Foreign correspondent Kieran Fisher steps in to review the Jane Goldman adaptation of "Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem" in Juan Carlos Medina's horror thriller The Limehouse Golem. The film spares no crimson bloodshed when it comes to displaying the horror of a killer striking London, England. Bill Nighy stars as Inspector Kildare with Olivia Cooke as a troubled witness to the murder. Check out Kieran's review below.
The Limehouse Golem (2017) 3.5 out of 5 stars
THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM - RLJ Entertainment
IN THEATERS AND AVAILABLE ON VOD AND DIGITAL HD: September 8, 2017
DIRECTED BY: Juan Carlos Medina
WRITTEN BY: Jane Goldman, based on the novel “Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem” by Peter Ackroyd
CAST: Bill Nighy, Olivia Cooke, Douglas Booth, Daniel Mays, and Eddie Marsan
SYNOPSIS: The city of London is gripped with fear as a serial killer – dubbed The Limehouse Golem – is on the loose and leaving cryptic messages written in his victim’s blood. With few leads and increasing public pressure, Scotland Yard assigns the case to Inspector Kildare (Bill Nighy) – a seasoned detective with a troubled past and a sneaking suspicion he’s being set up to fail. Faced with a long list of suspects, including music hall star Dan Leno (Douglas Booth), Kildare must get help from a witness who has legal troubles of her own (Olivia Cooke), so he can stop the murders and bring the killer to justice.
GENRE: Thriller
DISTRIBUTOR: RLJ Entertainment
JJ Fitt returns to review the haunted house fright fest The Domicile from writer/director Jared Cohn. The film starts off strong with a spooky apparition creating some terrifying havoc but the film quickly loses focus sliding into familiar territory. The film looks good with impressive makeup and design for the "ghosts" but ultimately fails to deliver. Check out JJ's review below.
The Domicile (2017) 1.25 stars out of 5
Director Jared Cohn (Devil's Domain) and Producer Gabriel Campisi (The Horde) invite you to The Domicile this August.
Russel Brody, a one-time successful playwright, works diligently on a follow-up play that could land him back in the spotlight he so dearly craves. With a baby on the way, however, and a strained marriage, stress, and frustration take center stage. When his wife accidentally stumbles down the stairs and dies from her injuries, Brody's mental state goes from bad to one of utter despair. In a bid to help his friend regain his sanity, Brody's co-writer David Stanley suggests he revisits Lucy, his former mistress. The ghost of Brody's dead wife awakens to the sordid details of his unfaithfulness, enraging her supernatural spirit to haunt him in every horrifying way imaginable. At first, Brody thinks he's hallucinating and hearing things in his head, the result of his state of mind and alcohol. But as things intensify, his grip on sanity quickly slips away, and he starts to go mad. Appearing in every shadow, and provoking him relentlessly, the ghost cranks up her onslaught, making his life a living hell. Brody reaches his breaking point when the ghost possesses his former mistress, and he's forced to confront the scorned entity -- resulting in a climax of both psychological and physical terror.
Starring Steve Richard Harris (Evil Nanny), Demetrius Stear (Death Pool), Katherine Flannery (Zombie Pizza) and Sara Malakul Lane (King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table), The Domicile from MTI Home Video, hitting DVD and VOD August 22.
Dave Dreher dives into Doc Rotten territory for a review of the found-footage epic horror tale The Monster Project (2017). Director Victor Mathieu weaves a tale of a group of "youtube" paranormal film makers looking to interview a real vampire, a real shape-shifter, and a real possessed person (ala The Ring). What they get instead is a night of terror, mayhem, and bloodshed - and a twist or two. Dave lets us know what he thought of the monsters, the directions, and the glorious effects. Check out his review below.
The Monster Project (2017) 3 out of 5 stars
Director: Victor Mathieu
Writers: Corbin Billings (screenplay), Shariya Lynn (screenplay), and Victor Mathieu
Cast: Toby Hemingway, Justin Bruening, Murielle Zuker
Synopsis:
When aspiring horror filmmakers post an online casting call looking for "real life" monsters to interview for their upcoming documentary called, The Monster Project, they find three individuals claiming to be a skin-walker, a vampire, and a demon. Meeting these monsters at a remote mansion in the woods on the night of a total lunar eclipse, the filmmakers invite the three subjects to share their haunting, personal experiences. Working on the crew is a recovering drug addict who suffers withdrawal and paranoia. As a person of faith, he fears his friends underestimate the dark powers they are summoning. When the interviews turn deadly, he must battle the demons, inside and out, to escape the house and defeat the rise of evil incarnate.
It's "Netflix and chill" on HNR this week as the Grue-Crew open the Death Note adaptation from director Adam Wingard and join The Defenders along side Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. Dave launches into the Horror News of the Week with the passing of the legendary director Tobe Hooper - a sad day for horror fans. Closing out the show Thomas challenges Dave, Doc, and guest-host Caitlan Turner to a round of Stump the Schmucks!
As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you, the listeners, the fans. You can always reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com or find us on Twitter: Doc Rotten | Dave Dreher | The Black Saint | Thomas Mariani. Also, like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.
Horror News Radio
Episode 230 – Death Note (Netflix, 2017) – The Defenders (Netflix, 2017)
Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher
“In the midst of a mountain blizzard, I have experienced a terrifying incident unparalleled in human history. At the very moment we were about to die, I clearly saw the monster with my own eyes . . .” These words are read from the journal of a dead man who had come face-to-face with a half-man, half-beast monster living in the mountains of Japan. Join the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era crew – Erin Miskell, Chad Hunt, Joseph Perry, and Jeff Mohr – as we discuss the hard to find, third film of the Toho Company, Half Human, aka Jû jin yuki otoko.
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 16 – Half Human (Jû jin yuki otoko,1955)
Directed by tokusatsu legend Ishirô Honda, Half Human tells the story of a group of student mountaineers (Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi) and their professor (Nobuo Nakamura) searching for two friends lost in a blizzard during the previous winter. Watching the students’ every move is a ruthless animal broker (Yoshio Kosugi) and his band on the hunt for the creature rumored to live in the mountains. The monster’s den is in a mountain cave and where he is worshipped by the local indigenous people, led by a Grand Elder (Kokuten Kôdô). As the students and the animal broker’s gang get closer to their quarries, they begin to clash, having a devastating effect on the monster and the tribal people.
Half Human has been banned by Toho for years and none of your faithful Grue Crew could find a high-quality copy. Possibly aligned with the forced unavailability of the film, we all had mixed feelings about Half Human. We all condemned the way the indigenous tribe is portrayed and the treatment doled out to Chika (Akemi Negishi) as she receives beatings from the Grand Elder and the other men of the tribe. For the most part, they all appreciated the special effects by Eiji Tsubaraya, another tokusatsu legend, especially the adult monster design. While we can’t unreservedly recommend Half Human, it is the third monster film from Toho and many listeners will recognize the actors from other Toho productions. It also has its place as an example of the discrimination of a people and abuse of women in the world over sixty years ago.
On the other hand, there is no reason to seek out the U.S. version unless you love the sound of John Carradine’s legendary voice. The American version, released in 1958, has had roughly half the original footage removed and replaced by a much smaller combination of scenes of Carradine sitting in his stateside office narrating the story to two colleagues. If you’re going to watch it, watch Jû jin yuki otoko instead.
We also have some great listener feedback this episode from Rafael Fernandez and our old friend salty-essentials Listen and you might just find out which of us does the funny voices.
We plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule is House on Haunted Hill (1959), hosted by our resident Vincent Price fangirl Erin.
Please let us know what you think of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era and what films you’d like to hear us cover! 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 (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, Stitcher, the Horror News Radio App, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.
To each of you from each of us, “Thank you for listening!”
"Sometimes, dead is better." Jud (Fred Gwyne) tries to warn Louis (Dale Midkiff) of the dangers of bringing back what has been buried. Will Louis heed these warnings? Can he recover from a major blow to his family? Or will he succumb to the temptations of the Pet Sematary? Take a trip down the dirt road (as pronounced RA-ODD like Jud would) and find out for yourself!
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 115 – Pet Sematary (1989)
Pet Sematary is a noteworthy Stephen King adaptation. It was the first adaptation he had creative control over (not including Maximum Overdrive, which no one had control over). He demanded that director Mary Lambert and her crew stick close to his script. King was very protective of his very emotional story of family turmoil, in which Louis and Rachel Creed (Denise Crosby) move their kids Ellie (Beau and Blaze Berdahl) and Gage (Miko Hughes) to the country. They're trying to raise their children and cat named Church. Unfortunately, a few members of that family die, leading Louis to attempt to bring them back via... a new burial.
Joining Thomas and Christopher to talk about dead kids and animals are Dave Dreher and Adam Thomas! Half have read Stephen King's novel, the other half hasn't. So, one side can help the other with answers. Answers to questions like: How much better would Bruce Campbell be than Dale Midkiff in the role of Louis? How much of Mike Hughes' performance is made in editing? Does Church actually eat the entire Thanksgiving feast for cats? All these answers and more rise out of the Pet Sematary! Just don't answer the door when the zombie questions knock at it. Unless you're into having sex with them. But we ain't judging.
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.
If you’re in the Atlanta area during Labor Day Weekend (Sept 1-4), make sure to visit us at Dragon Con Horror Track!
Special thanks to Neon Devils for their awesome song Bone Chillin!
Near Dark (1987) Recorded At Dragon Con!
Joseph Perry reports from BiFan about the latest Chad (Bite) Archibald horror film, The Heretics. Featuring Nina Kiri, Jorja Candence, and Ry Barrett, the film features a cult that returns from the dead to terrorize a young girl who once escaped their grasp. Joseph chimes in on the direction, the acting, and the horrific terror that lies within. Check out his review below.
The Heretics 3.5 starts out of 5
d. Chad Archibald w/ Jayme Laforest
cast. Nina Kiri, Jorja Cadence, and Ry Barrett
Synopsis:
A notorious cult kidnaps a young girl, and sacrifice themselves by the light of the locust moon. The next morning the girl awakes, caked in dried blood and surrounded by corpses...but safe - or so she thinks. Years later, the locust moon is about to rise again and the girl is captured once more by a surviving member of the cult. She is taken to a remote cabin where she learns that a demon has been growing inside of her all these years, and before the dawn, it will rise.
Paul Cardullo takes a look at an unusual Groovy Gory Gruesome Gold film this week — writer/director Dusty Nelson's Effects (1980). Though it was shot in 1978 and ostensibly released in 1980, it did not receive a proper release until the DVD came out in 2006. Paul takes a look at the new 4K Blu Ray restoration just released by American Genre Film Archive. The cast and crew is comprised of a number of once-and-future alumni of George A. Romero films, including Joseph Pilato (Rhodes from Day of the Dead (1985)), make-up genius Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead (1978) et al.), and John Harrison (composer and 2nd-unit director on Creepshow (1982) and Day of the Dead (1985)). Paul discusses the meta-contextual nature of the film and why sometimes things are not always as we expect them to be. Listen below to check out his review and find out just why you should seek out this lesser-known gem.
Effects (1980) 4 out of 5 stars
Synopsis:
While a crew is filming an ultra-low-budget horror film, most of them are also unaware that their director is simultaneously shooting a snuff film — with some of them as the unwitting subject.s
Director: Dusty Nelson
Writers: William H. Mooney (novel), Dusty Nelson (screenplay)
Cast: Joseph Pilato, Susan Chapek, John Harrison, and Tom Savini
Run time: 84 min
From American Film Genre Archive:
Effects
A new 4K transfer of this snuff-fueled frighmare starring Tom Savini and Joe Pilato
Cobbled together with loose change by George Romero's friends, Effects is a mesmerizing D.I.Y. frightmare that no one talks about, but everyone should. A group of coked-up filmmakers — including Tom "Dawn of the Dead" Savini, Joe "Day fo the Dead" Pilato, and John "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie" Harrison — gather in Pittsburgh to make a slasher. As filming begins and "accidents" happen, it's clear that something isn't right. And no one can be trusted. Landing somewhere between Snuff and a student film by John Carpenter, Effects is a meta-enhanced takedown on the philosophy of horror that doubles as a sleazy and terrifying movie on its own.
BONUS MATERIALS
The Black Saint chimes in with his review of the sci-fi horror thriller Alien: Reign of Man (2017). The film is by writer/director Justin Price. The cast includes Khu, Torrei Hart, and Deanna Grace Congo. And you can count on The Black Saint to not let anything slip by him - hold onto your hats, this is going to be a bumpy ride. Listen below to see if this release can cut the mustard.
Alien: Reign of Man (2017) 1 out of 5 Starts
Uncork’d Entertainment’s Alien: Reign of Man invades VOD this August.
Come face to face with a deadly new race of alien in writer-director Justin Price’s frightening new sci-fi horror.
Stranded on a distant planet, a team must fight aliens and activate a machine meant to restore Earth to a time before its downfall. Deanna Grace Congo, Torrei Hart, Khu, and Cameron White star.
From the director of Dark Moon Rising and The Cloth, Alien: Reign of Man on VOD August 1 and DVD November 14.
The Black Saint and Thomas check out the latest film from Ana Lily Amirpour called The Bad Batch. Also, the entire Grue-Crew discover the mysteries of What Happened To Monday from Netflix and director Tommy Wirkola. Dave launches into the Horror News of the Week with the passing of Sonny Landham from Predator fame. He also discusses the new Punisher trailer from Netflix and teaser news about the possibility of a Dead Snow 3. Closing out the show Thomas challenges The Black Saint to another round of Stump the Saint!
As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you, the listeners, the fans. You can always reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com or find us on Twitter: Doc Rotten | Dave Dreher | The Black Saint | Thomas Mariani. Also, like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.
Horror News Radio
Episode 229 – The Bad Bad (2017) – What Happened To Monday (2017)
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"Hasta La Vista, Baby." What?! Terminator 2 on a horror podcast? What kind of insanity is this? If you're asking those questions, it's only fair. Terminator 2 is far more beloved as a sci-fi actioner than for its horror thrills. Yet, looking at the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) and his cold pursuit of John Connor (Edward Furlong), it's pretty horrific. Kind of like a slasher film only with a sci-fi twist. He's an unstoppable killing machine out to destroy. The only thing that may stop him is the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger). That is, if Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) will allow the visage that killed John's father to help out. It's a story of survival, family and the run that made Tom Cruise famous.
Decades of Horror 1990s
Episode 22 – Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Terminator 2 is inarguably the peak of writer/director James Cameron. It's an actioner full of set pieces most action films could only dream to have as their climactic finales. A sequel that ups the ante of the original Terminator's scrappy efficient thrills. We get full role reversals as the T-800 saves the day. Having to contend with Sarah Connor's doubt and John's affection while trying to defeat the sleek new model of the T-1000. And boy is he sleek. Winner of four Academy Awards, Terminator 2 revolutionized computer generated effects. Yet, much of what made such effects work is helped by the presence of practical effects alongside them. Afterall, would the T-1000's helicopter crash be nearly as good without an actual helicopter being crushed on the road? Probably not.
To help cover all the time paradoxes and high pitched noises from Edward Furlong, Thomas sends two perfect robot co-hosts back in time to cover Terminator 2; Christopher G. Moore and Shakyl Lambert. Together, these three ask the important questions. What is more terrifying: Robert Patrick's run or Danny Cooksey's mullet? Would Denzel Washington have been a better Miles Dyson? Will we see a nuclear holocaust as terrifying as the opening scene in our lifetime? All these and more are answered as Decades of Horror the 1990s finds out exactly why you cry.
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. Also, make sure to give us some love via iTunes reviews and ratings. Helps us get more notice along the way.
If you’re in the Atlanta area during Labor Day Weekend (Sept 1-4), make sure to visit us at Dragon Con Horror Track!
The intro and outro is “Suck City” by Black Math. Look for more of their music via Free Music Archive.
Stephen King's It (1990)
"Things only seem to be magic. There is no real magic. There's no real magic ever." With this line, Martin laments the lack of real magic in life, even while claiming to be an 84-year-old vampire in a 20-year-old’s body. Join your Grue Crew as we pay tribute to George Romero by discussing Martin (1978), his personal favorite of his films, a truly unique and innovative take on vampires. Doc Rotten is still on hiatus, diligently working on the next issues of the Gruesome Magazine quarterly print and electronic editions. (Issue #2 is now available. Don’t miss out!) In the interim, your regular hosts, The Black Saint and Jeff Mohr, are joined by the capable and knowledgeable Bill Mulligan, film director, and special guest Thomas Mariani, the hardest working man in podcasting.
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 57 – Martin (1978)
Written, directed, and edited by George A. Romero, Martin is an intense and realistic treatment that follows the exploits of Martin (John Amplas), a seems-to-be young man who claims to be 84 years old, and who certainly drinks human blood. The boy arrives in Pittsburgh to stay with his Uncle Kuda (Lincoln Maazel), who promises to save Martin's soul and destroy him once he is finished, but Martin's loneliness finds other means of release. Also in the mix are Martin’s cousin Christina (Christine Forrest) and her boyfriend Arthur (Tom Savini).
The Grue Crew doles out heaping helpings of praise for Martin. Bill Mulligan marvels at the high quality of the acting performances even though several key members of the cast have minimal film credits. Bill and Jeff Mohr point out Romero’s masterful editing and how it efficiently tells the story while eliciting tension, horror, and feelings of isolation and loneliness. Thomas Mariani observes that much of Martin’s interaction with other people might place him somewhere on the autism spectrum. Jeff is intrigued by the use of the call-in radio show to add insight into Martin’s mental state. The crew also discusses how the characters all seem trapped in one way or another. Martin and Kuda are trapped by their family legacy, while Christina and Arthur plot to escape the traditional trap set for everyone by the comfortable, slow torture of their surroundings.
Bill, Thomas, and Jeff each owned the finger guillotine magic trick Martin demonstrates in the film (The Black Saint ignored the trick and actually severed fingers) and we all remark on the effectiveness of Tom Savini’s simple and cost effective gags. Finally, as The Black Saint loses all semblance of control, we take a trip down memory lane and wax nostalgic about the different ways we each fed our hunger for horror films.
Check out the other Decades of Horror episodes that delve into the films of George Romero: Night of the Living Dead (1968), Creepshow (1982), Day of the Dead (1985), and The Dark Half (1993).
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.
The Grue-Crew hug their dollies tight as they witness Annabelle: Creation. Dave launches into the Horror News of the Week with the first trailer for mother!, whispers of a Hannibal TV revival, and plans for The Munsters returning to NBC. Closing out the show Thomas challenges The Black Saint to a double round of Stump the Saint!
As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you, the listeners, the fans. You can always reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com or find us on Twitter: Doc Rotten | Dave Dreher | The Black Saint | Thomas Mariani. Also, like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.
Horror News Radio
Episode 228 – Annabelle: Creation (2017)
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Joseph Perry shares his thoughts on a film he caught at the Buchon Internation Film Festival called Better Watch Out (2017). The film will also screen at the Popcorn Fright Film Festival. It also took the "gold prize" for "Best North American, South American, or European Feature Film" at the 2017 Fantasia International Film Festival. Better Watch Out is from director Chris Peckover and features Levi Miller, Olivia DeJonge, Virginia Madsen, Ed Oxenbould, and Patrick Warburton. Listen to Joseph's review below and let us know what you think.
Better Watch Out (2017) 4 out of 5 starts
Better Watch Out opens in select theaters and Video on Demand October 6, 2017, from WellGo USA.
Synopsis:
On a quiet suburban street, a babysitter must defend a twelve-year-old boy from intruders, only to discover it's far from a normal home invasion.
Director: Chris Peckover
Writers: Zach Kahn and Chris Peckover
Cast: Dacre Montgomery, Levi Miller, Olivia DeJonge, Virginia Madsen, Ed Oxenbould, and Patrick Warburton
Run time: 1h 25min
Previously known as Safe Neighborhood
Paul Cardullo welcomes back Doc Rotten to discuss another feature from the recent Fantasia Internation Film Festival. This time it is the Argentina film Dead Man Tells His Own Tale (2017, "El Muerto Cuenta su Historia"). The film is from director Fabian Forte from a script he co-wrote with Nicolas Britos. The cast includes Diego Gentile, Mariana Anghileri, Emila Attias, and Damian Dreizik. The story follows Angel who is murdered by a group of blood-sucking Celtic faeries who turn his corpse into a zombie-slave. Doc shares his thoughts below.
Dead Man Tells His Own Tale (2017) 3 out of 5
Original title: "El Muerto Cuenta su Historia"
Director: Fabian Forte
Writers: Fabian Forte and Nicolas Britos
Cast: Diego Gentile, Mariana Anghileri, Emila Attias, and Damian Dreizik
Run time: 90 min
“They're coming to get you, Barbara,” Johnny teases his sister. Things didn’t turn out so well for Johnny or Barbra. The horror community lost a giant when George Romero died July 16, 2017. Join the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era crew – Erin Miskell, Chad Hunt, Joseph Perry, and Jeff Mohr – as we pay tribute to Mr. Romero by taking a shot at his masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead.
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 15 – Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George Romero is co-writer (with John Russo), director, cinematographer, and editor of Night of the Living Dead. Made in the Pittsburgh area for only $114,000 in 1968, the film grossed $30,000,000 and established the rules of zombie behavior for many, many films to follow.
The story follows seven people - Ben (Duane Jones), Barbra (Judith O’Dea), Tom (Keith Wayne), Judy (Judith Ridley), Harry Cooper (Karl Hardman), his wife Helen (Marilyn Eastman), and their daughter Karen (Kyra Schon) - trapped in an isolated farmhouse, besieged by a growing legion of the living dead. Key supporting roles in Night of the Living Dead include Russell Streiner as Johnny, George Kosana as Sheriff McClelland, Bill Cardille as the field News Reporter, and S. William Hinzman (Bill Heinzman) as the first ghoul.
Your intrepid Grue Crew also ventures into a discussion of the cultural, sociological, and historical events coinciding with the making and release of the film and the effects they have on them as they rewatch Night of the Living Dead. A resounding cheer is heard for the recent 4k restoration of the film currently receiving a limited theatrical run, and for the possibility of a new 4k Blu-ray release sometime soon.
Lastly, Jeff reads some listener feedback on Episode 14 - Bride of Frankenstein from Dave Johnston, and on Episode 11 - The Mummy from saltyessentials. Be sure to check out salty’s blog, Dead Man’s Brain.
We plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule is Jû jin yuki otoko (the original 1955 Japanese version, aka Half Human).
Please let us know what you think of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era and what films you’d like to hear us cover! 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 (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, Stitcher, the Horror News Radio App, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.
To each of you from each of us, “Thank you for listening!”
Joseph Perry shares his thoughts about the coming of age thriller Super Dark Times (2017) which played at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival. The film is directed by Kevin Phillips and written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski. The cast includes Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, and Elizabeth Cappuccino. Joseph champions the direction, the acting, and the thrilling, tight script. Listen below to check out his review.
Super Dark Times (2017) 4.5 out of 5
Synopsis:
Teenagers Zach and Josh have been best friends their whole lives, but when a gruesome accident leads to a cover-up, the secret drives a wedge between them and propels them down a rabbit hole of escalating paranoia and violence.
Director: Kevin Phillips
Writers: Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski
Cast: Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, and Elizabeth Cappuccino
Runtime: 100 min
Dave Dreher sits down with Doc to discuss the fantastic anthology film Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories. Featuring the work of Sean Blevins, John William Holt, Jon Maynard, Nathan Thomas Milliner, Justin Seaman, and James Treakle with an ensemble cast including Cindy Maples, Moses Moseley, Theo Kostaridis, and Thomas Dunbar, Volumes of Blood : Horror Stories features 7 original stories craftily assembled by producing team P.J. Starks, Eric Huskisson (The Confession of Fred Krueger), and Christopher Bower (The Dooms Chapel Horror).
[powerpress]
Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories [usr 4]
A couple plans to purchase an old home, but would like one last tour before the closing. They’re guided around the estate by a creepy realtor that may have more in store than they bargained for. Searching floor by floor, they begin to discover the remnants of its sordid and terrifying past… A popular 80’s franchise gets a modern upgrade, but at what price? On Halloween night a teen left home alone meets a trick or treater that wants more than just candy. A door to door insurance salesman makes a Thanksgiving house call with monstrous consequences. Andrew and Sara are happily married and plan on spending some quality time together, but something sinister has other plans for their evening. Carol’s Christmas Eve turns into a fight for survival when a vengeful stranger isn’t feeling the holiday spirit. Lastly, a birthday party turns bloody when some unexpected guests drop by at the wrong time. Seven interwoven tales of terror, how many stories does your house have?
"Choke on 'em. CHOKE ON 'EM!" Rhodes (Joseph Pilato) tells those ghouls exactly what they can do with his own guts. It's a terrifying example of zombie carnage. One that still stands as a special effects achievement for Tom Savini. Still, does that mean Day of the Dead holds a candle to what George A. Romero started in Night or Dawn? Some would say no. Others say it ratchets things up to the next level. Where does this crew stand? Tune in to find out!
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 114 – Day of the Dead (1985)
Day of the Dead seems like the redheaded stepchild of the original Living Dead trilogy. Not as groundbreaking as Night and not as incredibly successful as Dawn, Day is a unique beast. We see the development of the zombie apocalypse from initial phases to near extinction with this trilogy. Now, humanity is stuck underground and tensions are high. Food is running low, ammunition is being stock piled and there are factions being established. All the while, scientific progress is attempting to flourish as the scientist works with Bub (Sherman Howard), a zombie who shows signs of remembering his past. Even after better appraisal following lesser Romero zombie efforts like Diary or Survival, Day just seems to get lost in the shuffle.
Thomas enlists a few people to help find this card stuck in the deck. Santos Ellin Jr is amongst that crowd, praising Day of the Dead as the best of the Living Dead series. He loves the apocalyptic tone and brutal kills. Christopher G. Moore returns to the show and is less than impressed with the annoying characters and cheap look. Dragon*Con guru Derek Tatum comes on the show to give Day its... well, day in court. Thomas rounds out the cast by agreeing the film deserves more praise, as the best aspects surf over the problems without much issue. Mainly Bub as one of the stand out zombie characters of all time. Better than any of the zombies in Diary at any rate.
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.
If you're in the Atlanta area during Labor Day Weekend (Sept 1-4), make sure to visit us at Dragon*Con Horror Track!
Special thanks to Neon Devils for their awesome song Bone Chillin!
Pet Semetary (1989)
Paul Cardullo tackles another retro classic with this week's Groovy Gory Gruesome Gold entry. Arrow Video is releasing a limited edition of the iconic Re-Animator (1985) with a special edited cut of the film and tons of extras. Paul is here to give his thoughts on the film, enjoying the opportunity to revisit a classic that holds up today just as awesome as it did when released 32 years ago. Check out his review below.
Re-Animator (1985) [usr 4.75]
From Arrow Video:
US TITLE: Re-Animator (Blu-ray) Limited Edition
Stuart Gordon’s enduring splatter-comedy classic Re-Animator returns to Blu-ray in a stunning restoration packed with special features!
Pre-order now: http://bit.ly/2oRCh91
Release Dates: 25 July
HERBERT WEST HAS A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS… AND ANOTHER ONE ON HIS DESK.
One of the most wildly popular horror movies of all-time, Stuart Gordon’s enduring splatter-comedy classic Re-Animator returns to Blu-ray in a stunning restoration packed with special features!
When medical student Dean Cain advertises for a roommate, he soon finds one in the form of Dr. Herbert West. Initially a little eccentric, it some becomes clear that West entertains some seriously outlandish theories – specifically, the possibility of re-animating the dead. It’s not long before Dean finds himself under West’s influence, and embroiled in a serious of ghoulish experiments which threaten to go wildly out of control…
Based on H.P. Lovecraft’s classic terror tale ‘Herbert West – Reanimator’ and featuring a standout performance from Jeffrey Combs as the deliciously deranged West, Re-Animator remains the ground-zero of ’80s splatter mayhem and one of the genre’s finest hours.
Joseph Perry reviews the short film Pronoia from Marevan Pictures and writer/director Nick Efteriades. The short features Stelio Savante as Jeff, Hannah Jane McMurray as Camille, and Lou Mastantuono (AKA Lou Mast) as a policeman, in an enigmatic neo-noir mystery thriller with science fiction elements. Jeff and Camille meet on a stormy night in a posh hotel, but a news report about a missing government official (Marston Allen as Lt. Griswold) alters the course of events. Check out the review and let us know what you think!
Pronoia 4 out of 5
Pronoia premiered at the Academy-accredited Sunscreen film festival in competition and also won a Gold Remi award at World-Fest Houston. The short is available to watch online now at https://vimeo.com/213551675.
Doc Rotten joins Dave Dreher to review Annabelle: Creation (2017) the fourth in a series of films establishing The Conjuring Universe. The film is directed by David F. Sandberg and features Stephanie Sigman, Miranda Otto, Anthony LaPaglia, Lulu Wilson, Talitha Bateman, Kerry O'Malley, Philippa Coulthard, Grace Fulton, and Samara Lee. Much like Ouija: Origin of Evil, Annabelle: Creation is a prequel to a far lesser film, escalating the horror, screams, and fun. These two films also share the young star, Lulu Wilson. The film follows a doll maker and his wife who take in a group of orphans 12 years after their daughter dies tragically at an early age. One young girl, Janice (Talitha Bateman), discovers the hidden secrets of the house unleashing a once-vanquished evil ... and, of course, the Annabelle doll. But, the film is far more than that. Listen to hear what Doc has to say about Annabelle: Creation.
Annabelle: Creation 4 out of 5
ANNABELLE: CREATION (2017)
The next chapter in The Conjuring universe
Synopsis:
Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle.
Director: David F. Sandberg
Writer: Gary Dauberman
Cast: Stephanie Sigman, Miranda Otto, Lulu Wilson, Anthony LaPaglia, Talitha Bateman, Alicia Vela-Bailey, Kerry O'Malley, Philippa Coulthard, Joseph Bishara, Adam Bartley, Samara Lee, and Brian Howe
Producer: James Wan
Release Date: August 11, 2017
Rated R, 1h 49min
Paul Cardullo talks to Doc Rotten about the French horror-comedy from the Fantasia International Film Festival called The Mansion (Le Manior, 2017). The film is directed by Tony T. Datis and features Marc Jarousseau, Nathalie Odzierejko, and Ludovik Day. Paul discusses the pacing and humor of the film explaining how the film grows on you as the humor - which is often lost in translation - improves during its bloody third act. Check out the review below and let us know what you think!
The Mansion (Le Manior, 2017) [usr 3.5]
Synopsis:
A band of students comes to celebrate the New Year in an old manor house isolated from everything. But soon after their arrival, strange events disrupt the atmosphere, before the party turns squarely to the nightmare.
Director: Tony T. Datis
Writers: Bernardo Barilli, Bernardo Barilli, Dominique Gauriaud, Marc Jarousseau,Jurij Prette
Cast: Marc Jarousseau, Nathalie Odzierejko, Ludovik Day, Jérôme Niel,Yvick Letexier, Vincent Tirel, Vanessa Guide, Delphine Baril, Baptiste Lorber, Lila Lacombe, Willy Denzey, José Garcia
The Grue-Crew head to Mid-world to help the Gunslinger defend The Dark Tower (2017) from the evil Man in Black. Thomas and Doc set their eyes on a cool 68 thousand big ones for the VOD release of 68 Kill (2017). Dave launches into the Horror News of the Week with the passing of Haruo Nakajima, the man in the Godzilla suit. He also discusses the 2 disc collector's edition of The Dead Next Door and the upcoming remake of Death Wish from Eli Roth, featuring Bruce Willis. Closing out the show Thomas announces the winner of last month's Stump the Saint prize!
As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you, the listeners, the fans. You can always reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com or find us on Twitter: Doc Rotten | Dave Dreher | The Black Saint | Thomas Mariani. Also, like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.
Horror News Radio
Episode 227 – The Dark Tower (2017) – 68 Kill (2017)
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Joseph Perry joins Doc Rotten to discuss The Endless from directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. Joseph caught the film at the Bucheaon Internation Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in Bucheon, South Korea recently. The film also played at the Fantasia International Film Festival (July 12 - August 2, 2017) in Montreal, Canada and again at the upcoming Popcorn Frights Film Festival (August 11-17, 2017) in Miami, Florida. Listen below to hear Josephs thoughts on the film and the talented directors.
THE ENDLESS is the story of two brothers who return to the deal cult from which they fled a decade ago, to find that there might be some truth to the group’s otherworldly beliefs.
Directors: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead
Screenwriter: Justin Benson
Cast: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, Tate Ellington, James Jordan, Shane Brady and Kira Powell
Producers: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, Thomas R. Burke, David Lawson Jr. and Leal Naim
TRT: 111 MIN
The Endless also won the top prize at BIFAN, the Best Of Bucheon prize.