Blood & Celluloid

Adam and guest-host Acey Nickel retreat to the dark corners of internet lore to discuss Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, a six episode virtual mini-series, which has gone on to spawn a cult following, a full-length Channel 4 series and a copious amounts of Reddit content. In this series, three odd characters (known only as Red Guy, Green Guy and Yellow Guy) live inside of what appears to be a children's TV series, where every week, they are taught lessons about subjects like Creativity, Love and Food. But each lesson comes with a dark, warped and twisted look at the world. Adam and Acey discuss the show's legacy, its commentary on children's media and consumer culture, its parallels to the neurodivergent experience in education. 

CW for torture, cannibalism, gore, loud noises and extreme discomfort.

Acey's Rating: 4.5/5

Adam's Rating: 5/5

This week, try not to get paranoid as Adam and Zands serve up a terrifying trio of tales from Italian horror maestro Maria Bava in this 1963 cult classic that served as a namesake for one of rock's most legendary bands. In this film, hosted by the legendary Boris Karloff, you will encounter three stories, each based on a classic tale of terror:

The Telephone: which sees a call girl stalked by her former pimp whom she helped send to prison.

The Wurdulak: which sees a family unravel when their patriarch is turned into a vampire.

and The Drop of Water: In which a hospice nurse steals a ring from a dead patient, only to find its owner has come back to collect it.

Zands and Adam dig into the film's place in the horror canon, its motif of doubling, its themes of evil, unknowability and the destruction of the safety of the home.

CW for child death and gaslighting.

Zands' Rating: 3/5

Adam's Rating: 3.5/5

Recipe for the "Boris Karloff Sandwich"

* Rye Bread (marbled is best)

* Turkey

* Bacon

* Muenster Cheese

* Arugula 

* Dijon Mustard

* Cranberry Sauce

Toasted and served with a pickle spear, coleslaw and fries.

Adam and Zands brave the curse of Hideo Nakata's 1998 horror mystery film Ringu (Ring), the story of a reporter and her psychic ex-husband on a race against time to save themselves and their son from a death curse, brought on by a haunted video tape. The inspiration for the 2002 American remake starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson, this film takes a frightening look at the anxieties of motherhood, fatherhood, genetics, misogyny, and urban legends.

CW for the onscreen violent death of a child and implied sexual coercion.

Zands' Rating: 4.5/5

Adam's Rating: 5/5

Enjoy a supplemental course as Adam and Zands' feast on Mark Mylod's 2022 dark-comedy/thriller The Menu. In this film, a group of wealthy diners find themselves trapped in a luxurious, island restaurant, at the mercy of its eccentric chef (Ralph Fiennes) who has a secret and sinister agenda. They discuss the film's themes of class, its depiction of 21st century religion, artist burnout, sexual politics and customer-service revenge fantasy.  

Note, this film is still in theaters and, while the full plot is not spoiled, the ending and many of the more memorable moments are, so if you wish to avoid spoilers, consider watching the film first. 

CW for suicide, unpleasant noises including sudden loud sounds and the sounds of people eating, mutilation and implied incest.

Zands' Rating: 4.5/5

Adam's Rating: 4.5/5

Adam pitches Zands Ingmar Bergman's underrated 1968 addition to the horror canon, Hour of the Wolf. The film, which moves in a sort of dream logic, follows the disintegration of the marriage of Johan and Alma Borg (Max von Sydow and Liv Ullman) at the hands of a sinister social club of aristocrats on a remote Swedish island. Adam and Zands discuss the film's oddly structured plot, it's themes of sexuality, repression, violence, pregnancy, parenthood, art and artist, regret and the connection between partners, as well as its metafictional mirroring of the relationship between Bergman and star Liv Ullman.

CW for violent, onscreen child death, attempted spousal homicide and some nudity.

Adam's Rating: 4.5/5

Adam, Zands and special guest Acey Nickel review Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's 2019 action/horror/comedy Ready or Not, the story of a young bride forced to fight for her life on her wedding night, against her new husband's wealthy and eccentric family. They discuss the film's tongue in cheek humor, its campiness, its gore and its well-meaning if flawed eat-the-rich message. Also discussed are Junji Ito, Neil Gaiman, Beetlejuice, Candyman and Adam's best Uber-driver story.

CW for gore (nails specifically), child death, gaslighting and strong drug use.

Zands' Rating: 4/5

Adam's Rating: 4/5

Acey's Rating: 4/5

Adam and Zands explore Bob Clark's seminal 70s sorority slasher. Adam's "all-time-scariest-film." They explore the films feminist themes, its unapologetically pro-choice message, its stacked cast (including Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, Andrea Martin and Art Hindle) the way it blends burgeoning slasher horror with psychological drama and surreal sounds/colors to create a fully chilling experience. 

Remember: If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl... it's on too tight. 

CW for frank discussion of pregnancy, abortion and sexual assault as well as the off-screen murder of a minor.

Zands' Rating: 4.5/5

Adam's Rating: 5/5