Episodes

We’re back to talk about ANOTHER prequel to The Exorcist (afilm so nice they had to tell the origin twice), but fortunately, this week Mike and Stephen are here to talk about the good one. Yes indeed, this week we’re here to talk about the most expensive DVD feature of all time, the completedvision of Paul Schrader’s Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist. It’s the Gallant to Harlin’s Goofy, and as one might expect from a Schrader jam, it’s a contemplative rumination on man’s fallibility and culpabil...

This week we’re talking about Renny Harlin’s The Exorcist: The Beginning because we’re contractually obligated to due to the format of the show. Mike and Stephen are here to talk about hot moms, the 1995 coming of age movie Angus, (featuring not one but TWO Oscar winners), the Angus soundtrack, what makes up the weakest entry in the Back to the Future series, whether or not Paul Schrader directed Clifford the Big Red Dog, the latest addition to our soundboard and so much more. All right, we talk...

After what Mike called the low point of the show in terms ofmovie we’ve covered, this week we’ve rebounded with a minor classic, WilliamPeter Blatty’s The Exorcist 3. Or is it Legion? Or is it The Exorcist 3:Legion? Or is it The Exorcist 1990? As you can see already, this one had a long, winding, andoften confusing path to the screen. From creative differences that led toBlatty ultimately taking the helm, to forced reshoots, and a wedged in exorcismin the third act, to recasting three of the pr...

This week we’re talking about a movie so awful it made Mike question the whole format of the show. Do we really want to cover every franchise if it means films likeThe Exorcist II: The Hereticare forced on our eyeballs? Widely regarded as one of the worst films of all time, it had the unenviable task of following up one of the most successful horror films in history. Directed by a filmmaker that had nothing but loathing for the first film, and viewed by Warner Brothers as a way to cash in quickl...

After last week's episode on the background of the movie, Brian and Mike are back to dive into The Exorcist proper. We discuss where it fits in the canon of the great 70s, auteur driven works, how Friedken's insistence on reality lifted this above genre conventions and gave birth to the modern horror movie, and how making the Church the heroes in this narrative hasn't aged so well for modern times.

What a wonderful day to talk about The Exorcist. This week Mike, Brian, and Stephen start our discussion on one of the foundational films in modern horror, 1973’s The Exorcist. For the first half of our two parts on this title, your hosts share their initial reactions to this masterwork, as well as how our thoughts on the film have evolved as we’ve grown older. From there we take a deep dive into the history of the film, including a look at its architects, director William Friedken and writer Wi...

This week we're unlocking our patron vaults and giving everyone a taste of what you get when you become a subscriber. Mike, Brian, and Stephen joined forces to break down the Oz Perkins smash hit, and one of the most commercially and critically successful genre offerings of 2024. With Nic Cage as the titular serial killer, audiences could expect a wild ride, but what really surprised our crew was just how much of a homage this was to the psychological thrillers of the early 90s, and how at its c...

Before we go out with the old and in with the new, your fearless crew is taking one last look back at 2024. Mike, Devaughn, Steven, Brian, and Ariel are all on hand to unveil their top ten genre films of the past year. While there was near unanimous consensus on our number one movie of the year, each of lists represent just how wide a net horror covers. From horror comedies, to noirish thrillers, slashers, the supernatural, serial killers, body horror, teen angst, coming out horror and classic m...

This week we talk Frozen Empire, the 2024 semi-return to form for the series, along with the landmark Supreme Court case, Grooberson vs. The State of New York, which determined whether the proton packs fall under the protection of the second amendment.

This week we deliver our annual Christmas episode in your holiday stocking. This year we’re covering the heartwarming story of a young boy and his family as they learn the lesson of love, togetherness and what the holidays are really all about When poor young Kevin is left “home alone.” Along the way Kevin (a brilliant, young Mccauley Caulkin) gets into zany hijinks and has to overcome his fear of the basement, old man Marley, and the dreaded Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci & Daniel Stern) Another way to...

For the folks that asked, "What if Ghostbusters, but with none of the jokes?" we present "Afterlife." In 2021 Jason Reitman heled a sequel to his dad's two entries from the 80s, ignoring the existence of the 2016 movie altogether. The result is a good looking, well acted, well directed, two hour slog of a film filled with Easter Eggs and nostalgia bait meant to pull at the heart strings of every guy that said the previous film "killed their childhood." Mike, Brian, and Ariel are here to talk abo...

This week Mike and Brian look back at the 201 reboot of Ghostbusters. Featuring a cast of four of the most gifted female comedians, the movie seemed doomed from the start as fandom reared its ugly head. We look back at the online backlash, the trolls, and the litany of abusive, racist and sexist comments the cast had to endure. We ask what kind of moron thinks a movie can "ruin their childhood." We do our best to evaluate the movie on its own merits, both its strengths and flaws.

This week we're back to talk about one of the most (unfairly)maligned sequels of the 80s. Facing strong headwinds on the road to getting made, Ghostbusters 2 was criticized as a carbon copy of the first, and it struggled to capture even half of the box office of the 1984 classic as Batman fever swept the nation, and sequels from Back to the Future and Indiana Jones took up moviegoers attention. Credited for "killing the franchise" for decades, Ghostbusters 2 is a solid example of "if it ain't br...

In our biggest episode to date, Mike, Brian, and Stephen strap on the proton backs and try not to cross the streams as we take on the mother of all 80s comedies: GHOSTBUSTERS. Something this funny, this quitable and this memorable could only come from a group that defined comedy in the 70s and 80s, and there's nothing like watching Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Dan Akroyd just hang out and do there thing. We talk about the trials and tribulations it took to bring this film to life, as nothing like it had existed before. We discuss its place in the pantheon of 80s movies and wonder where this kind of family friendly movie went. We talk about the gags and ghosts, from Stay-Puft, to Rick Moranis' loveable loser Louis, to a theme song you just couldn't get out of your head, and everything in between.

In space no one can hear you scream, but can they hear you podcast? This week Mike and Stephen are joined by guest Katy Terry (Fangs for the Memories podcast) to talk about Fede Alvarez entry into the Alien canon, Alien Romulus. WE discuss where the film goes right, with its adherence to practical effects and sets, fantastic set pieces that make the Xenomorph scary again, and a cracker jack cast that has a new riff on the working class and bodily autonomy themes the original did so well. When Ro...

This week we're back with the latest from long running found footage horror anthology series V/H/S. Two out of three cohosts agree this is one of the stronger entries into the franchise, with the shift to sci-fi horror being a welcome change. However, is there enough variety between our segments and wraparound or does it rely too heavily on the familiar alien invasion tropes? WE explore all the segments, from a Terminator-esque Bollywood musical (??) to an alien hunting police squad, to a skydi...

Happy Halloween listeners! Coming off our Terrifier series we still have clowns on the brain so Stephen and Mike are counting down the top ten scariest clowns in horror history as voted on by your band of grease paint and squirting flower fearing podcasters. Plus, Mike and Ariel sat down during the last day of the Telluride Horror Show to talk about some of their favorite films from Fantastic Fest and Telluride Horror.

This week we wrap up another franchise with a giant discussion on what is now the highest grossing unrated movie of all time: TERRIFIER 3. Mike and Ari are joined by guest Jacob Harper (Talking Terror podcast, 1428 Elm Street) to talk about the Christmas horror of it all, the live action "Itchy & Scratchy" antics of Art the Clown, the welcome reintroduction of Victoria, and discuss why this entry has been so successful. Plus we ask what does Damien Leone have against true crime. Also, while w...

This week concludes our supersized review of TERRIFIER 2. We dig into the movie and explore the moments that made this an indie horror sensation. Brian, Mike, Nichole and Ariel talk not just why Art the Clown is such an icon, but also how Laura LaVera has quickly entered the pantheon of best final girls as Sienna Shaw. Plus all the kills, chills, laughs, and stomach turning gore is explored. If you like what you’re listening to make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast feeds. Please...

This week we finally get to talk about the indie horror sensation TERRIFIER 2. What was supposed to be a one-night theatrical event went on to become one of the most successful independent horror movies of all time as audiences could not get enough of Art the Clown’s return. This time our master of mayhem in greasepaint isn’t alone as he’s joined by a demonic sidekick in The Pale Girl, while also getting a worthy adversary in Sienna Shaw, played wonderfully by Laura LaVera. Damien Leone upped th...

This week we kick off our coverage of the TERRIFIER franchise with the 2016, over the top infamous slasher film. While Art the Clown got his start in a pair of short films that became the anthology All Hallows' Eve, its really this one where he started down his path to iconic status. Mike and Ariel are joined by author Josh Millican (Teleportasm) to do what we do best: dive into the back story of how this came to be, from its humble beginnings as the short The Ninth Circle, to the feature films ...

This week we wrap up another franchise with 1989's sci-fi monster movie THE FLY II, starring Eric Stoltz. While it doesn't reach the creative heights or thematic depths of Cronenberg's earlier remake, there's still a lot of fun to be had with this oozy, oddball straight up monster movie. Mike and Devaughn are joined by guest Jay Krieger to talk its charms and where it falls a bit flat. We do have to warn folks, this can be a tough watch for all of us who love dogs. If you like what you’re liste...

We're back with the second half of our massive episode on David Cronenberg's THE FLY. If you haven't already make sure you go back and listen to our previous episode on the background and elements of this movie. This time around Mike, Brian, Devaughn, and guest J Blake Fichera dive into the movie proper. We examine the romance between Seth and Ronnie that makes the horror all the more unbearable. We argue over the various themes and implications Cronenberg explored over what it means to be human...

This week brings us the first half of our two-parter on David Cronenberg's remake THE FLY. Mike, Brian, and Devaughn are joined by Scored to Death author J Blake Fischera to talk about one of the true masterpieces of 80s horror. Featuring star making turns from Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, THE FLY remains David Cronenberg's most successful commercial work of his storied career, and his ultimate statement on body horror, the mutation of the flesh, and how pushing past the limits of our minds a...