William Castle with two wolves inside him: One wants to shock and frighten his audience, and the other wants them to have a good time. In the case of MR. SARDONICUS (1961), he struggles to accomplish either one! Despite this, there are things your deadicated hosts find to praise and discuss! Enjoy our coverage of Castle's second entry in 1961, starring Ronald Lewis, Audrey Dalton and Guy Rolfe. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 24:16; Discussion 39:16; Ranking 1:04:54
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Your deadicated hosts travel to Mexico to introduce you to LA MARCA DEL MUERTO (1961, Cortés), a gothic sci-fi horror flick that stars leading man Fernando Casanova in dual roles! The film also stars Sonia Furió and features cinematography by José Ortiz Ramos. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:06; Discussion 24:52; Ranking 38:46
Jun 12, 2025•47 min
These teens are being hunted! Can they survive... the hunter's BLOODLUST?! We find out in this 1961 adaptation of Richard Connell's THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME, from writer/producer/director Ralph Brooke. The film stars Wilton Graff, Robert Reed, June Kenney and Gene Persson. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:40; Discussion 37:44; Ranking 49:34
May 29, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Mix witches with vague voodoo and you get THE DEVIL'S HAND (1961) from director William J. Hole Jr. Starring Linda Christian, Robert Alda, Ariadna Welter and Neil Hamilton, even a competent cast can't save this picture. Yet, there might be something worthwhile pulling the film in certain directions... maybe? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 19:30; Discussion 30:32; 52:54
May 15, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Roger Corman tasks Richard Matheson with expanding Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Pit and the Pendulum" into a feature length film... do they succeed?? Vincent Price, John Kerr, Barbara Steele and Luana Anders star in PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961, Corman)! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 31:56; Discussion 41:51; Ranking 1:13:41
May 01, 2025•1 hr 27 min
Like a snake eating its own tail, William Castle presents HOMICIDAL (1961), his take on Hitchcock's PSYCHO (1960), which was Hitchcock's take on Castle's gimmick approach to horror! With twists and turns throughout the movie, your deadicated hosts do their best to avoid spoilers until the synopsis. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:24; Discussion 40:18; Ranking 1:40:20 And to be completely clear, trans rights are human rights!
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 48 min
Would you still love me if I was a mermaid? With that as the central question, your hosts tackle NIGHT TIDE (1961) from writer/director Curtis Harrington! The film takes inspiration from William Hope Hodgson and Edgar Allan Poe, and stars Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson and Gavin Muir. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:30; Discussion 48:34; Ranking 1:20:26
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 36 min
A female-led psychological horror movie in black and white? What is this, 1940's RKO? Nope, it's the latest from Hammer Film! Director Seth Holt takes on Jimmy Sangster's gothic thriller script for TASTE OF FEAR (1961) and magic is truly made! The film stars Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd and Christopher Lee. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:46; Discussion 35:54; Ranking 1:07:08
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Your hosts travel to Nevada for THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS (1961), directed by Coleman Francis and starring Tor Johnson! But does this indie horror land more towards Ed Wood charm or W. Lee Wilder incompetence? While we decide, we share facts about the Nevada Test Site, nuclear experiments and John Wayne's 1956 film THE CONQUEROR. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:20; Discussion 35:42; Ranking 45:08
Mar 04, 2025•54 min
If your beloved pet cat witnessed your murder... would it take revenge on your behalf? In THE SHADOW OF THE CAT (1961), the answer is YES! This latest entry from Hammer Productions is directed by John Gilling and stars Andre Morell, Barbara Shelley, William Lucas and Bunkie as Tabitha the cat! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:44; Discussion 18:00; Ranking 32:40
Feb 18, 2025•45 min
At last, your deadicated hosts make it to the first werewolf picture in colour: it's THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) from Terence Fisher! Starring Oliver Reed and adapting Guy Endore's THE WEREWOLF OF PARIS (1933), how does the film's lycanthropy stack up against the tried-and-true formula in past iterations? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 44:28; Discussion 58:14; Ranking 1:25:52
Feb 05, 2025•1 hr 39 min
With THE SNAKE WOMAN (1961), director Sidney Furie reminds us that the past isn't always better and the content-entertainment-churning machine has been hard at work since the beginning. The film stars Susan Travers, John McCarthy and Elsie Wagstaff, and includes a surprising amount of accurate snake facts! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:28; Discussion 27:08; Ranking 45:02
Jan 21, 2025•57 min
From Canadian director Sidney J Furie comes DOCTOR BLOOD'S COFFIN (1961), a British horror film... in colour?! The film stars Kieron Moore, Hazel Court and Ian Hunter in a typical mad scientist plot with a thriller/rom-com spin. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:53; Discussion 24:30; Ranking 42:51
Jan 08, 2025•55 min
Welcome to 1961! For our first film of the year, we cover the very first zombie movie in colour... THE DEAD ONE! From writer/director Barry Mahon, this voodoo zombie movie takes place on a Louisianan plantation, but will it mine the full depth of the horror available? Edited to add: A listener let us know the original upload of this episode lost the last few minutes, so we've re-uploaded as of Dec 28! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 44:06; Discussion 51:04; Ranking 1:10:06
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 22 min
We fast-forward through all THE TELL-TALE HEART adaptations over the decades to find ourselves at the 1960 version from director Ernest Morris! With an expanded story, will this adaptation keep you awake at night or wither beneath the floorboards? Starring Laurence Payne, Adrienne Corri and Dermot Walsh. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 24:49; Discussion 35:32; Ranking 53:01
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Your hosts take a trip back in time to 1934 for Brian Desmond Hurst's adaptation of THE TELL-TALE HEART! We give a brief biography of Edgar Allan Poe and determine how this '30s indie film fairs on The List. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:57; Discussion 29:24; Ranking 38:38
Nov 27, 2024•50 min
From director Edmond Gréville comes THE HANDS OF ORLAC (1960)! Starring Mel Ferrer, Christopher Lee, Lucile Saint-Simon and Dany Carrel, will this British and French co-production be the best adaptation of the Maurice Renard novel yet? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 17:12; Discussion 33:57; Ranking 55:28
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Happy Halloween, Creatures of the Night! Let us take you to Italy for L'ULTIMA PREDA DEL VAMPIRO aka THE PLAYGIRLS AND THE VAMPIRE (1960) from director Piero Regnoli! Is this mix of classic Universal tropes charming or old fashioned? Let's find out! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:24; Discussion 18:40; Ranking 26:47
Oct 30, 2024•36 min
A domestic horror or a gothic melodrama? Why not both! It's THE HOUSEMAID (1960, Kim) aka HANYEO, Korea's first horror movie! Dealing with social commentary about Korea's changing class and addressing women's sexual desires, this is a one-of-a-kind movie. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 38:45; Discussion 55:06; Ranking 1:21:07
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 29 min
And we're back! After an unexpected hiatus, we're excited to kick off our return with THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL (1960) directed by Terence Fisher and starring Paul Massie, Dawn Addams and Christopher Lee. Thank you for your patience! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 50:56; Discussion 1:05:25; Ranking 1:44:58
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 53 min
Director Bert I. Gordon finally makes an appearance on the podcast with TORMENTED (1960)! Taking a break from his "Thing Big" schtick, Gordon takes on a ghost story that stars Richard Carlson, Juli Reding and Susan Gordon. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:16; Discussion 34:28; Ranking 50:42
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Let's meander down Skid Row for the horror adjacent Roger Corman flick THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960)! Your hosts discuss this movie's placement in Corman's filmography, and the pros and cons of filming an entire movie over a weekend. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:10; Discussion 48:48
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Your hosts encounter the 1960 "erotic horror" film ET MOURIR DE PLAISIR (LE SANG ET LA ROSE) aka AND DIE OF PLEASURE (BLOOD AND ROSES) from director Roger Vadim! But where's the horror? More importantly, where's the eroticism?? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 34:02; Discussion 44:20; Ranking 1:10:42
Nov 09, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Your hosts encounter a film often overlooked... it's THE CITY OF THE DEAD (1960) aka HORROR HOTEL directed by John Llewellyn Moxey! Designed to compete with Hammer Horror, this proto-Amicus Productions film stars Christopher Lee, Patricia Jessel, Venetia Stevenson and Betta St. John. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 17:02; Discussion 30:42; Ranking 55:04
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 10 min
From Italian director Giorgio Ferroni comes the Gothic film IL MULINO DELLE DONNE DI PIETRA aka MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN (1960)... in COLOUR! The film stars Pierre Brice, Scilla Gabel, Wolfgang Preiss and Herbert Bohme. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 18:22; Discussion 29:57; Ranking 50:35
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Continuing their time in Italy, your deadicated hosts encounter SEDDOK, L'EREDE DI SATANA aka ATOM AGE VAMPIRE (1960) from director Anton Giulio Majano! Designed to cash in on Mario Bava's success, this horror flick doesn't have much going for it...not to mention the gorilla on the loose! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 8:28; Discussion 18:23; Ranking 32:41
Oct 19, 2023•43 min
Your deadicated hosts cover the directorial "debut" of Mario Bava, LA MASCHERA DEL DEMONIO aka THE MASK OF SATAN aka BLACK SUNDAY! Starring Barbara Steele and John Richardson, we detail the different screenplays and film releases available out there. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 57:12; Discussion 1:15:05; Ranking 1:37:01
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr 50 min
Your hosts peek through "Illusion-O" glasses to review 13 GHOSTS (1960) from William Castle! This spoopy children's horror stars Donald Woods, Charles Herbert and Martin Milner. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:28; Discussion 27:33; Ranking 38:28
Oct 04, 2023•47 min
Celebrating episode 300, your deadicated hosts travel to Japan for Nobuo Nakagawa's masterpiece JIGOKU (1960)! The film stars Shigeru Amachi, Yoichi Numata and Utako Mitsuya. Your hosts discuss nihilism, Buddhism, gore and more in this landmark episode. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 36:08; Discussion 49:48; Ranking 1:22:57
Sep 21, 2023•1 hr 39 min
Universal tries to copy Roger Corman with THE LEECH WOMAN (1960) directed by Edward Dein and starring Coleen Grey, Grant Williams, Phillip Terry and Gloria Talbot. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 14:00; Discussion 23:18; Ranking 36:28
Sep 14, 2023•45 min
