Dark Discussions Podcast

We are already 1/12th into 2023 and some good films have come out. However, let's reflect. Did last year start out with a bang or a whimper? Dark Discussions puts together their review of all that was good and bad in 2022. Included was the consideration of dozens of different films that were worthy enough to be considered as a top 10 movie for genre and horror films.

Each of your co-hosts put together a list of movies they thought were good enough to be seen by audiences. This included both a list of horror films and a list of other speculative fiction films. Afterwards we then combined those lists and came up with Dark Discussions definitive lists of the best of 2022. Some obvious films like BARBARIAN and TERRIFIER 2 appear but also little known films like SPEAK NO EVIL, and YOU WON'T BE ALONE were considered.

Also included are some of our "sometime co-hosts" choices and what they felt were the best of the year. And don’t forget our top and worst scenes, scream queens, breakout star, and anything else you can think of. Dark Discussions wraps up last year in a nice tight bow and gives their listeners a good many films to go out and search for.

Welcome to The Rise of the Cordyceps Infected:  A Last of Us Podcast.  We discuss weekly each episode of the television series on LAST OF US seen on HBOMax. 

It’s been two and a half years since the wonderful actress Kelly Preston has passed away. Back when it happened, Halloween Boutique Psychotronic Reviews had planned a tribute for her, recording episodes on some of her movies. The first recorded TWINS (1988) we recorded and it is in the backlog for future release. However, we also recorded one on her movie SPELLBINDER (1988) which is what we are releasing first.

When Jeff (Timothy Daly) and his friend Derek (Rick Rossovich) see a young lady Miranda (Kelly Preston) being hit by a man in a parking lot, Jeff stops the attack and offers Miranda a place to stay. Soon the two fall in love. Miranda’s past and the man that attacked her are related to her childhood and a group of people who she says dabble in the occult. Jeff, the good man he is, promises to keep her safe from any reprisals from the group. Will the two be able to just live a normal life and be left alone?

The film was directed by Janet Greek, known for her work on the television series BABYLON 5. The screenplay was written by Tracy Torme known for his work on Saturday Night Live, CARNIVALE, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, and FIRE IN THE SKY (1993). Your co-hosts take a look at this hidden gem of a horror film and give their thoughts while paying tribute to the beautiful actress Kelly Preston who left us all too soon.

Welcome to The Rise of the Cordyceps Infected: A Last of Us Podcast. We discuss weekly each episode of the television series on LAST OF US seen on HBOMax. 

English director Simon Rumley is known for his fabulous dark thriller films which include RED WHITE & BLUE (2010), THE LIVING AND THE DEAD (2006), FASHIONISTA (2016), JOHNNY FRANK GARRETT’S LAST WORD (2016), among others.  He has won awards at many festivals and has had his films includes as part of Fangoria’s top horror films of all time.  Now he has his first novel coming out later in 2023 entitled THE WOBBLE CLUB.

Synopsis:  Gill and Brolly are two South Londoners that are both obese.  Their weight has actually become their intentional focus of life.  When a life changing moment happens for Brolly, he suggest they go on a diet and change their lifestyle.  Unfortunately Gill has no interest in joining him.   So behind her back he goes on a diet.  But when one’s identity is their weight, and mental illness and personal demons weigh upon their mind, love unexpectedly takes a possible tragic and horrid turn.

Dark Discussions has focused a number of their podcasts on Rumley’s many films and discussed the very interesting topics that his movies seem to allude to.  With the upcoming release of his book and the ending of a Indiegogo campaign, your co-hosts read a review copy of the book and bring Simon on to discuss his new project.

New Year’s resolutions are a big thing for folks. Some want to lose weight, find a spouse, get a new job, work towards completing something; others have goals that they strive for. Co-host Mike said that there are a lot of genre films he hasn’t seen that he wants to get to, so as a New Year’s resolution, why not ask all the co-hosts to see some film they always wanted to see and then discuss. Another year doing so, each co-host chose a genre movie that they had never seen and decided to watch it and give their opinions.

Films we discuss are Boris Karloff’s THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932), THE BAD SEED (1956), ALLIGATOR (1980), and TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016).  A wide variety of films they are but also some important ones too that one of your co-hosts finally got to see.

With all that, Dark Discussions would like to say happy 2023 to all our listeners and patreon supporters, both new and old, and hope to hear some of the films you folks have never seen and plan to in this new year. Email us and let us know.

In 2021, the film duo of Jamison M. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio gave the independent film community one of the most impressive horror debuts in these last few years with the movie KNOW FEAR (2021).  With the release of that film, the duo went on to make a second feature, switching it up, and doing an anthology film entitled HOW DARK THEY PREY (2022).

HOW DARK THEY PREY is a movie encompassing four dark tales about the haunting nature of man and the unknown around us all.  The sinister themes are presented through the eyes of soldiers in the European theater of World War II; a duo of alien investigators running an online social media site who meet a family that actually believes in abductions; the underground work of deviants within the occult; and what happens when a psychopathic killer decides to kidnap and torture his victims.

The film stars a group of talented newcomers and up-and-comers.  Filmed in the towns and forests of New Jersey, the movie became available in Q3 of 2022 on almost all VOD services and rental sites.  Your co-hosts take a look at this new horror anthology and are joined by the filmmakers themselves. 

Nihilism is defined many ways but the most appropriate definition for the new film SPEAK NO EVIL (2022) is life is meaningless.  This Danish film with its very dark story actually premiered at the 38th Sundance Film Festival.  Directed by well known Danish actor Christian Tafdrup, the film shocked audiences but received fabulous reviews from critics. 

Danish family Bjorn (Morten Burian) and Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch) head on vacation with their young daughter to Tuscany for vacation.  There they meet Dutch family Patrick (Fedja van Huet) and Karin (Karina Smulders) and their mute son while becoming fast friends.  After returning home, they receive a letter from their new friends inviting them to the Netherlands for their next trip.  After a bit of discussion, Bjorn and Louise decide to go.

SPEAK NO EVIL appeared VOD on the television network Shudder not long ago and had social media talking.  How much would you take before deciding it was time to leave the home of your hosts?  SPEAK NO EVIL is a shocking and horrific film.  Your co-hosts take a look at it and try to decide if a well made film that is this appalling deserves accolades.

Not often is there a film that comes around like 2017’s THREE BILLBOARS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI.  Some feel the movie is almost perfect.  It was nominated for many awards, won a whole lot, and will probably be remembered more so than the films it competed against. 

Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) is a grieving mother.  A year prior her daughter was raped and murdered and there has been no leads.  Outside her town, she decides to rent three billboards calling out the local sheriff and his officers for their stalled investigation. 

The film is directed and written by Martin McDonagh in a career defining masterpiece.  Starring Frances McDormand in a award winning performance, the movie also stars Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage, Abbie Cornish, and Samara Weaving in a large ensemble cast.  Your co-hosts take a look at their latest picture to reminisce on and give their thoughts.

Actress Beverly D’Angelo was one of the stars the beloved Christmas movie NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989).  Now she’s back in the new horror comedy VIOLENT NIGHT (2022) where Santa Claus is real and he actually has to interact with people that aren’t so nice.

Santa Claus (David Harbour) is disillusioned that people just aren’t in the festive spirit anymore.  Children just want money and video games he feels.  When he lands his sleigh upon the Lightstone estate in Greenwich, Connecticut to leave presents, he interrupts a robbery that puts him into a spot where he has to not only defend himself but also a little girl and her family from vicious killers.

Best known for the DEAD SNOW franchise, VIOLENT NIGHT is directed by Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Wirkola.  The script is co-written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the writers for the SONIC THE HEDGEHOG movies.  The film stars David Harbour and Beverly D’Angelo, but also John Leguizamo too.  Your co-hosts take a look at this theatrical release from Universal Pictures and gives their thoughts.