The Classic Horror Cast

This month, to celebrate Hanukkah and to celebrate Erik living in Prague, the fellas discuss the 1920 German expressionist horror movie, The Golem: How He Came into the World, one of the earliest monster movies ever made. Director-star Paul Wegener's movie is a lyrical, moving film that has shadows of movies to come, like Frankenstein. Have YOU seen it? Well here's the one we watched

 

Direct download: The_Golem_1920.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 5:52pm EDT

Sorry for the delay, horror friends, but we're making it up to you with an episode chalk full of horror. Not one story, but five! We're diving into Amicus Productions and their brand of anthology horror flicks by starting with 1965's Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, directed by British great Freddie Francis and starring both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Does the movie work? Not necessarily, but these are the kinds of movies where if one bit doesn't work, just wait a few minutes.

Direct download: Dr_Terrors_House_of_Horrors.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 3:29pm EDT

It's October, the spookiest month of the year, and hence you'd expect us to watch and discuss one of the scariest movies ever made. It's a month that ends in Halloween AND contains a Friday the 13th, so you'd be right in assuming we'd be talking about a slasher movie...but there's no Jason or Michael Myers here...just a little movie called Sleepaway Camp. Whyyyyyyyyyy?

Also, if you enjoy the show and want to help out one of us, Erik is moving to Prague (will still be on the show, don't worry), but if you'd like to support him on Patreon, please do so here!

Direct download: Sleepaway_Camp_1983.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 1:43pm EDT

This month, we're not talking about vampires or werewolves or ghosts, but we're instead looking at the horror of fascism, libertinism, and depravity. It's Pier Paolo Passolini's shocking final film, 1975's Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom. We get all up in the poop when it comes to thematic elements and graphic content here, so if that kind of thing upsets you, be warned.

We also take a moment to briefly discuss the passing of Tobe Hooper, one of horror's true mavericks. We've talked about Hooper's films previously, in our 9th episode (Texas Chain Saw Massacre), and our 33rd episode (Poltergeist). 

Direct download: Salo_or_120_Days_of_Sodom_1975.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 10:59pm EDT

This month, Scaredy Friends, Kyle, Erik, and Sean discuss a movie that launched a whole subgenre: giallo, or the Italian pulp-crime-horror film, which was a direct precursor to the slasher movie of the '80s. While not the first, the one that ushered in the trend was Dario Argento's first film, 1970's The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, a movie that isn't quite as gory or as salacious as the films would become, but has nevertheless been the most influential of the bunch.

History of Giallo comin' at ya! And more Italian stuff next month, which decidedly more coprophelia. 

Direct download: The_Bird_with_the_Crystal_Plumage_1970.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 2:25pm EDT

It's terribly sad when anyone dies, but a horror luminary such as George A. Romero deserves some special recognition. News broke last weekend that Mr. Romero--the father of the modern zombie film and a brilliant filmmaker in his own right--had passed away at the age of 77 and Erik, Sean, and Kyle met up for an all-too-brief discussion about the man's legacy, from his Living Dead films which gave him much international acclaim, to his more contemplative but no less effective films, and even to discussing why he didn't have a late-career renaissance like Wes Craven. 

We will miss you, George Romero; your horror legacy will never die.

Direct download: RIP_George_Romero.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 9:48pm EDT

Hello, Boils and Ghouls!

This month, Kyle, Erik, and Sean got together to discuss a Roger Corman movie. Yes, it's true! We're not liars. It was the beginning of his eight-movie Edgar Allan Poe cycle, it starred Vincent Price and had some truly excellent sets, cinematography, and music. It's 1960's House of Usher, but is it as good as it should have been?

Direct download: House_of_Usher_1960.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 3:12pm EDT

"Iiiiiii married my wife in the month of June, Rizzle-dee-rozzle-dee mao-mao-mao!"

Dear God, what a terrible song, but it's fairly apropos, for this, the month of June, sees Erik, Sean, and Kyle discuss their second Alfred Hitchcock movie, and the one and only time he made a straight-up monster flick (essentially), 1963's The Birds which finds a small Northern California town beset by rampant avian attacks for seemingly no reason. I bet there's a thematic reason, though, huh?

 

Also, as discussed in the episode, here is a compiled list of what are considered the best episodes of HBO's Tales from the Crypt. Enjoy!

The Man Who Was Death (S1, E01)
And All Through the House (S1, E02)
Dig That Cat, He's Real Gone (S1, E03)
Collection Completed (S1, E06)
Dead Right (S2, E01)
Cutting Cards (S2, E03)
Four-Sided Triangle (S2, E09)
The Ventriloquist's Dummy (S2, E10)
Television Terror (S2, E16)
Carrion Death (S3, E02)
Abra Cadaver (S3, E04)
Top Billing (S3, E05)
The Reluctant Vampire (S3, E07)
Easel Kill Ya (S3, E08)
Mournin Mess (S3, E10)
Split Second (S3, E11)
Yellow (S3, E14)
What's Cookin' (S4, E06)
The New Arrival (S4, E07)
Split Personality (S4, E11)
Werewolf Concerto (S4, E13)
Death of Some Salesman (S5, E01)
People Who Lives in Brass Hearses (S5, E05)

Direct download: The_Birds_1963.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 12:07pm EDT

This month, we're delving into the realm of sacrilege, blasphemy, persecution, torture, and sexual repression. You know, light and fun stuff. Erik and Kyle (with Sean joining later) discuss Ken Russell's 1971 controversial masterpiece, The Devils, which is recently available (though still heavily cut) on Shudder. Watch, listen, discuss. There's a lot going on.

Direct download: The_Devils_1971.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 3:13pm EDT

This month, because it seems very much in the zeitgeist of late, the fellas have decided to discuss Robert Aldrich's 1962 thriller, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, a movie almost more famous for the rivalry between co-stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford than for anything artistic. Is this right? Does the movie count as horror? Does it make sense for this film to have become a camp icon? Let's get into the birth of the Psycho Bitty genre!

Direct download: What_Ever_Happened_to_Baby_Jane_1962.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 5:45pm EDT

This month, Kyle, Erik, and Sean hole up in a shopping mall to escape the hordes of bad people running the world and decide to talk about one of the best and most influential horror movies ever made, George A. Romero's 1978 adventure gore-fest, Dawn of the Dead. Is there more to it than simply marauding zombies and weird muzak? Let's find out together!

Direct download: Dawn_of_the_Dead_1978.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 1:48pm EDT

36 - Phantasm (1979) Boooooooy!!!!

Is it a dream, a curse, or just a weird movie we can't fully explain? This month, Erik, Sean, and Kyle look at Don Coscarelli's 1979 film Phantasm, the movie that gave the world the tertiary horror icon The Tall Man, and a shiny flying ball that drills into people's skulls. But is this movie worth remembering or just shaking off like a bad nightmare?

Direct download: Phantasm_1979.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 2:32pm EDT

35 - Hellraiser (1987) - Some Kind of Sublime Pain

Let it never be said that the fellas of the Classic Horror Cast don't start a year with a bang. Our 35th episode, and the first of 2017, features what many consider a tentpole horror flick from the 1980s, creating an icon up there with Freddy and Jason... if only any of his movies were good! That's right, we're taking our first (and likely ONLY) foray into the psychosexual realms of Clive Barker with his first film as a director, 1987's Hellraiser, which features that Cenobite porcupine known as Pinhead. Is the movie worthy of such a villain? Join us!

Direct download: Hellraiser_1987.mp3
Category:Horror -- posted at: 6:43pm EDT

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