Castle of Horror Podcast
About
Available on
Community
805 episodes
THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LOOK AT THE 1987 FILM NEAR DARK. THIS IS EPISODE #398! NEAR DARK IS A 1987 AMERICAN NEO-WESTERN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_film#Subgenres HORROR FILM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film CO-WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KATHRYN BIGELOW https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Bigelow (IN HER SOLO DIRECTORIAL DEBUT), AND STARRING ADRIAN PASDAR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Pasdar, JENNY WRIGHT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Wright, BILL PAXTON https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Paxton, LANCE HENRIKSEN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_Henriksen AND JENETTE GOLDSTEIN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenette_Goldstein. THE PLOT FOLLOWS A YOUNG MAN IN A SMALL OKLAHOMA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma TOWN WHO BECOMES INVOLVED WITH A FAMILY OF NOMADIC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomad AMERICAN VAMPIRES.
THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LOOK AT THE 1974 FILM CAPTAIN KRONOS – VAMPIRE HUNTER . THIS IS EPISODE #397! CAPTAIN KRONOS – VAMPIRE HUNTER IS A 1974 BRITISH SWASHBUCKLING https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swashbuckler_film ACTION https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_film HORROR FILM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film, WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY BRIAN CLEMENS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Clemens, PRODUCED BY CLEMENS AND ALBERT FENNELL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Fennell FOR HAMMER FILM PRODUCTIONS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer_Film_Productions, AND STARRING HORST JANSON https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst_Janson_(actor), JOHN CARSON https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carson_(actor), SHANE BRIANT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Briant, AND CAROLINE MUNRO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Munro. THE MUSIC SCORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_score WAS COMPOSED BY LAURIE JOHNSON https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Johnson, SUPERVISED BY PHILIP MARTELL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Martell. BELATEDLY RELEASED ON 7 APRIL 1974, THE FILM WAS INTENDED AS THE FIRST IN A SERIES FOCUSED ON THE TITLE CHARACTER AND HIS COMPANIONS. DUE TO THE FILM'S VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL SUBTEXT, CAPTAIN KRONOS WAS RATED R https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_Association_of_America_film_rating_system#From_M_to_GP_to_PG IN NORTH AMERICA. THIS WAS CLEMENS' ONLY FILM AS A DIRECTOR.
TONIGHT WE’RE CHATTING WITH APRIL WRIGHT, DIRECTOR OF BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN. APRIL WRIGHT IS AN AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH MOVIES GOING TO DRIVE-INS AND MOVIE PALACES IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHERE SHE GREW UP. OTHER DOCS ABOUT THE MOVIES INCLUDE “GOING ATTRACTIONS: THE DEFINITIVE STORY OF THE AMERICAN DRIVE-IN MOVIE” AND “GOING ATTRACTIONS: THE DEFINITIVE STORY OF THE MOVIE PALACE.” In April Wright's fascinating documentary BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN, we go behind the scenes to visit eleven unique family-owned drive-ins across the country to experience their passion and determination to keep their theaters alive. It's a story of human resilience. When the pandemic hit, drive-ins were suddenly the only safe venue in town, with press coverage about how drive-ins are “back,” and how they are thriving. But this documentary goes behind the headlines to learn the truth, spending a whole night with 11 very different drive-ins in 8 states all over the country, from preparations before the customers arrive, to selling tickets, opening the snack bar, and getting the movie on screen, we discover these family-owned businesses are actually struggling to survive. This doc is about authentic drive-ins and the passionate people who run them, but more broadly it highlights questions about the future of the theatrical experience, and the challenges of many small businesses wondering whether they will survive and make it to the other side of the pandemic.
TONIGHT WE’RE CHATTING WITH YOKO OKUMURA, DIRECTOR OF UNSEEN, WHICH COMES OUT ON DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND ON MARCH 7, 2023 BY PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND ON MGM+ ON MAY 19, 2023. IN THE FILM, TWO WOMEN FORM AN UNLIKELY CONNECTION WHEN A DEPRESSED GAS STATION CLERK SAM (PURDY), RECEIVES A CALL FROM EMILY (FRANCIS), A NEARLY BLIND WOMAN WHO IS RUNNING FROM HER MURDEROUS EX IN THE WOODS. EMILY MUST SURVIVE THE ORDEAL WITH SAM BEING HER EYES FROM AFAR USING VIDEO CALL.
onight we’re chatting with Nancy Stohlman https://nancystohlman.com/, who releases her latest book AFTER THE RAPTURE https://nancystohlman.com/after-the-rapture-by-nancy-stohlman/ on March 7. Stohlman’s collection is a journey in Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction that dives into the topics of Walmarts, Barbies, Kens, orgies, time-shares and clones. It’s full of doom, wisdom, absurdity and heart and packs ridiculousness, genius and meaning all at once. Perhaps the most interesting part about her upcoming release is that she wrote the entire collection before the pandemic hit in March of 2020. Electric Literature https://electricliterature.com/id-like-to-report-myself-not-missing/ recently featured an excerpt, "I'd Like to Report Myself Not Missing https://electricliterature.com/id-like-to-report-myself-not-missing/" from the book and Independent Book Review even included it on their list of Books To Look Out for in Early 2023 https://independentbookreview.com/2022/11/28/indie-books-early-2023/.
THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LOOK AT THE 1972 FILM DEATHMASTER DIRECTED BY RAY DANTON. THIS IS EPISODE #396! DEATHMASTER IS A STRANGE CREATURE, A SORT OF SEQUEL TO COUNT YORGA AND RETURN OF COUNT YORGA STARRING THE STAR OF THOSE FILMS, EXCEPT THIS TIME ROBERT QUARRY PLAYS KHORDA, WHO APPEARS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS A CULT-LEADER GURU TO A BUNCH OF LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE.
THIS WEEK ON CASTLE TALK JASON CHATS WITH MARK EARL BURMAN, WRITER/DIRECTOR OF AMBUSH, AN INTENSE, GRITTY VIETNAM WAR EPIC. IN THE FILM, WHEN A SMALL OUTPOST IS AMBUSHED, A US ARMY SQUAD MUST TAKE THE BATTLE BELOW GROUND IN A TERRIFYING AND UNFAMILIAR MISSION. THE FILM IS RELEASED BY SABAN FILMS FEBRUARY 24 IN THEATERS, ON DEMAND AND ON DIGITAL.
TONIGHT WE’RE CHATTING WITH GABRIEL BIER GISLASON, WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF THE NEW HORROR FILM ATTACHMENT *STREAMING EXCLUSIVELY ON SHUDDER* FEBRUARY 9TH, 2023. ABOUT THE FILM: ATTACHMENT, THE FEATURE DEBUT FROM DENMARK-BASED WRITER/DIRECTOR GABRIEL BIER GISLASON, A HORROR ROMANCE STEEPED IN JEWISH FOLKLORE. MAJA (JOSEPHINE PARK, BABY FEVER), A DANISH HAS-BEEN ACTRESS, FALLS IN LOVE WITH LEAH (ELLIE KENDRICK, GAME OF THRONES, AN EDUCATION), AN ACADEMIC FROM LONDON. AFTER LEAH SUFFERS FROM A MYSTERIOUS SEIZURE MAJA RETURNS WITH HER TO HER CHILDHOOD HOME. THERE, SHE MEETS LEAH'S OVERBEARING MOTHER, CHANA (INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DANISH ACTRESS SOFIE GRÅBØL, THE UNDOING, THE KILLING), A WOMAN WHO COULD HOLD DARK SECRETS.
THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LOOK AT THE 1977 FILM SUSPIRIA DIRECTED BY SSARIO ARGENTO. THIS IS EPISODE #395!SUSPIRIA (LATIN: [SƱSˈPIːRI.A] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Latin) IS A 1977 ITALIAN SUPERNATURAL HORROR FILM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural_horror_film DIRECTED BY DARIO ARGENTO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Argento, WHO CO-WROTE THE SCREENPLAY WITH DARIA NICOLODI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daria_Nicolodi, PARTIALLY BASED ON THOMAS DE QUINCEY https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_De_Quincey'S 1845 ESSAY SUSPIRIA DE PROFUNDIS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspiria_de_Profundis. THE FILM STARS JESSICA HARPER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Harper AS AN AMERICAN BALLET STUDENT WHO TRANSFERS TO A PRESTIGIOUS DANCE ACADEMY BUT REALIZES, AFTER A SERIES OF BRUTAL MURDERS, THAT THE ACADEMY IS A FRONT FOR A SUPERNATURAL CONSPIRACY. IT ALSO FEATURES STEFANIA CASINI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefania_Casini, FLAVIO BUCCI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavio_Bucci, MIGUEL BOSÉ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Bos%C3%A9, ALIDA VALLI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alida_Valli, UDO KIER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udo_Kier, AND JOAN BENNETT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Bennett, IN HER FINAL FILM ROLE.THE FILM IS THE FIRST OF THE TRILOGY ARGENTO REFERS TO AS THE THREE MOTHERS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Mothers, WHICH ALSO COMPRISES INFERNO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(1980_film) (1980) AND THE MOTHER OF TEARS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mother_of_Tears (2007). SUSPIRIA HAS RECEIVED A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM CRITICS FOR ITS VISUAL AND STYLISTIC FLAIR, USE OF VIBRANT COLORS AND ITS SCORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspiria_(1977_soundtrack) BY ARGENTO AND THE PROGRESSIVE ROCK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock BAND GOBLIN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin_(band).SUSPIRIA WAS NOMINATED FOR TWO SATURN AWARDS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Awards: BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actress FOR BENNETT IN 1978, AND BEST DVD CLASSIC FILM RELEASE, IN 2002. IT IS RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FILMS IN THE HORROR GENRE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film. IT SERVED AS THE INSPIRATION FOR A 2018 FILM OF THE SAME TITLE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspiria_(2018_film), DIRECTED BY LUCA GUADAGNINO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luca_Guadagnino.
JASON CHATS WITH KIMBERLY G. GIARRATANO, AUTHOR OF DEATH OF A DANCING QUEEN: A BILLIE LEVINE MYSTERY (OUT FEB 14). THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FIRST RELEASE IS NEW FROM FROM DATURA BOOKS, A CRIME FICTION IMPRINT OF ANGRY ROBOT BOOKS.READERS ARE IN FOR A TREAT WHEN THEY MEET BILLIE LEVINE, A BAD-ASS JEWISH P.I, WHO FINDS HERSELF INVOLVED IN A DANGEROUS GANG WAR WHILE LOOKING FOR A MURDER SUSPECT. THIS PAGE-TURNING CRIME NOVEL WILL APPEAL TO READERS OF TANA FRENCH, FANS OF VERONICA MARS AND POPULAR TRUE-CRIME PODCASTS.
THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LOOK AT THE 1973 SPANISH HORROR FILM THE LORELEY'S GRASP DIRECTED BY AMANDO DE OSSORIO. THIS IS EPISODE #394! THE LORELEY'S GRASP (SPANISH https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language: LAS GARRAS DE LORELEI, LIT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation 'THE CLAWS OF LORELEI') IS A 1973 SPANISH HORROR FILM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY AMANDO DE OSSORIO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amando_de_Ossorio,[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Loreley%27s_Grasp#cite_note-Clarke1996-1 AND STARRING TONY KENDALL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kendall_(actor),[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Loreley%27s_Grasp#cite_note-Howarth2018-2 AND HELGA LINÉ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helga_Lin%C3%A9.[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Loreley%27s_Grasp#cite_note-Edwards2016-3 THE FILM CENTERS ON A SERIES OF HORRIFIC MURDERS IN A GERMAN TOWN BY THE RHINE RIVER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine_river PERPETRATED BY A DEADLY WATER SPIRIT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_spirit KNOWN AS THE LORELEI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorelei.THE FILM WAS RELEASED IN THEATERS IN THE UNITED STATES https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States UNDER THE TITLE THE SWINGING MONSTER ON AUGUST 24, 1976, BUT MOST FAMOUSLY A FEW YEARS LATER UNDER THE TITLE WHEN THE SCREAMING STOPS
TONIGHT WE’RE TALKING WITH COREY DESHON, WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF THE NEW FILM DAUGHTER, WHICH RELEASES FEBRUARY 10 FROM DARKSTAR PICTURES. THE FILM IS HIS DIRECTORIAL DEBUT FEATURE FROM HIS OWN ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, AND HE CO-PRODUCES WITH PARIS-BASED ONEWORLD ENTERTAINMENT. IN THE FILM, A YOUNG WOMAN IS KIDNAPPED AND INDUCTED INTO A BIZARRE FAMILY AS THEIR NEW SURROGATE DAUGHTER. AS SHE NAVIGATES THROUGH THIS TWISTED DYNAMIC, AWFUL SECRETS ABOUT THE PAST ARE REVEALED, LEADING TO EVEN DARKER IMPLICATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE. THE FILM STARS CASPER VAN DIEN, ELYSE DINH, VIVIEN NGÔ, AND IAN ALEXANDER.
TONIGHT WE’RE CHATTING WITH CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN, WHOSE RESUME IS JUST SOMETHING TO BEHOLD, A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING, BRAM STOKER AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF SUCH NOVELS AS ROAD OF BONES, ARARAT, SNOWBLIND, AND RED HANDS. HIS WORK HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARD, THE EISNER AWARD, AND MULTIPLE SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARDS. FOR THE BRAM STOKER AWARDS, GOLDEN HAS BEEN NOMINATED TEN TIMES IN EIGHT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, AND WON TWICE. HIS ORIGINAL NOVELS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN MORE THAN FIFTEEN LANGUAGES IN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. AND HIS NEW BOOK IS CALLED ALL HALLOWS, OUT FROM ST. MARTIN’S PRESS. IN THE BOOK– IT’S HALLOWEEN NIGHT, 1984, IN COVENTRY, MASSACHUSETTS, AND TWO FAMILIES ARE UNRAVELING AS THE RESIDENTS OF PARMENTER ROAD PREPARE FOR THEIR ANNUAL FRIGHTENING FESTIVITIES. UP AND DOWN THE STREET FAMILY SECRETS ARE BEING REVEALED, FROM INFIDELITY TO FINANCIAL RUIN; ALL THE WHILE, FOUR STRANGE CHILDREN ARE WALKING DOOR TO DOOR, MERGING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS AS THEY TRICK-OR-TREAT, BEGGING FOR PROTECTION FROM "THE CUNNING MAN." WITH FAMILIES FALLING APART AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SPLINTERED BY BITTERNESS, WHO WILL SAVE THE CHILDREN OF PARMENTER ROAD?
This week we have a look at the new film Legions directed by Fabian Forte. This is Episode #393! Legions (Spanish: Legiones), also known as Cosa e' Mandinga, is a 2022 Argentine supernatural horror film written and directed by Fabián Forte. It stars Germán de Silva as Antonio Poyju, a powerful sorcerer who must escape from a psychiatric hospital and find his daughter Helena (played by Lorena Vega)—who has forgotten her magical powers—in order to counter demonic forces wreaking havoc across Argentina
THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LOOK AT THE 1982 FILM FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III -- THIS IS EPISODE #392!
Tonight we’re chatting with Roxanne Benjamin, director of There’s Something Wrong with the Children, available on digital and on demand January 17. About the film: When Margaret (Wainwright) and Ben (Gilford) take a weekend trip with longtime friends Ellie (Crew) and Thomas (Santos) and their two young children (Guiza and Mattle), Ben begins to suspect something supernatural is occurring when the kids behave strangely after disappearing into the woods overnight. DIRECTOR: Roxanne Benjamin WRITERS: T.J. Cimfel & Dave White CAST: Alisha Wainwright, Zach Gilford, Amanda Crew, Carlos Santos
THIS WEEK WE HAVE A LOOK AT A DOUBLE-FEATURE, THE 2006 AND 2019 VERSIONS OF BLACK CHRISTMAS THIS IS EPISODE #391!
Tonight we’re chatting about the 1970 film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Jason's guest is a writer he always loves talking to: KATHARINE COLDIRON, whose work as a film critic has appeared in Bitch, Bright Wall/Dark Room, ASAP/J, and elsewhere. She is the author of a novella, Ceremonials (Kernpunkt, 2020), and a monograph on Plan 9 from Outer Space (PS, 2021) and in 2023 the nonfiction book JUNK FILM: WHY BAD MOVIES MATTER.
Hello and welcome to Castle Talk where we talk to writers and creators of today’s genre worlds, I’m your host Jason Henderson, publisher at Castle Bridge Media, home of the Castle of Horror Anthology series. Tonight we’re chatting with Joe Begos, writer and director of CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS, available in Theaters and streaming simultaneously on Shudder and AMC+ on Dec. 9. About the film: It’s Christmas Eve and fiery record store owner Tori (Riley Dandy) just wants to get drunk and party, until the robotic Santa Claus at a nearby toy store goes haywire and makes her night more than a little complicated. Santa Claus begins a rampant killing spree through the neon drenched snowscape against a backdrop of drugs, sex, metal and violence, ultimately forcing Tori into a blood splattered battle for survival against the ruthless heavy metal Saint Nick himself. CAST: Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, Jonah Ray Rodrigues, Dora Madison, Jeremy Gardner, with Jeff Daniel Phillips, and Abraham Benrubi
This episode of Castle Talk, Jason chats with Alison Star Locke, writer and director of The Apology, a new psychological thriller coming to Theaters, Streaming, Shudder and AMC+ on December 16. In the film, Twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen (Anna Gunn) is preparing to host Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen (Janeane Garofalo). Late Christmas Eve, Darlene's estranged ex-brother-in-law, Jack (Linus Roache) arrives unannounced, and he has a secret, this isn’t too much of a spoiler because it’s what the movie’s about, he knows something about what happened to Anna Gunn’s daughter.
Join us for a LIVE chat with the authors of the brand-new Castle of Horror Anthology: Young Adult, which you can order here: https://amzn.to/3G9BsjW The Castle of Horror Anthology returns with stories of the young-- horrible, thrilling, terrible flamin' youth at its most harrowing. Featuring stories by David Bowles, Jennifer Brody, Julian Michael Carver, Debbie Daughetee, Carmen Gray, Ammar Habib, Jess Hagemann, Leanna Renee Hieber, Sam Knight, Alethea Kontis, Mike Owsley, Scott Pearson, S.N. Rodriguez, and Bryan Young.
This week we have a look at the 2022 film Violent Night. This is Episode #390! Violent Night is a 2022 American Christmas action-comedy film starring David Harbour as Santa Claus, who fights mercenaries who have taken a wealthy family hostage in their home. It is directed by Tommy Wirkola, and written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. It also stars John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, Cam Gigandet, Leah Brady, and Beverly D'Angelo. Violent Night had its world premiere at the New York Comic Con on October 7, 2022. Universal Pictures released the film in theaters in the United States and Canada on December 2, 2022.
This week Jason chats with Sarah Lind, star of the new horror film A Wounded Fawn which releases on Shudder on December 1. A Wounded Fawn is the latest film from celebrated writer and director Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife). Sarah Lind plays Meredith, a local museum curator who is dipping her toe back into the dating pool, only to be targeted by a charming serial killer (Josh Ruben, Scare Me, Werewolves Within). When a fateful romantic getaway between the two becomes a tense game of cat and mouse, both must confront the madness within him.
This week we have a look at the 1969 film The Haunted House of Horror. This is Episode #389! The Haunted House of Horror, also titled Horror House and originally written as The Dark, is a 1969 British horror film directed by Michael Armstrong and starring Frankie Avalon and Jill Haworth as young adults looking for a thrill by spending the night in an old mansion in the English countryside. The film's tagline was "Behind its forbidden doors an evil secret hides!"
This week we have a look at the 1993 film The Bride with White Hair 2. This is Episode #388! The Bride with White Hair 2 is a 1993 Hong Kong film directed by David Wu. It is the sequel to The Bride with White Hair, with Brigitte Lin and Leslie Cheung reprising their roles as Lian Nichang and Zhuo Yihang. Although the first film is loosely based on Liang Yusheng's 1957 novel The Romance of the White-Haired Maiden, this film is almost independent of the novel except for the main characters' names.
This week we have a look at the 1993 film The Bride with White Hair. This is Episode #387! The Bride with White Hair is a 1993 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Ronny Yu, starring Brigitte Lin and Leslie Cheung. The film's main character, Lian Nichang, is loosely based on the protagonist of Liang Yusheng's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan, which served as source material for the 1982 film Wolf Devil Woman. However, Yu saw the film as a Romeo and Juliet story and said that the lovers' struggle against fate and their heroic duty inspired him more than the familiar trappings of most wuxia films. As such, the film departs significantly from the original source.
Jason chats with Scooter Corkle, director of the new film The Friendship Game, released on November 11, 2022 from RLJE. The Friendship Game follows a group of teens as they come across a strange object that tests their loyalties to each other and has increasingly destructive consequences the deeper into the game they go.
Jason chats with Arish Sirkissoon, writer and director of The Castle from Terror Films, on digital platforms worldwide November 11. On their wedding day Michael and Catherine break down in the middle of nowhere. They walk for several kilometres when they discover an old castle. Against her better judgement Catherine is convinced by Michael to spend the night. Once she enters the castle, she feels like something is watching her. What she discovers in the castle will change her life forever.
This episode we’re chatting with Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, author of the new book Lights, Camera, Accordion! from 1984 Publishing, a 256-page, 25-year "Weird Al" Yankovic visual retrospective Lights, Camera, Accordion! It contains over 300 color photographs (newly scanned from the original negatives) by Al's longtime drummer/photographer Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, along with a foreword by Drew Carey and an afterword by Al. Anecdotes and stories are featured throughout, organized by year, album, and tour. Schwartz has been the drummer with "Weird Al" Yankovic since 1980 and is seen and heard on all of Weird Al's albums, videos, and concert and television performances. He is also the group's archivist with an unmatched collection of photos, memorabilia, and audio & video releases from around the world. Bermuda authored the 2020 book Black & White & Weird All Over which features his black-and-white photos of Weird Al. Visit BermudaSchwartz.com and follow Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz on Facebook (BermudaSchwartz).
This week we have a look at the 1943 film Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. This is Episode #386! Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man is a 1943 American horror film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolf Man and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster. This was the first of a series of later called "monster rallies" combining characters from several film series. This film's script written by Curt Siodmak follows The Ghost of Frankenstein and The Wolf Man. The film involves Larry Talbot who is brought back to life. Seeking a way to return to his death to escape his werewolf curse, he meets with gypsy Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya) who advises him that the only way to stay dead is to confer with Dr. Frankenstein. The doctor is long dead but his equipment is in working condition, leading Talbot to seek the help of scientist Dr. Mannering (Patric Knowles) and Frankenstein descendant Baroness Elsa Frankenstein (Ilona Massey). Talbot then attempts to have his life sucked from his body and transferred into Frankenstein's monster (Bela Lugosi). Developed under the title Wolf Man Meets Frankenstein, the film was originally developed with Lon Chaney Jr. to portray both Frankenstein's Monster and the Wolf Man, an idea that was halted before production began because of the physical toll it would take on the actor. The script was filmed with the monster originally having lines of dialogue which were later removed after a studio pre-screening for the film which led to the production staff laughing at Bela Lugosi's delivery of the lines. This led to Lugosi's dialogue being removed from the final film. The film was released to what the authors of the book Universal Horrors described as "lukewarm reviews". The film led to a series of what were later described as "monster rallies" involving having name-brand monsters interact with each other in films. Universal would follow this with The House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula.
