Episode 1: Dario Argento’s “The Bird With the Crystal Plumage” (1970)
To kick off our podcast, we look at the film that helped make the Giallo sub-genre popular. In this episode we discuss our initial impressions of the film, the scenes that stood out the most to us, and we try to balance a modern perspective with the context of the film having been released in 1970.
Episode 2: Robert Fuest’s “And Soon the Darkness” (1970)
We didn’t think we would have so much to say about Robert Fuest’s 1970 suspense/thriller. In the episode we discuss what does, and doesn’t work, in this unsuitably titled attempt to build suspense and shock in the audience.
Episode 3: Lucio Fulci’s “Lizard in a Woman’s Skin” (1971)
We were excited to tackle our first film with a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While we don’t wholeheartedly agree with that rating, we did enjoy the twists and turns of the film, and had a fair bit to discuss about it.
Episode 4: Ted V. Mikels’s “The Corpse Grinders” (1971)
You know exactly what you’re getting into when a housecat jumps up and kills someone within the first two minutes of a film. We had a lot of fun with The Corpse Grinders and it’s schlocky script and effects.
Episode 5: Freddie Francis’s “Tales from the Crypt” (1972)
The only foray into Tales from the Crypt for the two of us was some bad movies in the late 90s and a cheesy HBO series. Little did we know that this gem of a movie was out there. It seems hard to believe that it isn’t a larger part of conversations about horror classics.
Episode 6: Alan Gibson’s “Dracula A.D. 1972” (1972)
For this film, we travel back to the tail end of swinging London to witness the on-screen clash between two titans of horror. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee reprise their roles as Van Helsing and Dracula respectively, and we just wish this film had been more about their battle than it was about Van Helsing’s granddaughter and her misdirected friends.
Episode 7: George A. Romero's "The Amusement Park" (1973)
Why is this film 96%? Why did Mike watch it TWICE?! Should this film have been restored? Is Romero really as great as we are told he is? These questions, and others get answered as we take a look at a film that was hidden away from 1973 until 2017.
Episode 8: Bob Kelljan’s “Scream Blacula Scream” (1973)
Without having seen the first Blacula film, we take a look at the sequel and thoroughly enjoy the journey that it takes us on. From jive talk, hot sauce, and bearded vampires, everything in the movie is fun. Perhaps that’s in contrast to our other 1973 film, or it was just a fun film.
Episode 9 & 10: William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” (1973)
Rated at only 78%, The Exorcist didn’t meet our criteria to be selected as one of our scheduled films. Everyone we spoke to about our podcast asked when we would do an episode on the film. We felt it necessary to fulfill our audience’s request. Also, the best film of 1973, The Amusement Park, was frustratingly awful and we felt we need to make up for it.
Episode 11: Jorge Grau’s “Let Sleeping Corpses Lie” (1974)
We rated this one a little low on the scale, but we enjoyed the film, and we loved talking about it. This is the kind of movie you put on with your friends and poke fun at, but also secretly enjoy.
Episode 12: Jim Clark’s “Madhouse” (1974)
An actor past his prime returns to a genre that made him famous, but things go horribly wrong, and disaster is the result. I wish I were describing the plot, and not the actual movie.
Episode 13 & 14": Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)
Mike was traumatized by this film when he first saw it when he was 7. Chad was 14 when he first felt the fear of seeing Leatherface for the first time. Sam, our guest, fell in love with the film and used it as a way to test her boyfriends’ character and personality. Revisiting it years later, the movie is still terrifying.
Episode 15: Theodore Gershuny’s “Silent Night, Bloody Night” (1972)
It’s the holiday season, so what better way to ring in the yule tide than by subjecting ourselves to escaped lunatics, bad dubbing, an overuse of narration, and characters that leave viewer’s confounded!?
Episode 16: Dario Argento’s “Deep Red” (1975)
We delve back into the world of Dario Argento’s twisted mind. From the fetishization of macro shots, to the overuse of horror tropes, Chad and Mike found themselves divided by this entry into the Giallo genre.
Episode 17: Robert Fuest’s “The Devil’s Rain” (1975)
With a plot as awkward and hard to understand as the tagline/title combination on the movie poster, The Devil’s Rain was a test of our limits and patience. How could a cast this stellar come through with a movie this terrible?
Episode 18 & 19: Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” (1975)
For our next guest episode we head into the deep waters of the first official Summer Blockbuster. Join us, and TJ Herd as we discuss what puts “Jaws” near the top of our Watchability Scale.
Episode 20: Richard Donner’s “The Omen” (1976)
Prepare for a chilling ride as we dive into the dread-ridden details of "The Omen" (1976). Is this truly the classic we’ve been led to believe it is? Or, has it not been able to stand the test of time.
Episode 21: Jeff Lieberman’s “Squirm” (1976)
Dive into the wacky world of “Squirm” with us! We're talking electric worms, cheesy effects, and B-movie charm that's too fun to miss.
Episode 22 & 23: Brian De Palma’s “Carrie” (1976)
Back by popular demand, Sam Scheriner returns to dissect the details of Brian De Palma’s adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel. Does it hold up? Tune in to find out.
Episode 24: George A. Romero’s “Martin” (1977)
We return to the work of George A. Romero in the flawed, but well-intentioned quasi-vampire film, “Martin.”
Ep. 25: Ovidio G. Assonitis’s “Tentacles” (1977)
Producers of “Tentacles” were hoping to latch on to the success of “Jaws” when they greenlit this mis-named bomb.
Ep. 26: John Carpenter’s “Halloween” (1978)
Chad says this is his favorite movie. He watches it every year. He’s bought the 25th anniversary edition. Yet, he refused to give it a 10 on the Watchability Scale.
Ep. 27: Irwin Allen’s “The Swarm” (1978)
Was this the movie that gave Mike his phobia of bees? Probably not. This movie is frighteningly bad, stupefyingly long, and uncomfortably acted. We had a blast dissecting Irwin Allen’s disaster(ous) movie!
Ep. 28: Ridley Scott’s “Alien” (1979)
45 years after its release, the ninth film in the “Alien” franchise is coming out. What better time to look back at the iconic film that started it all?
Ep. 29: Stuart Rosenberg’s “The Amityville Horror” (1979)
Not since “The Amusement Park” have we disagreed so strongly with the Rotten Tomato score of a film. We celebrated this gem as we watched and discussed it.
Ep. 30 & 31: ‘70 - ‘79 A Decade of Horror
Chad & Mike take some time to reflect on the films they watched from the 19tos. Added statistics, new categories, and the best of our episode categories will bring you back through all the fun we’ve had for the past several months.
