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Now displaying: 2022
Dec 31, 2022

“What was that?” (Assorted animal noises ensue.) You better get out your lever-action rifle and fire a few random shots into the water. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr – as they dive into the third and final adventure of Universal’s Gill-Man, The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 141 – The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/https://classichorrorchannel.com/https://wickedhorrortv.com/

The Creature is captured and turned into an air-breather by a rich mad scientist. This makes the Creature very unhappy, and he escapes, killing people and setting fires in the process.

 

To this day, all the Universal Monsters remain incredibly popular and beloved with The Gill-Man edging out the others as the fan favorite of many Monster fans. Released in 1954, The Creature from the Black Lagoon would introduce the amphibious “prehistoric beast” just as Abbott and Costello were breathing final life into Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, and the Mummy. All three “Creature” films would be released within 3 years with the first two in 3D while the last did not receive the 3D treatment. The Classic Era Grue-Crew complete their coverage of the Gill-Man with this discussion and review of The Creature Walks Among Us (1956). (Don’t be alarmed when Jeff leaves for a while to get sandwiches.)

The Creature Walks Among Us is a strong finish to Universal’s trilogy of Gill-Man films. At the time of this writing, it is available to stream on The Roku Channel and on physical media as a Blu-ray in Creature From the Black Lagoon: Complete Legacy Collection and other Universal Monster collections.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Jeff, will be Stranger on the Third Floor (1940), considered by many to be the first film noir and starring Peter Lorre and Elisha Cook Jr. Is it horror? Well, it’s at least horror-adjacent.

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 Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

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

Dec 27, 2022

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for DECEMBER 2022. Join Doc Rotten and the Grue-Crew for the BEST HORROR FILMS of 2022!

This is HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back again for this special end of the year episode are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net.

  • Doc Rotten, editor-in-chief at Gruesome Magazine
  • Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine
  • Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl
  • Christopher G. Moore, Award-winning Filmmaker
  • Jeff Mohr, Host of Decades of Horror Podcasts
  • Brian W. Smith, Award-winning Screenwriter

BEST HORROR MOVIES OF 2022

JEFF MOHR

  • The Cursed
  • Troll
  • Prey
  • The Black Phone
  • Nope
  • Satan's Slaves 2: Communion
  • The Innocents
  • Moloch
  • Pearl / X
  • Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities

Honorable mention: Deadstream, Terrifier 2, The Sadness, Barbarian, Fresh, The Passenger, The Watcher, Saloum, and On the 3rd Day

CRYSTAL CLEVELAND

  • Terrifier 2
  • Sissy
  • Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge
  • On the 3rd Day
  • The Passenger
  • Run Sweetheart Run
  • Deadstream
  • Troll
  • Glorious
  • The Sadness

BRIAN W. SMITH

  • Werewolf By Night
  • The Menu
  • The Black Phone
  • Barbarian
  • Orphan: First Kill
  • Nope
  • Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022
  • Scream 2022
  • Terrifier 2
  • Smile

DAVE DREHER

  • Glorious
  • X
  • Mr. Harrigan's Phone
  • Orphan: First Kill
  • Troll
  • Smile
  • Prey
  • The Black Phone
  • Scream
  • Barbarian

Honorable Mention: Terrifier 2

CHRISTOPHER G. MOORE.

  • Nope
  • The Menu
  • Troll
  • Fresh
  • Deadstream / Scare Package II
  • Prey / Dayshift
  • Moloch
  • Barbarian
  • Pearl
  • The Black Phone

DOC ROTTEN

  • FEED ME
  • V/H/S/99
  • THE BLACK PHONE
  • NOPE
  • BARBARIAN
  • PEARL / X
  • SMILE
  • TERRIFIER 2
  • DEADSTREAM

Honorable Mentions: The Menu, Troll, Werewolf By Night, Prey, Run Sweetheart Run, Scream (2022), The Sadness, Christmas Bloody Christmas.

Dec 26, 2022

“You’ll be dead Galen Bradwarden, Sorcerer’s Apprentice. You’ll be dead, the dragon will still be alive, and I’ll still be a virgin! You’ll be dead, and I don’t care!” Sounds like a good foundation for a lasting relationship, right? Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr  – as they check out probably the most realistic dragon (did I hear someone say wyvern?) set to film in Dragonslayer (1981).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 222 – Dragonslayer (1981)

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

A King has made a pact with a dragon where he sacrifices virgins to it, and the dragon leaves his kingdom alone. An old wizard, and his keen young apprentice volunteer to kill the dragon and attempt to save the next virgin in line, the King’s own daughter.

 

Dragonslayer is Bill’s pick. Surprise! He had read about the technique called go-motion and really enjoys it, calling Vermathrax Pejorative one of the greatest dragons ever put on film. It is also one of his favorite kinds of fantasy movies; one where the world is messy and dirty, and a noble character does not get rescued despite audience expectations.

Crystal labels Dragonslayer as one of her all-time favorite movies. It would not be nearly so memorable for her without the special effects and the dragon. She also points out that technically, it is a wyvern, not a dragon.  Not a big fan of pure fantasy movies, Jeff loves seeing Dragonslayer for the first time, especially the work from professionals like Phil Tippett & Dennis Muren. The Grue-Crew is universally impressed with Caitlin Clarke’s performance as Valerian and wishes that she was given much more work as a female lead.

If you’re in the mood for a great fire-breathing wyvern, née dragon, you can’t do better than Dragonslayer. At the time of this writing, it is available to stream from Kanopy, Prime, and Paramount+. As far as physical media, a Blu-ray version of Dragonslayer is scheduled for a 21 March 2023 release from Paramount.

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 Pet Sematary (1989), directed by Mary Lambert from the novel and screenplay by Stephen King. Sometimes, dead is better.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Dec 17, 2022

“I am in the great Tenochtitlan.” “Could you describe it?” “Yes, I can.” But can you say three times, fast? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr – as they enter the confusing world of The Aztec Mummy (1957, La Momia Azteca), its sequels, and its offshoots.

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 140 – The Aztec Mummy (1957, La Momia Azteca)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/https://classichorrorchannel.com/https://wickedhorrortv.com/

A doctor proves his theory that hypnotized people can be regressed to past lives by hypnotizing his lover Flor, who in a previous life was Xochitl, a god’s maiden, who was killed for having an affair with the warrior Popoca. The doctor steals 2  brass jewelry pieces from the tomb. Now they must face the curse of the revivified mummy of Popoca and the efforts of the evil The Bat who thinks the jewelry will lead him to an Aztec treasure.

 

Trying to get a handle on The Aztec Mummy and related offerings is confusing, so here is Decades of Horror’s own version of an Aztec Mummy Primer:

  • The Aztec Mummy Trilogy (Be forewarned that about half of each of the 2nd and 3rd movies are composed of footage from the previous movie(s) in the trilogy. The Aztec Mummy is the only one of the three with all original footage.):
    • The Aztec Mummy (1957, La Momia Azteca)
    • The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957, La maldición de la momia azteca)
    • The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy (1958, La momia azteca contra el robot humano)
  • The Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy (1964, Las luchadoras contra la momia), is not connected in any way to the original trilogy except by using a creature known as “the aztec mummy.” However, it is included in a VCI Entertainment Blu-ray box set titled The Aztec Mummy Collection along, with #2 and #3 of the trilogy, but excluding The Aztec Mummy, the first movie in the trilogy.
  • Attack of the Mayan Mummy (1964) is a very strange conglomeration of The Aztec Mummy and extra footage shot with English-speaking actors. It comes from Jerry Warren et al and completely changes the original story.

There you have it. Clear as mud? The Classic Era Grue-Crew could not find a good version of The Aztec Mummy with English subtitles or dubbing. The other four films listed above are all available with English dubbing.

Whitney chose The Aztec Mummy because she thought it would be cool to see something with history and a cultural connection along with the horror, and she really likes the idea of characters with a past life. The culture and history along with a mummy tale are also a big attraction for Daphne. The PLEX streaming app lists The Aztec Mummy as content but lurking beyond that title is actually The Curse of the Aztec Mummy. Thus, Chad was duped into watching the 2nd film of the trilogy instead of the first. The crew put PLEX’s subterfuge to good use as Chad provides insights and details that connect the first and second movies and show the direction the story takes at the conclusion of the first film. Jeff likes the story, a tale of hypnotic regression through past lives, Aztec lore, a mummy, and an evil scientist thrown in for good measure.

Your Classic Era Grue-Crew mourns the lack of a high-resolution version with English subtitles, at least, that they could find, but are all glad they took the journey.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Chad, will be The Creature Walks Among Us (1956), the last of the three Creature movies from Universal Horror. 

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 Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

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

Dec 12, 2022

“Dang creature . . . I’m gonna get my shotgun and make a rug outta that damn thing!” And Jack Elam is just the one who can do it! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they make a trip to the bayou to check out Creature from Black Lake (1976) and its new Synapse Films Blu-ray, released December 13, 2022. It’s a beauty!

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 178 – Creature from Black Lake (1976)

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

Two young students from the University of Chicago hear of the mysterious happenings at Black Lake and armed with a van packed with scientific equipment set out to solve the mystery.

 

To begin with, your Decades of Horror 1970s Grue Crew are universally impressed with the quality in the look and sound of the new Synapse Films Blu-ray release of Creature from Black Lake. In the past, many of the crew had seen the film in a cropped, pan-and-scan version on TV or videotape. They discovered that Creature from Black Lake is an excellent movie that had been marred by the poor quality of many of the prints to which they had access. The Synapse Blu-ray release is a great showcase for Dean Cundy’s cinematography and facilitates a far more enjoyable viewing experience. As far as bigfoot movies of the era, Creature from Black Lake moves to the top among a select few. Synapse did a great service to horror fans in restoring Creature from Black Lake to this pristine, widescreen format.

After gushing over the Synapse Blu-ray, the Grue-Crew gushes equally over the movie itself. A great cast of character actors led by Jack Elam, Dub Taylor, Bill Thuman, Dennis Fimple, and John David Carson, supported by a well-cast group of locals, makes Creature from Black Lake a heck of a fun watch. In fact, they were having so much fun, they forgot to mention that Cathryn Hartt (credited as Catherine McClenny), who played Eve-the-waitress, is Morgan Fairchild’s sister. And be assured, there are plenty of creature shenanigans to supply the tension required in a good bigfoot film. 

The crew’s thanks go out to Synapse Films for supplying them with the Blu-ray screeners! The official release date is Tuesday, December 13, 2022. You can purchase your copy at Creature from Black Lake (1080p Blu-ray + Limited Edition Slipcover) – Synapse Films. You know you want it!

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 Count Dracula (1970), directed by Jesús “Jess” Franco and starring Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, Klaus Kinski, Maria Rohm, and Soledad Miranda. Yes, Grue Believers, this is their first Jess Franco movie.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com. 

Dec 12, 2022

“All right. We’re gonna do this the scanner way. I’m gonna suck your brain dry!” Yikes! Can we not do it the scanner way? Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr  – as they go in for some vintage 1980s David Cronenberg with Scanners (1981). That’s right. Somebody’s head will explode.

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 221 – Scanners (1981)

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

A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called “scanning,” to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non-scanners.

 

Jeff has always been drawn to stories of humans with paranormal powers so Scanners is right up his alley. He came for the legendary exploding head and stayed for the story . . . and, of course, Patrick McGoohan’s and Michael Ironside’s performances. Bill saw Scanners in a theater and witnessed the audience flipping out at the scene. It is the closest thing to an X-men movie he’d found up to that time. After his buddy snuck him into the theater, Scanners seemed like a superhero movie to Chad. Even now, he enjoys it more every time he watches it, always noticing something new.

It probably goes without saying, but as usual, they say it anyway. Michael Ironside! Holy Cow! His performance is . . . over-the-top? Uninhibited? Off the wall? Sick? Dope? Well, you get the idea. They ran out of words.

At the time of this writing, Scanners is available to stream from HBOmax, Criterion Channel, and IndieFlix as well as some PPV options, and on physical media as a Blu-ray from Criterion.

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 Dragonslayer (1981). They don’t need any stinking CGI.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Dec 7, 2022

“You’re a strange girl, Lizzie, one minute as hard and cold as a grave so, next as loving as any father could wish. Wonder what goes on in that mind of yours, I guess I’ll never know.” Actually, he’s about to find out right quick. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out the representation of the most infamous crime involving the numbers 40 and 41 as depicted in The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 177 – The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975)

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

Synopsis: In 1893 Massachusetts, Lizzie Andrew Borden is put on trial for murdering her father and stepmother with an axe.

 

The Legend of Lizzie Borden, an ABC Monday night movie of the week, is Bill’s pick. He’s always loved Elizabeth Montgomery and this film blew him away. He describes it as far creepier than most TV fare of the time and though the blood now seems understated, it was plenty enough for the time.

Learning it was a true story after hearing his mom recite the rhyme, Chad then watched The Legend of Lizzie Borden with his mom. It gave him nightmares as a youngster and though not as creepy now, it’s still a compelling thriller. Jeff points out the emphasis on women’s plight – their position in society of the time – given in The Legend of Lizzie Borden. He also loves the well-known character actors in the cast – Katherine Helmond, Fionnula Flanagan, Bonnie Bartlett, Ed Flanders, and Don Porter – and the first reappearance of Gloria Stuart after a 29-year absence from film.

The 70s Grue Crew gives unanimous praise to Elizabeth Montgomery for her Emmy-nominated performance and gives the movie a strong recommendation. As of this writing, The Legend of Lizzie Borden is available to stream from Amazon Prime.

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, in a departure from what was originally announced, will be Creature from Black Lake (1976) starring Jack Elam and Dub Taylor and featuring the cinematography of Dean Cundey.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com. 

Dec 3, 2022

“The dog’s meat! Have you seen it?” Isn’t it in the dog? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr – as they travel to a seemingly harmless bee farm for a bit of R & R in The Deadly Bees (1966).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 139 – The Deadly Bees (1966)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/https://classichorrorchannel.com/https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Trouble strikes when an exhausted pop singer, sent on a vacation to a farm, realizes that the farm’s owner grows deadly bees.

 

The Deadly Bees, an Amicus Production directed by Freddie Francis, is Daphne’s pick. She used to watch “creatures run amok” films on Saturday afternoons with her mom and this film seemed to fit that profile. It looked absolutely cuckoo to her and it did turn out to be fun to watch.

Whitney has a thing about bees, making The Deadly Bees cringeworthy for her.  Though it’s a little bit out there, the Freddie Francis direction and the drama between characters with the requisite backstabbing definitely make the film entertaining. Chad also finds The Deadly Bees to be entertaining. Even though he sees through the mystery toot de suite, he likes the writing and how the story plays out. The scene with what Jeff calls a “bee-nado” captures his attention. He agrees with Chad that the plot-supplied red herring doesn’t pass the smell test. He would love to see a production of The Deadly Bees with Robert Bloch’s script starring Peter Cushing and Boris Karloff as originally intended. And, oh yeah. Suzanna Leigh. New movie crush.

A television adaptation of H. F. “Gerald” Heard’s mystery novel, A Taste for Honey (1941), aired as an episode of The Elgin Hour on February 22, 1955, under the title “Sting of Death.” Boris Karloff stars as Mycroft, the episode’s protagonist. A Taste for Honey was the first of three mysteries by Heard featuring Mr. Mycroft, the implication being he is the retired Sherlock Holmes. The Deadly Bees abandoned that idea. What if Boris Karloff played Sherlock Holmes? You can view the episode here: The Elgin Hour, “Sting of Death,” w/ Boris Karloff

The Deadly Bees is available to stream from Classic Horror Movie Channel, PLEX, Flix Fling subscription, and several PPV services; and as a Blu-ray disc from Olive.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Whitney, will be The Aztec Mummy (1957). Yeah, they switched mummies in the middle of the tomb, but that’s the “very flexible” part of their schedule. 

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 Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

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

Nov 28, 2022

“Tetsuo is our friend. If anyone is going to kill him, it should be us.” That’s what friends are for, right? Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr  – as they take on the Decades of Horror universe’s first anime in Katsuhiro Ôtomo’s Akira (1988).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 220 – Akira (1988)

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

A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends, and a group of psychics.

 

Akira is Chad’s pick and it completely blew his mind as he watched it for the first time with his mouth hanging open. It’s not just the animation that still captures his attention. It’s also the excellent stories and characters, the relationships, and how it leaned into body horror during the confrontation between Kaneda and Tetsuo. There is so much going on that it’s a treat to sit down and watch it. Akira keeps getting better every time he experiences it.

Crystal also loves the characters and their relationships depicted in the oppressed society of Akira. Those psychic kids messed her up and the animation is great, but it’s really the story that makes it special. Bill prefers watching Akira in the original Japanese language with English subtitles, adding that this beautiful and influential film is an unrelenting and brutal bloodbath of a film in which no character is safe. Akira is the first anime Jeff’s seen with the exception of the original Astro Boy TV series (1963-1965) and he, too, is blown away. There seemed to be no top end as the story, color, and animation just kept ramping up. He’s so glad Chad chose this film.

In general, the 80s Grue Crew prefers the version with Japanese language and English subtitles, but it is difficult to take in the visual feast while reading subtitles. At the time of this writing, Akira is available to stream from Hulu, Funimation, and Tubi, and on physical media as a Blu-ray disc or 4K UHD from Funimation.

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 Jeff, will be David Cronenberg’s Scanners (1981). You know… the one with the scene?

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Nov 23, 2022

“There’s a bald maniac in there, and he’s going bat shit!” Believe it or not, this is an accurate description of several scenes in this movie. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out this representative of the 70s LSD-scare hype, Blue Sunshine (1977) from Jeff Lieberman, the director of Squirm (1976).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 176 – Blue Sunshine (1977)

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

A bizarre series of murders begins in Los Angeles, where people start going bald and then become homicidal maniacs. But could the blame rest on a particularly dangerous form of LSD called Blue Sunshine that the murderers took ten years before?

Blue Sunshine is a request from a Grue Believer that has popped on and off the 70s schedule depending on its streaming availability and that of other films on the Grue Crew’s list. At long last, it made it through to the recording schedule as Jeff’s pick for this episode and he is impressed with the surprisingly good cast of actors familiar to TV viewers of the time. He kind of likes the idea of the chromosome-altering, 10-year time bomb included in a designer version of LSD, and the trippy music – highly appropriate for the period and the subject – is to his liking. However, Zalman King’s overboard approach to method acting, though he’s directed to do so as a red herring, is off-putting. 

“The longest hour-and-a-half he’s had to sit through” is how Chad describes Blue Sunshine. He didn’t care for the story or the characters and Zalman King’s character’s lack of feeling for personal space is annoying as hell. On the plus side, he is hilariously amused by Ray Young’s portrayal of Wayne (or “Biff,” as Chad calls him) and his final rampage. Bill agrees with Chad on the unlikeability of King’s character calling his performance more like meth-head acting than method acting. He doesn’t buy into the conspiracy presented, but admits, Blue Sunshine is definitely a 70s film. Doc had a great time with Blue Sunshine. The bizarre and quirky lead, Bryon James flapping around, “Biff’s” murder spree, and the crazed bald maniac look are just a few of his trigger trippers in this movie.

Blue Sunshine certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a director Jeff Lieberman (Squirm, 1976) completist or are in the mood for some LSD-fueled political intrigue dressed up as a horror movie, this should fit the bill. At the time of this writing, Blue Sunshine is available to stream from Shudder.

Be sure to check out The Black Saint’s and Doc Rotten’s take on Squirm in Decades of Horror 1970s #6!

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, chosen by Bill, will be The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975), an ABC TV movie of the week starring Elizabeth Montgomery. How does that go? Forty this and forty-one that or something like that?

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Nov 19, 2022

“Possibly the murderer used an electric drill. I say this because the person who did it was quite skilled. Just look at these two orifices.” Okay. Watch out for a killer with skill at orifices. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Jeff Mohr, and guest host Ralph Miller – as they check out this Mexican classic while managing to evade the vengeance delivered by The Brainiac (1962).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 138 – The Brainiac (1962)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/https://classichorrorchannel.com/https://wickedhorrortv.com/

In 1661 Mexico, Baron Vitelius is sentenced to be burned alive by the Holy Inquisition of Mexico. As he dies, the Baron swears vengeance against the descendants of the Inquisitors. 300 years later, he returns as a horrible, brain-eating monster to enact his vengeance.

 

The Brainiac is Ralph’s pick. He’d always been intrigued by that weird thing he’d seen in images from the film and knew there had to be a crazy movie there. He also thought it would make for a fun discussion and he was right.

Daphne had seen the Rifftrax treatment of The Brainiac so appreciates watching this fun and ridiculous movie “straight” for the first time. She loves the atmosphere and the mid-century furniture and clothing. What really gets to her, though, is when the Baron eats unrefrigerated brains! 

Once Chad saw the hands on the poster as little hairy butts, he was gone. He goes so far as to call The Brainiac the weirdest movie he’s ever seen, and that’s saying a lot. The story’s two police officers, looking like they’re straight out of a Little Rascals episode, just happen to show up at the Baron’s abode with flame throwers. For him, it’s a fun movie. The translation and dubbing in The Brainiac remind Jeff of El Santo and Blue Demon movies, becoming another part of the entertainment.

If you have a hankering to see The Brainiac, also known as El barón del terror, you can stream it from hoopla, tubi, and PlutoTV.

Ralph Miller, the Grue Crew’s guest host, was a special effects artist in the 1980s and early 1990s. To hear more about Ralph’s work and experiences check out these episodes where we discuss Ralph’s work with him:

Correction: While discussing the Classic Horror Movie Channel, Jeff mentions watching “The Man with the Atomic Brain” on the streaming channel. In reality, the film was Creature with the Atom Brain (1955). He apologizes for the error. 

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Daphne, will be The Deadly Bees (1966), an Amicus production directed by Freddie Francis. 

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 Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

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

Nov 16, 2022

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for NOVEMBER 12, 2022. JOIN US FOR horror movie news for IT: WELCOME TO DERRY, LONGLEGS, along with trailer news for CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS. All this, and more, coming up next…

Join your host Doc Rotten for this episode of HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the ‘Net.

Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine
Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl

UPCOMING FILMS

The HBOMax “IT” prequel series still lives: IT: WELCOME TO DERRY…Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane will serve as co-showrunners on the “It” prequel series. Source: Variety and Variety

BLOOD FLOWER heads to SHUDDER. Source: Deadline

Sony pushes MISSING up to January 10, 2023. Source: Deadline

CASTING NEWS

Osgood Perkins will direct Nicolas Cage in LONGLEGS. Source: Deadline

TRAILERS

CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS (2022, SHUDDER)

FREEZE (2022)

GALE – STAY AWAY FROM OZ

FEEDBACK

11/07/2022

Dirk Rogers: I’m wondering if the new crystal lake series will introduce or even center around Jason’s father. It’s an untapped idea that has no legal entanglements and could really expand upon the Vorhees story. I’m so happy that the horror news is back on each week. Great job grue crew. Keep it up.

Chad White: Great show everyone.. lots of stuff here to be excited about.

10/24/2022

Renee St. Aubin: Awwww, one day I’m going to make one of these live streams!

10/10/2022

Chad White: Great show everyone! I’m looking forward to Five Nights at Freddy’s. they made it into a VR game and it is literally terrifying and it gave me anxiety, lol. I really liked Willys wonderland, but it had a lot of campyness, I hope they make it an intense horror instead of being campy…

Mason Campise: Keep up the great work!

10/03/2022

Don Joe: Thanks for another fun episode. I had to look away for the Halloween Ends trailer, don’t need those spoilers. Also, thanks Crystal for not spoiling Last of Us!

Meretneith: Sandra Bernhard was in AHS Apocalypse as a satanist.

Thank you for hanging out with the Grue-Crew. Be sure to hit the LIKE, SUBSCRIBE buttons, or Share with a Friend. Every click counts. Check out the Patreon link below and we’ll see you next week.

Nov 14, 2022

“Eat shit and die, Ricky!” “Eat shit and live, Bill.” Yup. Sounds like your typical summer camp version of witty patter. Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr  – as they finally cover the notorious Sleepaway Camp (1983).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 219 – Sleepaway Camp (1983)

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

Angela Baker, a shy, traumatized young girl, is sent to summer camp with her cousin. Shortly after her arrival, anyone with sinister or less-than-honorable intentions toward her gets their comeuppance.

 

Sleepaway Camp is one of Crystal’s favorite movies. In fact, she loves it right from the opening scene depicting a boating accident and describes the film as intentionally funny. She loves Desiree Gould as Angela’s Aunt Martha and the two camp snarks, Judy and Meg. She also issues the caveat that you shouldn’t watch it if you’re not open to some politically incorrect attempts at humor.

Chad differs from Crystal and does not think Sleepaway Camp is intended to be funny, but he does think it’s an okay slasher with good makeup effects. Bill went in with low expectations but was pleasantly surprised by Sleepaway Camp, calling it a slice of 80s cheese. Back in the day, Jeff heard the rumors about Sleepaway Camp and its shocking ending so he rented the video to verify it for himself, and indeed, the rumors were true. He was shocked. Now he enjoys the film, its appropriately juvenile humor, and its inventive kills.

It might go without saying but it will be said nonetheless. The 80s Grue Crew unanimously loves Felissa Rose. 

At the time of this writing, Sleepaway Camp can be streamed from Peacock and several ad-based services. A Blu-ray disc is available from Scream! Factory.

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 Chad, will be Akira (1988), a “Japanese animated cyberpunk action film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, … based on Otomo’s 1982 manga of the same name,” according to Wikipedia

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Nov 9, 2022

“I walked the streets, brooding on the bitter irony that all I wanted to do for humanity, for life, would be cheated by death… unless I could cheat death.” And eventually, he discovered… you can’t cheat a cheater. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde(1971), a Hammer film with a twist on the classic Robert Louis Stevenson story.

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 175 – Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971)

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

A Victorian scientist tests a serum that transforms him into a sensuous murderess.

Bill describes Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde as a mid-level Hammer film searching for the magic mix that can reverse the company’s fortunes during the beginning of its decline. At the same time, he gives the filmmakers credit for their creativity and for the transformation scenes that, though not perfect, are well done. Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde was not at the top of the list of Hammer films he hadn’t yet seen, but Jeff’s glad he did experience it. He praises the filmmakers and actors for depicting the Jekyll and Hyde variations as somewhat androgynous, helping to make the transformations believable. He also likes the triple threat of Jekyll/Hyde, Jack the Ripper, and Burk & Hare nicely combined into one story by writer Brian Clemens. Doc, who chose Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde for this episode, also describes it as an example of Hammer reaching for some answers. To him, the way the film’s themes are handled doesn’t really hold up while admitting the failure might be a product of the times in which it was made. He also describes Dr. Jekyll as a role more complex than many, possibly making it Ralph Bates’ best Hammer role.

The 70s Grue-Crew universally laud Martine Beswick’s performance and lament the absence of any character in the film for which to root. For those wishing to watch, or rewatch, Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde, the film is available to stream from Tubi, Freevee, The Roku Channel, Peacock, Hoopla, and several PPV sources. The film is also available as a Blu-ray disc from Scream Factory. Of course, this information is as of the time of this writing.

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, chosen by Jeff, will be Blue Sunshine (1977). That one should be a fun trip. (See what I did there?)

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com. 

Nov 8, 2022

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for NOVEMBER 7, 2022. JOIN US FOR horror movies news about CRYSTAL LAKE series, a return to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and… DUST BUNNY(?). All this, and more, coming up next…

Join your host Doc Rotten and HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net.

  • Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine
  • Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl

UPCOMING FILMS

Bryan Fuller and A24 helm CRYSTAL LAKE for Peacock. Friday the 13th Series… w/o Jason Voorhees. Source: Deadline

NANNY director Nikyatu Jusu attached to a legit NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD sequel. LaToya Morgan handles scripting chores. Village Road Show, Chris Romero, Sanibel Films looking to reignite the franchise. Source: Deadline

Temple Hill Entertainment hopes to follow up the success of their hit Smile with CLOWN IN THE CORNFIELD. Carter Blanchard is adapting Adam Cesare’s successful novel of the same name. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil and Little Evil director Eli Craig to helm the YA slasher. Source: Deadline

CASTING NEWS

Isabelle Fuhrman enters UNIT 234 along with Jack Huston and Don Johnson Andy Tennant (“The Kominsky Method,” “Fool’s Gold”) directs from a script by Derek Steiner. Source: Variety

Lupita Nyong'o heads to A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE for Paramount. The spinoff will be directed and written by Pig helmer Michael Sarnoski. Source: Deadline

Mads Mikkelsen stars, Bryan Fuller directs - DUST BUNNY. "Dust Bunny will tell the story of an eight-year-old girl who enlists the help of her intriguing neighbor to kill the monster under her bed that she believes ate her family." Source: Hollywood Reporter

TRAILERS

TROLL (2022, Netflix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiohkY_XQYQ

THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER (2022, A24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hJR8hEsLZU

THE FOREST HILLS (2023)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTJCaIwPZoE

Thank you for hanging out with the Grue-Crew. Be sure to hit the LIKE, SUBSCRIBE buttons, or Share with a Friend. Every click counts. Check out the Patreon link below and we'll see you next week

Nov 5, 2022

“Hang on, there. Hang on, me beauties. There’s nothing to be scared of, nothing to be afeared of. … Mother of God, it’s a corpse! … Cor, I thought you was a dead one.” Sometimes you just can’t tell a tree trunk in the road from a dead body. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Jeff Mohr, and guest hosts Richard Klemensen (Little Shoppe of Horrors: The Journal of Classic British Horror Films) and Alistair Hughes (Infogothic: An Unauthorised Graphic Guide to Hammer Horror) – as they discuss the horror richness coursing through the veins of the Hammer classic, The Brides of Dracula (1960).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 137 – The Brides of Dracula (1960)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/https://classichorrorchannel.com/https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: Vampire hunter Van Helsing returns to Transylvania to destroy handsome bloodsucker Baron Meinster, who has designs on beautiful young schoolteacher Marianne.

 

When Richard first saw The Brides of Dracula, it knocked him out. This incredibly colorful, gorgeous film is the Hammer production he remembers best. He admits to falling in love with the cutest vampire of all (Andrée Melly) and revels in the athletic stunts performed by Peter Cushing. Alistair shares a humorous story about the first time he didn’t see The Brides of Dracula. When he was finally able to experience the movie, he found it to be one of the most beautiful-looking films he’d ever seen.

It had been a while since Daphne had seen The Brides of Dracula, making this feel almost as if it were her first time. She is in love with Peter Cushing and his wardrobe, the other costumes, and Freda Jackson’s portrayal of Greta. It’s a wonderful, wonderful movie! Chad is with Richard in his view of Andrée Melly and, in fact, wanted to marry her when he was a youngster. He describes her portrayal of Gina as scary and, at the same time, beautiful. Daniel Peel does a great job, but Chad is almost more focused on Cushing’s portrayal of Van Helsing. And then there’s the climax to The Brides of Dracula, one of the coolest things he’d ever seen. At first, Jeff turned his nose up at the idea of a blonde Dracula, only later discovering that there is no Dracula in The Brides of Dracula and that David Peel gives a standout performance as Baron Meinster. He praises the sets and the vivid wardrobes, and the music composed by Malcolm Williamson, who is not a usual contributor to Hammer films.

Now would be a great time for a rewatch of The Brides of Dracula! As of this writing, it is available to stream from Peacock Premium and several PPV sources. In terms of physical media, a Blu-ray of The Brides of Dracula is available from Scream Factory. The extras for the disc include two segments of Scream Factory’s The Men Who Made Hammer series – a 58-minute remembrance of director Terence Fisher and a 16-minute piece on cinematographer Jack Asher – both by our illustrious guest host Richard Klemensen.

Richard Klemensen’s Little Shoppe of Horrors: The Journal of Classic British Horror Films is now taking orders for WITCHES, BITCHES AND BANSHEES: The British Films of American International Pictures by John Hamilton.

Infogothic: An Unauthorised Graphic Guide to Hammer Horror by Alistair Hughes is available from Amazon. Alistair is also a cohost with Steve Turek of the DieCast Movie Podcast’s Hammerama series.

The Decades of Horror: The Classic Era has produced the following episodes on other Hammer films:

Or if vampires are your thing, check out these Decades of Horror: The Classic Era’s podcasts on other vampire movies:

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by guest host Ralph Miller, will be The Brainiac (1962) from Mexico. 

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 Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

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

Oct 31, 2022

“Forget the cat, you hemorrhoid! Get the gun!” Yeah! Get your priorities straight! Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr  – as they take in another portmanteau, especially for your Halloween viewing/listening pleasure, Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye (1985).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 218 – Cat’s Eye (1985)

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

Synopsis: A stray cat attempting to find a little girl in trouble is the linking element of three tales of suspense and horror. In “Quitters, Inc.”: the cat is picked up by a shady New York City “doctor” who uses experimental techniques to get people to quit smoking. In “The Ledge”: the cat is picked up by a shady Atlantic City millionaire who forces his wife’s lover to participate in a terrifying bet. In “The General”: the cat arrives in Wilmington, North Carolina, where it is found by the young girl it has been sent to protect from an unbelievable threat.

 

If you’ve listened to even a few Decades of Horror 1980s episodes, you know that Bill is a very serious cat person, so it should come as no surprise that an anthology featuring a cat coming to the rescue is his choice for this episode. He liked Stephen King’s original short stories that makeup two of the three segments in Cat’s Eye, and as a mid-level Stephen King production, it holds up very well and he still enjoys it.

Crystal remembers loving Cat’s Eye as a kid and even looking up to Drew Barrymore. She remembers it being scarier through a kid’s eyes but in the end, it’s a feel-good movie with the cat finding his “forever home.” She agrees with Bill that the movie doesn’t seem dated at all and has held up very well. Jeff agrees with Crystal. To him, Cat’s Eye seems milder than he remembers, but he still enjoys it as an example of a well-shot movie with good storytelling and a great cast.

If you have a hankering to watch an anthology film, you won’t go wrong with Cat’s Eye. At the time of this writing, Cat’s Eye can be streamed from HBOmax, Tubi, and a host of PPV options. It is available on physical media as a Blu-ray from Warner Brothers.

For reviews of other Stephen King-based movies, check out these Decades of Horror podcasts:

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 Sleepaway Camp (1983). Yes, that one.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or leave a comment on the gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Oct 26, 2022

“That bugs me, man. That really bugs me.” This ends up being Glenn Ford’s key line in his short appearance in this episode’s movie. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they come away with a slew of questions after watching The Visitor (1979) and its star-studded cast.

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 174 – The Visitor (1979)

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

Synopsis: The soul of a young girl with telekinetic powers becomes the prize in a fight between forces of good and evil.

Chad chose The Visitor for this episode’s discussion, but he confesses that he had no idea what was going on at any given moment during the film. On top of his confusion with the storyline, he was “bored off his hindquarters” while some scenes dragged on forever and ever and ever… To him, it felt like a ripoff of The Exorcist (1973) and The Omen (1976) with a little science fiction twist thrown in. Of course, there was the hate-eliciting kid, dripping with evil, and the inappropriate music backing many scenes.

Though competently made, according to Bill, The Visitor is a mess. The incoherent story seemed to go a little Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) while still not making a lick of sense. Echoing Chad’s feelings about the kid, he admits he cheered when Shelley Winters’ character slapped her. He finishes with, “Of all the WTF 1970s movies we’ve done, this is the WTFest.”

Jeff agrees with Chad that The Visitor is way too long with what seemed like some endless sequences. Once he realized it was an Italian film, the presence of a confusing storyline kind of made sense. The second time he watched it the plot became somewhat less opaque, but he would never recommend that anyone else watch it twice.

The Visitor took some life out of Doc and made his brain hurt trying to figure out what was happening. For him, it plays a lot like Damien: Omen II (1978) with Lance Henriksen even playing a similar part. He also found some unintentionally comedic scenes and while the film has its moments, on the whole, he had to fight to not fall asleep.

Despite the 70s Grue-Crew’s poor impressions, The Visitor does have a cult following and sports an excellent cast that outperforms the material. At the time of this writing, The Visitor is available to stream from Shudder, Peacock, Kanopy, Tubi, and Freevee. The Visitor is also available on physical media as a Blu-ray from Drafthouse.

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, chosen by Doc, will be Hammer’s Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971). That won’t be confusing at all.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com. 

Oct 25, 2022

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for OCTOBER 24, 2022. JOIN US FOR upcoming horror movie news for THE CONJURING 4 and RETURN TO SILENT HILL, along with casting news for Nicolas Cage and Tobin Bell. All this, and more, coming up next…

I am your host Doc Rotten and this is HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back with me again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net with Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine, and Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl.

UPCOMING FILMS

New Line taps David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick to help the screenplay for THE CONJURING 4 with James Wan and Peter Safran producing. Source: Deadline

Christophe Gans will once again direct a video game adaptation to the big screen with RETURN TO SILENT HILL. Source: Collider

Johannes (47 Meters Down, V/H/S/99) Roberts sets his next feature film, THE NOT POLLY. Source: Deadline

CASTING NEWS

Nicolas Cage defends his twin sons from "ferocious creatures" in SAND AND STONES. Source: Collider

Kyle (Smile) Gallner and Holland (Teen Wolf) Roden battle a "possessive" in-law in MOTHER, MAY I. Source: Deadline

Dee Wallace confronts werewolves once again, along with Edward Furlong, in Scott Goldberg's THE FOREST HILLS. Source: Bloody Disgusting

Tobin Bell returns to Lionsgate and Twister Pictures' SAW franchise as the Jigsaw Killer, John Kramer. Source: Deadline

TRAILERS

THE FRIENDSHIP GAME
In Theaters and On Demand on November 11, 2022.
A group of teenagers in a small town discover a strange object that tests the strength of their friendship.

SOFT AND QUIET
In Theaters and On Demand NOVEMBER 4

Thank you for hanging out with the Grue-Crew. Be sure to hit the LIKE, SUBSCRIBE buttons, or Share with a Friend. Every click counts. Check out the Patreon link below and we'll see you next week.

Oct 22, 2022

“There is only one reality, Rachel, and that is death. I bring you death, a living death.” Living death? Oxymorons abound in vampire flicks. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr, along with guest host Dave Dreher – as they take in this alternative version of the bloodthirsty Count as depicted in director Paul Landres’s The Return of Dracula (1958).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 136 – The Return of Dracula (1958)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL,
which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/https://classichorrorchannel.com/https://wickedhorrortv.com/

After a vampire leaves his native Balkans, he murders a Czech artist, assumes his identity, and moves in with the dead man’s American cousins.

 

The Return of Dracula, from Gramercy Pictures and United Artists, was chosen by Dave Dreher because of the effect it had on him while watching at his grandmother’s house as a young boy. He was mesmerized by the silhouette of a man with just his eyes bathed in light. The silhouetted man, the hand coming out of the coffin, the coffin filled with smoke, and other haunting images became the keystone of what he thinks of as classic horror and motivated him to go back and watch the Universal Horror offerings. To this day, he still holds The Return of Dracula in high regard.

Daphne describes the film as “wonderful.” She loves the ordinary folks placed in this bizarre situation and atmosphere and applauds Francis Lederer’s performance as the devilish, but debonair Count. Chad describes The Return of Dracula as answering the question, what if we dropped Dracula into the middle of a 1950s sitcom? From the outside, the film looks like a throwaway Dracula movie, but it is amazingly well-written by Pat Fielder and is well worth a watch. He describes Francis Lederer’s performance as stealing the show. He really believed this charismatic and magnetic personality as this evil slimy villain against the dichotomy of this wholesome family backdrop. You might think The Return of Dracula is a bit lame if you’re not paying attention, according to Jeff, but he too loves Francis Lederer as well as the family dynamics and the great character actors. Topping it off is the excellent writing from Pat Fielder.

Anyone viewing or listening to a podcast on classic horror will most certainly enjoy The Return of Dracula. At the time of this writing, the film can be streamed from Dailymotion or a Vudu PPV option and is available on physical media as an Olive Films Blu-ray.

Please check out these Decades of Horror: The Classic Era’s podcasts on other vampire movies:

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule and chosen by guest host Richard Klemensen, the owner and publisher of Little Shoppe of Horrors: The Journal of Classic British Horror Films, will be Hammer’s The Brides of Dracula (1960). Also joining us will be Alistair Hughes, author and illustrator of Infogothic: An Unauthorised Graphic Guide to Hammer Horror and frequent illustrator for Little Shoppe of Horrors. This should be a fun episode. You won’t want to miss it!

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 Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com


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

Oct 18, 2022

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for OCTOBER 17, 2022. JOIN US FOR casting news for THE STRANGERSFATAL ATTRACTION, along with trailer news for V/H/S/99 and THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN. All this, and more, coming up next…

I am your host Doc Rotten and this is HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back with me again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the ‘Net. Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine.

UPCOMING FILMS

THE WICKER MAN is getting a modern setting TV adaptation. Source: Deadline

PEACOCK is developing a supernatural TV series titled ST. DONATUS. Source: Deadline

Synopsis: “St. Donatus is about a small town in Iowa with a dark secret. An unwitting family, relocating from Brooklyn, moved into a newly-renovated farmhouse on the outskirts of town. When the family starts experiencing unsettling occurrences, it brings them closer to the town’s secret… and the very thing trapped in their cellar.”

Sydney Sweeney is attached to produce and star in a remake of BARBARELLA. Source: Deadline

CASTING NEWS

Hot off of LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, Ema Horvath joins the cast of THE STRANGERS remake. Source: Deadline

Fan favorite Dee Wallace boards the Paramount+ series adaptation of FATAL ATTRACTION. Source: Deadline

Universal has tapped Sydney Sweeney to star in THE CARETAKER. Source: Deadline

TRAILERS

M3GAN

A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own, landing in theaters on January 13, 2023 from director Gerard Johnstone.

V/H/S/99

Witness a hellish vision of 1999, as social isolation, analog technology and disturbing home videos fuse into a nightmare of found footage savagery. Streaming on SHUDDER beginning October 20, 2022.

Flying Lotus … (segment “Ozzy’s Dungeon”)
Maggie Levin … (segment “Shredding”)
Tyler MacIntyre … (segment “The Gawkers”)
Johannes Roberts … (segment “Suicide Bid”)
Joseph Winter … (segment “To Hell and Back”)
Vanessa Winter … (segment “To Hell and Back”)

THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN (The Asylum)

When seconds from death, a nearly decapitated and desperate man makes a deal with the devil to protect the love of his life and seek revenge on the drug dealer who almost murdered him. Available beginning October 14, 2022 from director Jose Prendes.

Oct 17, 2022

“I really liked your story, Frankie. I wish I was as weird as you.” You are. Trust us. Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr  – as they travel to upstate New York on Halloween for this quirky independent ghost story, Lady in White (1988).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 217 – Lady in White (1988)

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

An author tells the story of how, as a young boy growing up in a 1960s small town, he was haunted after witnessing the murder of a little girl.

Lady in White is Jeff’s pick and he loves the family dynamics depicted in the film coupled with a ghost story that includes racism and a serial killer. Crystal sees traces of A Christmas Story (1983) in the use of a narrator and a young boy who sends away for a prized possession, this time a typewriter instead of a decoder ring. She also lauds future Oscar winner Russell Carpenter’s cinematography and the cast’s acting, singling out Lukas Haas for his cuteness factor. Finally, for her, the combination of child murders and racism coats Lady in White with a patina of sadness. 

Bill describes Lady in White as being good in a lot of ways but just missing the mark of being a great movie. Each element is fine by itself but the humor makes a weird mix in a film featuring a child-molesting serial killer. He also singles out Ernest Farino as a frequent provider of quality visual effects in independent films. It comes through, for Bill, that Lady in White is made by someone who loves the material and loves movies.

As of this writing, Lady in White is available to stream from Shudder. Unfortunately, the Scream Factory Blu-ray is currently out-of-print. 

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 Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye (1985), an anthology film starring James Woods and Drew Barrymore, just in time for Halloween.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or leave a comment on the gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Oct 12, 2022

“Trust in Allah! … but tie up your camel!” Always! Trust, but verify, right? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they revel in the wonder of Ray Harryhausen’s creations in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad(1973).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 173 – The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (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

Sinbad and the vizier of Marabia, followed by evil magician Koura, seek the three golden tablets that can gain them access to the ancient temple of the Oracle of All Knowledge.

 

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad features the stop-motion animation of Ray Harryhausen and Caroline Munro so no one should be surprised that it is Bill’s pick. In fact, Ray Harryhausen is his hero and this is the movie that made him fall in love with moviemaking. He’s poured over the Kali scene frame-by-frame, over and over. He still can’t believe how cool everything is and how great it looks, loving it then and loving it now.

Jeff also digs The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, calling it his favorite of the Harryhausen adventure movies. It’s a better movie overall in his view and he appreciates Tom Baker’s turn as the film’s villain. Watching The Golden Voyage of Sinbad had reawakened Doc’s love of these movies. The special effects are seamlessly melded into the story, the villain is cool, the creatures are fun, and it is such a good time. 

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is currently available to stream from Tubi and various PPV sources. It’s also available on Blu-ray as a stand-alone or as part of Ray Harryhausen – The Ultimate 7 Film Collection, both from ViaVision Entertainment/Madman/Columbia Pictures.

Also, check out our other Decades of Horror episodes on Ray Harryhausen films:

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, chosen by Chad, will be The Visitor (1979), starring Glenn Ford, John Huston, Lance Henriksen, Shelley Winters, Mel Ferrer, and Sam Peckinpah.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com. 

Oct 12, 2022

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for October 10, 2022. JOIN US FOR casting news for NOSFERATU and THE MEAN ONE, along with trailer news for THE LAIR and WEDNESDAY. All this, and more, coming up next…

I am your host Doc Rotten and this is HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back with me again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the ‘Net.
Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine
Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl

UPCOMING FILMS

Blumhouse hires Emma Tammi to direct FIVE NIGHT A FREDDY’S
Source: Variety

RLJE Films and SHUDDER giftwrap CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS
Source: Deadline

SHUDDER continues the popular V/H/S franchise with V/H/S/85
V/H/S/85 will feature work from genre filmmakers David Bruckner (Hellraiser, The Night House), Scott Derrickson (The Black Phone, Sinister),Gigi Saul Guerrero (Bingo Hell, Culture Shock), Natasha Kermani (Lucky)and Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn).
Source: Deadline

CASTING NEWS

XYZ Films will release THE MEAN ONE starring David Howard Thornton (Terrifier 2)
Source: Deadline

Nicholas Hoult join the cast of Robert Egger’s NOSFERATU
Bill Skarsgard is attached to play the titular character, with Lily-Rose Depp also in talks to star.
In the new reimagining, Nosferatu is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman (Depp) in 19th century Germany and the ancient Transylvanian vampire (Skarsgard) who stalks her, bringing untold horror with him.
Source: Deadline

Justin Long heads to Disney+ with the live-actions series, GOOSEBUMPS
Source: Deadline

TRAILERS

WEDNESDAY

THE LAIR

FEED ME

 

Oct 8, 2022

“I was confused. I couldn’t decide what to do. Then… I ate them!” Oh, oh. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr, along with guest host Dirk Rogers – as they journey to a Pacific island and attempt to resist the lure of the deadly mushrooms found in Ishirô Honda’s Matango (Attack of the Mushroom People, 1963) from Toho.

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 135 – Matango (Attack of the Mushroom People, 1963)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: A group of pleasure-seeking young people is stranded on a mysterious island when their boat crashes. One by one they succumb to the lure of the deadly mushrooms.

 

In this episode, your Classic Era Grue Crew is joined by Dirk Rogers, a special effects artist with KNB EFX Group and a long-time friend of the show. As the guest host, Dirk chose Matango for this episode’s topic and with the movie’s use of effects – miniatures, suits, prosthetics, set dressing – it’s easy to see why this is one of his favorites. 

Dirk was originally drawn to Matango because it featured a lot of the same players from the Godzilla films. He loves the damp (shall we say moist?) atmosphere, the use of color reminiscent of Mario Bava, the sets, and the miniatures. He’s always loved Matango and feels the English title, Attack of the Mushroom People, doesn’t represent the depth of what you get from the film. Dirk also provides valuable insights into the effects work and the documentation of who did what during the production.

Matango is probably Chad’s first exposure to body horror and the horrors of fungus. He loves the way the story ramps up the terror and the cringeworthy fungus-filled sets. As one of Toho’s best, Matango still holds up for him. Daphne is blown away by the colors and the textures of the mushrooms and the fungi, loving it all over again. Jeff agrees that “Attack of the Mushroom People” sounds kind of hokey and doesn’t represent the depth of the story told in Matango. He loves the concept, the story progression, the creepy and downright icky creatures and fungi, and the movie’s cultural and historical relation to the horrors experienced by the Japanese from the atomic bombs of World War II.

Dirk was turned onto the writings of William Hope Hodgson by this movie as it is developed from Hodgson’s short story, “The Voice in the Night.”  During the episode, the crew discusses several versions of this story, all of which are provided through the following links:

If you have been motivated by this episode to catch Matango (and you should be), at the time of this writing, it is available to stream from Classic Horror Movie Channel, Tubi, The Criterion Channel, and various PPV sites. In terms of physical media, Matango is available on DVD.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule is one chosen by guest host, the one and only Dave Dreher: The Return of Dracula (1958). 

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 Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

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

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