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Episode 89: Fright Rags with Ben Scrivens

February 5, 2025

In the horror community, the easiest way to show you are a fan is by what you wear. The horror T-shirt has been a staple in the fandom for what seems like forever. But it wasn’t always like that. To say that fans have it easy today is a slight understatement. Not only in terms of their availability, but of the selection that is out there! It is an easy way to show the public that you are a card-carrying horror fan, whether you’re wearing a Texas Chain Saw T-shirt, Cannibal Holocaust, or even a Night of the Living Dead shirt, it gives others that immediate notation that this person likes horror films.

Fright Rags, who is one of the bigger horror T-shirt companies, has been around for over 2 decades, so we decided to ask owner/operator Ben Scrivens on the show to not only talk about the ins and outs of running a T-shirt company, and some of the difficulties in doing just that, but also to talk about our love of horror films.

Movies mentioned in this episode:

Episode 88: Val Lewton Part 2

January 22, 2025

The Leopard Man (1943), The Seventh Victim (1943), Isle of the Dead (1945)

Back in episode 23, we covered producer Val Lewton and three of his films. While Lewton only produced about a dozen film, and a really only a handful of them being horror, what he did give us made a huge impact on the genre. That is why we have decided to cover three more of his films, in hopes that other fans will seek out not only the ones that we’ve covered, but the other titles as well.

With the help of a group very talented craftsmen, such as directors Jacques Tourneur and Mark Robson, screenwriter Ardel Wray, and a wide and talented cast of actors that he used more than once, Lewton was able to produce films that were very different than not only what he was hired to do, but ones that were different than what most horror fans would have expected at the time. They had style, they had interesting stories, and very unique and well-developed characters. His films are ones that show how effective just a walk down the street can be, when executed by the right people.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 87 – Twice Told Tales: Nosferatu

January 8, 2025

Nosferatu (1922), Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

In episode 78, we started our on-going Twice Told Tales segment, featuring the first two versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In this episode, with the recent release of Robert Eggers long awaited version of Nosferatu, we’re going back to the original, one of cinema’s first true monsters, in F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, then following it up with Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu the Vampyre.

As in our first Twice Told Tales episode, this isn’t a comparison as to which one is better, but to dig deep into each film, discussing why we think the impact it has made is still felt today, for both versions. We’ll point out the differences, the similarities, as well as some other behind-the-scenes on the films and filmmakers as well.

There is a reason the original film, one that was supposed to be completely destroyed, has still lived on, almost like the undead title character. There is a reason you’ll see a photo from Nosferatu in almost every book on the horror film genre. And some might think for Herzog to dare make his own version of this iconic classic was utter nonsense. Until you see the film.

Join us on a little journey back over a century into the past, to the very beginning of horror cinema, and an incredible new take on this tale.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 86 – 2024 Wrap Up

December 25, 2024

As 2024 comes to an end, we look in a rearview mirror filled with some amazing films, especially ones that came out this year. Filmmakers around the world wowed us with creative stories, intriguing plots and outstanding techniques. It is definitely a great time to be a horror fan.

2024 was another stellar year for us at the podcast, where we covered a wide variety of subjects, from Bigfoot to Amicus Films, from Women Directors to Al Adamson & Sam Sherman, to more obscure topics like German Expressionism, and much more. We also had an astonishing lineup of special guests including Severin’s David Gregory, Vinegar Syndrome’s Archivist Oscar Becher, HorrorHound’s Aaron Crowell, and Will Morris from Oscarbate and The Music Box Theatre, just to name a few.

One thing that continues through this year is our constant love and admiration for those that have made some long-lasting impact on the genre, and our constant striving to help share that love with our listeners. Nothing excites us more than hearing that we’ve turned someone on to a film or filmmaker or even sub-genre that they might have not experienced before. And you can be damned sure that we plan to continue that in 2025.

So, join us in this extra-long special episode as we go over our favorite viewings of this year, as well as some shout-outs and discussions on other films that came out in 2024.

Titles mentioned in this episode:

Episode 85 – Modern Folk Horror

December 11, 2024

Wake Wood (2009), The Wind (2018), Apostle (2018)

Folk horror has its roots in tales of witches and paganism, stretching back centuries. In cinema, the term “folk horror” was first coined by Rod Cooper in Kine Weekly to describe the 1971 classic Blood on Satan’s Claw. However, the themes that define folk horror—witchcraft, ancient rituals, and the eerie power of nature—have been present since the earliest days of film. A prime example is Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan (1922), which delves into witchcraft and age-old rites.

Regardless of its origins or definitions, folk horror has endured over time, weaving its way through the history of cinema. In recent decades, the genre has experienced a remarkable resurgence, not just in the United States but globally. This renewed interest may owe much to Kier-La Janisse’s expansive 2021 documentary, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, which shone a spotlight on the subgenre and sparked widespread conversation.

With the recent release of Volume Two of Severin’s All the Haunts Be Ours box sets, now seems the perfect time to explore some of the standout modern folk horror films from the past two decades. So, venture with us into the remote villages, pagan rites, and shadowy woods where all the horrors sit waiting for you in the dark corners where people rarely go.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 84: Turkey Day 2024

November 27, 2024

Cry Wilderness (1987), From Hell it Came (1957), The Oily Maniac (1976)

It’s Turkey Time once again here at the podcast! And in this one, we have 3 wonderful titles to serve up to you, each one with a different flavor to appease a variety of tastes!

As we’ve mentioned many times before, a “turkey” is not a bad movie. It’s not an intentionally made bad movie. It is a film where the creators did their damnedest to make an honest-to-goodness quality production. For whatever reasons, either lack of budget, time, talent, or whatever, what they delivered might not be as good as they’d hoped, but it is still entertaining. Remember, the only bad movie is a boring one, and Turkeys are not boring. So, tune in to find out about 3 Turkeys that we feel are more than worth watching during your own Turkey Day celebration!

Movies mentioned in this episode:

Episode 83: Wes Craven

November 13, 2024

One of the things we continue to preach on this podcast is learning about the people that are involved with the films we love. It helps you see more and understand more, about the person, as well as the final product they are involved with, whether they are an actor, makeup artist, or director.

Author Joe Maddrey’s recent book, The Soul of Wes Craven, from Harker Press, does just this, digging deep into the man, and shows us fans a lot more behind this Master of Horror than we might not have known. To help dig into Craven and his work, we invited Mr. Maddrey on the show to talk about his book and this highly influential filmmaker.

Films mention in this episode:

Episode 82 – Haunted Houses

October 30, 2024

The Legend of Hell House (1973), Hausu (1977), The Abandoned (2006)

In older small towns, there is usually some old house on the outskirts of town, maybe someone lives there, maybe not. But it is one that young kids dare themselves to go up to. And if you do dare to enter this dwelling, you’ll find creaking boards, dust covered items from furniture to knick-knacks, and a lot of cobwebs. And any noise, no matter how small it might, gets the mind racing.

There is nothing better for the Halloween season than sitting down with a nice Haunted House movie. Which is why we decided to tackle 3 of our favorite scary movies about demented dwellings, as well as ones that we feel that need more attention. Going back to the very beginning of cinema, with Georges Méliès’ The House of the Devil (1896), it shows how important this sub-genre is, and why filmmakers continue to go back to it. When done correctly, can be highly effective, and damn scary.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Episode 81 – Fangoria

October 16, 2024

Four decades on, and Fangoria is still one of the leading voices of horror culture. But in its heyday in the 1980s, it was the gold standard. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Fangoria was the most important part of horror culture at that time. On this episode of Discover the Horror, we take a trip through Fango’s history and discuss how it shaped out love of the genre, as well as speculating on how it shaped the genre as a whole.

Movies mentioned in this episode:

Episode 80 – Blood Thirsty Trilogy

October 2, 2024

The Vampire Doll (1970), Lake of Dracula (1971), and Evil of Dracula (1974).

In the annals of Japanese horror cinema, this vampire trilogy from director Michio Yamamoto seems to be close to escaping into obscurity. In fact, try finding much more than a passing mention of these films in any reference books. But thanks to Arrow Video, all three of these films are at least saved from fading away in the sunlight like any good vampire, in one fantastic box set! Because these seemed to be on the outskirts of the vampire genre, we thought it would be a great opportunity for us to take a closer look at them, and to see if they need more attention. Listen and find out!

Films mentioned in this episode: