Caliber 9 From Outer Space

We love original horror poster art here at Caliber 9 From Outer Space, and this week we are honoured to host one of the true great artists of that idiom. Graham Humphreys is our guest this week, and we delve into a couple of 1960's horror gems. First up, under-seen Hammer horror-adventure-fantasy The Lost Continent (1968), directed by Michael Carreras and then we go full Lovecraft with Die, Monster, Die! (1965), directed by Daniel Haller. We really don't think these films can be spoiled, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them, even though we go into detail on the plots of both. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Lost Coastlines" by Okkervil River

Forgive us for posting a slightly ramshackle bonus episode, but we thought some of you might like to hear how this year's Joefest was going! Joefest is a private film festival we run every year in the depths of the British wintertime, when there's nothing better to do than sit inside and watch weird movies from the wilder side of cinema. In this episode, Al and Ali join us to quickly run over the films we've watched and what we thought of them. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Here's the full list of this year's feature films: Twisted Pair (2018), dir. Neil Breen The Outwaters (2022), dir. Robbie Banfitch Alucarda (1977), dir. Juan Lopez Moctezuma Champagne and Bullets (1993), dir. John De Hart Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), dir. John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, George Miller The Cassandra Crossing (1976), dir. George P. Cosmatos Flesh Feast (1970), dir. Brad F. Grinter Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself With Tea (1977), dir. Jindrich Polak Death Run (1987), dir. Michael J. Murphy Junk Head (2017) dir. Takahide Hori The Kindred (1987), dir. Stephen Carpenter & Jeffrey Obrow Angel Dust (1994), dir. Gakuryu Ishii Night of Death (1980), dir. Raphael Delpard Night Angel (1990), dir. Dominique Othenin-Girard Angel in the Night (1988), dir. Hernando Name Take a Hard Ride (1975). dir. Antonio Margheriti The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973), dir. Wojcech Has The Demon's Baby (1998), dir. Kant Leung Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Nightcall" by Kavinsky

As we bemoan the state of the world today and endure the anxiety of this cryptofascist, post-truth reality, we risk losing sight of the real danger to us all: savage fish men! Today we go right back where it all started, Universal's seminal entry in this monster subgenre, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), directed by Jack Arnold. We then skip lightly over its first sequel and focus on its under-rated third entry, The Creature Walks Among Us (1956). Fair warning: we go into the plots of both films in some detail, including the endings, but these films are over 70 years old and the storylines don't have much in the way of twists in any case, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Walk Into The Sea" by Johnny Marr

In the future... it pays to be more than human. And it also pays quite well to be more than machine. What can I tell you, the future is highly discriminatory. In this bonus episode, Ted joins Rob and Joe to make a bit of a mess of explaining the plot of Nemesis (1992), directed by Albert Pyun. Cyborgs, bullets, bottoms, and dusters with shades - it's the quintessence of dystopian trashy sci-fi action. Given how challenged we were by the impenetrable plot, which is of secondary importance at best, anyway, we simply don't bother with Spoiler Territory this week. Meaning, we do talk about the whole plot, but honestly it doesn't really matter. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Killer" by CHVRCHES

We're going back to the 1960's, this time to Swinging London and the Carnaby Street scene. It's not so much groovy, man, as smashing, luv! Justin Kerswell joins us to discuss a couple of near forgotten emanations of this peculiarly British reaction to the spirit of the age. We start off with Smashing Time (1967), directed by Desmond Davis and follow that up with Haunted House of Horror (1969), directed by Michael Armstrong. We don't think you can really spoil Smashing Time, whose plot is somewhat surplus to requirements, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Haunted House of Horror. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 2:17:53 mark to avoid spoilers. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Smash It Up" by The Damned

We're chock full of punk energy this week! RP Fox joins us as we check out Hard Core Logo (1996) directed by Bruce McDonald, and Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) directed by Allan Arkush. A tragicomic road trip across western Canada with thrashing guitars, personal demons, toxic masculinity and lots of gobbing, followed by an absurdist slice of Greaseploitation from the house of Corman, but with added Ramones - which doesn't make much sense but is of course a wonderful thing regardless. It's not really possible to spoil Rock 'n' Roll High School, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Hard Core Logo. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:34:07 mark to avoid spoilers. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" by The Ramones

We take a sharp U-turn into Utah for a very unique cult double feature this week. Jose and Mike from the Watch Skip + podcast drop in to check out Beaver Trilogy (2001), directed by Trent Harris and infamous "bad movie", Troll 2 (1990), directed by Claudio Fragasso. From a moving work of post-modern film art to a bizarre exercise in weird acting and incomprehensible plot, we have plenty to talk about this week. And we do! Because it's a podcast. We don't think you can really spoil Troll 2 (surely any light we can shed on the plot is as welcome before or after you watch it), but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Beaver Trilogy - or at least, we will give away details revealed in the documentary about the film, Beaver Trilogy: Part IV (2015). If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:31:12 mark to avoid learning things about the film's subject Groovin' Gary that you might prefer to learn after seeing the film. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

We revisit the dream of the freakadelic 60's this week with a couple of films which both celebrate and mourn the spirit of the age. Mark Evans of Sonic Coins + Icons joins us to discuss Easy Rider (1969), directed by Dennis Hopper and The Trip (1967), directed by Roger Corman. Bikes, weed, LSD, hippies and rednecks abound. Tune in, turn on, and drop out. We don't think you can really spoil The Trip, which is literally too tripped out to bother with a storyline, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Easy Rider. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:21:16 mark to avoid spoilers. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp Our closing music this week comes courtesy of Sonic Coins + Icons and their track "Beneath the Veil" (M. Evans) © 2025. Their new album Sohar is available at all the usual places: iTunes, Spotify, etc Mark's great music can also be explored via the following links: https://scicons.co.uk/ https://soniccoinsicons.bandcamp.com Threads Instagram Facebook Soundcloud

It's time for us to go back to Friday the 13th for another mismatched double feature program from the franchise. Al joins us once again, this time on a trip from the sublime to the ridiculous as we start with Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), directed by Tom McLaughlin. This was generally considered a return to form for the franchise and has since been lauded as an exercise in metahorror quite ahead of its time. The flip side, of course, is our B movie, Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989), directed by Rob Hedden - a film which often vies for the title of worst in the series. We may have something to say about that. Or maybe not. But you'd hope so, as this is supposed to be a podcast about movies. Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films. so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "The Crystal Lake" by Grandaddy

Days of future past - in the total utopia of 2026, we can now look back and laugh fondly at the dystopic cyberpunk visions of the 1990's... OR CAN WE??? Nick Langdon drops in this week to check out a pair of high-tech / low life visions from the mid-90s, when William Gibson's words weighed heavy on the sci-fi genre. We start with Strange Days (1995) directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and follow it up with Johnny Mnemonic (1995) directed by Robert Longo. Download, plug your SQUID in, and tune out... It's not really possible to spoil Johnny Mnemonic, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Strange Days (although it's possible Rob does heavily hint who the killer is early on). If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:31:37 mark to avoid spoilers. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Wires" by Athlete

Classic film noir meets sleazy Italian exploitation this week as Sakana and Dr Ethan drop by to check out The Glass Key (1942), directed by Stuart Heisler, and the magnificently named Strip Nude For Your Killer (1975), directed by Andrea Bianchi. We dive deep into the lives and travails of The Glass Key's wonderful cast (including Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and Brian Donlevy) and the its striking similarities with Coen brothers' later masterpiece, Miller's Crossing. Then, stay tuned for Ethan, Joe and especially Rob trying hard not to embarrass themselves expressing their... appreciation for Edwige Fenech in Bianchi's lurid giallo. This time, we manage to have a deep discussion without spoiling the plots of either film, so we won't be calling out Spoiler Territory this week. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Stripped" by Depeche Mode

Happy New Year, folks! The party's heating up at our place: Luigi Pistilli is still looking a little moody, but Steve James is benchpressing Geoffrey Keen (much to his chagrin), Henry Silva and Lance Henriksen are grinning evilly at each other, and Andrea Bianchi is getting a bit gropey (I think Charles Bronson has noticed and he's about to do something violent). So we figured we'd duck out of the festivities long enough to count down our Top 5 first-time watches of 2025 for you. Just a quick episode before we head back and launch into Auld Lang Syne. See you later this week for the first episode of Season 3!!! Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp

Peace on Earth. Can it be??? No, apparently not. Angst and dread continue to reign supreme as we enter the death throes of 2025, so let's just embrace it and have a very happy Crisis-mas! We've stuffed the stocking fit to bursting in this year's special Christmas episode. We welcome back Sammy from the Gentlemen's Guide to Midnite Cinema, and habitual Caliber 9'er, Bryce Hamilton (who never says no to a good bit of stuffing). Together, we'll be delving into a triple feature of sort-of-Christmas movies, starting with Wake in Fright (1971) directed by Ted Kotcheff, taking a detour into classic film noir with Lady in the Lake (1946), directed by Robert Montgomery and accelerating finally up into a Hong Kong action cinema frenzy with City On Fire (1987), directed by Ringo Lam. We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for all these films. So if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Wake in Fright by skipping ahead to the 1:34:50 mark, for Lady in the Lake by skipping ahead to the 2:27:48 mark and for City On Fire by skipping ahead to 3:30:16. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "The Slow Descent into Alcoholism" by The New P*rn*graphers

It's absolute chaos here this week, as Ted Bennett stands in for Joe and we welcome Heather Drain back to talk about some truly insane 1980's cult comedies. First up, little-known John Cusack and Tim Robbins vehicle, Tapeheads (1988), directed by Bill Fishman and then, hold on to your coffee cups and look out for holes in the wall, because we collectively lose our shit while discussing Jackie Kong's Night Patrol (1984).... and that may or may not be because the film is any good. Let's just say, plot is not really the reason to watch either of these films, so we won't be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for either of them. Obviously, you can always expect a little blue language on our show, but fair warning: we get a little... how you say?... ribald, on this one. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Baby Doll" by Devo

Although James Bond is one of the most beloved film franchises in cinema history, quite a lot of the films remain rather unloved. So we're going to give those ones a closer look, starting this week with the two films that, according to Letterboxd, are the least watched entries in the official EON canon. Nick Langdon pops in and checks out For Your Eyes Only (1981), directed by John Glen, and also Glen's fourth directorial effort in the franchise, The Living Daylights (1987). We don't think it's really possible to spoil any of the James Bond films - surely, they've all seeped fully into the pop culture consciousness by now - so we won't be calling out Spoiler Territory for either film this week. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "For Your Eyes Only" by Blondie

Bloody vengeance and boobs galore on the show this week. I know that could describe most weeks round here, but this time we really mean vengeance, and we've never had more boobs. Ted Bennett has come over to Casa Calibro with two fun Hong Kong genre films to watch and discuss: Taxi Hunter (1993), directed by Herman Yau and Robotrix (1991), directed by Jamie Luk. Strap in and make sure your dress isn't caught in the door, because things are going to get racey! We don't think you can really spoil Robotrix, a movie where the actual plot doesn't really matter, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for Taxi Hunter. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:17:11 mark to avoid spoilers. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Tricks of the Trade" by Mew

A gore-spattered double feature for the ages! We've just decided to let loose this week and tick off surely two of the greatest cult horror films in history. Andy Hunt drops by to check out Evil Dead 2 (1987), directed by Sam Raimi, and follow it up with one of the ultimate hold-my-beer moments, Peter Jackson's Braindead (a.k.a. Dead Alive) (1992). It's not really possible to spoil these films and one would hope the average Caliber 9 From Outer Space listener will have seen both of these films multiple times by now, so we won't be calling out Spoiler Territory for either film this week. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp Our closing music this week comes courtesy of Sonic Coins + Icons and their track "No Need to Hide" (M. Evans) © 2025. Their new album Sohar is available at all the usual places: iTunes, Spotify, etc

The past is gone. The future is not yet here. There is only ever this moment. We're all about lists this week, as James T Williams drops in to discuss Kill List (2011), directed by Ben Wheatley and Hit List (1989), directed by William Lustig. We dive deep into the exciting statement on horrific cinema psychedelia that was Wheatley's debut feature, and contrast it with Lustig's far more conventional crime procedural - which was not without existential problems of its own. We will be announcing a Spoiler Territory section for both films, so if you haven't seen them before you listen, you can nevertheless avoid spoilers for Kill List by skipping ahead to the 1:18:37 mark, and for Hit List by skipping ahead to 2:12:07. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Day of the Lords" by Joy Division

It's our 100th episode! We have a bumper edition this week to celebrate with a somewhat eclectic triple feature (as is our wont). Mike White and Sammy join us to discuss Sisters (1972), directed by Brian De Palma, The Brother from Another Planet (1984), directed by John Sayles, and Twins of Evil (1971), directed by John Hough. A sadly still very relevant critique of intolerance and division in the USA wedged between two lurid but very different tales riffing on the horror of psychological duality - there's so much to discuss and we duly do just that in our longest episode to date. Never fear though - it's all killer, no filler! We manage to get deep into The Brother From Another Planet without really spoiling it, and although we do discuss the ending of Twins of Evil, plot is not really the point of most Hammer horror and this is no exception. We do, however, call out Spoiler Territory for Sisters. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:35:59 mark to avoid spoilers. Thanks for being withus over this first hundred episodes - we aim to keep going for many hundreds more! Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Big Calm" by Morcheeba

Time for another jaunt over to Eastern Europe and the unique and wonderful cinema that only those guys seem capable of making. Once again, we have the privilege of welcoming Jonathan Owen onto the show to discuss Juraj Herz's Czech New Wave masterpiece, The Cremator (1969), and the truly bizarre slice of Yugoslav comic lunacy Visitors From The Galaxy (1981), directed by Dušan Vukotić. A tour through the disturbing mind of a proto-Nazi psychopath followed by a bizarre adventure with androids, laser-eyed kids, nude Croatians and the weirdest monster ever devised laying waste to a wedding feast. It's going to be a hell of a trip east, this week! We don't think you can really spoil Visitors From The Galaxy, which is less interested in following a clear plot than it is in just spiralling through ever-increasing layers of insanity, but we will call out Spoiler Territory for The Cremator. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:32:06 mark to avoid spoilers. Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Into the Galaxy" by Midnight Juggernauts