Not many shark films can stand beside Jaws as a great film featuring a killer great white or his finned friends. The Grue-crew wade out to the theaters this weekend to determine if THE SHALLOWS from director Jaume Collet-Serra can claim one of those coveted positions. All indications are that Blake Lively and cinematographer Flavio Martínez Labiano have succeeded where many have failed with a tight taunt thriller.
Thomas chimes in with a thoughtful review of NEON DEMON from acclaimed director Nicolas Winding Refn featuring Elle Fanning as a young model who quickly becomes a threat...and pays the price. Dave takes charge with this latest edition of Horror News of the Weeks featuring tidbits about the trailer for Ouija: Origin of Evil, Universal looking to cast The Rock in The Wolfman and Ghostbusters calls in a retooling of their theme song for this summer's blockbuster remake.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Vixen, the voice of reason, are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don't forget - Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)
Horror News Radio
Episode 169 – The Shallows (2016) – Neon Demon (2016)
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The Grue-crew gather to take a look at the long delayed US release of the Eli Roth produced flick, CLOWN. The film is from director Jon Watts and features Andy Powers (check out the Gruesome Magazine Interview here), Laura Allan and Peter Stromare. Watts, who also directed Cop Car which Thomas discussed on HNR episode 124, is set to direct Marvel's first foray into Sony's Spider-Man cinematic universe with Spider-Man: Homecoming. The effects are strong, the gore is plentiful and the lore is interesting, providing Watts a great venue to expand his short into a feature length film.
Eli Roth appears in Horror News of the Week as David Dreher reveals Roth's upcoming directorial effort, the remake of Death Wish featuring Bruce Willis. New Line has announced another Conjuring spin off movies featuring The Nun from The Conjuring 2. And the Grue-crew take a look at the career of Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Fright Night, Green Room) who tragically lost his life this week -far too soon- at the age of 27.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Vixen, the voice of reason, are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don't forget - Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)
Horror News Radio
Episode 168 – Clown (2016)
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"They will make cemeteries their cathedrals and the cities will be your tombs." - the tagline for Demons only begins to hint at the bizarre story behind Lamberto Bava's creature feature described in another tagline as "an Orgy of Bloodshed." All the characteristics of 80s Italian horror films are here: a cast of unusual characters, a nonsensical plot and graphic, bloody special effects. And that's not the half of it. Thomas Mariani, Doc Rotten and Christopher G. Moore tackle another gruesome horror film from the 1980s. Guest-host, The Black Saint (Horror News Radio) joins the crew to discuss Demons.
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 85 – Demons (1985)
During the summer of 1986, the latest horror film from Italian genre favorite Laberto Bava (son of the legendary Mario Bava) made its Stateside debut. Produced and co-written by Dario Argento (Deep Red, Suspiria), Demons would become an 80s horror classic featuring memorable, gory effects (by Sergio Stivaletti) of people transforming into monsters. The talent involved is extraordinary, including Michele Soavi (The Church, Cemetery Man) as assistant director. The film became a huge hit on VHS and produced a series sequels, many of which are in name only capitalizing on the name brand this film became.
In the film, friends Cheryl (Natasha Hovey) and Hannah (Fiore Argento) attend a special advanced screening of a new horror flick. Another patron, Rosemary (Geretta Geretta) cuts herself on a prop mask from the film hanging in the lobby. Before long she transforms into a demon attacking and infecting others now locked inside the theater. Cheryl and Hannah, along with new found friends George (Urbano Barerini) and Ken (Karl Zinny) fight to escape and survive. Check out the review of Demons from Thomas, Doc and Christopher along with guest-host The Black Saint.
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 thomasmariani@decadesofhorror.com or docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.
For most of the podcast, the Grue-crew - along with guest-host Christopher G. Moore - shares their love for the hit summer horror film of 2106, The Conjuring 2. James Wan returns to the genre to give fans one of the better horror films of past few decades. The film is full of startling images, horrific jumps, nightmarish creatures and brilliant direction. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Ed and Lorraine Warren while Madison Wolfe makes an impressive turn as the possessed Janet.
For the What Have You Been Watching segment, things take a 180 turn as Thomas and Doc review the film Warcraft. While the film contains great special effects, the story and the acting are atrocious - some of the worst seen this year. It's a bunch of nonsense and HNR shares their thoughts. Meanwhile, Dave returns with Horror News of the Week and Santos endures a double length edition of Stump the Saint.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Vixen, the voice of reason, are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don't forget - Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)
Horror News Radio
Episode 167 – The Conjuring 2 (2016) – Warcraft (2016)
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Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) returns to TV with another adaptation of one of his comic book horror series properties. Airing on Cinemax is OUTCAST, a tale of Kyle Barnes dealing with his encounters with the supernatural. Fan favorite director, Adam Wingard (You're Next, The Guest), helms the pilot episode "A Darkness Surrounds Him." The Grue-crew gather to review the first outing of the series while The Black Saint shares a great story featuring an...egg roll. You don't want to miss this!
Chad Hunt joins the Grue-crew this week to take a look a TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS on this week's What Have You Been Watching segment. The Grue-crew talk about Bebop & Rocksteady, Krang and a whole lot of pizza. The gang praises the CG effects while panning the human characters woefully underdeveloped and unneeded. Still the film is stupid fun.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Vixen, the voice of reason, are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don't forget - Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)
Horror News Radio
Episode 166 – Outcast (2016) – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)
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"Hell has just been relocated!" - the tagline for Galaxy of Terror is short and sweet, no where near as convoluted and odd as the film itself. The Roger Corman cult classic from director Bruce D. Clark features an extraordinary cast, including Robert Englund, Sid Haig, Ray Walston and Eric Moran, and a series of scattershot special effects drenched in Eighties drippy, gooey goodness. Thomas Mariani, Doc Rotten and Christopher G. Moore tackle another gruesome horror film from the 1980s.
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 84 – Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Looking at the cast and crew roster for Galaxy of Terror is a preview of faces and game changers in the future of horror and sci-fi films. While Roger Corman is responsible for many of the low budget horror classics of the past few decades, he is also responsible for recognizing and nurturing talent. The cast contains Robert Englund who would soon become better known as Willie in the V TV show and Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street films. Even though Sid Haig had made a mark in films such as Spider Baby and Pit Stop, Rob Zombie would later make him a modern icon of horror as Captain Spaulding in House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects. But is may be the second unit director - and also production designer - James Cameron who may be the most remarkable addition to the crew. Also, of note, a very young Bill Paxton was employed as the set decorator.
Cast and crew aside, the film has a number of out of this world, crazy set pieces from Edward Albert leaping into "Gymkata" action moves to a mutated worm attacking and molesting Taaffe O'Connell in a memorable, but morally questionable, scene. Robert Englund gives us a hint at his darker side when his character faces his evil twin. And Sid Haig endures a painful death at the hands of his own crystal weapons, "I live and I die by the crystals!" Galaxy of Terror is a unique blend of horror and sci-fi from the wacky crew at New World productions. Check out the review from Thomas, Doc and Christopher.
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 thomasmariani@decadesofhorror.com or docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.
Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr return for another spin in Marvel's X-Universe with X-MEN: APOCALYPSE. Bryan Singer directs another sequel featuring all your favorite merry mutants: Professor X (James McAvoy), Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Quicksilver (Evan Peters), Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Havok (Lucas Till), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Angel (Ben Hardy), Storm (Alexandra Shipp) and Psylocke (Olivia Munn). If you're exhausted reading that list, wait until you see this stuffed to the max super hero flick. The Grue-crew along with guest host Chad Hunt share their opinions, listen if you dare!
Dave shares more updates and rumors for the HORROR NEWS OF THE WEEK segment discussing Halloween returning via Blumhouse and John Carpenter, Carpenter's The Thing returns once again from Scream Factory and Dan Aykroyd praises the return of Ghostbusters. For the What Have You Been Watching segment, the Grue-crew dive deep into the Chiller/Netflix series, Slasher.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Vixen, the voice of reason, are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don't forget - Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)
Horror News Radio
Episode 165 – X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) – Slasher (2016)
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