The Bloody Pit

Mark Maddox returns to discuss a giant monster movie from Denmark! Yes – REPTILICUS (1961) is either the shame or pride of Danish cinema depending on who you ask. Much like THE GIANT CLAW (1957) it asks a lot of the audience whenever the titular creature is onscreen. For many fans of genre film, the willing suspension of disbelief is too heavy a lift even though the first act setup involves an intriguing premise. So what do Mark and I think of it? Hang on tight! We discuss the origin of the project and the various creators who brought this movie to the world. Sidney Pink and Ib Melchior get the biggest share of our attention as they were the writers and director of the project. We quote American International Pictures’ Sam Arkoff about his discovery of the major mistake in the English dialog that had to be corrected by looping the entire film. The monster special effects go under the microscope with both of us relating the style and form to the Gerry Anderson TV shows that were gaining popularity in the early 1960’s. The differences between the AIP English version and the version made for Danish consumption are touched on with special mention of the added musical number that drives Mark nearly insane. (Yes, I included it in the show.) Topping things off is my co-host’s reoccurring Swedish Chef impression which is either cultural appropriation, an insulting caricature or a confused cry for help. Or all three. And this entire affair goes on for two hours! That is clearly too long, but take heart in the knowledge that this is the edited version of our conversation.   If you have any comments about REPTILICUS or any of the other things we’ve covered on the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon.  

Chris Herzog returns to the show to discuss one of the best of Republic Pictures’ serials. NYOKA AND THE TIGERMEN (1942) is a fantastic example of the chapterplay form but gets forgotten when people talk about the best the studio produced. Revisiting this action-packed adventure proves that it deserves to be mentioned as one of the finest serials ever made. Where is the Blu-Ray? We discuss the cast in some detail and relate a few behind the scenes anecdotes. Since this is one of only eight serials lead by a female character, we spend some time on how Nyoka both conforms to and breaks from the usual conventions of the format. It’s nice to have an action hero woman mixing it up in the fights and killing bad guys rather than finding new ways to be knocked unconscious! The lead villain is a woman as well giving us a driven Queen Vultura bent on destroying all who stand in her way. Dangerous females indeed! We also get the future Lone Ranger as one of the good guys ably assisted by the excellent stunt team that Republic always used. They will make you believe in leaping over tables and from great heights. And I can’t stop myself from pointing out how many members of the cast show up in various Poverty Row horror films with Bela Lugosi. Sorry about my fixations but you really should see the trainwreck that is BLACK DRAGONS (1942). And did we mention the gorilla named Satan?  If you have any comments or suggestions about the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We love hearing from you and hope you enjoy the podcast. 

Universal’s output in 1944 was packed with horror tales and MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM seems a likely addition to that list of chillers. At least until you realize that a firm 20% of the film’s scant running time is taken up by song & dance numbers! Yes, its another horror comedy with a script that started life as a Ritz Brothers feature, but don’t let that scare you off. The chills may be lacking but the entertainment value is surprisingly high. And there is a ghost enlivening the proceedings. Oh! And a murder as well.  Troy Guinn and I take a run through this humorous creeper and find ourselves having more fun than expected. The credit for that goes to the talented cast so we spend a lot of time talking about the stars and a few of the amazing bit players as well. Where else other than in this movie are you going to hear actor Ian Wolfe say the word ‘Zut’? The film has several great songs and I include Troy’s favorite tune in the show because it is far too catchy to ignore. We discuss the plot shenanigans and the script’s careful skipping past a subject usually forbidden by the Hays Code. Mention is made of the award-winning career of one of the screenwriters and we point to areas in the dialog where his efforts might be heard. Also, we point the curious to the first English language version of this tale, THE SECRET OF THE BLUE ROOM (1933), as a better source of horror thrills if not toe-tapping fun. This 1944 version might serve as a good pairing with that minor classic but only if we can ever get a better-looking print. Come on, Universal. If you have any song recommendations from a scary film thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. And let us know what you think of this film and the podcast in general too. Thank you for listening! 

In the Cult Italian Movie category THE VISITOR (1979) stands out for many reasons. It is made up of equal parts science fiction, thriller and religious high strangeness shot through with touches of CARRIE and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. For years it was considered one of the least comprehensible movies ever made but with the restoration of the full running time in 2010 it is now only mildly incomprehensible. Indeed, with enough squinting and reading between the lines it is almost possible to find a narrative thread that only occasionally feels absurd. Ridiculous to the point of silliness THE VISITOR defies rational concepts and logical progression of story. Let some other movie have police investigations that go somewhere or examples of simple cause and effect in human reactions to inexplicable events. This film scoffs at such needless exercises. And don’t get me started on the exploding basketball that everyone ignores!   Troy Guinn, Bob Sargent and I (Rod Barnett) are the three intrepid film nuts that stutter-step their way through this Euro-madness. We wrestle this monster to the ground, fight off seagull attacks, ponder the eternal battle between good and evil and marvel at the cast of Hollywood stars the producer conned into being in this thing. What other movie of this type can boast John Huston, Franco Nero (playing a blonde, blue-eyed Jesus), Glenn Ford, Mel Ferrer, Shelly Winters (playing Mary Poppins’ cousin Mary Slappington), Lance Henricksen and an out-of-his-depth Sam Peckinpah? Is this the most bizarre film ever shot in Atlanta? Was the city’s mayor bribed to indulge the film’s production? How many times will we reference A Flock of Seagulls? Is the amazing prop that Troy dubs ‘Switch-Beak’ silly or brilliant? I cannot promise answers but we will at least pose the questions. Lots and lots of questions.   If you have anything to say about THE VISITOR or any other film that we’ve covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon. 

I’m happy to have author David Annandale return to the podcast to talk about low budget genre cinema again! Severin has issued a fantastic Blu-Ray of the film UNKNOWN WORLD (1951) so we use this release to dig into the little-discussed science fiction movie. Often seen in terrible, dark prints in various places around the internet this one deserves more attention, so we were both thrilled that it is now sharp and beautiful in its black & white HD glory. Did it look this good in ’51? For a film produced by a couple of special effects artists UNKNOWN WORLD certainly has a lot on its mind. It is one of the earliest examples of apocalyptic nuclear ‘doom warning’ movies and we wonder if that fact is why it is less well known than later movies of this type. We discuss the cast and crew of this nine-day wonder including the oddity of the primary actor not getting screen credit. We lament the very few acting roles of the female lead and ramble through the credits of several other actors as well. We point out the solid effects work and marvel over the fantastic matte shots. Of course, we do acknowledge the weaknesses of the film and how its (intentionally?) dull middle segment can make the running time seem longer than it actually is. So, strap yourself in the Cyclotram and lets go caving! If you have anything to say about this film or any others that we have covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon. 

The show returns to the science fiction films of the 1970’s with author Randy Fox! This time out we tackle DAMNATION ALLEY (1877) and make a sad discovery – neither of us like the film. Generally, I don’t enjoy podcasting about films I’m not enthusiastic about but we explain how this episode came to be. Word to the wise – communication is key!   Anyway. We dig into the production of the film and go back to the source story from Roger Zelazny to compare page to screen. Spoiler alert – page wins. But we take note of the various films that seem directly inspired by Zelazny’s tale and relate ways that this movie could have benefited from sticking closer to the story as written. We discuss the slashing of the budget and the commensurate drop in special effects quality. Neither Randy or I like one of the lead actors which is always a problem for entertainment value. Couple this with excellent character actors dying far too soon, as well as the female lead being given nothing to do and the printed version of this tale looks better all the time. No matter that the producers thought, a futuristic Convoy was not what the public wanted.   If you like DAMNATION ALLEY, by all means, let us know why at thebloodypit@gmail.com – we are curious. Thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon. 

Troy and I return to the Inner Sanctum movies for the third in the series. DEAD MAN’S EYES (1944) presents us with Lon Chaney Jr. as a painter this time but he is once again involved in a low-simmering romantic triangle. There is hope for all of us, huh? A terrible accident renders him blind and in need of replacement corneas. Soon, a convenient murder is committed and we start to examine the small cast to figure out whodunnit. We dig into the cast and praise their work – for the most part. Troy puts forth an excellent alternate scenario that might have made the film more interesting while I complain that the first thirty minutes of the film plays like a tragic romance drama. Of course, once the corpse hits the floor things perk up with Thomas Gomez sliding into place as the police detective trying to find the killer. We wonder what director Reginald Le Borg thought of having to once again put Acquanetta through her stiff paces. And we debate the mystery the film is built around, arguing its merits and imagining different options. If you have any comments about the Inner Sanctum films or anything else we might have touched on, thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thanks for listening!

Our second episode focused on the films of Stuart Gordon brings us to FROM BEYOND (1986). Troy Guinn joins John Hudson and I as we flip on the Resonator to see the unseen, squishy horrors hiding in the dark. The uncut version of the film has only been widely available since the 2007 DVD release and we discuss some of the things that were spit onto the cutting room floor. The film sports a fantastic cast with Barbara Crampton and Jeffery Combs returning from REANIMATOR with the addition of Ken Foree they form a crime investigation team that gets far more than sane people are ready to accept. We examine the film’s story structure and the clever scripting that allows for escalating weirdness without compromising the characters. The wild cinematography is discussed as is the use of colored lighting to represent the shift into visions of the hidden monsters all around us. We talk a little about the film’s production as well as our reactions to the movie across the years. Hold onto your pineal glands and step into the attic with us, won’t you! If you have anything to say about this film or any others that we have covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon.

I may have bitten off more than I can chew! I am joined by a pair of Marks – Mark Maddox and Mark Clark – to discuss STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Since episodes with either of them alone can stretch to more than two hours, putting them together with a subject this big was clearly tempting fate. We survive the show but this is easily the longest episode of The Bloody Pit ever! It might be best to listen to it in chunks. We dig into the Star Trek Animated Series and talk a bit about all twenty-two episodes. After some confusion we use the original broadcast order and give our thoughts on each one. This takes time and I complicated things by rereading the Alan Dean Foster Log Books for several of the stories. This means I can’t stop myself from dropping in details that were used to flesh out the 22-minute shows until both Marks request that I stop. Rude! But then I bring up Spock Must Die by James Blish and Maddox gets reeled into the book-talk like the sucker he is! Before things are over we have chosen our favorite and least favorites from the series and pulled a couple of episodes apart looking for the tasty bits. If you listen carefully you will hear the moment we realize that this show will be far too long. You can also hear the individual moments when each of us gets our second wind and press on through the second season. You might also hear weeping. You have been warned. If you have any comments or sympathy for me thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. The plan is to get another episode out in a few weeks so keep your fingers crossed. And thank you for listening!

We take a trip to Vienna to see what Boris Karloff looks like in color! Or is that colour? Troy and I discuss THE CLIMAX (1944), Universal’s attempt to craft a follow-up to their 1943 hit remake of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. They took a 1909 stage play, grafted on some Phantom elements and used the same sets from the previous year’s film to create a beautiful looking final product. They even carried over some of the cast in similar roles. But did they make a good movie? We dig into the things we like and dislike about this often overlooked entry in the horror films of the 1940’s. Both of us marvel at the opulent sets while being impressed by Susanna Foster’s singing talents while wondering about the movie’s running time. We examine some of our favorite cast members including Gale Sondergaard and Thomas Gomez. The multiple audiences that the film was trying to appeal to comes under scrutiny as we lament the fact that the horror portion of the mix seems to get little attention. Sometimes striving for broad appeal results in a work that pleases no one. As the episode goes on we give voice to our many questions about the story’s details that require an almost supernatural suspension of disbelief. If you have any comments about THE CLIMAX thebloodypit@gmail.com is the address. If you want to hear me ramble on about movies and media even more my Patreon page is active. Thank you for listening!  

At long last Mark Maddox returns as we wrap up our look at the first six Star Trek feature films with STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. Since this is the last movie to showcase the entire original cast, we take the opportunity to mention how happy we are that VI was the film they went out on and that everyone gets chances to shine. I’m just thrilled we finally get Captain Sulu! We discuss the production push to get this into theaters to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the premiere of the TV show. We praise the return of Nicholas Meyer to the director’s chair and point out the many touches that seem to stem from his involvement. This includes the joy of having the Wold Newton family tree brought into onscreen Star Trek, which is probably peak geekiness. The intricate nature of the film’s plot comes under scrutiny with us listing the various elements that are woven together perfectly to move the story forward. We discuss the dialog with a few clips to give a taste of the intelligence of the script. Our admiration for the performances gets plenty of time and we single out Christopher Plummer’s fantastic turn as Klingon General Chang. Just how much Shakespeare can be wedged into a Trek film, anyway? And is Chang the series’ best villain? Others may disagree with us but we make our case.   If you have anything to add to the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to write. We love hearing from you and if you want to work ahead it looks like we will be talking about the Star Trek animated series in the future. Thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon. 

This episode is the second part of my discussion of the films of Richard Cuhna with author Mark Clark. We focus on FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER and MISSILE TO THE MOON (1958) before we ramble off into talking about the Planet of the Apes franchise. Staying on topic is difficult for both of us! The cast of FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER (1958) is examined with lots of love directed at the amazingly villainous Donald Murphy as a descendant of grandaddy Frankenstein. One could only imagine what his character might have accomplished if he could gain some control over his libido. We look at the various funding methods used by mad scientists and the ways that suburban homeowners can somehow forget entire areas of their house exist! We also lament the lack of Jack Pierce’s contributions to the monster makeup and wish he could have returned after his work on GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN as the film’s monster look is oddly non-gender specific. As a science fiction/horror tale, the movie actually has a very rare pair of competent police officers, although their detective skills don’t mean they will live through the investigation.   When our conversation turns to MISSILE TO THE MOON (1958) we praise the excellent rock monsters and a few of the performances but struggle to find more to love. Perhaps shifting from original screenplays to remaking a not very good film wasn’t the best idea for Cunha and his collaborators. Still, there are things to enjoy in the movie, especially if you have a soft-spot for 50’s science fiction tales told with more enthusiasm than fidelity to reality.   If you have any thoughts about the four genre films directed by Richard Cunha thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. We both love these movies and return to them regularly. With some luck the missing two can be rescued from YouTube by an enterprising Blu-Ray company soon. 

Author Mark Clark joins me for the first of two episodes focused on director Richard Cunha’s genre films. In 1958 Cunha directed four horror/sci-fi movies that have stood the test of time. This episode focuses on the first two of these little gems, GIANT OF THE UNKNOWN and SHE DEMONS which were originally released as a double feature. We both love these movies and have a good time digging into them. We end up discussing some production background and the casts as well as the reasons we think they are so charming. Each of them is a typical black & white 50’s monster movie but with some peculiar choices made in presentation. As independent productions these films show a quality we refer to as feeling ‘handmade’ that gives them a different vibe from other movies of the times. The stories are similar to the b-movie hits of their decade but a number of the creative choices made are what makes them unique. If you’ve never seen the Cunha films, two of them have been released on Blu-Ray recently and they are available on YouTube as well. Our next episode will focus on the final two films. If you have any comments on the four Richard Cunha directed monster movies thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

December brings our annual Holiday Horror episode. This year we discuss the legendary Canadian film BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) and we have much to say. Turns out this is our tenth year of this Holiday tradition which surprised and slightly freaked me out. But Troy Guinn and John Hudson are rightly proud of our decade long series and glad to finally talk about the one that might have started the whole sub-genre. Sadly, our ages are starting to show, starting with the fact that none of us can remember when we first saw this classic horror film. Very strange. We dive right in and forego the usual plot synopsis in hopes that listeners will have seen the movie. We lament that we have never been able to read the 1976 novelization and note that a brand new one is coming out any day now. We talk about the actors quite a lot with Troy boldly stating that this is the best ensemble cast of any slasher film ever. Others may disagree. We take the time to point out that phone technology and the concept of an ‘obscene phone call’ seem to have gone the way of the 8-track tape. And we discuss the sure directorial hand of Bob Clark while lamenting his 1990’s career slide into profitable but inane children’s films. Also, we ask the serious question of whether John Saxon ever actually solved a crime onscreen. This will require research! If you have thoughts on BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) or any other Holiday Horror thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and beware of attic monsters.

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce return to the show! I am joined by Beth Morris and Troy Guinn to discuss the next in Universal’s long running Sherlock Holmes series featuring the legendary detective in the 1940’s. This entry uses one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original short stories to provide the basic plot – or does it? We look at the film’s very strong ties to a certain American crime fiction writer’s famous story that the script seems to borrow from. Is this a mash-up of two tales that taste great together?   THE PEARL OF DEATH (1944) is a movie that doesn’t spring to mind as one of the best of the Universal Holmes films but perhaps it should. The series’ regulars are in fine form and returning guest actor Evelyn Ankers gets a lot to do as the main female baddie. She seems capable of getting any job in London and can disguise herself effectively in the bargain. In fact, this film has her character, Sherlock and the lead bad guy Giles Conover so often pretending to be someone else that it plays like there is a contest between them! And the film also sports the first screen appearances of Rondo Hatton as The Creeper. We talk a good deal about the way the plot unfolds and take note of how the screenplay seems to be digging into a Holmes character flaw to drive the story. Of course, there are the usual odd asides including a Tolkien reference that is quite out of place and a short debate about the correct size of a Yamaka or skullcap. We try to use our meager deductive reasoning skills but we tend to be more Watson than Holmes. Thank you for listening to the show and thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send any thoughts. Stay warm and we’ll be back soon.

Author David Annandale joins me for the second time to talk about another 1940’s horror film! This time we wade through STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946) which is one of the more interesting examples of the output of the smallest of the Poverty Row studios - PRC (a.k.a. Producer’s Releasing Corporation). This is a fascinating low budget film that manages to make its lack of resources a virtue by leaning into the creepy fog and mists to hide the set limitations. It’s a favorite of both of us and we love getting to talk about it. STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP is actually a remake of a German movie made by the same director a decade before. We start the show by digging into the earlier film to compare the two and delineate their many differences. The American film is much more a horror tale than the 1936 German original with a dark foreboding hanging over the characters living in an isolated village. The 1946 film has the vengeful ghost of a wrongfully accused man stalking and strangling the men responsible for his death and extending his attacks to the male children of the families as well. Having watched this moody little gem repeatedly over the years we were surprised to only now take note of the heroic town mothers the movie presents. While the men flail around trying to find a ‘reasonable’ excuse for the horrific events the female population works to deal directly with the problem. We note that this story element might be related to the changing view of women’s place in society during the second world war and wonder if this was a conscious choice by the filmmakers. We may never know, but it shows just how intriguing this little film can be and points to how creativity can make a movie endlessly rewatchable. There are always thought-provoking things buried in this swamp to drag out of the muck! Mr. Annandale and I last discussed THE MONSTER MAKER and that episode can be found here. If you have any comments about this film or any other Poverty Row horror film thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening!

REANIMATOR (1985) was a pivotal moment in horror filmmaking for several reasons. First among them is that it announced the arrival of a major talent behind the camera – director Stuart Gordon. His screen career remains a wonder and with this episode we start a series in which we will examine the entirety of his directorial efforts. We might even take a look at the projects that he was involved with but were directed by others. I am joined by John Hudson to talk about this amazing film. We touch on the original 1922 H.P. Lovecraft story ‘Herbert West – Reanimator’ and the creation of this adaptation starting as a possible television show to eventual big screen incarnation we now know. The cast is discussed with a general amazement at the near perfect choices made for each role. We note that even though this was Gordon’s first feature film, his years of stage experience seems to have allowed him to understand both actors and audience in ways that translate well to cinema. It would be difficult to find a more sure-footed first movie. We talk about the dark humor that permeates the story including what has been called the world’s first visual pun. Mostly we spend our time heaping praise on this one and explaining our love for it so be aware! If you have any comments thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. We’ll return to the films of Stuart Gordon as soon as possible. Thank you for listening!

Troy and I return to the quartet of mummy movies that Universal released in the 1940’s! This time we examine one of the best of the lot, THE MUMMY’S GHOST (1944). The film has a number of great elements including an underappreciated heroic dog named Peanuts! As with all of these movies, the limping rhythms are the same but it’s the style and energy of the piece that makes it a standout.   We discuss the three decade time jump from the previous movie and marvel at 1970’s technology. The age of college students becomes a source of amusement as does the ineffectuality of the local police’s attempts to capture the rampaging mummy. We talk a bit about the cast, noting where we’ve seen a number of the players before in Universal horror pictures. There is some speculation on the possible health effects of being shot at point blank range given that George Zucco’s character from the last film is still alive decades later. And we are pleased to point out the rare chance to physically emote that Lon Chaney is afforded in a few scenes. Is this his best performance as a mummy?   If you have any comments on the Universal mummy movies or any other film we’ve covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening. 

My friend Chris Herzog joins me to talk about a serial from 1934 – THE RETURN OF CHANDU! Chris hasn’t been on the show since we discussed the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films back in episode #15. It was Bela Lugosi’s starring role that enticed him to come back for a conversation about this fantasy adventure in which the legendary horror actor plays the heroic lead! That’s right - Lugosi is the hero in this twelve-part serial. Will wonders never cease?   We discuss the radio show Chandu the Magician, from which this was adapted and the 1932 film that preceded this production in which Lugosi played the villain, Roxor. Neither of us can think of another sequel that recasts the hero to be played by the actor who portrayed the bad guy in the original, but that’s what happened with Chandu. We talk about the director’s work in Hollywood and his other serials as well as his work with the great William Whitney. We point out the reused sets from KING KONG and marvel at the giant cat statue in the Lemurian temple set. Cool stuff! And we lament that Chandu’s family seems to have been put on this earth to serve as eternal victims in need of rescuing. You think he could have let one of them die just to get the others to stay home next time!   If you are a Bela Lugosi fan or a fan of his various serials thebloodypit@gmail is the place to let that flag fly. And if you enjoy the show let us know. Thanks for listening. 

Author John Kenneth Muir returns to the show to discuss another science fiction television show! BLAKE’S 7 aired in Britain from 1978 to 1981 and was a major hit but was not renewed for a fifth season. That the show remains beloved decades later points to the typical short sighted BBC decision making process in such matters. With the recent announcement of Blu-Ray releases we decided that the time was right to talk about the show and our years long love of it. Since Mr. Muir has written a book on the subject, he is the perfect person to speak to about the show which was sold as ‘The Dirty Dozen in Space’. If you’ve never seen the series, we try to avoid most spoilers but a couple of things do leak through as we go along. Our conversation starts with how we each discovered the show and our initial reactions to the ‘anti-Star Trek’ with the adult nature of the storytelling being our main focus. We discuss the dystopian universe presented and give a brief overview of the ‘rebels vs the federation’ structure of the story. The dark and often cruel tone of the characters and the events they have to deal with is a topic we return to throughout the episode. We also fit in an examination of some of the classic science fiction tropes that the show uses and the creative spin the writers employ to include them. We had a great time digging into BLAKE’S 7 and we hope you will enjoy what we have to say even if you’ve not yet seen the series.