Borgo Pass Horror Podcast

Jim & Livio are back to discuss Tod Browning's unique, cult classic Dracula follow up: Freaks. This is a true one of a kind film, with a good story that boasts a great cast. In this episode we tackle the impact and legacy of this film, as well as the plot and inner workings of Tod Browning. 

One hundred and four years ago, John Barrymore stepped off the stage and before the cameras to help bring Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novella (and its titular dual lead characters) to life. One hundred and four years later, Jim Towns and David Ullman dissect this trailblazing piece of classic horror cinema.

Tony and Jim raid again! Join us for part two of our discussion of the 1954 Toho Studios masterpiece Godzilla!

Kaiju connoisseur Tony Salvaggio returns to the Borgo Pass to discuss the original 1954 monster masterpiece Godzilla! (part 1 of 2)

Follow along as The Borgo Pass Horror Podcast investigates this great gothic mystery made by Universal Studios in 1944, which features many Universal Horror talents both in front and behind the camera! Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. John Watson (Nigel Bruce) find themselves in Canada, on the trail of a murdering ghost!

Which one's the dead guy?? Join Jim and Livio and they tackle this in their review of the 1955 film Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy. A later film in the A&C series, but not without humor, charm, and a bit of spookiness! 

Returning co-host David Ullman joins Jim Towns for a foray into the esoteric world of Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1932 gothic masterpiece Vampyr!

 Mantan Moreland, Lionel Atwill, Anne Gwynne, Shemp Howard, Samuel S. Hinds, A gorilla suit, fish bowl glasses, more plot twists than you could ever hope for - This is just some of the lunacy that Jim and Livio tackle as we discuss 1942's Strange Case of Dr RX. This is a 'deep cut' in the Universal Horror cycle - so dust off those fish bowl glasses, and journey with us as we try to make sense of this! 

In this audio version of the livestream, Jim is joined by Ian Bates from @UniversalStudiosMonsters and award-winning filmmaker, animator and top-tier Monster Kid Frank Dietz, to commemorate the life and work of David J. Skal: author, scholar and advocate for all things monsterific. Join them as they discuss David's influence on the course of each of their respective careers, and his prodigious influence on both classic monster scholarship and culture.

Musician, graphic designer and horrorphile Chris Sahlin joins Jim to talk about Columbia Pictures' lesser-known 1944 werewolf film Cry of the Werewolf!

This... is the Inner Sanctum! Jim & Livio finish 2023 just how they started it - by delving into another Inner Sanctum mystery, Calling Dr. Death. This is the inaugural Inner Sanctum starring Lon Chaney, Jr and also features the stunning Patricia Morison, as well as Universal regular J. Carrol Naish. Crack open a bottle of bubbly this New Years, and join us for an in depth look at this underrated Inner Sanctum mystery! 

 Jim & Livio are back! and to celebrate, we are joining the soon to be indicted Carl Denham as he escapes back to Skull Island where he finds - the late King Kong's 12ft offspring. This is a hidden gem of a sequel, and we break it all down for you. Make sure to enjoy before the next Tropical Earthquake! 

Texas-based author and educator David Bowles joins Jim Towns for a plunge into a true Universal horror one-off: the 1931 Spanish language version of Dracula, which was filmed at night on the same stages as the Browning/Lugosi version, and which stars an entirely different cast including Carlos Villarilla as Conde Dracula and Lupita Tovar as Eva [Mina].This excellently produced version of the film matches its English-language cousin in many ways, but at almost 30 minutes longer it also offers a fascinating alternative version of the film, including shots and sometimes entire scenes left unfilmed or edited out in the better-known version... as well as a less-inhibited telling of the classic vampire tale. So have a seat, and escuchar to our latest episode!

We're baaaccckk! Jim and Livio make a spooky return and dive into a fun "Poverty Row" film - The Devil Bat. This is one of several low budget horror movies starring Bela Lugosi from the 40's. We go into Lugosi's impact in these roles, his broader impact in our pop culture, the shortcuts of the production and of course, the film itself. Enjoy just in time for Halloween - and be careful of the aftershave you put on!

 Jim & Livio return to the depths of the Amazon! In this episode we cover the first of two sequels to Creature From The Black Lagoon. We talk about everything from the story, the differences between the first two films, the logistics of filming in Florida, and much much more! 

For this episode Jim and frequent co-host David Ullman dive deep into RKO's 1943 Jacques Tournier/Val Lewton masterpiece I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE- Betsy is a nurse sent to the Caribbean island of San Sebastian to care for Jessica Holland, an invalid woman. There she finds family secrets, forbidden love, and zombies.With a screenplay co-penned by Curt Siodmak (The Wolf Man) and based on Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, this film tells an atmospheric and seductive story filled with complex characters and interrelationships, painted in gorgeous black and white with a visual master's brush. Co-starring Francis Dee, Tom Conway and Darby Jones.

Jim & Livio wrap up with part two on the Phantom of the Opera! We cover the last half of the film, Chaney's make-up, the alternate endings, and the legacy of this movie!

What happens when Jim & Livio watch two different versions of the same movie? Find out in part 1 of our 2 episode discussion of the 1925 Phantom Of The Opera! This is truly a cornerstone for Universal Horror - the source code, as Jim calls it - and in part 1, we talk about the impact of the film, its stars, the many directors, as well as breaking down the first half of the film, the 1925 version. Feast your eyes, glut your soul on this accursed episode! 

Jim Towns and returning guest co-host Tony Salvaggio get into 1945's Jungle Captive, the third installment in Universal's Ape Woman series-- and their final monster franchise.Jungle Captive stars Vicky Lane (taking over for Acquanetta as Paula DuPree/the Ape Woman), cult favorite Rondo Hatton (House of Horrors/Brute Man/Spider Woman Strikes Back), Otto Kruger (Dracula's Daughter), and Phil Brown (Weird Woman/Star Wars: A New Hope). Directed by Harold Young and written by Dwight Babcock and M. Coates Webster. 

This podcast is on the loose and we're dancing with the devil! Jim & Livio tackle the last chapter of the Kharis story - 1944's The Mummy's Curse. In this episode, we break down the story, the breakneck shooting schedule, the timeline of the Kharis films, and much much more! So - HEY YOU! Give this one a listen!