HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

THE INNOCENTS (1961) d. Jack Clayton (UK) Tonight, we're disussing The Innocents, the spellbinding 1961 screen version of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Producer/director Jack Clayton and cinematographer Freddie Francis conjure a haunting onscreen atmosphere with an eye for hypnotic, symbolic imagery, where the sunlit scenes are frequently more chilling than those set at night. Truman Capote and William Archibald's screenplay also introduces layers of sexual frustration, repression, and hysteria which, while eliminating none of the original story's ambiguity, supply an intriguing psychological angle that modern viewers will appreciate. As prim governess Miss Giddens, assigned to a country estate to care for two orphaned children, Deborah Kerr is undeniably the film's anchor, engine and rudder. The six-time Oscar nominee's brilliant performance walks the tightrope between strength and fear, conviction and doubt. Pamela Franklin is terrific as the angelic Flora in her screen debut, displaying hints of the preternatural maturity that would show up again and again throughout her career. And, as young master Miles, Martin Stephens manages to top his captivating turn from the previous year's Village of the Damned, delivering a magnificently layered turn that flickers between childlike precociousness and a sinister, almost sexually predatory quality. One of the finest ghost stories ever committed to celluloid, The Innocents is often compared to Robert Wise's The Haunting (1963), another stellar example of prolonged tension tempered with minimal special effects and deep, troubling, emotionally mature subject matter. The two films also share a common theme of lead female protagonists utterly undone by their reactions to the mysteries around them, where we are never quite sure if what they see (and we, through their eyes) is reality or fiction. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Kait Astrella, Mark Easteadt, Nicola McCafferty, Tyler Pistorius, Michael Orlando Yaccarino) as we celebrate 65 years of THE INNOCENTS!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAIT ASTRELLA is a librarian, archivist, and indie book publicist working in New York City. Find her posting about printed books and strange fiction on Instagram @kastrella2. MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. He also hosts the horror movie Meetup, Charlottesville Horror Film Fanatics https://www.meetup.com/charlottesville-horror-film-fanatics NICOLA MCCAFFERTY is a PhD candidate in the department of Radio, Television, and Film at Northwestern University. Her research looks at screen representations of nonhuman women such as mannequins, dolls, robots, and aliens in order to deconstruct the overlapping categories of whiteness, humanity, and femininity. Outside of grad school, Nicola has a few stray bylines at Dread Central, has seen every Kristen Stewart movie, and runs an Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/vvitchroom/?etsrc=sdt) where she sells enamel pins, stickers, and prints inspired by horror and cult films from the 1960s to today.  TYLER PISTORIUS is an actor, screenwriter, and producer living in Chicago. His recent works include Death is Business and A Missed Connection, and is currently in development on a new project. MICHAEL ORLANDO YACCARINO's critical writings and interviews have championed world fringe cinema for more than three decades. He is an award-winning biographer and author on unconventional historical figures and the occult. https://www.dorianavilla.com/  ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (1971) d. Harry Kumel (Belgium/France) VAMPYROS LESBOS (1971) d. Jesus Franco (Spain) THE VELVET VAMPIRE (1971) d. Stephanie Rothman (USA) TWINS OF EVIL (1971) d. John Hough (UK) LUST FOR A VAMPIRE (1971) d. Jimmy Sangster (UK) THE SHIVER OF THE VAMPIRE (1971) d. Jean Rollin (France) THE WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMAN d. Leon Klimovsky (Spain) 1971 was a remarkable year for the female vampire — seductive, dangerous, liberated… and deeply entangled in the contradictions of exploitation cinema. Tonight, we're exploring a remarkable cycle of films from that year, on both sides of the Atlantic, that transformed these immortal bloodsuckers into figures of erotic power and cultural tension. From the icy aristocratic seduction of Delphine Seyrig's Countess Báthory in Daughters of Darkness to the psychedelic sensuality of Jesús Franco's Vampyros Lesbos, 1971 delivered a striking wave of female vampire films across Europe and the United States. Spain's horror boom added drive-in gothic thrills with Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman, while Jean Rollin's Shiver of the Vampires offered a surreal, dreamlike blend of eroticism and avant-garde imagery. In America, Stephanie Rothman's The Velvet Vampire reframed the female predator through the lens of sexual liberation and feminist critique. Meanwhile, Hammer Studios continued its scandalous Karnstein cycle with Lust for a Vampire and Twins of Evil, balancing gothic tradition with the era's rising appetite for sensuality and transgression. Seen together, these films reveal a fascinating paradox: the female vampire as both symbol of emergent female sexual agency and carefully lit object of the male gaze. In 1971, horror vampire cinema didn't just bare its fangs — it bared everything, and we breathlessly drank our fill. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Steve Archacki, Emily Barney, David Del Valle, Barry Kaufman, Nicola McCafferty) for an especially epic episode, as we unravel the threads of empowerment and exploitation! ----------------------------------------------------- STEVE ARCHACKI is a connoisseur and collector of all things EuroTrash (especially Italian/Spanish gothic and giallo films and anything Hammer Horror). He also identifies as an avid vinyl soundtrack collector, lapsing metalhead, direct mail marketing guru, and to this day, still harbors perpetual crushes on Rosalba Neri and Dagmar Lassander. EMILY BARNEY studies Czech language and is obsessed with Czech and Slovak movies. She's appeared on The Projection Booth Podcast's Czechtember series, and blogs at emily-barney.com. She's also a lifelong horror and cult movie fan, the weirder the better. DAVID DEL VALLE is a renowned film historian, journalist, and commentator specializing in horror, science fiction, and cult cinema. He has contributed to publications like Fangoria and Cinefantastique, and produced Vincent Price's only interview focused on his horror career. Del Valle's books include Lost Horizons Beneath the Hollywood Sign and Six Reels Under. BARRY KAUFMAN has been committed to spreading the gospel of obscure horror and science-fiction cinema since writing the fanzines Monsters of Japan and Demonique in the 1970s and 80s. He ran All-Horror Video out of a house in the woods in Homewood, Illinois through the 1980s, followed by his shop The House of Monsters in Chicago from 1996 to 2007. He now vends at genre related shows and programs festivals in the Chicago area featuring his inconspicuous film favorites. NICOLA MCCAFFERTY is a PhD candidate in the department of Radio, Television, and Film at Northwestern University. Her research looks at screen representations of nonhuman women such as mannequins, dolls, robots, and aliens in order to deconstruct the overlapping categories of whiteness, humanity, and femininity. Outside of grad school, Nicola has a few stray bylines at Dread Central, has seen every Kristen Stewart movie, and runs an Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/vvitchroom/?etsrc=sdt) where she sells enamel pins, stickers, and prints inspired by horror and cult films from the 1960s to today.  ------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971) d. John D. Hancock (USA) Tonight we're talking about director John Hancock's brilliant low-budget psychological chiller, Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971), which combines elements of ghosts, vampires, and zombies, yet manages to find its own uniquely eerie voice. Shot independently in and around Connecticut, over the course of 25 chilly Autumn days on a budget of only $250,000, Jessica ultimately brought in $20 million during its theatrical release after being acquired by Paramount. It was later discovered by many more viewers (including this one) over the years via television screenings and VHS rentals, building a small but dedicated fan base along the way.  Following her release from a sanitarium, emotionally sensitive Jessica (played by Zohra Lampert) leaves NYC with her classical musician husband Duncan and their like-minded hippie friend Woody to find peace and quiet working a New England apple orchard. But when they encounter a strange, beautiful squatter residing in the farmhouse, Jessica's unstable world begins to crumble. And, like our heroine, we are never quite sure what is reality or nightmare, madness or sanity…. While the original script was envisioned as a parody of scary movies, Hancock approached the material with a serious bent, allowing us to enter Jessica's fragile mind through effective use of self-doubting voice-over as well as an ongoing chorus of entreating, berating, and haunting inner voices. The evocative score by Orville Stoeber (aided immeasurably by Walter Sear's electronic synthesizer) remains one of the best of the early '70s, augmenting Hancock's haunting unsettling atmosphere. An underrated gem deserving of multiple viewings, Jessica insinuates on a deeper level than mere shocks and jump scares, creating a spell that lingers without flashy effects or gore, boasting a wealth of subtle, memorable sequences and surprises around every corner. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Jess Ader, Darren Callahan, John McDevitt, Vanessa Morgan, Michael Orlando Yaccarino) as we celebrate 55 years of LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH!   ------------------------------------ JESS ADER is a fellow appreciator of movies and deep synth soundtracks. Former radio-TV-film student making money elsewhere but never giving up the love of all "moving" forms of media and art. He likes peanut butter. DARREN CALLAHAN is an award-winning writer, director, and composer who has written drama, fiction, and non-fiction for many major outlets, mostly focused on the horror genre. He has also released nearly 100 records, from pop to noise to ambient to film soundtracks.  His website is darrencallahan.com and his IMDB is http://www.imdb.me/darrencallahan.  JOHN MCDEVITT is a lifelong cinephile who programs two recurring film events in Chicago: SUPER-HORROR-RAMA! and Fetish Film Forum, a monthly screening series about fetish, kink, leather, and BDSM at the Leather Archives & Museum. John is fascinated by all genres of cinema and appreciates horror most of all for its willingness to explore what makes us uncomfortable and for the compassion it often extends to its characters and the viewer. VANESSA MORGAN is the author of several movie reference guides (When Animals Attack, Strange blood, Evil Seeds & Meow!), all available from Amazon https://amzn.to/3Hzm0wN. She's also the creator of the websites https://cat-movies.com and https://traveling-cats.com. MICHAEL ORLANDO YACCARINO's critical writings and interviews have championed world fringe cinema for more than three decades. He is an award-winning biographer and author on unconventional historical figures and the occult. https://www.dorianavilla.com/  ------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) d. Jonathan Demme (USA) MANHUNTER (1986) d. Michael Mann (USA) HANNIBAL (2001) d. Ridley Scott (USA) RED DRAGON (2002) d. Brett Ratner (USA) HANNIBAL RISING (2007) d. Peter Webber (USA) This week, we're talking about 1991's The Silence of the Lambs, that rare beast that's both mainstream Oscar-winning success as well as a first-rate horror film. A masterful blend of psychological terror and physical violence, screenwriter Ted Tally's dynamite script (adapted from Thomas Harris' bestselling novel) examines ambitious young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) and her efforts to track down the serial killer Buffalo Bill – a nickname he's earned by skinning his victims. Assisting her, with his own cagey motives, is imprisoned serial murderer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), dubbed "Hannibal the Cannibal" for the unsavory habit of consuming his victims. Director Jonathan Demme handles the action with a sure touch, mixing character, complex plotting, and locations that have a feeling of absolute authenticity. Repeat viewings reveal what a careful craftsman he is, and even the most superficial glance reveals how much pop culture's fascination with serial killers and crime scene pathology has been derived from the film's popularity. Thanks to Hopkins' exquisitely modulated performance, walking a tightrope between sneering intellectual superiority and barely restrained animal urges, Lecter arrived as one the of the screen's most electrifying fiends. (So memorable is he that it's easy to overlook Ted Levine's carefully shaded performance as Buffalo Bill, which is a feat unto itself.) Despite his limited screen time, Hopkins won the Best Actor Oscar, with Foster capturing Best Actress, Demme Best Director, and Tally Best Adapted Screenplay. Unsurprisingly, the film's success revived interest in 1986's Manhunter, which had actually served as the cinematic introduction of Lecter, with Brian Cox memorable in the role. Two future installments featuring Hopkins followed, Hannibal, 2001's direct sequel to Silence of the Lambs, and 2002's Red Dragon, the same source material that had inspired Manhunter, as well as a 2007 prequel, Hannibal Rising, and Bryan Fuller's network television series Hannibal, which ran for three seasons. Clearly our fascination with the chilling world of Hannibal Lecter has yet to run its course, so let's dig in! Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Anna Ceragioli, Mark Easteadt, Mike Mayo, Frank Merle, Mackenze Parker) as we celebrate 35 years of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS! ----------------------------------------- ANNA CERAGIOLI is a Chicagoan who lives for horror movies. From throwing horror-themed dinner parties, playing Monster Bash in her pinball league, or chilling with a Goblin vinyl, it's all horror all the time for her. MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. He also hosts the horror movie Meetup, Charlottesville Horror Film Fanatics https://www.meetup.com/charlottesville-horror-film-fanatics  MIKE MAYO has written several books about film and popular culture, among them VideoHound's Horror Show and American Murder. He is also the author of the Jimmy Quinn historical suspense novels set in Prohibition-era New York. https://www.mike-mayo.com/ FRANK MERLE is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker originally from Chicago, IL. He has written and directed several award-winning and critically-acclaimed films, including The Employer (2013), starring Malcolm McDowell and Billy Zane, and From Jennifer (2017), starring Derek Mears and Tony Todd. He recently directed Namaka, a dark fantasy starring Jamie Kennedy and David Howard Thornton, streaming now! MACKENZIE PARKER is a filmmaker living in Los Angeles. He studied at Northern Illinois University and the Moscow Art Theater. He has worked on TV shows such as Sons of Anarchy and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is currently working as a staff editor for Digital Alliance.  ----------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

DRACULA (1931) d. Tod Browning (USA) DRACULA (Spanish version) (1931) d. George Melford (USA) DRACULA'S DAUGHTER (1936) d. Lambert Hillyer (USA) SON OF DRACULA (1943) d. Robert Siodmak (USA) Released on Feb 14, 1931, Dracula from Universal Studios stands as perhaps the most influential horror film ever made. Directed by Tod Browning with cinematography by Karl Freund, the film was adapted from the wildly successful Broadway stage version of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. At the center is Bela Lugosi, whose performance as Count Dracula became definitive almost overnight. Lugosi's thick Hungarian accent, hypnotic stare, and aristocratic poise transformed the vampire from a folkloric monster into a seductive, charismatic figure. His portrayal established many of the traits now inseparable from the character: formal dress, slow, deliberate speech, and an uncanny mix of menace and allure. Though Lugosi would struggle, unsuccessfully, to escape the shadow of the role, his Dracula remains one of cinema's most iconic performances. The supporting cast includes Helen Chandler as Mina, David Manners as Jonathan Harker, Dwight Frye as the insect-gobbling Renfield, and Edward Van Sloan as Professor Van Helsing, whose calm rationality helped define the "monster hunter" archetype that would become a staple of horror storytelling. Dracula's massive commercial success—especially during the depths of the Great Depression--played a pivotal role in launching Universal Pictures' legendary Monsters series, proving horror could be both profitable and prestigious. The studio followed with Frankenstein later the same year, then The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), and many others, indelibly shaping popular culture for generations to come. Dracula didn't just introduce an immortal character—it helped give birth to American horror cinema as we know it. Join AC and his bloodthirsty panel of guests (Jessica Dwyer, Kate Hansen, Tom Mula, Michael Weber, Bobby Zier) as we celebrate 95 years of DRACULA!! --------------------------------------------------- JESSICA DWYER was raised on a diet of Dark Shadows, Doctor Who, and a lot of things she saw way too young.  She's been writing for nearly a quarter of a century about the world of entertainment and her own fiction (and that sound you heard was her bones turning to dust.) She works for the JoBlo Network, HorrorHound Magazine, and is a producer on a number of projects. KATE HANSEN is a music teacher with a penchant for horror. She has been published in magazines like Ultra Violent and Horrorhound. She likes dogs, enjoys the smell of campfires, collects VHS, is afraid of heights, and has only ever received two speeding tickets.  TOM MULA is a Chicago actor, director, and playwright, and author of the bestselling book and play, "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol." MICHAEL WEBER is an actor, director, and currently the Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre. A Chicago native, his fascination with classic horror began with WGN's legendary Creature Features and The Son of Svengoolie. He is an avid fan of the Golden Age of Radio and the author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles' infamous radio broadcast.)  BOBBY ZIER has a passion for Dracula and runs a TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channel called Lugosi Theatre.  He recently received his second "Monster Kid of the Year" Rondo Award for his efforts in keeping classic horror alive and well. ---------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960) d. Roger Corman (USA) LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986) d. Frank Oz (USA) Tonight we're talking about Little Shop of Horrors—a title that refers to two very different movies yet equally beloved cult classics that share a carnivorous plant, a down-on-his-luck florist, and a surprisingly dark sense of humor. Producer/director Roger Corman's The Little Shop of Horrors is an infamously low-budget black comedy shot in just a couple of days on leftover sets. Seymour (Jonathan Haze) is a put-upon loser with a hypochondriac mother and an overbearing boss, living in a community surrounded by wacky characters ranging from the sadistic to snooty. His chatty botanical creation—Audrey Junior—is born with a taste for blood, a thirst that grows as rapidly as it does. While the film barely made a ripple on its release in 1960, over time it gained a cult status through late-night TV and repertory screenings, helped along by its oddball tone and an early cameo from future superstar and Corman regular Jack Nicholson. Said scrappy little no-budget movie eventually caught the attention of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, and their eventual off-Broadway musical in 1982 fused doo-wop, Motown, and musical theater with horror comedy and social satire. Reframed as a Faustian bargain with memorable tunes and cartoonish characters, the show was a surprise hit, and producer David Geffen immediately began conceiving of a way to offer filmgoers something even grander via Hollywood's ever-evolving technology. The final product, released in 1986 and directed by Muppet Master Frank Oz, delivered a glossy, effects-heavy, star-studded crowd-pleasing spectacle that managed to honor its humble origins even as it created an entirely new generation of fans. Join AC and his incredible band of botanical buddies (Dave M Gray, Jay Kay, Anna Maurya, Mary Manchester) as we celebrate both versions of Little Shop, the theadbare no-budget joke and the blockbuster musical hit. From the tiniest seeds of inspiration, mighty and monstrous things are growing down at Mushnik's! ------------------------------------------------------------- DAVE "M" GRAY is currently a test subject in a subterranean mad science lab and allowed to send proofs of life to Raiders of the Podcast (raidersofthepodcast.blogspot.com or anywhere you podcast) and Twitch (twitch.tv/sh4ggyr4nd) weekly. JAY KAY is the creator of the 7-time Rondo-nominated horror podcast, Horror Happens, where he has conducted hundreds upon hundreds of interviews with genre celebrities. He is also a staff writer with HorrorHound Magazine. He is also a budding filmmaker, with numerous credits to his name, including No Good Deed, Within the Frame, and Swing 46: The Last Swinging Supper Club. https://astrangemaninflpro.wixsite.com/jkolucki  MARY MANCHESTER lives and works in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Lover of dogs, raised by nerds, fan of horror, drag, photography, Oxford commas, and '80s music.  ANNA MAURYA is a film fan stuck in Ohio. They have been a guest on Raiders of the Podcast, a contributor to Hidden Horror, and they generally dislike writing about themselves in the third person. -------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE EVIL DEAD (1981) d. Sam Raimi (USA) EVIL DEAD II (1987). d. Sam Raimi (USA) ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992) d. Sam Raimi (USA) EVIL DEAD (2013) d. Fede Alvarez (USA) EVIL DEAD RISE (2023) d. Lee Cronin (USA) Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise is a cornerstone of independent horror cinema, redefining what low-budget filmmaking could achieve. Beginning with The Evil Dead (1981), Raimi combined raw ingenuity, kinetic camerawork, and extreme gore to create a relentlessly inventive horror film that left a lasting impact on the genre. Shot on a shoestring budget with collaborators including star Bruce Campbell, the film's manic energy and iconic "unseen force" camera movements distinguished it from the slower horror of the late 1970s. The franchise's legacy is equally shaped by its bold tonal evolution. While the original film plays as a brutal, nightmarish experience, Evil Dead II (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992) fused splatter horror with slapstick comedy, transforming Ash Williams into a chainsaw-wielding, wisecracking antihero and helping define the modern horror-comedy. From comics and video games to the Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series to reboots like Evil Dead (2013) and Evil Dead Rise (2023), the series continues to evolve. Join AC and his awesome panel of horror enthusiasts (Krisy Jett, Anna Maurya, Daniel Millhouse, Ryan Olson, Jennifer Olson, Joseph Wycoff) as we celebrate 45 years of THE EVIL DEAD!!  ---------------------------------------------------------------- KRISTY JETT, faithful horror nerd of 40+ years, resides in Buffalo, NY and is the mother of nine cats. She remains now and forever the world's biggest fan of the film Popcorn (1991).  ANNA MAURYA is a film fan stuck in Ohio. They have been a guest on Raiders of the Podcast, a contributor to Hidden Horror, and they generally dislike writing about themselves in the third person. DANIEL MILLHOUSE joyfully returns to review films with Dr. AC and friends! As an Assistant Professor at the College of DuPage, he cherishes his Theatre, TV/Film, and Motion Capture acting experiences. He is one mischievous, charming, goofball. JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team! RYAN OLSON (aka S. Ravenlord of The Cold Beyond music group) is the owner of Deadspeak Design and Night World Records, as well as a member of the Synapse Films street team and a regular on the Synapse Films podcast. His work has been featured in Liquid Cheese, Horrorhound, & Evilspeak Magazines. JOSEPH WYCOFF is a veteran Chicago actor now based in New Zealand, with onscreen credits ranging from "Ash vs Evil Dead" to the Power Rangers to Josh Ruben's Heart Eyes (2025). -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951) d. Christian Nyby (USA) THE THING (1982) d. John Carpenter (USA) THE THING (2011) d. Matthijs van Heijningen (USA) Tonight we're discussing Howard Hawks' The Thing from Another World (1951) and John Carpenter's The Thing (1982), two science-fiction horror films that, despite sharing a source in John W. Campbell Jr.'s novella Who Goes There?, reflect very different eras in filmmaking and cultural anxiety and both represent landmark moments in genre cinema. The 1951 The Thing from Another World, directed by Christian Nyby with producer Howard Hawks leaning heavily over his shoulder, is emblematic of Cold War science fiction. Its screenplay by Charles Lederer and an uncredited Ben Hecht, significantly adapts Campbell's story, transforming it into a brisk, dialogue-driven ensemble piece. The alien is a humanoid, plant-based creature (played by future Gunsmoke star James Arness) that represents the fear of external invasion and ideological contamination prevalent in early-1950s America. John Carpenter's The Thing (1982), by contrast, reflects a far bleaker worldview. Screenwriter Bill Lancaster returns more faithfully to Campbell's original concept of a shape-shifting alien menace, emphasizing uncertainty and mistrust. Carpenter's film centers on paranoia rather than invasion, with the alien's ability to perfectly imitate its victims turning the threat inward, eroding trust among the characters. The groundbreaking practical effects by Rob Bottin redefined onscreen monster movies, pushing the boundaries of what mainstream audiences could imagine or endure. Unlike its predecessor, which was immediately hailed as an artistic and commercial success, The Thing was initially reviled by critics and commercially unsuccessful. Thankfully, it has since been reappraised as a masterpiece in the 40+ years since its release. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Fraser Coffeen, Chris Hainsworth, Katie McClean Hainsworth, Kevin Matthews, Ryan Olson) as we explore the genre's evolution from externalized fears to psychological and existential dread and everything in between!  ---------------------------------------------------------------- FRASER COFFEEN is the co-host of Creepy History, a podcast dedicated to all the creepy stuff you wish they taught you in High School. He's been published in Horror Homeroom magazine and How to Analyze and Review Comics CHRIS HAINSWORTH (he/him/his) is an actor/writer/director represented by Big Mouth Talent Chicago. He is a DeathScribe winner 2009 for the audio drama "Remembrance" and author of The Fourth Wall, part of Motel 666 (2015). KATIE MCLEAN HAINSWORTH is a Chicago-based performer/writer, whom you can regularly find on both the DARK NEXUS and FAWX & STALLION podcasts. She's happily guested on HORROR 101 a few times as well as on Roll For Impact's THE STRANGER. KEVIN MATTHEWS posts a movie review daily on the For It Is Man's Number blog, and is one quarter of the Raiders of the Podcast team who have been putting out weekly episodes for over six years. https://linktr.ee/raidersofthepodcast RYAN OLSON (aka S. Ravenlord of The Cold Beyond music group) is the owner of Deadspeak Design and Night World Records, as well as a member of the Synapse Films street team and a regular on the Synapse Films podcast. His work has been featured in Liquid Cheese, Horrorhound, & Evilspeak Magazines. --------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS (1976) d. Pupi Avati (Italy) On tonight's episode, we're talking about Pupi Avati's The House with Laughing Windows (1976), one of the most quietly unsettling films in the history of Italian horror, a slow-burn nightmare that lingers long after its final moments. Set in the foggy, insular villages of rural Emilia-Romagna, the film follows Stefano, a young restorer hired to repair a disturbing fresco depicting the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. As Stefano settles into the community, he begins to sense that the artwork—and the people surrounding it—are tied to something deeply wrong. Rather than relying on gore or shocks, Avati builds dread through atmosphere, implication, and an almost suffocating sense of isolation. Sunlit landscapes feel hostile, friendly neighbors seem slightly off, and every unanswered question pulls Stefano further into danger. The film's sound design, muted performances, and methodical pacing create a creeping unease that feels both grounded and nightmarish. Often compared to the work of Dario Argento yet strikingly different in tone, The House with Laughing Windows stands apart for its realism and restraint. It's a film about curiosity, artistic obsession, and the terror of uncovering truths that were meant to stay buried. Widely regarded as Avati's masterpiece, it remains a haunting example of how subtle horror can be far more devastating than spectacle. Join AC and his incredible panel of giallo-loving folk (Steve Archacki, Jorge Didaco, Bryan Martinez, Lin Morris, Nathaniel Thompson) as we celebrate 50 years of THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS! ---------------------------------------------------- STEVE ARCHACKI is a connoisseur and collector of all things EuroTrash (especially Italian/Spanish gothic and giallo films and anything Hammer Horror). He also identifies as an avid vinyl soundtrack collector, lapsing metalhead, direct mail marketing guru, and to this day, still harbors perpetual crushes on Rosalba Neri and Dagmar Lassander. JORGE DIDACO is a Brazil-based teacher on theatre, performance, and film. He contributed the essays for The Innocents for Horror 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies and In a Glass Cage for Hidden Horror. BRYAN MARTINEZ is the creator of The Giallo Room and is also the writer and director of the short films Gelato Giallo and My Friend Lisa (check em out on YouTube). He has had a passionate love affair with Giallo since he first watched a Spanish dubbed version of All the Colors of the Dark at the tender age of 8. LIN MORRIS is a writer who makes his living doing something else entirely. His novels Spot the Not and The Marriage Wars are both available on Amazon. The first movie he recalls seeing is Two on a Guillotine at the Super 99 Drive-In at much too young an age, and he's been a horror fan ever since. Despite the strenuous efforts of his parents, he remains stubbornly left handed. NATHANIEL THOMPSON has recorded 300 audio commentaries and written five books, most recently The FrightFest Guide to Vampire Movies. You can see him in shows like Eli Roth's History of Horror and Horror's Greatest, and read him yammering about all kinds of movies at mondo-digital.com. ----------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

We're breaking down the best horror movies of 2025, from mainstream hits to indie standouts—and arguing about which ones actually deserve the title. AC joins his Streaming and Screaming co-hosts Chad the Bird ‪‪@ChadTheBird‬  and Lucy Ba'al ‪‪@lucybaal2299‬ as they count down their favorite fright flicks of 2025! Movies mentioned in this episode: 00:00 Episode Intro 03:40 Final Destinations: Bloodlines 07:55 The Ugly Stepsister 10:26 The Monkey 14:19 28 Years Later 23:38 El Conde 24:34 Bring Her Back 27:54 The Long Walk 33:22 Weapons 37:28 Good Boy 38:49 Sinners 44:57 The Rule of Jenny Pen 47:14 V/H/S/Halloween (part 1) 48:50 Clown in a Cornfield 50:11 V/H/S/Halloween (part 2) 54:06 Companion 54:21 Heart Eyes 55:02 Chad's Honorable Mentions 56:10 Together  57:30 AC's Honorable Mentions 1:00:16 Lucy's Honorable Mentions 1:03:20 Toxic Avenger remake 1:05:09 Deathstalker 1:05:35 Hell of a Summer 1:07:12 Frankenstein (GdT) 1:08:12 Jurassic World: Rebirth 1:08:59 Creep 2 / Creep Tapes / Ash vs. Evil Dead 1:10:05 The Mortuary Collection 1:10:42 That Came Out This Year? 1:14:58 AC's Netflix Catch-up 1:17:11 Final Thoughts Join ussssssss!!! Let us know YOUR favorite picks from 2025! Looking forward to another year of Sharing the Scare!  -------------------------------------- All things Chad the Bird @ChadTheBird https://linktr.ee/ChadtheBird  All things Lucy Ba'al @lucybaal2299 https://linktr.ee/lucy_baal ----------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1960) d. Georges Franju (France) In this episode, we're talking about a yet another haunting horror landmark from 1960, Georges Franju's Eyes Without a Face (Les Yeux sans visage). Adapted from the 1959 novel by Jean Redon, Franju and his vaunted team of collaborators transform the pulp thriller material into something strangely lyrical and tragic, resulting in a bona-fide art-horror classic. Pierre Brasseur stars as Dr. Génessier, a respected surgeon whose obsession with repairing his daughter's disfigurement leads him beyond ethical boundaries. Edith Scob delivers an unforgettable performance as Christiane, her features obscured by a blank mask throughout most of the picture, while Alida Valli (who Euro-horror fans will recognize from Suspiria) shines as Louise, the doctor's devoted and complicit assistant. Franju, a cofounder of the Cinémathèque Française, avoids a sensationalistic approach, favoring instead calm, clinical imagery that heightens the unsettling subject matter. The ingenious screenplay proved to be a successfully collective affair, with Redon, Claude Sautet, Pierre Gascar, and Vertigo screenwriters Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac offering psychological anguish and moral ambiguity over conventional shocks. The film's visual elegance owes much to legendary cinematographer Eugen Schüfftan, while Maurice Jarre's score, alternately eerie and ironic, adds to disquieting tone. Join AC and friends (Christianne Benedict, Lin Morris, Elena Romea, Chris Wylie) as we celebrate 65 years of scalpels, scars, and scares, EYES WITHOUT A FACE!--------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANNE BENEDICT is a cartoonist, film writer, malcontent, and Bloginatrix at https://krelllabs.blogspot.com LIN MORRIS is a writer who makes his living doing something else entirely. His novels Spot the Not and The Marriage Wars are both available on Amazon. The first movie he recalls seeing is Two on a Guillotine at the Super 99 Drive-In at much too young an age, and he's been a horror fan ever since. Despite the strenuous efforts of his parents, he remains stubbornly left handed. ELENA ROMEA is the creator behind SpanishFear.com and Horror Rises from Spain. A researcher in literature and cinema, she holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Studies with a dissertation about the filmmaker José Val del Omar. Her work explores themes of estrangement, horror, myth, and cultural conflict. CHRIS WYLIE is the co-host of Deep Cuts Horror Trivia in Chicago, and an avid lover of psychological and trash horror. He believes we need to stop shaming people for not having seen certain movies, and has had his ass kicked by Batgirl on film ------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

MAD LOVE (1935) d. Karl Freund (USA) Based on Maurice Renard's 1920 French serialized novel The Hands of Orlac, in which the hands of a murderer are transplanted onto an injured concert pianist, Mad Love is remembered above all for Peter Lorre's stunning performance as Dr. Gogol, a brilliant surgeon driven mad by obsessive love. Lorre, fresh from his success in Fritz Lang's M (1931), delivers one of the genre's's most unsettling portrayals of pathological fixation. He is incredibly well-supported by Frances Drake as Yvonne Orlac, star of the Grand Guignol, and Dr. Frankenstein himself Colin Clive, as her tormented husband Stephen Orlac. The film was directed by Karl Freund (The Mummy, 1932, a central figure in the development of horror cinema. Having begun his career as a renowned cinematographer, Freund brought with him the visual sensibility of German Expressionism, shaped by his earlier work on films such as Metropolis, Der Golem, and The Last Laugh. Aiding Freund in the visual look of Mad Love was none other than Gregg Toland, whose highly controlled and deeply shadowed lighting and camera compositions anticipate the technical mastery he would display in Citizen Kane. Further heightening the film's atmosphere is the eerie, restrained score by Dmitri Tiomkin, another legend in the making with credits for everyone from Capra to Hitchcock to Hawks, and everything from sci-fi, westerns, war films, and comedies to his Oscar-winning name. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Nile Arena, Gavin Schmitt, Michael Weber, Bobby Zier) as we celebrate 90 years of Mad Love, an enduring horror classic and an early example of what would eventually come to be known as body horror! ------------------------------------------------------ NILE ARENA has created cinema collectives, worked the film festival circuit, and lent his voice to podcasts dedicated to the silver screen. His literary/weird fiction journal, Success Stories, is available now at some of the places books are sold. GAVIN SCHMITT is Wisconsin's criminal historian and the author of several books. He's also a degenerate cinephile and has written on film topics, particularly cinematographer Karl Freund. He's been half naked with Norman Reedus, shared breakfast with Tiffany Shepis, and helped David Arquette find cocaine in Chicago.  MICHAEL WEBER is an actor, director, and currently the Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre. A Chicago native, his fascination with classic horror began with WGN's legendary Creature Features and The Son of Svengoolie. He is an avid fan of the Golden Age of Radio and the author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles' infamous radio broadcast.)  BOBBY ZIER has a passion for Dracula and runs a TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channel called Lugosi Theatre. He recently received the "Monster Kid of the Year" Rondo Award for his efforts in keeping classic horror alive and well. ------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE DAY OF THE BEAST (El Dia de la Bestia) (1995) d. Alex de la Iglesia (Spain) Tonight we're discussing Alex de la Iglesia's cult classic The Day of the Beast (1995) (El Día de la Bestia), one of the most chaotic, hilarious, and subversive horror films of the 1990s! Blending satanic panic, apocalyptic prophecy, heavy metal, and pitch-black comedy, The Day of the Beast follows a priest who believes the Antichrist will be born on Christmas Eve—and decides the only way to stop it is to commit as much evil as possible, with hilariously mixed results. In this episode, we explore: --How Day of the Beast mixes horror and comedy without losing its bite --Alex de la Iglesia's distinctive visual style and anarchic tone --The film's critique of religion, media, and 1990s Spanish society --Why this film remains a cult favorite nearly 30 years later Join AC and his irreverent panel of guests (Aaron AuBuchon, S.A. Bradley, Jennifer Olson, Elena Romea) as we celebrate 30 years of this loud, messy, provocative, and unforgettable slice of Spanish Horror! ----------------------------------------- AARON AUBUCHON is a film professor and writer, and also an editor, director, motion graphics artist and producer. He is also co-host of the Discover the Horror podcast. https://discoverthehorror.com/  S.A. BRADLEY hosts the "Hellbent for Horror" podcast, is the author of "Screaming for Pleasure: How Horror Makes You Happy and Healthy," and lectured at Webster University and The College of Idaho. His show, "My Horror Manifesto," played in NYC. JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team! ELENA ROMEA is the creator behind SpanishFear.com and Horror Rises from Spain. A researcher in literature and cinema, she holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Studies with a dissertation about the filmmaker José Val del Omar. Her work explores themes of estrangement, horror, myth, and cultural conflict. ---------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003) d. Rob Zombie (USA) THE DEVIL'S REJECTS (2005) d. Rob Zombie (USA) 3 FROM HELL (2019) d. Rob Zombie (USA) Rob Zombie's Firefly Trilogy is one of the most controversial and influential horror sagas of the 2000s. In this episode, we discuss House of 1000 Corpses (2003), The Devil's Rejects (2005), and 3 From Hell (2019) to explore the evolution of the Firefly Family, Rob Zombie's filmmaking style, and the trilogy's lasting impact on modern horror. From the grindhouse chaos of House of 1000 Corpses to the brutal outlaw horror of The Devil's Rejects, and the divisive return of the Fireflies in 3 From Hell, our round table of Zombie enthusiasts breaks down themes, characters, violence, controversy, and cult appeal across all three films. We debate whether The Devil's Rejects or House of 1000 Corpses is considered Rob Zombie's best movie, how the Firefly Family became horror icons, and whether 3 From Hell works as a true conclusion to the trilogy. If you're a fan of Rob Zombie movies, cult horror, exploitation cinema, or dark character-driven horror, join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Adam Ayala, Barry Under Your Bed, Chelsea David, Creepy Suzie, and Amy Pearson) as we celebrate the legacy of the Firefly Family! 🩸 Films Discussed: House of 1000 Corpses (2003) The Devil's Rejects (2005) 3 From Hell (2019) 🎬 Topics Covered: The Firefly Family explained Rob Zombie's horror style and influences Why The Devil's Rejects is a cult classic Themes of violence, nihilism, and antiheroes The legacy of the Firefly Trilogy in horror cinema -------------------------------------------------- ADAM AYALA is a sleaze horror historian and lifelong collector. At The Video Park, he had the solid Euro-horror recommends, and at the record store he told you he didn't need your origin story. But before all that his mama never made him put a Beta tape back no matter what was on the cover. BARRY UNDER YOUR BED is the from the monster world but now lives among Humans. He has hosted shows all over SoCal, from variety to drag to burlesque, and is often known for his big mouth. But, you love him anyway! Find him online at www.barryunderyourbed.com CHELSEA DAVID is an actor, budding mental health professional, and spicy food eater, deeply obsessed with all things horror. A Louisiana native and former Chicagoan of a decade, she can be found bouncing around the country at any given moment. You'll hear her laugh before you see her.  CREEPIE SUZIE has interviewed some of your favorite horror heroes and degenerates, and reviewed some brutal, nasty bangers straight from the underground. She's also that marketing girl over at Unearthed Films. AMY PEARSON is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Durham University. In addition to being a whopping great horror enthusiast, she's also a power lifter, photographic model, and aerialist. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

JACOB'S LADDER (1990) d. Adrian Lyne (USA) Tonight we're talking about Jacob's Ladder (1990), Adrian Lyne's psychological horror classic and one of the most memorable genre films of the 1990s. Often cited for its disturbing imagery and emotional depth, the film blends Vietnam War trauma, surreal horror, and existential mystery into an unforgettable analysis of the human psyche and experience. The story follows Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins), a Vietnam veteran plagued by hallucinations, intrusive memories, and shifting realities. As he searches for answers—possible government experiments, the truth about his past, and the meaning behind his visions—Jacob's world becomes a haunting maze of grief, paranoia, and revelation. With standout performances from Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, and Danny Aiello, the film delivers both terror and unexpected tenderness. Join AC and his incredible (and incredibly brainy) panel of guests (Emily Barney, Ben Beard, Dominic Conti, Julia Marchese) as we explore: • Jacob's Ladder explained — themes, symbols, and interpretations • How the film portrays trauma, memory, and the Vietnam War • Its impact on psychological horror and films/media inspired by it • The practical effects and unsettling visuals that shaped its legacy • Why the ending still fuels debate and theory videos today Whether you're here for analysis, horror history, or a deeper look at one of the genre's most influential films, this conversation explores why JACOB'S LADDER continues to resonate 35 years after its release. Here's a link to Ben's book (although if you can buy it through ANY other means than Amazon - i.e. BUY LOCAL, you will have my deepest respect and gratitude. Bezos doesn't need any more of your money.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1PGN7JH/... ----------------------------------------------- EMILY BARNEY studies Czech language and is obsessed with Czech and Slovak movies. She's appeared on The Projection Booth Podcast's Czechtember series, and blogs at emily-barney.com. She's also a lifelong horror and cult movie fan, the weirder the better. BEN BEARD is the author of three books on the movies, including The South Never Plays Itself, The Bad Class, and most recently Four Horses, Seven Seals: Jacob's Ladder, The Sandman, Violator, and the World of 1990. He lives in Chicago with his family. DOMINIC CONTI is a Chicago-based writer and actor. His first novel, Your Book Club, is now available. (Orders can be placed at dcontimail@gmail.com, or you can just say hi.) JULIA MARCHESE is a podcaster (Horror Movie Survival Guide, The Losers' Club, JodoWOWsky), filmmaker, actor, film programmer, writer and cinephile living in Hollywood; California. https://linktr.ee/juliacmarchese ------------------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE REFLECTING SKIN (1990) – d. Philip Ridley (UK) BABY BLOOD (1990) – d. Alain Robak (France) SINGAPORE SLING (1990) – d. Nikos Nikolaidis (Greece) If you love art-house horror, extreme cinema, and deep-dive film analysis, this episode is for you! We're celebrating three groundbreaking 1990 classics that pushed horror into stranger, darker territory: Baby Blood, The Reflecting Skin, and Singapore Sling. As the genre emerged from the excess of the '80s, these international auteurs delivered bold, transgressive, and uncomfortably beautiful visions that still unsettle 35 years later. Baby Blood — A French body-horror cult gem featuring Emmanuelle Escourrou in a ferocious performance as a woman bound to a parasitic entity. A gleefully grotesque blend of splatter, cosmic dread, and anarchic dark comedy. The Reflecting Skin — A haunting fever dream of corrupted Americana starring Viggo Mortensen. With painterly visuals, hypnotic pacing, and gothic melancholy, it remains one of the most striking and emotionally devastating horror films of its era. Singapore Sling — A taboo-breaking, noir-infused art film steeped in fetishism, pitch-black humor, and avant-garde excess. Decades later, its sadomasochistic spiral still shocks—and still fascinates.  Join AC and his adventurous panel of guests—Emily Barney, S.A. Bradley, and Vanessa Morgan—as we discuss why these films endure, how they continue to challenge audiences, and what they reveal about the ever-evolving language of horror. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT OUR GUESTS EMILY BARNEY studies Czech language and is obsessed with Czech and Slovak cinema. She's appeared on The Projection Booth Podcast's Czechtember series and blogs at emily-barney.com. A lifelong horror and cult movie fan—the weirder, the better. S.A. BRADLEY hosts the Hellbent for Horror podcast, is the author of Screaming for Pleasure: How Horror Makes You Happy and Healthy, and has lectured at Webster University and The College of Idaho. His show My Horror Manifesto played in NYC. VANESSA MORGAN is the author of several movie reference guides, including When Animals Attack, Strange Blood, Evil Seeds, and Meow! Find them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Hzm0wN She also runs cat-movies.com and traveling-cats.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and—most of all—Keep Sharing the Scare!

SANTO Y BLUE DEMON CONTRA LOS MONSTRUOS (1970) d. Gilberto Martínez Solares (Mexico) This gloriously chaotic mash-up brings together two of Mexico's most iconic masked wrestlers—El Santo and Blue Demon—for a monster-filled showdown that blends classic horror, sci-fi pulp, and lucha libre action. From vampires and werewolves to mummies, Frankenstein's creature, and even a cyclops, this movie packs an entire monster universe into its brisk runtime. Add in mad scientists, rubber-suit mayhem, and drop-kicks as the solution to literally everything, and you've got one of the most delightfully bonkers films of the lucha boom. But the film is more than campy fun. Santo and Blue Demon were folk heroes, bridging comic books, wrestling arenas, and the silver screen to create a cultural phenomenon that defined an era of Mexican popular cinema. Their adventures captured a unique mix of moral clarity, earnest charm, and pure imagination that continues to resonate with fans around the world. Today, Santo y Blue Demon Contra los Monstruos stands as a beloved cult classic—a perfect example of low-budget creativity, genre-blending audacity, and the joyful spirit of fantastic filmmaking. Join AC and his Turkey-loving panel of guests (Raul Benitez, Jorge Didaco, Robin Graves, Dave M Gray, Jon Kitley) as we revisit this monster mash, celebrate its legacy, and explore why it remains such an unforgettable piece of lucha libre horror. And here's a link to the Kickstarter that Raul mentions in the show!  https://www.luchadoresvseverything.com/ ---------------------------------------------------  RAUL BENITEZ is a film programmer in Chicago for over 15 years. Raul currently is the Senior Programmer at the Midwest Film Festival, and the After Dark programmer at the Chicago International Film Festival. Raul also programs at Comfort Station Logan Square, Full Spectrum Features, and the Nightingale Cinema.  JORGE DIDACO is a Brazil-based teacher on theatre, performance, and film. He contributed the essays for The Innocents for Horror 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies and In a Glass Cage for Hidden Horror. ROBIN GRAVES (har har) is the puppeteer behind Lucy Ba'al, a demonic puppet who recommends lesser-seen horror and cult films through his TikTok show The Laaaaaaast Video Store on Earth. DAVE "M" GRAY is currently a test subject in a subterranean mad science lab and allowed to send proofs of life to Raiders of the Podcast (raidersofthepodcast.blogspot.com or anywhere you podcast) and Twitch (twitch.tv/sh4ggyr4nd) weekly. JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years. He's a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast, and attends multiple conventions and all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters! https://kitleyskrypt.com/  ----------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980) d. Ruggero Deodato (Italy) Despite its reputation as one of the most controversial exploitation features ever made, Italian director Ruggero Deodato's 1980 film - Cannibal Holocaust - occupies an unexpectedly important place in cinema history. Its blend of documentary aesthetics, media-critique, and staged "found footage," anticipated techniques that would later become mainstream, showing up in everything from reality television to modern horror franchises. The film's enduring notoriety continues to spark debate about ethics in filmmaking, censorship, and the responsibility of artists when representing violence and other cultures—discussions around extreme cinema that are as rich and heated today as they were 45 years ago. Far from being mere "trash," it endures as a provocative case-study in how shock, style, and social commentary can collide in ways that challenge audiences and the industry alike. Join AC and his gutsy panel of guests (Art Ettinger, Rigo Garay, Michelle Kisner, Anny Maurya, Tim Palace) as we celebrate 45 years of Cannibal Holocaust! ------------------------------------------------ ART ETTINGER is the editor of Ultra Violent Magazine, a public defender, and a Razorcake record reviewer. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where his lifelong obsessions with punk rock and horror/exploitation cinema continue to consume him. RIGO GARAY is a writer/actor/director from Long Island, NY, currently and joyfully employed at Glass Eye Pix (founded by horror auteur Larry Fessenden). He has been seen onscreen in Crumb Catcher (d. Chris Skotchdopple), Blackout (d. Larry Fessenden), and The Leech (d. Eric Pennycoff), as well as TV roles on Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SVU, and Law & Order: Organized Crime. He is preparing for his directorial feature debut, PULL: A DARK COMEDY, currently in pre-production. ANNA MAURYA is a film fan stuck in Ohio. They have been a guest on Raiders of the Podcast, a contributor to Hidden Horror, and they generally dislike writing about themselves in the third person. MICHELLE KISNER is a film critic, freelance writer, and physical media advocate. She has contributed to several websites to include The Cultural Gutter and The Movie Sleuth and is also a member of the Michigan Movie Critics Guild.  TIM PALACE is a lifelong Chicago-based genre fan with a particular devotion to the horrific. A committed collector of physical media, Tim has amassed close to 13,000 titles he's excited to share with his new terror tyke Oliver. -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK) THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL (1960) d. Terence Fisher (UK) NEVER TAKE SWEETS FROM A STRANGER (1960) d. Cyril Frankel (UK) HELL IS A CITY (1960) d. Val Guest (UK) Celebrated for its distinctive brand of horror and suspense, Hammer Films has left an indelible mark on British cinema and influencing filmmakers around the world. The year 1960 was especially significant for Hammer, as it was a time when the studio was solidifying its identity as a horror juggernaut, but also experimenting with genres, and pushing the boundaries of storytelling, atmosphere, and visual style. Tonight, we'll focus on four films from that year: Brides of Dracula, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, Never Take Sweets from a Stranger, and Hell is a City. Each representing a different facet of Hammer's evolving approach, from Gothic horror and psychological thrillers to socially conscious drama and gritty crime narratives.  Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Troy Howarth, Stan Hyde, Barry Kaufman, Lin Morris, Freddie Young) as we look back at HAMMER IN 1960!! -------------------------------------------- TROY HOWARTH is a Rondo Award-nominated writer who specializes in European Cult cinema. His books include The Haunted World of Mario Bava, Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films, So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films, among others. He has also contributed audio commentaries, audio essays, and liner notes to over one hundred DVD and Blu-ray releases from the U.S., the U.K., and Germany. He resides in Pennsylvania. STAN HYDE teaches, examines, and consults on international film programs for students (International Baccaluareate's Film Course), as well as writing about model making, film history, and some fiction. He is winner of the Mangled Sky-Scraper Award for helping bring G-FEST, the annual Godzilla Convention in Chicago, to life since 1995, and is a 2021 Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Hall of Fame recipient for his work with science fiction conventions, clubs, and fanzines. BARRY KAUFMAN has been committed to spreading the gospel of obscure horror and science-fiction cinema since writing the fanzines Monsters of Japan and Demonique in the 1970s and 80s. He ran All-Horror Video out of a house in the woods in Homewood, Illinois through the 1980s, followed by his shop The House of Monsters in Chicago from 1996 to 2007. He now vends at genre related shows and programs festivals in the Chicago area featuring his inconspicuous film favorites. LIN MORRIS is a writer who makes his living doing something else entirely. His novels Spot the Not and The Marriage Wars are both available on Amazon. The first movie he recalls seeing is Two on a Guillotine at the Super 99 Drive-In at much too young an age, and he's been a horror fan ever since. Despite the strenuous efforts of his parents, he remains stubbornly left-handed. FREDDIE YOUNG is a NYC horror reviewer and frequent podcaster. He has been running the website Full Moon Reviews (www.fullmoonreviews.net) since 2006, telling it like it is and enjoys spreading the word on good and bad films, mainly in the horror genre. He's planning on a full-time return to podcasting within the second half of 2025, hoping to put some attention on some "misunderstood films." -------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) – 40 YEARS LATER! Tonight we're discussing The Return of the Living Dead (1985), the cult-classic zombie comedy that redefined the undead genre. Screenwriter Dan O'Bannon (Alien, Lifeforce) makes his directorial debut with this wildly exuberant black comedy that mixes terrific comic performances with good old-fashioned flesh-chomping horror. Packed with gory makeup effects, hilarious slapstick energy, a killer punk soundtrack, and a balls-to-the-wall finale, Return of the Living Dead became an instant genre favorite — spawning sequels (of varying quality!) and a generation of BRAAAAINS-loving fans. Join AC and his undead panel of guests (Eric Anderson, Aaron Aubuchon, Kristy Jett, Tim Palace) as they celebrate 40 years of THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD! ---------------------------------------- ERIC ANDERSON was not allowed to watch horror movies as a kid and he is now making up for lost time with a vengeance. He works in a large urban public library and spends as much time outdoors as possible. AARON AUBUCHON is a film professor and writer, and also an editor, director, motion graphics artist and producer. He is also co-host of the Discover the Horror podcast. https://discoverthehorror.com/ KRISTY JETT, faithful horror nerd of 40+ years, resides in Buffalo, NY and is the mother of nine cats. She remains now and forever the world's biggest fan of the film Popcorn (1991).  TIM PALACE is a lifelong Chicago-based genre fan with a particular devotion to the horrific. A committed collector of physical media, Tim has amassed close to 13,000 titles he's excited to share with his new terror tyke Oliver. -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!