I am your host Doc Rotten and this is the GRUESOME GUIDE to Horror Movies for February 2021. Back with me again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net. Joining me tonight is Podcasting Rock Star & International Cosplay Queen, Vanessa Thompson.
Synopsis: A gothic period piece inspired by the torrid love affair of Mary and Percy Shelley and the creation of her famous novel, Frankenstein. As she creates her masterpiece, she gives birth to a monster.
Director: Nora Unkel
Writer: Nora Unkel
Cast: Alix Wilton and Giullian Gioiello
Synopsis: After losing her husband during the Great Plague, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk) is unjustly accused of being a witch and placed in the custody of England’s most ruthless witch-hunter, Judge Moorcroft (Sean Pertwee). Forced to endure physical and emotional torture while steadfastly maintaining her innocence, Grace must face her own inner demons as the Devil himself starts to work his way into her mind.
Director: Neil Marshall
Writer: Neil Marshall, Charlotte Kirk, and Edward Evers-Swindell
Cast: Charlotte Kirk, Joe Anderson, Steven Waddington, and Sean Pertwee
Synopsis: Secluded in a desolate forest home to little more than the decaying remnants of the past, a broken family is further torn apart by a mysterious death. Adam, guided by a pervasive sense of dread, hunts for answers only to learn that they are not alone; an insidious presence by the name of Sator has been observing his family, subtly influencing all of them for years in an attempt to claim them.
Director: Jordan Graham
Writer: Jordan Graham
Cast: Michael Daniel, Rachel Johnson, Aurora Lowe
Synopsis: After his mother’s death, Isaac and his pregnant wife return to his birthplace on a remote Norwegian island to claim an unexpected inheritance. During their visit, the couple discovers dark secrets from Isaac’s past. Their pleasant trip quickly turns into a nightmare when Isaac and his wife encounter a sinister cult that worships a sea-dwelling deity.
Director: Andy Collier, Toor Mian
Writer: Andy Collier
Cast: Barbara Crampton, Sophie Stevens, Ludovic Hughes
Synopsis: When his car breaks down, a quiet loner (Nic Cage) agrees to clean an abandoned family fun center in exchange for repairs. He soon finds himself waging war against possessed animatronic mascots while trapped inside Willy's Wonderland.
Director: Kevin Lewis
Writer: G.O. Parsons
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Emily Tosta, Beth Grant
Synopsis: A girl living with schizophrenia struggles with terrifying hallucinations as she begins to suspect her neighbor has kidnapped a child. The only person who believes her is Caleb -a boy she isn't even sure exists.
Director: Castille Landon
Writer: Castille Landon
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Madison Iseman, Harry Connick Jr., & Israel Broussard
Synopsis: High schooler Yuri finds herself atop a skyscraper in a strange world, where she must survive against masked assailants bent on killing their prey.
Director: Masahiro Takata for Zero-G
Writer: Touko Machida (7SEEDS) will be overseeing the series scripts
Cast: Haruka Shiraishi as Yuri Honjo, Shiki Aoki as Mayuko Nise, Akira Sekine as Kuon Shinzaki, Junya Enoki as Rika Honjo, and Yuichiro Umehara as Sniper Mask
Synopsis: Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, THE VIGIL is a supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong.
Director: Keith Thomas
Writer: Keith Thomas
Cast: Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman
"He who robs the graves of Egypt dies!" Well, most of them anyway. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew - Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, Jeff Mohr, and returning Joseph Perry - as they manage to avoid the nefarious consequences prophecied in Hammer’s The Mummy (1959).
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 91 – The Mummy (1959)
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In 1895, British archaeologists find and open the tomb of Egyptian Princess Ananka with nefarious consequences.
IMDb
Chad picked this Hammer gem and he loves the more active mummy as played by Christopher Lee and he appreciates the backstory provided as well. Whitney also approves and calls The Mummy a lot of fun. After all, how can you go wrong with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee? For Joseph, the Christopher Lee mummy is a more threatening monster than that presented in Universal’s The Mummy (1932) by Boris Karloff. Jeff agrees that Christopher Lee puts his own indelible stamp on the movie’s title character and loves the elaborate sets seen in Hammer films that include Bernard Robinson’s production designs.
At the time of this writing, you can catch The Mummy streaming on various VOD sites. Check it out! You'll be glad you did!
You can check out the Classic Era’s episode on Universal’s original at The Mummy (1932) – Episode 11 – Decades Of Horror: The Classic Era
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. On their next episode, they will discuss Tales of Terror (1962), directed by Roger Corman, written by Richard Matheson, and starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Maggie Pierce, Leona Gage, Joyce Jameson, and Debra Paget. You’ll want to be there for that one.
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
To each of you from each of us, “Thank you so much for listening!”
"Listen, young lady. I don't know who you are or where you came from, but you most certainly don't fit in this town. Why, you don't even fit in that dress." Well, that wasn’t a very nice thing to say. Join your faithful Grue-Crew - Crystal Cleveland, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they experience the media phenomena known as Elvira in Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988).
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 172 – Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Upon arriving in a small town where she has inherited a rundown mansion, a famous horror hostess battles an evil uncle, and townspeople who want her burned at the stake.
IMDb
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is Bill’s pick and it is a first-time watch for him. He did enjoy the watch and even though it’s a bad movie, Elvira is a great, compelling character and Cassandra Peterson knows that character inside and out. It might not be a surprise that Crystal loves everything about Elvira and watches this film 2 or 3 times each year. For her, it’s lighthearted and silly and super dumb and super good. Lilly Munster meets The Addams Family meets Henny Youngman is how Chad sees Elvira and he’s a big fan as well. As another first time viewer, Jeff agrees it’s an enjoyable, fun movie and he loved all the good character actors supporting Cassandra Peterson.
If you haven’t seen it or haven’t seen it for a while, check it out! You know you want to! As of this writing, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is available to stream on Shudder, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and on physical media as a Blu-ray from Arrow Films.
Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Crystal, will be Society (1989).
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
Be sure to subscribe to the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel to catch all the HNR episodes. And check out Patreon to see how to watch the recordings live!
This is HORROR NEWS RADIO, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE podcast. Back with Doc Rotten once again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net.
Two thieving teenage brothers, stealing money to help their sick mom, match wits with a troubled security guard stuck at the bottom of a forgotten well.
IMDb
"What unit are you with? Why are you here? Why are you doing this to us?” That’s stuff you’d want to know if the military showed up to take over your town, right? Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they take some time off from today’s world of crazies to visit the world of George A. Romero’s The Crazies (1973).
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 130 – The Crazies (1973)
Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!
Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content!
https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine
The military attempts to contain a manmade combat virus that causes death and permanent insanity in those infected, as it overtakes a small Pennsylvania town.
IMDb
Though not one of Romero’s best films, The Crazies has plenty to offer. Back in the day, Chad thought it was a strange movie for Romero to make but does like some of the ideas presented and finds it interesting. Bill loves the scene with the knitting lady and thinks of The Crazies as a stopgap between Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Dawn of the Dead. For Jeff, The Crazies is one of those movies that has a lot more to offer on the second and third viewings. This is the first watch for Doc and he thinks that with all the messages and opinions within The Crazies, it must be watched with an eye on when it was made.
So, yeah, it has its faults, but your Decades of Horror 1970s Grue-Crew say, “Hey! It’s Romero! The Crazies is required viewing!” At the time of this writing, The Crazies is available to stream on The Criterion Channel and Amazon Prime and as physical media on a Blu-ray disc from Arrow Video.
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next episode in their very flexible schedule will be the classic 1972 CBS TV-movie Gargoyles, starring Cornell Wilde, Jennifer Salt, and Bernie Casey, featuring special effects work by Stan Winston in his first credit.
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 feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.
"You'll never catch a monkey that way." Well, Carl Denham oughta know. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew - Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, Jeff Mohr, and guest host and special effects artist Ed Martinez - as they make another journey to the jungles of Skull Island for a playdate with The Son of Kong (1933).
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 90 – The Son of Kong (1933)
The men who captured the giant ape King Kong return to Skull Island and find his likewise gigantic but far more friendly son.
IMDb
This episode signals the return of special effects artist Ed Martinez as a guest host. This time around, he has chosen The Son of Kong for the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue-Crew to discuss. Ed thinks of The Son of Kong as being part of a trilogy begun by King Kong (1933) and completed with Mighty Joe Young (1949). In fact, he credits King Kong with his becoming a special effects artist. Chad thinks of King Kong and The Son of King Kong as one continuous story and whenever he watches King Kong, he usually follows it up with The Son of Kong. Expecting more of the same of what he got in King Kong, Jeff was a little disappointed the first time he saw The Son of Kong. Over time, however, he has come to appreciate the film and particularly likes the genesis of Carl Denham. Whitney loves the film even if it does feel a bit weird to describe a horror film with words like sweet and adorable. Of course, they all had to wonder, whatever happened to Queen Kong?
At the time of this writing, you can catch The Son of Kong streaming on HBOmax or as physical media on a Blu-ray disk from Warner Brothers. While you’re at it, make it a double feature with Pappa Kong’s movie and listen to one of our first Classic Era podcasts, Episode 4 - King Kong (1933).
Chad, Whitney, and Jeff give a big Grue-Crew thank you to Ed Martinez! His passion for and knowledge of stop-motion animation and his experience as a director of special effects and a special effects artist added immeasurably to this episode!
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. The next episode will see the return of fellow Grue-Crew member Joseph Perry to the podcast and Whitney, Chad, and Jeff can’t wait! On that episode, they will discuss a movie chosen by Chad which will be The Mummy (1959), from Hammer Film s and starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Yvette, Furneaux. You’ll want to be there for that one.
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
To each of you from each of us, “Thank you so much for listening!”
Be sure to subscribe to the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel to catch all the HNR episodes. And check out Patreon to see how to watch the recordings live!
This is HORROR NEWS RADIO, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE podcast. Back with Doc Rotten once again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net.
Synopsis: A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.
IMDb
Be sure to subscribe to the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel to catch all the HNR episodes. And check out Patreon to see how to watch the recordings live!
This is HORROR NEWS RADIO, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE podcast. Back with Doc Rotten once again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net.
Synopsis: An exiled priest tries to escape his demons while living in a remote village in Spain.
IMDb
"He couldn't have walked very far. ... Because I cut off his legs... and his arms... and his head... and I'm going to do the same to you." Say what? Join your faithful Grue-Crew - Crystal Cleveland, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they learn the perils of picking up a hitchhiker in The Hitcher (1986).
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 171 – The Hitcher (1986)
A young man who escapes the clutches of a murderous hitchhiker is subsequently stalked by the hitcher and framed for his crimes.
IMDb
The Hitcher is an interesting film for several reasons. Your Decades of Horror 1980s Grue-Crew all agree that Rutger Hauer rocks as do Jennifer Jason Leigh, C. Thomas Howell, and a bevy of quality character actors. They also agree that the plot is full of holes, but nobody much cares. Jeff thinks The Hitcher feels a bit like an 80s version of Spielberg’s Duel (1971) and that the desert is almost the movie’s fourth lead character. As the story unfolds, Crystal has a different interpretation of events and thinks her version would have made a better film. Chad is completely on board with Crystal’s interpretation and laments the huge logic holes in the plot, but still loves The Hitcher. Bill says picking up hitchhikers is a crapshoot at best and finds himself liking The Hitcher while, at the same time, being annoyed by it. He also sings the praises of the film’s cinematographer John Seale.
Your 80s Grue-Crew recommends you turn off your mind and go along for the ride with this taut thriller. At the time of this writing, The Hitcher is available to stream on MAXGO, the Amazon Cinemax channel, and the DIRECTV app. As for physical media, the film is currently available on DVD and a German import Blu-ray.
Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Bill, will be Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988).
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
Join your host Doc Rotten on the GRUESOME GUIDE to Horror Movies for January 2021. Back again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net. Joining Doc tonight is Podcasting Rock Star & International Cosplay Queen, Vanessa Thompson.
Available select Theaters, on Demand, and Digital January 1, 2021.
Writer: Max Landis, Roseanne Liang
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale
Available on HBOMax Beginning January 4, 2021
Director: Álex de la Iglesia
Writer: Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Álex de la Iglesia
Cast: Eduard Fernández, Megan Montaner, Miguel Ángel Silvestre
In select theaters and on VOD January 12, 2021
Director: Adrian Langley
Writer: Adrian Langley and Daniel Weissenberger
Cast: Simon Phillips, Michael Swatton, Julie Mainville, Anne-Carolyne Binette, James Hicks, Frederik Storm, Nick Allan, Samantha De Benedet, Blake Canning, Jonathan Largy
In Select Drive-ins and on Demand Jan. 14th, 2021
Director: Alister Grierson (Sanctum)
Writer: Robert Benjamin
Cast: Ben O’Toole (Hacksaw Ridge), Meg Fraser (Leech), Caroline Craig (Blue Heelers), Matthew Sunderland (Out Of The Blue), and Travis Jeffery (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales)
Available on SHUDDER January 14, 2021
Director: Vincent Paronnaud
Writer: Vincent Paronnaud
Cast: Magritte Award-winning actors Lucie Debay (THE CONFESSION) and Arieh Worthalter (GIRL)
Available January 19th, 2021 from 1091 Pictures
Director: Erik Bloomquist
Writer: Erik Bloomquist, Carson Bloomquist
Cast: Caroline Williams, Nicole Kang, Nicholas Tucci, Adam Weppler, William Youmans
In Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD January 22
Director: Steven Kostanski
Writer: Steven Kostanski
Cast: Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre, Adam Brooks, Alexis Hancey, and Matthew Ninaber
Director: Mike P. Nelson
Writer: Alan B. McElroy
Cast: Matthew Modine, Charlotte Vega, Emma Dumont
Premieres January 28 on SHUDDER
Director: Kimo Stamboel
Writer: Joko Anwar
Cast: Ario Bayu, Hannah Al Rashid, Adhisty Zara
Coming to theaters and exclusively on HBO Max on January 29
Director: John Lee Hancock
Writer: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto
"I'm not afraid... I even left my crucifix upstairs.” Oh-oh. Big mistake. Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they go vampire hunting and find one in Grave of the Vampire (1972).
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 129 – Grave of the Vampire (1972)
Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!
Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content!
https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine
Kroft, a legendary vampire, returns from sleep. Kroft attacks a couple in a graveyard, raping the woman. The child born feeds only on blood from his mother's breast.
IMBb
Grave of the Vampire is a lesser-known vampire film from the 1970s with aspects that make it worth a watch. Bill identifies Michael Pataki’s character as the most sleazy and detestable vampire ever, even making the vampire in Vampire Circus look like a debonair man about town. Chad hated Grave of the Vampire when he saw it back in the day and he still hates it, wearing out the 10-second fast forward button while he was watching. Agreeing that the movie lacks execution in many areas, Jeff also points out the violence and the number of kills. Doc didn’t care much for it when he saw Grave of the Vampire in the 1970s, but the film is now one of the many 70s horror films he classifies as guilty pleasures.
If you skipped Grave of the Vampire in the past due to the poor visual quality, you might want to think about giving it another shot based on the improved look of current versions. As of this writing, the movie is available on physical media as a Blu-ray from Scream Factory and can be viewed streaming on Amazon Prime and Epix.
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next episode in their very flexible schedule will be George Romero’s The Crazies (1973), chosen by Chad.
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 feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.
"I'm told by a friend that you have some views for sale." Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew - Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, Jeff Mohr, and listener guest host Shawn Parks - as they become the voyeurs watching the voyeur murderer turning his victims into voyeurs of their own deaths in Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom (1960).
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 89 – Peeping Tom (1960)
A young man murders women, using a movie camera to film their dying expressions of terror.
IMDb
Peeping Tom elicited outrage from most film critics at its release, 4-5 months before the release of Hitchcock’s Psycho. Shawn, our listener guest host for this episode, picked Peeping Tom after he’d seen it referred to as a proto-slasher and also finds the juxtaposition of the artist as the obsessed killer interesting. Whitney loves the colors and shot construction right from the opening scene. As usual, Jeff points out some cast members who have appeared in other Decades of Horror episodes. Chad is impressed with the script and the multiple layers it contains.
While you might feel like you need a shower after viewing Peeping Tom, your Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue-Crew highly recommend it. As of this writing, Peeping Tom is a bit scarce in the US on physical media - a Criterion issue DVD of Peeping Tom is out-of-print while a UK-released (Region 0) Blu-ray is still available - but the film is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Chad, Whitney, and Jeff give a big Grue-Crew thank you to Shawn Parks! His film pick, research, and passion for the subject made this episode a joy! Be sure to check out Shawn on his own podcast, Talk Horror to Me.
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. The next episode in their very flexible schedule, chosen by their next super-secret guest host, will be Son of Kong (1933).
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com
To each of you from each of us, “Thank you so much for listening!”