The [Stephen] King of Horror has historically opposed Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of his now-famous haunted hotel novel, "The Shining", but that hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the most acclaimed films of all time. Now, 40 years later, the sequel "Doctor Sleep" hits theaters worldwide, and the dreary winter air makes revisiting Kubrick's Overlook Hotel the perfect holiday activity. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael reacquaint themselves with the Torrance family and examine the controv...
Nov 09, 2019•51 min•Ep. 82
Robert Eggers captivated some and lost others with his debut film "The VVitch," igniting conversations about the state of ambiguous, fever pitch-style horror. His sophomore project, "The Lighthouse," puts many of the same elements on the pedestal and challenges convention with a black-and-white nightmare helmed bravely by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. The film has been critically hailed as a masterpiece, but how does it stack up to Barnabas and Samael's standards? In this episode, the deadl...
Nov 02, 2019•40 min•Ep. 81
Much like Michael Myers's murderous intent, this special episode has been a long time coming: an in-death dissection of the original "Halloween"! John Carpenter's 1978 masterpiece ingrained realistic horror into the suburbs of contemporary America and changed the landscape of the genre and fanbase forever; Barnabas and Samael examine how this tonal shift came to pass and also how the film set about influencing other Halloween-themed horror movies of the future. After all, "It's Halloween; everyo...
Oct 26, 2019•47 min•Ep. 80
Halloween quickly approaches, and there's no better time to turn on some classic terrifying tales. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael highlight several horrific horror films from their 31 Graves of Halloween lists that any fan should have on their October watchlist! Whether you're looking for the Blue Skeleton in new Halloween-themed favorite "The Houses October Built" or hunting an ancient evil in "Bram Stoker's Dracula," these picks are sure to get you in the haunting holiday "spirit"! Slay ...
Oct 12, 2019•53 min•Ep. 79
To kick off the month of October, this special episode features guest interviewee Luke Castle. As president of the Royal Starr Arts Institute, his organization hosts monthly filmmaker mixers in Royal Oak, Michigan that will be debuting in a new location this month, and with an exciting theme: a Halloween party! Barnabas and Samael ask Luke about this special event, the film festival, his own experiences with the horror genre, and much more. So whether you're a Michigan-based filmmaker, horror fa...
Oct 05, 2019•49 min•Ep. 78
Being hailed as a modern fairy tale masterpiece and reminiscent of Guillermo Del Toro's earlier works concerning the Spanish Civil War, Issa López's "Tigers Are Not Afraid" thrusts children into the unsettlingly realistic streets of cartel-controlled Mexico. When their parents are killed by these gang members, a rag-tag orphan group must conquer their collective fears and escape the ghosts that haunt them. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael examine the newly-released film and determine whether...
Sep 21, 2019•41 min•Ep. 77
Andy Muschietti's "It" remains the highest-grossing horror film of all time* and affirmed Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise as a genre icon, so returning to Derry in "It Chapter 2" was inevitable. The Loser's Club returns to fight the evil clown and now they're all grown up, portrayed by an all-star cast that drives a blockbuster fright flick. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael review the sequel to the hit 2017 film and deliberate whether or not it was worth the hype; we all float down here, but how ...
Sep 11, 2019•35 min•Ep. 76
Booooyyy! Don Coscarelli's "Phantasm" franchise has simultaneously been one of the lowest-performing and most beloved horror franchises since its inception in 1979. As a whole, it's flown under the radar of Grave Discussions hosts Barnabas and Samael until recently, when the haunting hosts saw all five films for the first time and immediately fell in love. In this episode, the duo assesses how the "Phantasm" franchise took a road trip to their hearts and became one of their personal favorites - ...
Aug 30, 2019•45 min•Ep. 75
Hide and Seek has never been so life-threatening - or exhilarating! On this episode of Grave Discussions, Barnabas and Samael debut a shorter and more focused show format and review Fox Searchlight's "Ready or Not," which places Samara Weaving in an extremely dangerous version of the classic childhood game. Dense with evil elites, humor, and gallons upon gallons of blood, the terrible twosome explore whether the new horror-comedy finds its way or should be hidden forever.
Aug 26, 2019•28 min•Ep. 74
The "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" books captivated and terrified children in the 80s and 90s by introducing shocking imagery and impactful writing - it also helped shape a new generation of horror fans! Now the 2019 film will try to do the same. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael offer their exclusive review and discuss how the film foregoes standard anthology structure and still attempts to introduce various stories from the book series. Other horror anthologies are featured too with "T...
Aug 12, 2019•51 min•Ep. 73
A villain as old as time and perhaps the greatest perceived evil in all of cinema, the devil has likely been portrayed more than any other figure. In horror, those portrayals have been simultaneously criticized and praised by watchful eyes, and while many feel similar, some introduce Satan in incredibly unique ways. In this episode, Barnabas and the devilish Samael examine those portrayals, highlighting "The Devil's Advocate" in the Cult Corner and Shudder original "I Trapped the Devil" on the C...
Aug 03, 2019•52 min•Ep. 72
Peanut butter and jelly... drugs, , and rock and roll; some things just go together, but horror and comedy? In this episode, Barnabas and Samael examine the gut-busting wit and humor that have turned some terrifying cinematic situations into rollicking adventures, paying special attention to "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil." As part of the hilarious discussion, Mel Brooks's "Dracula: Dead & Loving It" is featured in the Cult Corner and spooky new Shudder original "Deadtectives" hits the Chopping...
Jul 27, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 71
Looking forward, 2019 felt like a promising, if not questionable, year for the horror genre. A smorgasbord of remakes, spinoffs, and adaptations was slated and irate fans echoed the frustrations of prior years; arthouse horror, on the other hand, only further affirmed that it was here to stay. Midway through 2019, Barnabas and Samael use this episode of Grave Discussions to examine what has happened in horror, their takeaways from it, and what they look forward to in the back half of the year. A...
Jul 20, 2019•56 min•Ep. 70
Ari Aster continues to have one of the most explosive and controversial debuts in horror with the feverish, broad-day depiction of folk horror that is "Midsommar." A journey in and of itself, the sophomore project is examined in spoiler-free detail by Barnabas and Samael in this exclusive review episode. Does it stack up to Hereditary, or is this a different experience altogether? The devilish duo also tackles the inevitable comparisons to "The Wicker Man" by covering the original film in the Cu...
Jul 13, 2019•55 min•Ep. 69
Modern horror's favorite haunted doll, Annabelle, conjures up a plethora of entities and scares in the newest franchise installment "Annabelle Comes Home." In this episode, Barnabas and Samael heed the call and offer their thoughts in an exclusive review. Also, teens get possessed in the surrounding segments which feature "Night of the Creeps" in the Cult Corner and "Soul to Keep" on this week's Chopping Block.
Jul 06, 2019•55 min•Ep. 68
It's finally time to play, buddies! With a fresh new look, personality, and voice, Chucky has returned to the silver screen in Lars Klevberg's "Child's Play" for one more scare... and Barnabas and Samael emerge from their crypts to give you an exclusive review! As long-time fans of the quintessential killer doll, find out what the pair think about the newest iteration. In a similarly technology-inclined Cult Corner, "Chopping Mall" is featured, and the Chopping Block offers the new folk horror m...
Jun 29, 2019•51 min•Ep. 67
One of the most divisive horror films of the year, Lars Klevberg's "Child's Play", aims to turn the killer doll subgenre of horror on its head. But before that, Barnabas and Samael return to offer their list of the must-see movies featuring the porcelain puppets and mannequins that have terrorized viewers for decades. Leading up, the original 1988 "Child's Play" is examined in the Cult Corner, and the newest Into the Dark installment, "They Come Knocking", is featured on the Chopping Block!
Jun 23, 2019•57 min•Ep. 66
In 1982, two horror icons joined forces for an unprecedented genre experience. "Creepshow" became the fevered brainchild of George A. Romero and Stephen King and the epitome of a practical horror anthology; now, Greg Nicotero and Shudder join forces to revive the classic film as a streaming series! In this episode, Barnabas and Samael discuss the upcoming project and the stories it aims to tell in undoubtedly brutal fashion. Also featured are underdog cult classic "Phantasm" and Australian creat...
Jun 16, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 65
Monsters come in all shapes and sizes; some can be very human and terrifying in ways that we can understand, and some can be living incarnations of prehistoric titans, primal beings with only one goal: domination. Either way, there would be no horror without these wicked forces! In the first ever double feature review episode, Barnabas and Samael discuss two films poised to kick off a historically horrific summer season: Ma and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Jun 08, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 64
The origin story of Brandon Breyer, aka Brightburn, is not unfamiliar to audiences; the difference lies in the actions of perhaps horror's first great supervillain. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael review the highly anticipated and unique horror production. Will "Brightburn" and its super-evil-boy cement their place in the genre? The wrap-around segments take a mind-altering turn, featuring scuzzy number "Brain Damage" and the hot new thriller "The Perfection!"
Jun 01, 2019•59 min•Ep. 63
May 27, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 62
Since the collapse of the Dark Universe, Universal has been hesitant to pursue the classic Monsters once again. This time, however, Blumhouse joins the picture and Leigh Whannell is set to direct a reimagining of "The Invisible Man!" In this episode, Barnabas and Samael go fully transparent by offering their desires, dont-wants, and theories about the newest iteration of a classic horror film. More importantly, will Elisabeth Moss live up to the great Claude Rains? To achieve this discussion, th...
May 19, 2019•56 min•Ep. 61
Artists whose work hinge on the weird, twisted, and wondrous reality of life often appear as social outcasts, and Clive Barker is no different. Once an odd thread in the web of fantasy horror, Clive Barker's willingness to venture into a world of painful sexual desire and gruesome body terror has cultivated an icon. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael examine the cinematic works of Barker, from "Rawhead Rex" in the Cult Corner to Hellraiser and more. Also featured on the Chopping Block is the n...
May 16, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 60
The horror community is one filled with pride, passion, and unabashed disdain for the genre — sometimes. Perhaps filled with the most ravenous, opinionated fanbase in cinema, horror films have long found ways of dividing the community, and contemporary horror is no different; some fans clamor to exclaim that horror is "dead" and there are no more good movies being made. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael explore the negative perception of present-day horror films and offer their thoughts on th...
May 05, 2019•54 min•Ep. 59
The Conjuring-verse just got bigger... and wetter. "The Curse of La Llorona" is the newest ghostly flick produced by the unshakable James Wan, and in this episode Barnabas and Samael deliver their review of the much-anticipated movie. Is 'La Llorona' good enough to warrant tears of joy, or simply leave the audience weeping out of frustration? Also featured are hidden cult classic "Superstition" and new creature feature "The Silence!"
Apr 28, 2019•56 min•Ep. 58
In 1979, a legendary movie monster was born; now synonymous with excellent sci-fi horror, "Alien" also introduced the world to Ellen Ripley and spawned a wildly successful franchise. In this special episode, Over Under Fair's Dave Roldan and Roger Castillo are resurrected in order to discuss "Alien" for the film's 40th anniversary. With a retrospective lens, the OUF duo, along with Barnabas and Samael, dissect the terrifyingly claustrophobic elements of Scott's legitimately scary space opera, an...
Apr 22, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 57
In the famous words of Jud Crandall, "Sometimes... dead is better." Remakes have been looming over the horror community for a long time, and it doesn't get as controversial as Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer's "Pet Sematary." The tenuous reboot of the 1989 classic and second adaptation of Stephen King's hit novel, "Pet Sematary" has leaven fans as divided as the family it portrays. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael review the film and aim to answer the question: is dead in fact better? Also f...
Apr 13, 2019•50 min•Ep. 56
A door that can only be unlocked with the key of imagination and the distinct, creepy voice of The Narrator - such things can only be found in... the Twilight Zone! Over half a century after the original phenomenon that was "The Twilight Zone" dazzled audiences, Jordan Peele returns with his take on the classic series, and Barnabas and Samael review the debut episodes "The Comedian" and "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet!" Will the reboot be one of many accomplishments of the filmmaker's banner year, or ...
Apr 06, 2019•57 min•Ep. 55
With the release of one of the most anticipated horror films of the year, Jordan Peele's "Us" emerges as divisive as its characters. In this episode, Barnabas and Samael review the sophomore feature by the Oscar-winning director and comedian, analyzing the film's themes and technical achievements. Will "Us" cement its place in horror history or simply serve as a reflection of a more contemporary cinematic issue? The undead ushers also discuss the late Larry Cohen's "The Stuff" and bro-rrific fou...
Mar 31, 2019•53 min•Ep. 54
It is perhaps the most iconic and prolific horror franchise in the world, spear-headed by the genre's poster boy for death and destruction: Jason Voorhees. Friday the 13th has taken the world by storm, due in no small part to the proverbial mommy's boy, but the mythology of Jason changed much over the years. Barnabas and Samael remove the putrified hockey mask and reflect on Jason's evolution over time, the people who played him, and more in this episode honoring the late John Carl Buechler. His...
Mar 23, 2019•53 min•Ep. 53
