Hammer Horror tries to strike Gothic gold again with THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960, Fisher)! With three different writers, the film's seams show despite the heavy lifting from stars Peter Cushing, Yvonne Monlaur and David Peel. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 23:59; Discussion 33:47; Ranking 57:12
Give Roger Corman more money and time to make a movie, and he goes FULLY RESPECTABLE!! It's THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1960) starring Vincent Price, Mark Damon and Myrna Fahey! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 35:22; Discussion 42:50; Ranking 1:06:40
Brick wall... Brick Wall... BRICK WALL!! This week we cover VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (1960) from director Wolf Rilla! Adapted from the John Wyndham novel The Midwich Cuckoos, we discuss this evil children horror starring George Sanders, Barbara Shelley and Martin Stephens. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 42:11; Discussion 50:41; Ranking 1:22:21
Anthony Perkins. Janet Leigh. Alfred Hitchcock. It's 1960's PSYCHO! In a nearly three hour long episode, your hosts dig into the novel, its film adaptation, and how everything changes after PSYCHO's release. General content warning for discussion of transphobia, violence against women, psychosis, serial killers and cannibalism. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 40:23-44:30; Discussion 1:38:02; Ranking 2:32:39
The Italians try their hand at combining horror and sex appeal... and win?! It's L'AMANTE DEL VAMPIRO (1960) aka THE VAMPIRE AND THE BALLERINA from director Renato Polselli! We got castles, we got vampires, we got toxic relationships -- it's a Gothic horror! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 10:52; Discussion 21:44; Ranking 36:39
Your hosts travel to West Germany for EIN TOTER HING IM NETZ aka THE CORPSE IN THE WEB (1960) from director Fritz Böttger! This "nudie" horror film offers an early attempt at bridging sex appeal and horror, but is not necessarily successful at it. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:00; Discussion 16:48; Ranking 31:05
Completing Anglo-Amalgamated Production's "Sadian trilogy," it's CIRCUS OF HORRORS (1960) from director Sidney Hayers! Starring Anton Diffring, Jane Hylton, Kenneth Griffith and Erika Remberg, this film makes your hosts wonder... what's up with circuses? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:42; Discussion 24:01; Ranking 39:42
Your hosts take on CLUE (1985, Lynn) for their last monthly horror adjacent bonus episode - the movie based on the game based on old cozy mystery thrillers! We run down the stellar cast and explain the board game's history. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 46:40; Discussion 56:15
Lasting less than a week in theatres when first released, it's PEEPING TOM (1960), a horror that nearly ruined its director Michael Powell's career! Written by Leo Marks and starring Carl Boehm, Anna Massey, Moira Shearer and Maxine Audley, the film digs into its themes of observation and voyeurism and doesn't let up. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 42:27; Discussion 54:54; Ranking 1:28:16
Larry Talbot returns for LA CASA DEL TERROR (1960)! Lon Chaney Jr reprises a legally-distinct-from-Universal Wolf Man in this Mexican horror movie starring comedian Tin-Tan, Yolanda Varela, Rafael Estrada and Yerye Beirute, directed by Gilberto Martinez Solares. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 11:54; Discussion 18:11; Ranking 27:14
It's been a long time since your hosts have travelled to France! This week we cover LES YEUX SANS VISAGE (1960) aka EYES WITHOUT A FACE from director Georges Franju! Based on the Jean Redon novel, the film stars Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli and Édith Scob. It delivers French New Wave horror while keeping you at arm's length -- but will that work in its favour? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 27:26; Discussion 35:33; Ranking 57:43
For our 23rd horror adjacent episode, it's ZOMBIES ON BROADWAY (1945)! Directed by Gordon Douglas, the film stars the knock-off Abbott and Costello duo of Alan Carney and Wally Brown, and features a great performance from Bela Lugosi! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 13:13; Discussion 19:24
Beware of the eye! Filmed in the exclusive HYPNOMAGIC, it's THE HYPNOTIC EYE (1960) from director George Blair! Imagined by a photographer who later became a true crime enthusiast, the film stars Jacques Bergerac, Allison Hayes, Marcia Henderson, and Joe Patridge. A warning for anyone watching THE HYPNOTIC EYE, there are frequent flashing lights right at the camera. It's also very very not good. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 33:48; Discussion 53:33; Ranking 1:06:29
Your deadicated hosts enter 1960 with a bang! It's THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS from director John Gilling, a Burke and Hare true crime movie starring Peter Cushing, George Rose and Donald Pleasence! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 25:59; Discussion 36:19; Ranking 59:36
Your deadicated hosts close out 1959 with TERROR IS A MAN, the very first Filipino horror movie! Directed by Gerardo de Leon and Eddie Romero, this Dr. Moreau adaptation feels more Tennessee Williams than H.G. Wells. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 33:22; Discussion 42:40; Ranking 59:12
Hammer Film Productions tries to update the play THE MAN IN HALF MOON STREET by Barré Lyndon, with mixed results. Take a listen to hear what we liked and didn't about 1959's THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH (Fisher)! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 22:30; Discussion 32:19; Ranking 46:04
It's Abbott and Costello... take two! This month's horror adjacent episode is on ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN (1951, Lamont) featuring the titular duo with Arthur Franz and Nancy Guild! It's a cross of THE INVISIBLE MAN and ROCKY, so what's not to like? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:05; Discussion 29:39
From Roger Corman's Filmgroup, it's BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE (1959), directed by Monte Hellman (what a name!) and starring Michael Forest, Frank Wolff, Sheila Noonan, Wally Campo and Richard Sinatra. Have you ever wondered what KEY LARGO would be like, but in South Dakota and with a monster? Better strap in then! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 20:56; Discussion 31:12; Ranking 46:02
Buzz buzz, here comes THE WASP WOMAN (1959) from Roger Corman himself! The film stars Susan Cabot, Michael Mark, Fred Eisley, Barboura Morris and William Roerick. We discuss wasp facts, the history of cosmetics, and Susan Cabot's sad biography in this episode, so there's plenty to chew on. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 26:32; Discussion 43:57; Ranking 1:04:30
Let us share some leech facts to prepare you for ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959) from director Bernard L. Kowalski and starring Ken Clark, Yvette Vickers and Bruno VeSota! Everyone is a terrible person in this barely horror creature feature. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 18:53; Discussion 24:34; Ranking 38:32
It's us versus THEM! (1954, Douglas) Your deadicated hosts tackle the first big bug classic as part of their horror adjacent bonus episode series. We cover nuclear testing on US soil through the '50s, how they created the ants' iconic sound, and why this movie isn't horror (according to us!) Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 45:34; Discussion 51:53
Roger Corman plans his horror return with A BUCKET OF BLOOD (1959) starring Dick Miller and Barboura Morris! This MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM remake brings in the scariest beastie of them all... Beatniks! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 44:11; Discussion 58:26; Ranking 1:16:19
Your hosts tackle EL HOMBRE Y EL MONSTRUO (1959) from Rafael Baledón, starring Abel Salazar, Enrique Rambal, Martha Roth and Ofelia Guilmain! The alternative title for this episode was "A Gothic heroine who also happens to look exactly like the mysterious woman in the portrait" but it was too long! Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 8:59; Discussion 24:12; Ranking 36:54
What's up Doc? It's time for February's horror adjacent bonus episode! This month we take a look at HAIR-RAISING HARE (1946) from Chuck Jones and starring Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny! We trace the origins of Warner Bros' Merrie Melodies back to Disney's Silly Symphonies and highlight a few of the people who made these cartoons possible. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 52:50; Discussion 56:47
Coming to you from multiple dimensions, it's 4D MAN (Yeaworth 1959)! From the creative team behind 1958's THE BLOB, the film stars Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether and James Congdon. But will this just be another case of sci fi masquerading as horror? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 21:42; Discussion 36:04; Ranking 55:05
Your hosts are incredibly excited for the next highly anticipated horror from Hammer Film Productions... it's THE MUMMY (1959) from director Terence Fisher, writer Jimmy Sangster, and starring Peter Cushing, Christoper Lee and George Pastell! Will these legends of horror continue with their winning streak, or will the mummy's curse of tepid horror strike again? Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 33:35; Discussion 46:48; Ranking 1:13:36
Your hosts briefly bounce back to 1958 for THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON produced, directed, cowritten and starring Robert Clarke! What happens when an actor hires film students to make a monster movie to cash in on the horror craze? Well sometimes, trash turns out to be good. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 16:37; Discussion 26:54; Ranking 38:25
It's time for the horror adjacent bonus episode! This month, we look into DEATH BECOMES HER (1992) from director Robert Zemeckis and starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis! This camp black comedy shows us yet again that less is more... Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 1:05:59; Discussion 1:16:15
Third time's the charm... your hosts tackle THE BAT (1959, Wilbur), a remake of the 1926 silent film and of the 1930 sound version. This time 'round, we have Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Gavin Gordon starring, but will it make a difference for this old fashioned flick? THE BAT (1926, West) was previously covered in Episode 16. THE BAT WHISPERS (1930, West) was previously covered in Episode 23. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 28:24; Discussion 41:18; Ranking 57:10
This week, your hosts watch CALTIKI, IL MOSTRO IMMORTALE (1959) from director Robert Hamton or maybe Riccardo Freda or possibly Mario Bava! In any case, it stars John Merivale and Gérard Herter in a blob-inspired Italian horror movie. Context setting 00:00; Synopsis 20:19; Discussion 33:14; Ranking 47:22
