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Episode 115: New French Extremity Films

February 4, 2026

In My Skin (2002), Inside (2007), and Martyrs (2008)

While the French aren’t known for their horror films, when they do move into that genre, there is something to be said. Perfect example is Georges Franju’s Eyes Without a Face (1960), with its stark realism and dark themes, it is still a powerful film even today. But in the early 2000’s, a bunch of younger filmmakers pushed the boundaries even farther, making viewers even more uncomfortable as they view these newer entries into the genre. They were often graphic, some over-the-top, and others dealt with darker subjects that were just as disturbing, even though the violence and/or gore wasn’t onscreen. It was the subject and the way it’s shown was what was hard to watch.

In this episode, we decided to take on 3 titles that show the different ranges of that, from the very subversive and uncomfortable subject matter to taking the gore through the roof, but also making you think more than you thought you could, even leaving you in a distressed state for days after the movie ends. That is powerful filmmaking.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 114 – Deadly Spawn’s Ted A. Bohus

January 21, 2026

The Deadly Spawn (1983) & Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor (1990)

One of the greatest low-budget monster movies of the ’80s, with one of the most original looking creatures, is The Deadly Spawn. And its much-underrated semi-sequel Metamorphosis is also a lot of fun that sadly needs a Blu-ray upgrade. But the guy behind both of this is Ted A. Bohus. Not only being a producer and director, but has also created some amazing film magazines, such as SPFX and Candid Monsters, that can prove that maybe you don’t know as much about a movie you thought you did!

Mr. Bohus sits down with us to discuss both Deadly Spawn, Metamorphosis, as well as working in the independent low-budget world of filmmaking, with more than a few lessons out there for up-and-coming filmmakers. We also cover his role as a publisher, doing deep, deep dives into some of our favorite classic films in his magazine (damn near book) Candid Monsters. So, sit back and get ready for some great and fun stories about the wonderful world of making movies and magazines!

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 113 – 2025 Wrap Up

January 7, 2026

Another year in the books, which means it is time for our annual Wrap Up, where we not only go through our personal favorites of the year, but also some other standout films, as well as some others that came out in the last 12 months. For the second year in a row, it is astounding at some of the high-quality pictures that have been getting released. From ones going straight to streaming services, to other wide release pictures, there have been plenty of fantastic titles out there. It really is a great time to be a horror fan.

It’s a long episode, so make sure you have a pad and pen, because we cover a LOT here!

Titles mentioned in this episode.

Episode 112 – Twice Told Tales: Maniac

December 24, 2025

Every now and again, the horror genre produces a film that becomes a bona fide classic. In 1980, director William Lustig and co-writer and star Joe Spinell teamed up to make what may be the defining film of the 42nd Street grindhouse era: Maniac.

The film has it all, a serial-killing protagonist who scalps women while sobbing about his mother, buckets of gore from an early-career Tom Savini, and all the usual suspects of late-’70s Times Square: hookers, drugs, and utter despair.

A remake, directed by Franck Khalfoun, written by Alexandre Aja, and starring Elijah Wood, arrived in 2012. This time, the action shifts to Los Angeles and leans more heavily into the mannequins that served as surrogate girlfriends in the original. Does it rise to the occasion and meet its predecessor on its own terms? We dig into that question, and much more, on this Twice Told Tales edition of the show.

Movies mention in this episode:

Episode 111 – Paul Naschy

December 10, 2025

Count Dracula’s Great Love (1973), Horror Rises from the Tomb (1973), Panic Beats (1983)

We’re finally back to discuss the wonderful cinematic world of Paul Naschy! Back in episode 21, we covered three different entries in Naschy’s werewolf films. So, this time out, we are covering three of his NON-werewolf titles. This is to show newer fans that while he was known for his Waldemar Daninsky werewolf films, but that he had made plenty of other films, incorporating a bunch of different kind of monsters. And if you are familiar with more of his work, then what better time to revisit some of them, right?

Making over a hundred titles in his career that spanned decades, Paul Naschy loved the horror genre and made the kind of films that he wanted to, giving fans a wide variety of well-known beasties, as well as ones we’d never seen before. While some might say they vary in quality, Naschy’s passion never did, and always put his heart and soul into each one of them.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 110 – Turkey Day 2025

November 26, 2025

Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), Terrorvision (1986), and Uninvited (1988).

That’s right, folks! It’s Turkey Time again! Celebrating our 5th episode dedicated to those wonderous missteps in cinematic history. They aimed for the stars, but dropped like frozen turkey chucked off a building! But as we always say, the only bad movie is a boring one. And these films are definitely not boring. Because once the credits roll, if you’ve been entertained, then how could it be considered bad???

So sit back and enjoy this episode, where we discuss giant, telepathic crabs, a space creature that exists only to eat, that is beamed in from a brand new state-of-the-art satellite dish, and finally a tale about some sort of experiment gone wrong that causes some sort of mutant creature to live inside a cat, that gets onboard a fancy yacht with some criminals and some college kids! How could that not spell fun?

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 109 – Hammer Frankenstein Films Pt. 2

November 12, 2025

Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)

Continuing our quest to get through the rest of Hammer’s Frankenstein films which starred Peter Cushing, we cover the last three titles that Hammer made. Cushing loved to play this character, and he’s done it like no one ever had, or ever has. Along with the screenwriters, Cushing made this character his own and really made him the real monster in this series.

While these films might be well covered by others, sometimes we forget just how good some of these are, as well as what we might be missing the first time or two that we watched it. And as we’ve mentioned many times before, watching them in sequence in a relatively short time, more things can come to light.

Films mention in this episode:

Episode 108 – Hammer’s Frankenstein Part 1

October 30, 2025

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), and The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)

What can you say about the Hammer Frankenstein films that hasn’t been said before?

Well, a lot, actually!

In 1957, a relatively small, mostly unknown studio made a film that would forever change horror and kick off a cycle of sensual, bloody, and atmospheric fright flicks that would dominate the genre for around twenty years. To say that The Curse of Frankenstein is a classic is almost like saying that water is wet, but it is also a film that lives up to its reputation. It and its sequels are films that not only deserve regular revisits, but they also belong in more modern conversations about horror. While nearly all the films shard crewmembers and all but one were directed by Terence Fisher, one constant defined the series: Peter Cushing’s mesmerizing take on Victor Frankenstein, equal parts gentleman and ghoul.

On this episode we look at the first three films in the Cushing Frankenstein cycle, and in a very real way, make a pilgrimage to one of horror’s holy places. We love these films, and we hope that either you do too, or that you will by the time you are done listening.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 107 – Making Monsters

October 16, 2025

No matter what kind of horror fan you are, most likely you’re going to love the monsters. Whether it’s from the Universal Classics, Hammer’s colorful reinterpretations, the amazing creatures from Ray Harryhausen, to even Star Wars, they all showed us a variety of monsters. It’s one of the things that us horror fans rally around, and just love to discuss, from our favorites, how some are designed, their movements, and everything in between.

Oscar winning special makeup effects artist Howard Berger and author Marshall Julius have a new book out entitled Making Monsters: Inside Stories from the Creators of Hollywood’s Most Iconic Creatures, so we asked them to be on our show to talk all about monsters, and those special memories that we all have from the films we love.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 106 – Hammer’s Quatermass Films

October 1, 2025

The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), Quatermass 2 (1957), Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

Everyone knows the name Hammer Films (at least, we hope they do!) but most people associate it with gothic horror, particularly their reimagining of the Universal classic Frankenstein in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). Yet Hammer had been around long before Peter Cushing breathed life into that first stitched-together corpse. Founded in the 1930s as a distribution company, the studio gradually moved into producing films, often adapted from popular TV and radio series.

In 1953, the BBC aired a six-part serial, The Quatermass Experiment. Hammer quickly recognized its potential, adapted it into a feature film, and in doing so set itself firmly on the path toward becoming “the studio that dripped blood.” In this episode, we cover all three Quatermass films. While they lean more toward science fiction than Hammer’s later gothic output, they are steeped in horror… and we think they’re well worth your time.

Films mentioned in this episode: