenn Strange!

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 so much for listening!

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