Doc Rotten, Thomas Mariani, and Christopher G. Moore gather to discuss the most anticipated genre films of 2017, taking a look at Sci-fi, Action, and Fantasy films coming out in theaters over the next twelve months. Based on list generated by HNR & DOH hosts, Gruesome Magazine contributors, Patreon supporters, and fans & listeners of Horror News Radio, the list comprises of films we're all dying to see. The list contains a number of Marvel films from Logan to Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2. DC is represented as well with their high profile entry Wonder Woman. Sci-Fi looks back at a genre classic with Blade Runner 2049 and looks toward the future with Luc Besson's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. And then there's a little ditty known as Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi. Tons to discuss, let the fun begin.
Horror News Radio Extra
Episode 10 – The Most Anticipated Genre Films of 2017
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Voted on by HNR Patreon members, the Grue-Crew, and fans hanging out at the HNR Facebook Group, the following list represents the top 10 films that made the final cut. Note: the dates displayed may change before the film makes it to the theater.
After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
Time-traveling agent Valerian is sent to investigate a galactic empire, along with his partner Laureline.
When an attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises, Eggsy and Merlin are forced to work together with the American agency Statesman to save the world.
An Amazon princess leaves her island home to explore the world and, in doing so, becomes one of the world's greatest heroes.
Having taken her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rey continues her epic journey with Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the saga.
Thor must face the Hulk in a gladiator match and save his people from the ruthless Hela.
In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.
Following the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), Peter Parker attempts to balance his life in high school with his career as the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man.
Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.
"This is it, Jennifer: your big break in TV. Welcome to prime time, bitch!" Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) literally breaks Jennifer (Penelope Sudrow) through the fourth wall. Signaling Kruger's break away hit into pop culture icon status. What better way to celebrate its 30th anniversary than with a whole Decades of Horror 1980s episode dedicated to it?
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 102 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
After his much celebrated introduction and decried detour of a second chapter, Freddy Krueger returned to terrify teens and adults alike with a bit more comedic flair in Dream Warriors. After young Kristen Parker (Patricia Arquette) has a near suicidal panic during a nightmarish visit from Freddy, her mother sends her off to an institution to work out her waking torment. Under the care of Dr. Neil Gordon (Craig Wasson), Kristen meets several other teens with similar sleeping disorders. Among them, the drug addled Taryn White (Jennifer Rubin); the aggressive shit talker Roland Kincaid (Ken Sagoes); and paralyzed nerd Will Stanton (Ira Heiden). They all share visions of Freddy Krueger and need help getting him out of their dreams. But Dr. Gordon doesn't seem to believe their shared boogeyman... until a mysterious new intern Nancy Thompson (Heather Lagenkamp) reveals her own past with a sweater wearing demon of her nightmares.
While 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street gave us our introduction to Freddy, Dream Warriors gave us the Freddy we all ended up loving for so many years. The jokes, the elaborate dream sequences and the formula for each teen's descent into the nightmare world all came to light with this third entry. Doc Rotten, Thomas and Christopher G. Moore talk all about it here. The murders, the dream sequences and the... character investment? That's right, our trio dives deep into what separates this from the repetitive sequels that followed and tried very hard to recapture the same energy Dream Warriors pulls off so effortlessly. It helps that people like Wes Craven, Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont were all there to flesh out the Freddy universe without dragging out the details. Or putting too much emphasis on the jokes and cameos, as later entries would do. It's a mutual admiration society meeting for this underrated "meat in the Nightmare on Elm Street sandwich." What the hell does that mean? Listen to find out!
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. We also want to be sure to thank Neon Devils for their killer track “Bone Chillin'” which we use for the intro and outro of this show.
Visionary director Gore Verbinksi returns to the genre with A Cure For Wellness, a trippy, psychological horror tale about a Wall Street stockbroker (Dane DeHaan) who is sent to retrieve his company's CEO Roland Pembroke from a wellness center tucked away in the Swiss Alps. The Grue-Crew eagerly dive into the world of cinematographer Bojan Bazelli but fight the boredom of the repetitive, meandering story from screenwriter Justin Haythe.
From the Swiss Alps to the Great Wall of China, the Grue-Crew continue circling the globe with Zhang Yimou's The Great Wall. Taking place during the Song dynasty and the reign of the Renzong Emperor, a pair of European mercenaries (Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal) team up with a group of Chinese soldiers known as the Nameless Order to defeat an attacking army of monsters. The Chinese-US co-production is a huge hit in China, but how with the film fare with the Grue-Crew?
Dave guides the Horror News of the Week with the surprise announcement that Hulu, Stephen King, and J.J. Abrams are teaming up to bring horror fans tales from Castle Rock. As the year begins, HNR sets its eyes on a number of horror film festivals to attend throughout the year. Up first is Nevermore Horror Film Festival in Durham, NC on February 24 - 26, 2017.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher and Thomas Mariani 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 203 – A Cure For Wellness (2017) – The Great Wall (2017)
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Gore Verbinski's return to horror -- since his j-horror remake The Ring (2002) -- is a promising concept, but one meet with reservation. While Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Rango are favorites of the Grue-Crew (as is MouseHunt, to some), The Weather Man and The Lone Ranger are not so much. The trailers for A Cure For Wellness look amazing with interesting visuals and an intriguing plot. However, the film itself is a bit of a bore even with its Stanley Kubrick and Ken Russell influences and captivating visual flourishes. The Grue-Crew discuss the film's high points and troubles for their review of this week's theatrical opening.
Touted as the most expensive film made in China, The Great Wall finally makes its way to U.S. shores after making over $200 million overseas. The Chinese-US co-production features Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal in the leads with Jing Tian, Andly Lau, Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Lu Han, Lin Gengxin, Chen Xuedong, and Huang Xuan leading the Chinese army station atop the Great Wall of China. The film features a massive mystical (or, perhaps, alien) army of creatures attacking the wall in an effort to get to the densely populated cities on the other side. While a great deal of fun, the film is a bit drab and Damon is horribly miscast. The Grue-Crew review the film a bit more favorably than Verbinski's snooze-fest.
Get Out!
Gruesome Magazine Spring 2017 is coming! That's right, the very first issue of an all-new horror magazine from the Grue-Crew behind Horror News Radio and Gruesome Magazine website will land late February 2017. The tag line "Horror Festival Hits - Independent Films - The Future of Horror" reflects the focus of the magazine on the up'n'coming horror film makers and their films in Horror Film Festivals across the globe. Check out the GM page for more details.
"They're us. We're them and they're us." Barbara (Patricia Tallman) tries to make sense of the madness in Night of the Living Dead, a 90s remake of an icon entry in the horror genre. It's a tough task to remake a film that changed the face of horror cinema. Who could be up to that task? Only the man who helped to evolve the zombie concept following the original. Yes, Mr. Tom Savini was the man behind recontextualizing for a new generation and he's here to talk all about it!
Decades of Horror 1990s
Episode 09 – Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Taking the basic plot of the original, Night of the Living Dead constantly subverts expectations. Just when you think something from the original band is gonna happen, WHAM! A surprising zombie or character moment pops in to mix things up. The most noteworthy examples is definitely the new version of Barabara. Formerly a weak willed scream queen, this newer version develops from a scared girl into a defiant woman that carries along her fellow characters. Helped along by Ben (an early role for Tony Todd) and constantly pulled back by Harry Cooper (Tom Towles), this group feels more authentic. The shouting matches against each other are often just as brutal as the zombie kills themselves. It's an underappreciated gem of a remake in a decade where many classics were horribly mutilated beyond recognition by far lesser filmmakers.
Along the ride with Thomas Mariani are Horror News Radio correspondent Dave Dreher, Decades of Horror: The Classic Era co-host Chad Hunt and goremaster special effects maestro himself Tom Savini! Despite some technical difficulties, Savini lays out many of the behind the scene turmoils that plagued him during production on Night of the Living Dead. A nasty divorce, production setbacks and backstabbing crew members all gave Tom Savini a massive headache on his first stab as a feature film director. He describes some of the massive sequences he storyboarded that couldn't get shot, the lingering friendships he's made with the cast and his eventual appreciation for the film so many years later. It's an out-of-formula episode that's not to be missed! You can find out more about Tom Savini's upcoming projects and special effects school on his official website.
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 1990s podcast hosts at thomasmariani@decadesofhorror.com or tweet Thomas @NotTheWhosTommy.
Katee Sackhoff and Lucy Boynton go up against Javier Botet in Caradog W. James' Don't Knock Twice, a film that cements the trend of witch films hitting theaters and VOD over the past year. It provides an interesting series of scares and a healthy dose of atmosphere along with great performances from its leads for a satisfying and creepy tale worth seeking out. The Grue-Crew review the film and reveal their favorite scenes as they struggle with some of the film's missteps along the way.
Keanu Reeves doesn't get enough love. His films, while some are iconic, often get dumped upon mightily. However, John Wick (2014) surprised most everyone with an exceptional action film. This week, the Grue-Crew creep outside the horror box to take a look at the extraordinarily violent - and often gory - sequel John Wick Chapter 2. Reeves cements John Wick as a character that rivals Neo and Johnny Utah as one of his best onscreen characters. And the rest of the film lives up to his lead. Awesome!
Dave guides the Horror News of the Week with the announcement that David Gordon Green and Danny McBride will handle the next Halloween movie - with John Carpenter's blessing - and B-movie nonsense has never been as bizarre as Zombie Cats from Mars. Oh, my! As the year begins, HNR sets its eyes on a number of horror film festivals to attend throughout the year. Up first is Nevermore Horror Film Festival in Durham, NC on February 24 - 26, 2017.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher and Thomas Mariani 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 202 – Don't Knock Twice (2017) – John Wick Chapter 2 (2017)
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Witches: cant' live with 'em; can't live without 'em. Or, well, maybe you can, but the horror genre is, as of late, far better with them in its cinematic arsenal. Don't Knock Twice is another film in that sub-genre and another film that deserves a far better release than straight to VOD. While not entirely successful (for most of the HNR Grue-Crew), the film does provide terrific atmospher and thrilling chills and scares. To the film's credit, it ends on a terrific shocker that elevates the film above many of the films of similar tone and story. Full of surprises, great performances, and creepy tone, Don't Knock Twice is a solid entry for 2017.
"Somebody, please, get this man...a gun!" Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King decides to aid Keanu Reeve's John Wick as he faces every hit-man in New York. The action is incredible, the violence is poetic, and the film is never shy to splatter blood about, liberally. While not technically a horror film in any sense of the word, John Wick Chapter 2 certainly appeals to horror film aficionado's sense of cinematic joy. This film delivers straight up action and mayhem and should not be missed.
A Cure for Wellness - The Great Wall
Gruesome Magazine Spring 2017 is coming! That's right, the very first issue of an all-new horror magazine from the Grue-Crew behind Horror News Radio and Gruesome Magazine website will land late February 2017. The tag line "Horror Festival Hits - Independent Films - The Future of Horror" reflects the focus of the magazine on the up'n'coming horror film makers and their films in Horror Film Festivals across the globe. Check out the GM page for more details.
"Promise me, my baby. . . Take me with you, sweetheart! Take my blood! Oh, my blood!" Join the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era’s Grue-Crew - Chad Hunt, Erin Miskell, Jeff Mohr, and Joseph Perry - as we get lost in the wondrously bad, yet somehow memorably disturbing, Maneater of Hydra, aka Island of the Doomed, aka La Isla de la Muerte, aka Bloodsuckers. Come along on the island tour (don’t forget your baggage and lab equipment) with Joseph as our guide, while he explains his love for this eclectic film and the impact it had on him as a horror fan. Trust us; it explains a lot. Follow our journey as Joseph, much to our surprise, manages to register the rest of the Classic Era Grue-Crew as card-carrying members of the Maneater of Hydra fan club.
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 2 – Maneater of Hydra (1967)
Maneater of Hydra is a foreign film “probably” written and directed by Mel Welles, who adds another killer plant film to his credits. You may remember him as Gravis Mushnick in Roger Corman’s The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) or maybe from his appearances in Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy (1955), Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), Chopping Mall (1986) or even the Spectreman TV series (1971). He is joined by the immediately recognizable Cameron Mitchell, whose over 200 credits include The High Chaparral (1967-1971), Blood and Black Lace (1964) and The Toolbox Murders (1978). Mitchell plays Baron von Weser who has genetically engineered some uniquely flavored vegetables.
Part of the films quirky appeal is the dubbing as the actors recited the lines in English through syllabic memorization and are then dubbed. The intent is for the audio to more closely match the actors lip movements, but in the case of Maneater of Hydra, the result is as we already said, … quirky. Anne Meara provides the uncredited, hilarious dubbing of Myrtle, the tour’s unofficial photographer. We all went slack-jawed at the vampire tree’s sexually implicit, or rather explicit, killing organ. The final scene will haunt your nightmares for years, just ask Joseph.
Listen and learn which one of us says:
We plan to release a new episode every other week. Our upcoming schedule includes Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), King Kong (1933), and The Tingler (1959).
Please let us know what you think and what films you’d like to hear us cover! We want to hear from you! Send us an email (chadhunt@gruesomemagazine.com, erinmiskell@gruesomemagazine.com, jeffmohr@gruesomemagazine.com, or josephperry@gruesomemagazine.com) or leave us a message, a review or a comment at GruesomeMagazine.com, iTunes, the Horror News Radio App, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.
"Roses are red, violets are blue, one is dead, and so are you." - The killer from My Bloody Valentine leaves a colorful limerick for Mabel - before throwing her into a dryer set on extra-dead. The Grue-Crew revisit the Canadian slasher film from 1981. Let the fun begin! Thomas Mariani, Doc Rotten and Christopher G. Moore tackle another gruesome horror film from the 1980s.
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 101 – My Bloody Valentine (1981)
During the height of the slasher craze, Canadian film makers dropped a few slasher classics into horror fans laps. One of the better ones is My Bloody Valentine (1981) - director Quentin Tarantino lists the movie as his all-time favorite slasher film. George Mihalka directs the film from a script by John Beaird and a story by Stephen A. Miller. The plot revolves around a small mining town where years ago miners were trapped in the mine while the town celebrated Valentine's Day. The next year, the lone survivor, Harry Warden, went on a murderous rampage killing those who left him and his friends to die. Years later, the town is revisited once again by a killer dressed up in miner garb killing townsfolk leaving their hearts in a valentine's box. It's gruesome, gory gold!
Just in time for the holiday, Thomas, Christopher, and Doc share the love by taking a look at the classic slasher with Christopher and Doc seeing for the first time since 1981 while Thomas is seeing for the first time ever. The Grue-crew review both the original - heavily cut - theatrical version and the restored uncensored version with much of the 9 minutes put back into place. The film holds up tremendously well with some fun characters, great gory gags, and a surprising sense of humor. The uncut version holds a number of gruesome surprises.
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. We also want to be sure to thank Neon Devils for their killer track "Bone Chillin'" which we use for the intro and outro of this show.
"It's not of this world. It's Sadako's fury. And she's put a curse on us." Nothing seemed more tantalizing than a blank VHS tape back in the 90s. What secrets could be held on it? A rerun? A sex tape? A demonic entity with a reaping time of one week? Ringu took our obsession with technology, ejected it out of the VCR and into our faces. J-Horror became a booming industry both in native Japan and the United States at the dawn of the new millennium. So naturally, Thomas Mariani had to cover this tape eventually, seven day death curse be damned!
Decades of Horror 1990s
Episode 08 – Ringu (1998)
Based on the novel by Kôji Suzuki, Ringu is perhaps the most iconic example of J-Horror. The young girl with hair covering her face. An elaborate mythology that roots itself deeply in Japanese folklore. Some half explained references to supernatural powers held within its main characters. All the major tropes started with Ringu and became pretty ubiquitous. Samara is obviously one of the more modern examples of a recognizable horror icon, having been the subject of many parodies and YouTube pranks in the near-twenty years since Ringu was released. The visage of her coming out of a television is one of the lasting horror images of the late 20th/early 21st century, keeping those with a love of the idiot box on their toes when their groove tube suddenly turns on without warning. But there's more to Ringu than Samara herself, given the extensive research our intrepid leads Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) and Ryūji (Hiroyuki Sanada) find to stop this curse dead in its tracks.
To help decipher all the rich Japanese folklore, Thomas has brought on another new voice Caitlin Turner. A confessed Otaku in general, Caitlin has much to say on what gives Ringu such a sting to those in the know of Japanese culture and what makes it one of her favorite horror films of all time. Thomas will certainly need that. Especially considering this is first time ever seeing it! Together, these two offer a few comparisons to the acclaimed American remake, talk about the killer curiosity of an unmarked VHS tape and postulate the potential of a future Ring installment with today's technology. It's a high spirited discussion that's even a bit educational. Plus, it's probably more entertaining than putting down any cash to see Rings in a theater.
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 1990s podcast hosts at thomasmariani@decadesofhorror.com or tweet Thomas @NotTheWhosTommy.
“We all go a little mad sometimes.” So says Norman Bates in the Alfred Hitchcock classic, Psycho (1960). In this episode, the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era’s Grue-Crew - Chad Hunt, Erin Miskell, Jeff Mohr, and Joseph Perry - proclaim their love for and take a deep dive into Hitchcock’s masterpiece and the mind of Norman Bates. Yes, you read it correctly. We love Norman’s mind and take a deep dive into it. After all, he’s such a nice boy.
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 1 – Psycho (1960)
At the films original release, Hitchcock resorted to a multitude of marketing gimmicks to help promote his new, fairly low budget, black and white film. The crowds responded in droves, piling up box office receipts more than 32 times the cost of making the film. Erin hosts this episode as we all try to get inside Hitchcock’s mind and end up feeling like Norman Bates could be our special friend (especially Erin!), if it just wasn’t for that whole murdering people thing. Is Norman Bates a nice boy suffering from mental illness or an iconic horror villain?
The story of Psycho unfolds as if it were two separate movies. First is the one telling the story of Marion Crane’s embezzlement from her employer, subsequent flight from the law, and change of heart after meeting Norman Bates. The second story begins with Marion’s murder and its afermath as we learn more about Norman’s relationship with his mother. After all, he’s such a NICE boy.
The Classic Era Grue-Crew is blown away with Psycho by everything from the leads (Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles) to the supporting cast (Martin Balsam, John McIntire, John Anderson, Simon Oakland, Mort Mills, Pat Hitchcock); from Hitchcock’s direction to Saul Bass’ titles and Bernard Herrmann’s score; from Robert Bloch's source material to Joseph Stefano's script.
Listen and learn which one of us says:
We plan to release a new episode every other week. Our upcoming schedule includes Maneater of Hydra (aka Island of the Doomed, 1967), King Kong (1933) in conjunction with the March 10, 2017 release of Kong: Skull Island, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), and The Tingler (1959).
Please let us know what you think and what films you’d like to hear us cover! We want to hear from you! Send us an email (chadhunt@gruesomemagazine.com, erinmiskell@gruesomemagazine.com, jeffmohr@gruesomemagazine.com, or josephperry@gruesomemagazine.com) or leave us a message, a review or a comment at GruesomeMagazine.com, iTunes, the Horror News Radio App, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.
J-Horror returns this week with RINGS (2017) heading to theaters, the third film in The Ring franchise, the U.S. version of Ringu. While the film did challenge Split for the top spot at the box office, Rings horribly under performed and scored poorly at Rotten Tomatoes. Thomas and The Black Saint chime in with there thoughts...and disgust for this boring entry into 2017 horror fare. The Black Saints gives it props for its lead and begrudgingly agrees the beginning is fun. Thomas is just unimpressed with the entire thing. Oh, noes.
Continuing the J-Horror vibe, the Grue-Crew also review the Japanese entry SADAKO VS KAYAKO currently playing on Shudder. The film, which was inspired by an April Fool's joke, pits Sadako from the Ringu franchise against Kayako from the the Ju-On (or Grudge in the US) franchise. Move over Freddy vs Jason, step aside King Kong vs Godzilla, out of the way Frankenstein meets the Wolfman, Sadako vs Kayako sets up the fight of the century. Or, does it? The Grue-Crew are here to let you know.
Thoam guides the Horror News of the Week with a rundown of the kick-ass trailer that debuted during Super Bowl 51. As the year begins, HNR sets its eyes on a number of horror film festivals to attend throughout the year. Up first is Nevermore Horror Film Festival in Durham, NC on February 24 - 26, 2017.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher and Thomas Mariani 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 201 – Rings (2017) – Sadako vs Kayako (2016)
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Gore Verbinksi surprised everyone introducing US audiences to J-Horror with The Ring (2002). The Ring Two followed three years later. Now, 12 years after the first sequel, F. Javier Gutiérrez directs the third in the franchise with Rings. The Grue-Crew are not impressed with the results of such a long wait. It is the film no one want and no body went to see. For The Black Saint and Thomas Mariani, it is an early contender for worst of the year.
Meanwhile, over at Shudder, the Japanese entry fares far better with the Grue-Crew. Sadako vs Kayako turns out to be a fun, campy romp worth watching on the Shudder streaming service, providing a few chills, tons of thrills, and more laughs - of the intentional kind - than expected. Sadako curses one group of teens while Kayako sets her eye on a third, enter a professor, a mystic, and his sidekick to save the girls from certain doom. Their idea - pit the curses against each other, it's Ringu vs Ju-On -- to the death.
Don't Knock Twice - John Wick Chapter 2
Gruesome Magazine Spring 2017 is coming! That's right, the very first issue of an all-new horror magazine from the Grue-Crew behind Horror News Radio and Gruesome Magazine website will land late February 2017. The tag line "Horror Festival Hits - Independent Films - The Future of Horror" reflects the focus of the magazine on the up'n'coming horror film makers and their films in Horror Film Festivals across the globe. Check out the GM page for more details.
"They Look Like Rocks...Possess A High Intelligence...Have No Eyes...And Eat Ashes...They Travel In Your Car Exhaust...They Make Fire...They Kill." - the tag line for Bug (1975) sets up horror expectations while producer William Castle (The House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler, Rosemary's Baby) works hard to deliver the goods - and succeeds. Let the fun begin! The Black Saint and Doc Rotten tackle another groovy horror film from the 1970s. Joining the grue-crew is Gruesome Magazine contributor Jeff Mohr.
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 46 – Bug (1975)
For those who purchased Famous Monster of Filmland back in the day, the image of a fiery bug burning his way through a phone to get to his prey - a screaming female - is one that makes an impression. The film that it promotes is Bug, from director Jeannot Szwarc (Jaws 2) and produced by the legendary showman William Castle. Bradford Dillman stars as James Parmiter, a biology teacher who discovers a new breed of insect. The bugs escaped out of a deep crevasse created by an earthquake. They spark fires and eat the ashes, creating havoc as they search for food. Parmiter takes their evolution a step further giving birth to the second generation of bug that eats meat and thinks for itself. The third generation is even worse.
Jeff Mohr joins the crew as Doc and The Black Saint dive into the film and manic, inspired performance by Bradford Dillman. While the film may feel like two films - the first half concentrating on a family where the hole opened up and the latter half focusing entirely on Mr. Dillman - the film is a monster movie that thrills, chills, and entertains every step of the way. The bug effects are often spectacular and the fire gags impressive. Bug is the last film that William Castle would work on and it carries his signature throughout. He even considered employing another cinematic gimmick to heighten the experience where a wire would wiggle around the audience's feet and legs at key moments. Ah! The world needs more imaginative showmen like William Castle.
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 theblacksaint@decadesofhorror.com or docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.
It's zombie vs zombie this week with the theatrical release first in the hot seat. Milla Jovovich returns as Alice for another entry into the Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. After five years since the last entry, director Paul. W.S. Anderson double downs on the apocalypse giving Alice three days to stop the Umbrella Corporation or all of humanity dies. Or some nonsense like that. The Grue-crew bury the film but praise the scene chewing performance from Game of Thrones star Iain Glen.
The What Have You Been Watching contains the far superior zombie film with Colm McCarthy and Mike Carey's The Girl with All the Gifts. Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close, and Paddy Considine all have different reasons to harbinger or exterminate young Melanie. Some think she's humankind's last hope, others view her as a threat to their very existence, while her teacher only sees her as a young girl facing unthinkable adversity in a world gone mad. This is a zombie film done right.
Dave guides the Horror News of the Week with the sad news of the passing of John Hurt, the character actor who gave birth to Alien (1979), sold Harry his wand in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and became the War Doctor in Doctor Who - and so much more. As the year begins, HNR sets its eyes on a number of horror film festivals to attend throughout the year. Up first is Nevermore Horror Film Festival in Durham, NC on February 24 - 26, 2017.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher and Thomas Mariani 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 200 – Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) – The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)
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After a pair of inferior but entertaining schlock filled entries into the Resident Evil series (Afterlife and Retribution), Paul W.S. Anderson steers Alice, Clair, Wesker, and the cast into the abyss. Or is that "the abysmal" - woof. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is excruciating, too dark, and terribly edited. The only thing the Grue-crew can pluck out of the mud as a positive for this film is Iain Glen as Dr. Isaacs who plays the role with infectious relish. If only the subtitle "The Final Chapter" actually meant just that.
Making its way onto VOD and digital download, The Girl with All the Gifts is a refreshing and fascinating approach to zombie films. Based on a novel by Mike Carey, director Colm McCarthy crafts an exception film that promises to make a few top ten lists come next December. And, c'mon, seriously, how awesome is it that Glenn Close is fighting zombies...and kicking ass? Great characters, impressive twists on the zombie genre, and a top-notch directorial effort make The Girl with All the Gifts the first must-see film of the year.
Rings - Sadako vs Kayako
Gruesome Magazine Spring 2017 is coming! That's right, the very first issue of an all-new horror magazine from the Grue-Crew behind Horror News Radio and Gruesome Magazine website will land late February 2017. The tag line "Horror Festival Hits - Independent Films - The Future of Horror" reflects the focus of the magazine on the up'n'coming horror film makers and their films in Horror Film Festivals across the globe. Check out the GM page for more details.