This week we’ve assembled our own “core four” to breakdown Scream 6, the latest entry in the long running slasher series / meta-commentary on horror movies themselves. Mike is joined by co-hosting regulars Jessica Scott (We Who Walk Here) & Stephen Foxworthy (Disenfranchised pod). We also welcome on to the show Reyna Cervantes (lead gaming critic Bloody Disgusting). Reyna has the enviable task of tackling this trio of Ghostface killers as she’s the only one of the group high on this year’s e...
Mar 27, 2023•2 hr 35 min
After a week off we're back, and we're going back in time to see how our latest series started. Mike, Nichole, Rachel and Devaughn are joined by Mike Scott from the Action for Everyone podcast to talk THE FIRST PURGE. In a series that has tiptoed around its politics, this 2018 entry makes the subtext the text and lays out what we've known all along: The Purge was steeped in racism from the get go, and exists to kill of those in need of the social safety net. We hit the racial and class themes ha...
Mar 20, 2023•2 hr 5 min
This week we hit the midpoint in our PURGE journey, we look back at Election Year, a film that tries to warn about the dangers the marriage of evangelical Christianity, right wing ideology, and white supremacy represent under the guise of a giant, dumb action movie where a lot of people get shot and a lot of shit blows up real good. Mike, Ari and Nichole try to walk that fine line here and let me tell you, this might be the only podcast that presents evidence on just how poorly Frank Grillo's bo...
Mar 06, 2023•1 hr 59 min
This week we're getting down to the street level when we look at The Purge: Anarchy. Mike and Jessica talk about how this film expands on the premise and the promise of the first movie while asking big picture questions about classism and what it would mean to be poor during a purge event. It's not all gloom and academia though as we talk about the B-movie roots and action / horror hijinks that goes down in this fun little thriller that gifted the world an all-timer performance from Frank Grillo...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 33 min
This week we are sharpening our blades, loading up on shotgun shells and going hunting for the one percenters. We’re starting our dive into THE PURGE with the 2013 action / horror title of the same name. Frequent contributors Stephen and Ariel join Mike to talk about the rise of Blumhouse studios, and how The Purge became their second hit franchise after the Paranormal Activity movies. Were these movies secretly written by Nostradamus? What about the political climate we live in now mirrors the ...
Feb 21, 2023•2 hr 13 min
It's time to put another series to bed. This week we talk 2016's PHANTASM: RAVAGER, a movie that had a wild, near two decade gap from its previous installment. We dive into the winding travels it took to get this made: from its origins as a comic book, to a near reboot via New Line Cinema, to the almost webseries Reggie's Rales to its eventual debut at Fantastic Fest. Mike is joined by Rachel Reeves and Ari Powers Schaub to talk the Tall Man's final outing, why this feels more like a fan film th...
Feb 06, 2023•1 hr 55 min
This week we're joined by Andrew Fabry from the dead letter movie podcast to talk the 4th and what many thought would be the final entry in the Phantasm series with 1998's oblivion. Working with limited funds comparable to the first movie, Don Coscarelli was able to deliver something memorable for the fans by dipping into the past. We discuss how oblivion incorporates unseen footage from the original Phantasm to create something poignant despite its direct to video status. At the same time, we c...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 49 min
Having some fun with this one as we breakdown today's trailer for SCREAM VI. We talk about a lot: which characters might not be safe, what exactly is this "shrine" and how it will play into the action, why does Kirby look like she was CGI'd into the move like Jeff Garlin in The Goldbergs, what does Aflred Hitchcock's AI Chatbot think about Jimmy Stewart's wang, and so much more with Mike, Stephen and Jessica.
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 23 min
After the action / horror direction Phantasm 2 veered towards, "Lord of the Dead" feels like a return to the nightmarish atmosphere of the first one. This one reunites the original performers as well, as Michael Baldwin and Bill Thornberry return to the Phantasm fold. We discuss their return along with the addition of fan favorites Rocky and Tim. We're joined by Ari Hellraiser of Ghouls magazine for Phantasm III.
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 25 min
Mike, Jessica and Nichole weigh in with their thoughts on the Evil Dead Rise trailer in anticipation of the new movie.
Jan 05, 2023•35 min
The Ball is Back and so are with this week's episode on the action/horror romp PHANTASM 2. We talk about this over the top follow up to the 1979 fever dream that goes big. Featuring Reggie Bannister as the everyman action star that is every bit as smooth with the ladies as he is deadly with a flamethrower, this one encapsulates late 80's horror to perfection. Featuring another sinister turn from Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man, it's laden with fantastic special effects, monster design and gore, and...
Dec 30, 2022•1 hr 34 min
Every time someone downloads this episode, an angel gets its wings. For the Christmas holiday we have a special bonus for listeners. Mike and Brian break down one of their favorite holiday films, Frank Capra's Its A Wonderful Life. From its humble beginnings as a Christmas card, to it flopping so hard it shuttered the production company and ended Capra's career as a commercial filmmaker, this had a long and winding road to enjoying its beloved status. We talk about why its message about communit...
Dec 25, 2022•2 hr 6 min
This week Jessica steps into the hosting chair and is joined by Brian, Rachel and a COVID-riddled Mike to talk about their top ten horror movies of the year. It's a massive episode as each host has a list that reflects their own varied and personal tastes, as seen by the 29 movies discussed over 40 slots. 2022 has been a banner year both creatively and commercial for horror, as it continues to prove to be one of the only genres outside superhero movies that puts asses in seats at the theaters ti...
Dec 19, 2022•2 hr 43 min
This week we’re kicking off a new series with a look back at Don Coscarelli’s independent horror masterpiece, PHANTASM (1979). Mike, Devaughn and Rachel are joined by first time guest Ariel Powers Schaub (Ghouls Magazine) to talk about the influence this movie has had in horror over the past four decades, as films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and televisions Supernatural owe it a great deal of debt We explore Michael’s fear of losing his big brother, the cosmic horrors of the Tall Man and the ...
Dec 12, 2022•2 hr 1 min
This week we talked about the surprise sequel we didn’t know we wanted, but we sure as hell needed. Orphan: First Kill tells us the origins of everyone’s favorite murderous little person masquerading as an eight year old. While it could have rested on the goodwill of Isabelle Fuhrman returning to her iconic role and made folks happy just rehashing the plot of the original, First Kill managed to surprise the audience with another shocking twist, and a hell of a camp turn from the lovely Julia Sti...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 37 min
Mike, Rachel and Jessica talk about what a banner year it's been for horror and a few of the things we're most grateful for about the genre and the people involved it it. This show drops Thanksgiving morning, so if you're listening to it while stuffing your bird and prepping the cranberry sauce, thank you.
Nov 24, 2022•36 min
It's everyone's favorite murderous little person masquerading as a tween! This week we talk the fantastic thriller from 2009 ORPHAN and why it deserves your love and a high spot on the killer-not-quite-kids movie list
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 50 min
We return to Haddonfield one last time for the final* chapter in the Halloween saga. Folks, this film makes some choices, and we're here to dissect them all. No matter where you fall when it comes to the Halloween movies, and the David Gordon Green entries in particular, it's fair to say everybody was left collectively scratching their hands when the last movie of a trilogy not only introduced a brand new character with Corey Cunningham, but also made him the main focus while sideling Michael an...
Oct 31, 2022•2 hr 36 min
EVIL DIES TONIGHT! We return to Haddonfield to start wrapping up our episodes on Halloween. This week we look back at a movie that sharply divided fans, Halloween Kills. Is it an over the top slasher that delivers some of the goriest entries in the entire series? Absolutely. Does it dip its toes into social commentary regarding mob rule, cancel culture and our inability as a society to think rationally in heightened situations in the most ham-fisted and convoluted ways imaginable? Yes it does. W...
Oct 24, 2022•2 hr 19 min
It's the last two weeks of spooky season and that means binge watching horror movies (okay, pretty much every day means that for sure). We have a special bonus show with our picks. If you're someone who is TERRIFIED of all the streaming options and end up freezing like you're were getting stared down by a pack of werewolves instead of trying to decide which Halloween movie to watch, we have our picks from a number of platforms including Shudder, Screambox, Peacock, HBO Max, and Disney+. Mike, St...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr 11 min
We put another franchise to bed with this week's look at 2022's "requel/retcon/reboot/continuation/whatever the new word is now" of Netflix's Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's a spirited debate where we talk the politics of this movie, it's treatment of the franchise's signature final girl, protagonists that give Franklin a run for his money in the "so annoying please just kill the already" department, finally delivering on the promise of an actual chainsaw massacre and we have a very divided panel ...
Oct 11, 2022•2 hr 7 min
Folks, we don’t even know how to keep track of everything going on with this series anymore. This week we’re talking about the second prequel of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, which is also the second entry titled Leatherface. Alexander Bustillo and Julien Muary bring some of that French extremity vibe and a lot of style to a story that tries to answer questions no one really asked. Mike is joined by Rachel Reeves and guest Clayton from the Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies podcast. Not only...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 59 min
This week we get together to talk about the most unfairly maligned film in the Chainsaw series. In a franchise filled with high peaks, and low-lows, TCM 3D seems to have few defenders. Why? We make the argument that there needs to be MORE movies where grandmas leave their grandkids palatial mansions that come fully equipped with a family graveyard, a carnival over the backyard fence, and a 300 pound cannibal living in the basement! Maybe it's living through an era where horror can take itself to...
Sep 26, 2022•1 hr 34 min
This week, Mike and Nicole talk the prequel that answers all the burning questions fans had in the wake of the 2003 TCM remake: How did Sheriff Hoyt get that sweet law enforcement gig? How did he lose his teeth? How did Uncle Monty lose his legs? Where did Tommy "Leatherface" Hewitt get his first chainsaw? How are the Sons of Anarchy involved? We talk this, plus dive into the remake boon of this era, talk torture porn and so much more. It's the first of TWO prequels in the series, lord help us a...
Sep 06, 2022•1 hr 31 min
Is this going to be one of our most controversial episodes? Possibly. The Michael Bay produced remake is one of the most talked about horror movies of the past twenty years, and it's responsible for the deluge of remakes and reboots that followed over the course of the next decade. For some horror fans, "Platinum Dunes" were fighting words, like someone insulted their mother. Does this movie get lumped in with the less than stellar efforts that followed it? Does it manage to stay consistent and ...
Aug 29, 2022•2 hr 41 min
This week the gang is infiltrated by the Illuminati to tell you there's nothing to see here except perhaps one of the most understood slasher sequels of all time. Is this maligned, underseen, box-office bomb starring pre-stardom Rene Zellweger and Matthew Mcconaughey secretly brilliant? Listen now and find out
Aug 08, 2022•2 hr 23 min
Mike and Jessica are joined by Andrew Fabry of The Dead Letter Movie podcast to talk Leatherface, the third entry in the Chainsaw series and the first of two movies with that title. As the 80s closed and the box office fortunes of Freddy and Jason began to taper off, New Line Cinema needed a new hit franchise. Picking the bones of Cannon films, they thought they'd have a name brand icon that they could release a string of hit horror movies on. Were they right? Well, sort of since they keep makin...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 33 min
How do you follow up one of the scariest, most unnerving movies of all time? By making a straight up comedy of course! This week, Mike and Stephen take a long look at a movie that was a decade plus in the making. From diving into the behind the scenes troubles that nearly torpedoed the movie, rating Stretch as a final girl, trying to determine just how much blow Dennis Hopper was on during filming, to examining why this one works, even if its a dramatic shift in tone and tenor. Spoiler: IT'S ALL...
Jul 14, 2022•2 hr 2 min
The second half of our discussion gets to the good stuff. We talk about the most iconic introduction of a horror villain ever committed to the big screen, the insanity of the dinner party, have it out over Franklin, discuss the social, economic, and political factors that influenced the making of this movie and examine its legacy. With guests Brian Keiper, Devaughn Taylor and Nichole Goble. If you haven't already, go back and check out part one.
Jun 30, 2022•2 hr 22 min
This week we kick off a brand new franchise with the greatest horror movie of all time, Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This episode promises to be a massive one, and we've broken our talk down into multiple parts. For part one, we talk about the confluence of events that went into Hooper and writer Kim Henkel's script, the absolute hell it was to make this movie, where Hooper ranks amongst the masters of horror and start breaking down some of the iconic moments of the movie. Mike is ...
Jun 20, 2022•2 hr 10 min
