Horror Movie Franchises

This episode of Horror Movie Franchises takes a deep dive into the "Witchboard" series — from the 1986 original, through two sequels, to the recent reboot. Movie plots, trivia, and how each film handles spirit boards and possession are covered.  If you watch just one movie, make it the original. It has since become a cult classic largely due to Twaney Katean (as Linda) and the bromance between Jim and Brandon. Sadly, the rest (including this year's reboot) aren't that good. One reviewer refers to the franchise as "Witch Bored". That is both a funny and accurate description.    Photo Credit: Here

Ty West's "X" trilogy includes "X", it's prequel "Pearl", and it's sequel "MaXXXine". Each movie follows a different cinematic style: X is a tribute to 1970's slashers such as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" Pearl is a Technicolor extravaganza. Such films were popular in the 1930s thru 50s. Think "The Wizard of Oz". These movies had big sets, big scores and were filled with vibrant colors. MaXXXine is a tribute to Italian giallos. They were very stylized and were controversial due to excess sex and violence. Throw in a sleazy 1980s LA backdrop, a real killer that was on the prowl (the Nightstalker) and the Satantic Panic that was frightening the country at the time.  Mia Goth is the standout of the series. I'll admit I didnt know much her before this. I had only seen her in the remake of "Suspiria". I really enjoyed her performance (especially in "Pearl"). It's a shame she didnt at least receive an Academy Award nomination for this character study. I look forward to seeing much more of her in future movies.  Will there be other "X" movies? Ty West said he had an idea for a fourth but has since said he liked where the series ended. While I would like to see where else they could go, I'd glad someone in Hollywood knows when to end a story (vs beating a dead horse).  Photo Credit: here

This episode covers the little known "The Prophecy" franchise. It's a five film series about a millennia-long war among angels. The first three movies star Christopher Walken. The last two were filmed back to back in Romania (and are really the same story).  The first film was released theatrically in 1995 and has since become a cult classic. The other four were direct to video and have, for the most part, fallen out of the public conscience.  If you like angel movies (such as "Legion", "Fallen", "Constantine", "Angel Heart" or "Warlock") give these a try. I would suggest the first (and possibly second) movies. The rest are not horrible but dont add much to the mythology. Photo Credit: Here

This episode surveys the vast screen history of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". There are some 120+ films ranging from the silent era through present day. Recurring themes include: the duality of man, the struggle between good and evil, civilized vs primitive, sexual repression, the constraints of society, etc.  These films are hard to distinguish from one another since many have the same title-- "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde".  The landmark versions are considered the 1920 silent movie (starring John Barrymore) and the 1931 black and white film (starring Frederic March). The role won March an Academy Award for Best Actor. This is highly unusual for a horror film. The only other actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor in a horror movie is Anthony Hopkins for "Silence Of The Lambs".  There's also a 1941 remake of the 1931 movie starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner. It definitely has a powerhouse cast but it just didnt have the depth of the earlier movie IMHO.  Other notable interpretations include: 1968's "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" (a TV movie starring Jack Palance), 1971's "Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde", 1971's "I, Monster" (starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing), 1990's "Jekyll and Hyde" (a TV movie starring Michael Caine and Cheryl Ladd), a 2007 BBC miniseries called "Jekyll" (starring James Nesbitt) and 2023's "Doctor Jekyll" (starring Eddie Izzard). We've got comedies, musicals, cartoons, parodies, versions where Dr Jekyll turns into a woman--you name it. And I didnt even include the shows where Jekyll/Hyde appear as ensemble characters such as "The League of Extraordinary Gentleman". We also have modern interpretations of this story that, while they dont feature Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, they're the same basic premise such as "The Nutty Professor" (both Jerry Lewis and Eddie Murphy adaptations), "The Hulk", etc. I'm sure Stevenson had no idea how many different forms his story about a man struggling with his inner demons would take.  Photo Credit: Here  

This week we're doing something slightly different. We're talking about "wax museum" movies. "Wax museum" films are an interesting subgenre of horror. If you're like me, you have a hard time keeping track of which movie is which due to all the similar plots and titles. This is my attempt at sorting them out.  The first such movie is the 1914 French silent film "The Man with the Wax Faces". Next is 1924 German silent anthology "Waxworks". Then the first entry in the "House of Wax" trilogy-- 1933's "Mystery of the Wax Museum". It was remade 20 years later as "House of Wax"-- starring Vincent Price. The 3rd entry is a slasher by the same name. It features Paris Hilton in her film debut. And lastly is an unofficial Italian giallo entry from 1996 called "Wax Mask". The story is by Dario Argento and screenplay by Lucio Fulci. He began as director but unfortunately passed away before the film's completion.  There are a number of other "wax museum" movies besides these. Most are standalones. These movies typically follow one of three horror tropes: 1. Someone bets someone they wont stay overnight alone in a wax museum; 2. Some crazy sculptor/artist is killing people and turning them into wax figures; or 3. Wax statues are coming to life and attacking people.  Is there a future for wax museum movies or are they part of a bygone era? None have been released recently. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Also check out @VintageHorrorMovies here for a more in-depth review of the earliest wax museum movies.  Photo Credit: Here

This episode (which originally aired in 10/19) has been re-recorded. The newest movie has been added and it has been edited for time (including removing some of the trivia and the recipe).  This week we take a look at one of the largest but somewhat lesser known franchises. "HellRaiser" has 11 movies total as well and a number of related books, comic books, documentaries, short stories, etc. When the first "HellRaiser" movie was released back in 1986, there wasnt anything like it. S&M demons from Hell, lead by the iconic Pinhead, torture anyone who opens a mysterious puzzle box. I wanted to learn more. Despite the decline in quality of later movies (5-10 were released direct to home video) the franchise still has lots to offer.  Due to the success of the series reboot (in 2022) a sequel is supposedly in the works. I hope so. I think there's a lot more they can do with this franchise (as long as Clive Barker is involved). We need to learn more about Levithan and the other Cenobites (as well as all the people they've tortured through the centuries).  Photo Credit: Here

This episode originally aired way back in 8/19. I have re-recorded to add the newest film entry as well as editing for time (including removing some trivia and the recipe).  This week we review the "Omen" franchise. There are five original films (the latest is 2024's "The First Omen"), a 2006 remake, a failed TV pilot and a TV series that ran for one season on A&E. The original "Omen" from 1976 holds up surprisingly well after some 45 years. Just dont expect jump scares every five minutes. This movie focuses more on story telling but still has some excellent special effects.   Photo Credit: Here

Last week we talked about the Spanish "Blind Dead" zombie franchise. This time we're diving into the Italian franchise "Zombi". This franchise is one of the most confusing due to it's differing titles. Back in the day some marketers, film studios, etc would title movies a sequel to a more popular film (in order to cash in on it's popularity). Also, to make it even more confusing, movies might be released under different names in each country. Thus is the case with this franchise.  George A Romero's "Dawn Of The Dead" was released as just "Zombi" in Europe. Lucio Fulci's zombie movie was then released as "Zombi 2". Fulci has said himself that his movie is not a sequel to anything. Then the next movie (which Fulci had to bow out of due to health reasons) was released as "Zombi 3".  In the US "Zombi 2" was released as just "Zombie". Then the next film is "Zombi 3". In the UK the films were released as "Zombi Flesh Eaters" and additional unrelated films were added. In Australia there were 8+ unrelated films in the franchise (including one of the "Blind Dead" movies we talked about last week). Way too confusing! Fulci's zombies are different in that they arise from the voodoo traditions of Haiti and the Caribbean. The zombie look here is possibly some of the best in the business (thanks to makeup artist Giannetti De Rossi). The rise of the 400 year old Spanish conquistador (complete with worms in his eye socket) is a standout.   Other famous scenes include: 1. The eye gouging scene (definitely cringe inducing); 2. the zombie vs shark fight (yes it's real shark). While "Zombi 2" is a classic, "Zombi 3" is really, really boring. Feel free to skip that one. Too bad we'll never know what it would have looked like had Fulci been able to complete it himself.  Photo Credit: Here

In this episode we're reviewing a lesser known Spanish zombie franchise. It's the four moves of the "Blind Dead". They were all written and directed by Amando del Ossorio. Each was released under several different titles so it's a bit of a challenge to find them.  None of the stories are related except that each follows a group of zombies (Templar Knights that were killed for their devil worship and human sacrifices) as they terrorize the neighborhood. These are not your typical zombies. They're more like a zombie/vampire hybrid. They rise each night from their graves to kill people and drink their blood. They look more like skeletal mummies in dirty monk robes. They like to hit people with their swords. They also really, really like to ride zombie horses (which always travel is SLOW MOTION). It's a good thing they have those horses. The zombies themselves are so slow, they'd never sneak up on anyone otherwise.  Photo Credit: Here

In this week's episode of "Horror Movie Franchises", we delve into a lesser known franchise. "Warlock" has three movies total. They are considered horror/fantasy. If you're looking for scary movies, check elsewhere. These movies are each standalone stories. Their only common denominator is each features a warlock. Julian Sands stars in the first two. He has an excellent screen presence and really sells his roles.   My personal recommendation is to watch the first movie and skip the rest. It's not that the other two are bad. I've seen much worse. Their stories just dont interest me much that much. A few people say they like "Warlock 2" better than the first movie-- so your mileage may vary.  There are no plans for a continuation of the franchise. If there were. they'd need to find a new warlock. Julian Sands tragically died while hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains in California in 2023.  Photo Credit: Here

Welcome to the 124th episode of Horror Movie Franchises, formerly known as Food and Frightening Film Fanatics, where we provide commentary, analysis and critiques of horror movies.  In this episode, we explore the "Mimic" franchise. It consists of three films. The first was Guillermo del Toro's U.S. directorial debut. The other two movies went straight to home video. del Toro was not able to make the film he intended due to studio interference (from Miramax and the Weinsteins). He disowned the theatrical release and later created a director's cut that was closer to his vision.  "Mimic" joins a long line of killer bug movies where insects threaten to dethrone humans from the top of the food chain. They include: "Them!", "Empire of the Ants", and "Kingdom of the Spiders" (just to name a few).  Photo Credit: Here  

Welcome to the newly renamed podcast - Horror Movie Franchises! This fresh identity aligns perfectly with our core mission: To provide commentary, analysis and critiques of horror franchises.  While some older episodes may retain our former title, Food and Frightening Film Fanatics, we're excited to embark on this new chapter. Join us as we explore the depths of horror movies, sharing insights and thoughts on various franchises (from the most famous to some you've probably never heard of). We encourage listeners to share their views and engage with us in the comments section. Thanks for your continued support, and stay tuned for thrilling content ahead!

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  In this episode we're covering a lesser known franchise called "Trancers". It's a low budget sci-fi series about a grizzled retired cop who travels through time-- by jumping into his ancestor's bodies. He's in search of trancers (they're kinda like zombies who do their master's bidding).  There are six movies total. The first was theatrically released. The rest were direct to video. Tim Thomerson stars as Jack Deth. He's in all the entries except the last one. Helen Hunt is his girlfriend/wife Lena. She's in 1-2 and makes a cameo in 3.  If you're looking for some 80s nostalgia, check out the first movie. Then if you like that, try the third as well. Forget about the rest (unless you're a hard core fan).  I must say I was a bit disappointed by the series. All the main actors are good (and have been in tons of other movies/TV shows). I can even look past the low budget. But without a good plot, there's nowhere to go. If they had just made the story more interesting I could have been all in. I do know some people really like this show. If so, more power to them. It's just not for me.  And in honor of my favorite Jack catchphrase "Dry hair's for squids" we'll talk about some popular squid dishes. Photo Credit: Here

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  This week we delve into the “Feast” franchise, a lesser-known series of horror comedies that are sure to leave a lasting impression. Winning Project Greenlight's third season, the first movie was backed by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. This franchise is a family affair with John Gulager as director, his father as Bartender, John’s wife as Harley Mom/ Biker Queen and his brother Tom as Greg.  In the first movie, a group of strangers find themselves trapped in a Nevada desert bar, facing off against bloodthirsty monsters. The narrative continues with “Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds” (2008) and “Feast 3: The Happy Finish” (2009). If you like B movies with tons of gory practical effects, this might be the franchise for you.  For the recipe we have an app that guaranteed to give you new ideas. It's the "Guardian Feast App" from Guardian Media. You can sort by cuisine (Italian, Mexican, Indian etc) or you can look for meat free, gluten free or dairy free options. The app is extremely customizable. Check it out on the iphone app store or Google Play.  Photo Credit: Here

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  In this episode we'll delve into the "Carrie" franchise. The 1976 movie is most famous for two scenes: The shower scene and the prom scene. Odds are even if you havent seen the movie, you know about them. The movie garnered two Oscar nominations-- Best Actress for Sissy Spacek as Carrie and Best Supporting Actress for Piper Laurie as Margaret (Carrie's mother). There are 3 other movies in the franchise: The Rage: Carrie 2- 1999 Carrie- 2002- MADE FOR TV MOVIE Carrier- 2013 These are really the same basic story. I would say stick with the first movie. It's a classic. If you'd like to see more, check out 2002's Carrie. It is the closest of the four movies to Stephen King's novel. Incidentally, "Carrie" was the first novel King published...and the rest is history.  And for the recipe this week, we have a twist on the Bloody Mary cocktail. It's the Bloody Carrie. Not for the faint of heart, it has hot sauce and wasaba paste. Guaranteed to drop kick your taste buds. Check out Barbot for more details. Photo Credit: Here  

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  This week we're doing something slightly different. We're covering the longest running franchises in horror history. Sure everyone knows about "Halloween", "Friday The 13th" and "Children of the Corn" but there actually a # of horror franchises with MANY MORE entries. And, if you're like me, there are several here that you've never heard of.   Photo Credit: Here

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  This week we're talking about "The Bad Seed". There's the original 1956 movie, 2 made for TV movies (one from 1985 and one from 2018) and a sequel to the 2018 movie.  The original movie was nominated for 4 Oscars (for Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, Eileen Heckart and Best Cinematography). Eileen won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Hortense. Nancy Kelly won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Christine in the play.  The 1956 movie is considered a classic. I highly recommend it. It's the best portrayal by a child actor I've ever seen. Check out the 2018 version as well. McKenna Grace does an excellent job as Emma. It's just impossible to do a better job than Patty McCormack did as Rhoda.  And it should come as no surprise that my recipe this week involves seeds. Check out how they can be a great addition to salads, proteins, breads, baked goods, etc Photo Credit: Here

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  This week we're discussing the "Nosferatu" franchise. It's a bit confusing because first time viewers are like "Isn't this Dracula?". And the answer is sorta. This vampire is a rat like creature who never blinks. He has long spindly fingers and two big teeth in the front of his mouth. He is the harbinger of death and bringer of the plague. This is not your sexy Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Jack Palance, Gary Oldman vampire. And this vampire is definitely not sparkly. Women are NOT lining up to be seduced by him.  The creators of the 1922 movie used the Dracula story but changed all the names and locations. It didnt work though. Bram Stoker's widow sued for copyright infringement. This bankrupted the studio and all copies of the film were supposed to be destroyed. Luckily for us, some survived. "Nosferatu" is now considered one of the best silent movies of all times. This movie shaped much of what we think of as vampire folklore (such as sunlight killing them).  There are four "Nosferatu" films (the 1922 original, the 1979 version with Klaus Kinski, a shot by shot remake in 2023, and the last year's Robert Egger's movie). There are also a number of other versions of the original with different scores.  And in honor of this vampire, we have several Nosferatu inspired drinks. They include bourbon, vodka and gin cocktails. There's even an IPA called "Nosferatu".  Photo Credit: Here

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  This week I'm doing something slightly different. This is an ADDENDUM episode. I'm covering new entries to previously reviewed franchises. With so many new horror movies coming out each year, it's a challenge to keep up. In just the last year we had five new entries to existing horror franchises-- "Alien", "Creep", "Terrifier", "Omen", and "VHS".  CORRECTION: The "Cube" remake is from Japan. For some reason I incorrectly said China.  Photo Credit: Here

NOTE: This podcast was rebranded on 5/29/25 as "Horror Movie Franchises".  Welcome to the 115th episode of Food and Frightening Film Fanatics. This week we're reviewing the "Rosemary's Baby" franchise. Most people only know about the first film but there are actually four total. The original is some 50 years old but is still considered one of the best horror movies of all time.  We discuss the roles of iconic actors, the influence of esteemed author Ira Levin, the controversies surrounding director Roman Polanski, and the curse of "Rosemary's Baby". Also check out the movie trivia. Did you know a future cult leader makes a 2 second appear in the first film?  And it should come as no surprise that I went with the herb rosemary this week. It enhances the flavor of a number of dishes. Check out some of them at Masterclass.com here   It's also used in aromatherapy, in soaps and shampoos and as a traditional medicine.  Photo Credit: Here