Tv/Movie Rewind

Tonight, Matt & Todd wrap up their cosmic horror run with a different flavor of terror: paranoia, isolation, and one very angry space turnip.The Thing from Another World (1951) is best known today as the film that inspired John Carpenter's masterpiece The Thing (1982), though horror fans may also recognize it from the television playing in the background of Carpenter's Halloween (1978).Having first seen it over 30 years ago, we came back expecting a fun but dated 1950s monster movie. Instead, we found what we remembered: a sharp, engaging film packed with likable characters, fast dialogue, and an excellent ensemble cast. The monster may be a giant extraterrestrial plant, but the movie takes itself seriously enough that it still works remarkably well.The scares aren't likely to keep modern audiences awake at night, but the atmosphere, performances, and mounting tension remain compelling. Sometimes a classic earns its reputation honestly, and this is one of those cases.Give it a watch. We think you'll see why Carpenter loved it.The Thing from Another World (1951) stars:Margaret SheridanKenneth TobeyRobert Cornthwaite (Whit Bissell Award Winner)Douglas SpencerJames YoungDewey Martin (Whit Bissell Award Winner)Robert NicholsWilliam SelfEduard FranzSally CreightonJames Arness (as "The Thing")*Editor note: apologies for the muddled audio at times we had some technical issues in the recording. _____________Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on Letterboxd⁠You can reach out on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠.Follow who we follow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Fade Out Podcast⁠⁠

Today, Matt & Todd journey deeper into Cosmic Horror Month with 1994's John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness.This is a film built on questions, mysteries, and, of course, plenty of madness. Fans of H.P. Lovecraft's work will find a lot to love here, even if they won't find many clear answers. As Matt puts it, this may be Carpenter's most challenging film, but we both agree it features some of the greatest, creepiest, and most unforgettable visuals of his entire career.In the Mouth of Madness is anchored by a strong cast starring:Sam NeillJulie CarmenJürgen ProchnowDavid WarnerJohn GloverBernie CaseyPeter JasonCharlton HestonFrances Bey (unanimous Like several of Carpenter's other films, this one received a mixed reception upon release. Much like the other entries in his "Apocalypse Trilogy", 1982's The Thing and 1987's Prince of Darkness, In the Mouth of Madness has steadily gained a devoted cult following as adventurous horror fans continue to discover its uniquely unsettling and deliberately confusing experience.Yes, it's confusing and offers no easy answers, but don't let that stop you.Driving viewers toward confusion, uncertainty, and perhaps even a little madness is exactly the point. More importantly, the film is packed with some of the finest atmosphere Carpenter ever put on screen, delivering scene after scene of creeping dread, disturbing imagery, and unforgettable horror._____________Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow who we follow at the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The FadeOut Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠

Today, Matt & Todd are joined by Mike to discuss the 1997 box office flop turned cult classic, Event Horizon.Despite arriving with a strong cast, and a unique blend of science fiction and horror, Event Horizon failed to find an audience in theaters. The film struggled to recoup its budget and was quickly overshadowed by Paramount's next massive release: James Cameron's Titanic. Studio interference and difficult test screenings resulted in a somewhat muddled final cut, but beneath those compromises remains an outstanding example of cosmic sci-fi horror.While its theatrical run was disappointing, Event Horizon gradually found new life through home video, cable, and streaming. Over the years, word of mouth transformed this unsettling experience into a cult favorite.Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, Event Horizon stars:Laurence FishburneSam NeillKathleen QuinlanJoely RichardsonRichard T. JonesJack NoseworthyJason Isaacs, Whit Bissell Award WinnerSean Pertwee, Whit Bissell Award WinnerLike the lost starship from which it takes its name, Event Horizon drifts through the darkness waiting to be discovered, revealing unimaginable cosmic horrors to anyone brave enough to come aboard. Join us as we revisit one of science fiction horror's most enduring cult classics and explore why its reputation has only grown stronger with time._____________Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow who we follow at the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠

Today Matt & Todd kick off Halloween season by delving into The Gate, a 1987 supernatural horror film directed by Tibor Takács. When The Gate hit HBO, it quickly became an instant rewatch for us, we're surprised it took us so long to get to it.As 1980s horror films go, this one is fairly tame. It is PG-13, after all, but don't let that turn you off. The Gate is a lot of fun. What it lacks in sex, drugs, and splatter, it makes up for with story, atmosphere, and practical effects that still hold up nearly 40 years later. Whether you're discovering it for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, it's well worth your time.One of the things that makes The Gate stand out is that it features a cast of surprisingly likable characters. Unlike many horror films, you're not simply waiting for everyone to be picked off one by one. There's genuine heart here, which gives the story emotion often missing from the genre. We like to call it a "starter horror film." There is some genuinely creepy material that still works today, but it's accessible enough for a wide audience.The Gate stars:Stephen Dorff as GlenChrista Denton as Alexandra "Al" (Whit Bissell Award Winner - Todd)Louis Tripp as Terry ChandlerKelly Rowan as Lori LeeJennifer Irwin as Linda LeeDeborah Grover as MomScot Denton as DadIngrid Veninger as Paula (Whit Bissell Award Winner - Matt)Sean Fagan as EricLinda Goranson as Mrs. ChandlerCarl Kraines as The WorkmanAndrew Gunn as BradA few years later, Tibor Takács returned with The Gate II: Trespassers. It's a fun sequel in its own right, though a bit more uneven than the original. While it doesn't resonate as strong, or hit the mark as well as the first film, there's still plenty to enjoy. The original is an enduring cult-classic, a status well deserved. While Trespassers may not be quite as good, it offers enough creativity and charm to make it worth a watch on its own merits._____________Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can reach out on Bluesky:@MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow who we follow at the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠

The TV/Movie Rewind Podcast, with Matt & Todd, returns this week with a returning guest, Gabe Crate, for our return to the Planet of the Apes franchise with: Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975).This is the 6th and final installment of the series that began in 1968 and branched into at least three different timelines from its Charlton Heston beginnings, now arriving at its final, animated end.What Return lacks in animation frames, it more than makes up for in stunning art detail headed by Director Doug Wildey, settling on a more modern look at life on Earth in the 3000s. The Apes have established modern cities complete with movies, TV, radio, airplanes, the works of William Apespeare, and even a bit of kaiju action.Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975) features the voices of:Bill Hudson — voiced by Tom Williams and Richard BlackburnDr. Zaius — voiced by Richard BlackburnJeff Allen — voiced by Austin StokerJudy Franklin — voiced by Claudette NevinsGeneral Urko — voiced by Henry Corden (…wait, is that Fred Flintstone?)Cornelius — voiced by Edwin Mills and Henry CordenZira — voiced by Philippa HarrisDespite its short run (13 episodes), the series is a fascinating artifact: a high‑fantasy, high‑concept reinterpretation of Apes lore that feels like a Saturday‑morning cartoon filtered through the aesthetics of pulp sci‑fi paperback covers. It’s weird, ambitious, and absolutely worth revisiting as the final animated echo of the original Apes saga. And as peculiar as the advanced Ape society might seem to fans of the film and TV installments, these elements more closely reflect aspects of the novel (and the original Rod Serling treatment) that were hindered by film‑budget constraints._____________Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can reach out on Bluesky:@MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow who we follow at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠⁠⁠s⁠