Dismembering Horror

CATCH YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE 💀🎞🖤😎 We'll keep you posted here. In the meantime, you can support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@DismemberingHorror Yours in Dismembering, Ryan and Tim Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we traverse the arid, alien landscape of 'The Outwaters,' Robbie Banfitch's found-footage horror that charts a group of friends' descent into terror in the heart of the Mojave Desert. Despite its ambitious intention and appealing premise, we found it lacking in narrative coherence, intentionality, and verisimilitude. Ryan was underwhelmed, generously allotting it a "stream" for its earnest attempt, and for the sake of staying up on the latest in independent horror. Tim had a much stronger reaction, labeling it a stern "avoid."  Prepare to lose yourself in the shifting sands of our latest episode as we attempt to uncover 'The Outwaters,' a film that, in our estimation, also lost its way. 'The Outwaters' (2022) Written and Directed by Robbie Banfitch Where we watched: Apple TV rental RecommenDEADtions: 'The House Bunny' / 'The Flash' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest episode, we unravel the layered world of ‘Men,’ a British folk horror film by Alex Garland, that sees a widowed woman, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, on “vacation” in a countryside village, tormented by the eerie men in the village, all brought to life by Rory Kinnear. We unpack Garland's layered narrative, drawing links to ancient cautionary tales, while also exploring the film's religious undertones and symbolism. ‘Men’ is a film that invites and defies consensus in equal measure, a trait reflected in our own verdicts. Ryan wasn’t very enamored, though conceded to a ‘rent’ due to the film's originality and enough intriguing elements. Tim however absolutely loved ‘Men’, awarding it an enthusiastic ‘buy.’ Are you ready to hear some men talk about ‘Men’? Tune in to our episode and let's dissect this folk horror enigma together! "Men" (2022) Written and Directed by Alex Garland Where we watched: Showtime RecommenDEADtions: ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ / ‘Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest episode, we get into the thick of the unconventional thriller, "The Vanishing". This isn't your usual kidnapping drama - this one's got layers, and it's as deliciously complicated as your grandma's lasagna recipe! We get tangled up in an intricate web spun around "what happened" rather than "whodunnit". "The Vanishing" taps into our fascination with the aftermath of a horrific event and explores the relentless grip of obsession. We chew on the tricky question of moving on and the paradoxical timelines of grief. It’s a deep dive into the human heart that has us asking: "Can we truly let go?" If you're a fan of true crime, love to wrestle with thought-provoking narratives or just fancy stories that shake things up a bit, you're in the right place. Tim heartily recommends it with a "rent," while Ryan can't help but hold it to the higher standard of a "buy." Are you ready to vanish into "The Vanishing"? "The Vanishing" (1988) Directed by George Sluizer Written by Tim Krabbé (novel), George Sluizer (screenplay) Where we watched: Blu-ray RecommendDEADtions: "Freeway" and "Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby" / "Knock at the Cabin" Check us out on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we dive deep into the paradoxically dark reality of "Torso," an Italian horror classic that centers on a masked killer on a throat-slitting, sexual spree. We hop into our little Italian car and journey into the film's unsettling depiction of violence, exploring its uncanny ability to get at a disturbing, “real” feeling, despite unrealistic effect (a Giallo staple). With Ryan awarding it a "rent" and Tim giving it a "stream," we dissect the film's unique tension where brutality meets believability and so much more. We promise it'll be a 'cut' above the rest! Torso (1973) Directed by Sergio Martino Written by Ernesto Gastaldi Where we watched: Fandor RecommendDEADtions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 / Britt's art installation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan and Tim take a dreary, deadite delve into "Evil Dead Rise," the fifth installment in the iconic horror franchise. While the film didn't quite live up to Ryan's hopes, lacking a certain bite and earning a "stream" rating, Tim found it more compelling and awarded it a "rent." Our hosts discuss how and if filmmakers can "put evil" into a movie, how a “modern” approach both helped and hurt the movie, as well as the potential pitfalls of too much character development. So pardon us as we can’t help but say: JOIN US! Evil Dead Rise (2023) Written and Directed by Lee Cronin Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Showing Up / Beau Is Afraid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starring everyone’s favorite Nicolas Cage as the iconic Transylvanian Lord of Darkness, “Renfield” offers a fun and fresh “what if” in the form of a nine-decades-later sequel to the 1931 original “Dracula.” Ryan enjoyed the performances but couldn't bring himself to rate it higher than a "stream." On the other hand, Tim was smitten by its silliness, declaring it a new comfort movie and granting it a solid "buy." Tune in as we dismember the film's blood-sucking humor, chilling charm, and Nicolas Cage's reliably committed portrayal of the legendary vampire. Don't miss this fang-tastic episode! Renfield (2023) Directed by Chris McKay Written by Ryan Ridley Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Beau Is Afraid / Piranha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this episode, we dive into the drizzling, moody world of the 1997 psychological thriller "Cure." Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the film follows a detective investigating a series of gruesome murders. The chilling twist? The real killer isn't committing the murders himself; instead, he hypnotizes others to carry out the heinous acts. Join us as we dismember the film's appropriately hypnotic atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes of identity, control, and culpability when the lines between perpetrator and victim blur. Ryan rated the film a (conservative) "rent it," while Tim surprised Ryan and opted for a "stream." Cure (1997) Written and Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa Where we watched: The Criterion Channel RecommenDEADtions: Alien from L.A. / Shall We Dance (1996) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Ryan and Tim are joined by recurring guest and "Scream Fiend" Peter Warden to dissect the latest installment in the fabled franchise: "Scream VI." With Ghostface and the “Scream” (2022) crew back on the chopping block, the trio slices and dices their way through the film's scintillating suspense, bloody butcherings, and terrifying twists. They also delve into the idea of fictionalizing real-life violence in horror storytelling, taking a stab at carving out what feels right or not. Don't miss this gripping and gruesome discussion that's sure to make you SCREAM with delight! Scream VI (2023) Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett Written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Ryan: "Modern Girls" | Tim: "Parasite" | Peter: "Babylon" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our 200th episode is here! We've explored so many nooks and crannies of the genre, and now, in celebration of this milestone, we're taking a look back at the past hundred episodes to pick out our top nine films. Join us as we revisit some of our favorites, and see which ones have stayed with us long after the credits rolled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Speak No Evil" takes the well-worn trope of doing something foolish to prove oneself and turns it on its head, delving deeper into the horror of societal expectations. We were both along for the ride into the forest, countryside, and rock quarry, navigating the dangers of polite society and psychopaths alike. With our tongues firmly intact, we dismember the nuances of modern niceties explored in this thrilling film. "Speak No Evil" earned a double "rent" from both of us. Speak No Evil (2022) Directed by Christian Tafdrup Written by Christian and Mads Tafdrup Where we watched: Shudder RecommenDEADtions: All That Jazz / The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't be fooled, like his father before him, the younger Cronenberg knows what he's doing: and delivers with “Infinity Pool.” While keeping the family tradition of body-centric horror, Brandon adds his own cerebral touch that titillates in all the right Cronenberg-y ways. Ryan and Tim both agree that this film deserves a "buy" for a plethora of reasons, including Mia Goth’s incredible, unhinged performance. This film is so good, it'll get under your skin and make you want to peel back the layers with multiple repeat viewings. Infinity Pool (2023) Written and Directed by Brandon Cronenberg Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll Generations Saved Hollywood (book) / Fire of Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Dismembering Horror, we delve into the pre-and-post-apocalyptic depths of darkness with Tim's pick for "the bleakest movie" he's ever seen. Get ready for the shock and awe of "Threads," a British classic that rocked the country with its pseudo-documentary style and heart-stopping realism. We were joined by Bob Mielke, the writer of the "Threads" book, and Rachel Kempf, co-founder of its publishing company. It was an honor to have them on the show for an even more in-depth dissection. With a rare quadruple "buy," it's time to join the fun (but don't say we didn't warn you, this one's not for the weak-hearted) and get ready for a blast of horror (pun intended). Threads (1984) Directed by Mick Jackson Written by Barry Hines Where we watched: Shudder RecommenDEADtions: Martyrs / Ace Venture: When Nature Calls / Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery / The Damned, Carol for Another Christmas, My Nuclear Life (podcast), and Super Critical Podcast (podcast), The Girls of Atomic City (book) Check out Bob’s THREADS book and other offerings from DieDieBooks here: https://diediebooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Dinky dinky do,” if we do say so ourselves! What an interesting experience “Skinamarink” was. Stark, eerie, unsettling, challenging for some, this Canadian film has been causing quite a stir with audiences, both good and bad. Eleven people walked out of Tim’s theater, sparking a conversation worth its own dismembering. The path to loving this movie may well be in the viewer's ability to tap into their childhood fears and feelings. Ryan had no problem getting there, while Tim could never quite find that zone, earning a “buy” and a “stream” respectively. Skinamarink (2023) Written and Directed by Kyle Edward Ball Where we watched: AMC Burbank 16 RecommenDEADtions: Coming Home / White Lotus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahh, the late great glory of 90’s indie film…what’s that you say? This film was made two years ago? But it encapsulates that late 90’s vibe so well! “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” is a moody spiral down into finding oneself in the burgeoning age of creepy-pasta internet—relentlessly eerie and artfully depicted by a filmmaker as they too were finding themselves. Ryan and Tim found this one ripe for exploration with little to criticize, rating it a “buy” and “rent” respectively. We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021) Written and Directed by Jane Schoenbrun Where we watched: HBO Max RecommenDEADtions: Fatal Pulse / The Video Archive Podcast with Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you thought getting a lump of coal in your stocking was bad, just you wait! This holiday season we decided to deepen our understanding of the true roots of Christmas: Paganism. Well, or at least some very German lore. With a standout cast, and tremendous set and creature design, the guys felt that despite some lulls, “Krampus” was a nice gift for the holidays and garnered a double “rent.” Just remember, the spirit is all about giving—and if you doubt that spirit, Krampus will come and take it all away. Krampus (2015) Directed by Michael Dougherty Written by Todd Casey, Michael Dougherty, and Zach Shields Where we watched: Blu-ray RecommenDEADtions: Elvira’s Haunted Hills / Raising Arizona Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s “Midsommar” meets “Ratatouille!” Get ready for some fine dining with the subject of this week’s episode, “The Menu.” Touching on all sorts of interconnected themes, prompting us to dismember all that comes with working in the service industry, and getting excited about the horror-centric premise at the heart of it all, this frenzied, food-centric feast of a film gave us plenty to chew on. The burger off this menu was cooked just to our liking, with Ryan dishing out a “rent” and Tim going all out with a “buy.” The Menu (2022) Directed by Mark Mylod Written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy Where we watched: Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Freaked / The Green Knight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Thanksgiving with everybody's favorite twin Floridians, Todd and Terry! With a relatively small list of Thanksgiving themed/set horror films, we decided to carve up a very special turkey of a 1980's slasher this year... "Blood Rage!" Thanks to solid kills, a unique setting, and even more unique portrayals of how humans act, this could-be-holiday-classic came with enough sides to earn a "stream" from Tim and an enthusiastic "rent" from Ryan. Blood Rage (1987) Directed by John Grissmer Written by Bruce Rubin Where we watched: Blu-ray RecommenDEADtions: House on Haunted Hill (1999) / Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She drowned in a lake, but died in a dry lake bed months before. If that isn’t eerie enough, then the fact that time is relative and a flat circle will really bake your noodle. "Lake Mungo" explores the doom of a prescient haunting, and the trauma of losing a loved one, all through the medium of captured images. Docu-style horror really did the heavy lifting on this one. Influential as it may be, Tim and Ryan were ultimately underwhelmed with this one giving it a double “stream.” Freaky, provocative, but a bit sloggy, there were good aspects aplenty to dismember. Lake Mungo (2008) Written and Directed by Joel Anderson Where we watched: Blu-ray RecommenDEADtions: Reflections of Evil / Barbarian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, we’ve finally arrived at the end. The big question on everyone’s mind: will Laurie Strode triumph over evil, or will Michael Myers plunge his knife deep into the heart of the queen of the final girls once and for all? Or perhaps the bigger question...will it be any good? For the THIRTEENTH installment of the Halloween franchise, the filmmakers put to question the role of evil in Haddonfield and the effects it’s had. Although not everyone seemed to feel the same way, Ryan and Tim were very satisfied with this conclusion to what has become known as the “H40 Timeline,” rating it a “double buy.” Clearly there is a box-set in the future for the guys. Halloween Ends (2022) Directed by David Gordon Green Written by Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green Where we watched: AMC Theaters RecommenDEADtions: Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon / The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices