Dark Discussions Podcast

A lot of horror comedies can be pretty politically incorrect. And as a result can be considered amateurish, simply not funny, or even offensive. But the new film SATANIC PANIC (2019) is none of these things. It is pretty funny, doesn’t have the pitfalls of independent films, and is directed by a woman (Chelsea Stardust), co-produced by a woman (Amanda Presmyk), and starring almost entirely of women. And its pedigree comes with the fact the story is by horror film veteran Ted Geoghegan (WE ARE STILL HERE (2015)).

Samantha (Hayley Griffith) has started her first day as a pizza delivery girl. Unfortunately most of her salary is based off tips, but so far its been pretty rough. Folks have given her little consideration and many customers have been eccentrics. As the day ends, she is offered to deliver a super large order to a wealthy section of the city, hoping to get a gigantic tip. After delivering the order to a mansion, she once again discovers she is stiffed of a tip. Samantha decides to confront the customer before leaving but finds herself in a situation she never ever expected.

Rebecca Romijn (X-MEN (2000)) stars along with Ruby Modine (HAPPY DEATH DAY (2017)) and new comer Hayley Griffith as Samantha. Director Chelsea Stardust comes from the Blumhouse movie “factory” having worked on many films there. Dark Discussions takes a look at this new horror film that was partly funded by Fangoria magazine.

French filmmaker Alexandre Aja in 2007 was probably best known for his French Extreme horror film HIGH TENSION (2003) and the remake of THE HILLS HAVE EYES (2006). In 2007 his co-written script for a taut horror/thriller he was able to have produced. The movie entitled P2 (2007) was made for a small budget of $3.5M, received a cinematic release, and got fairly good reviews from critics including Roger Ebert.

Angela (Rachel Nichols) is working late downtown Manhattan on Christmas Eve. Her extended family is waiting for her to arrive but unfortunately work seems to take priority for her. By the time she leaves, her car, parked on level P2 of the underground parking garage, won’t start. Finding friendly security guard Thomas, she tries to see if he could get her a taxi. But he offers first to see if he can jump start the vehicle. Unfortunately unexpected things happen, and Angela must survive an unexpected nightmare.

The movie returned double its budget and gave a platform for some to expand their careers. Rachel Nichols became a leading lady that soon was given a chance to star in such blockbusters as the CONAN (2011) remake. Years later, this film with the odd title remains a hidden gem that many haven’t seen. Dark Discussions, for their annual Christmas movie, discuss P2 and their thoughts.

Be Nice to Witches -or else – News and Happenings, Haggazuzza review, and Ladytron Concert mini-review.

It used to be Frank Darabont that adapted a good many of Stephen King’s works to the big screen. Recently, however, director Mike Flanagan has been doing so (or to VOD). His latest came to the big screen early November 2019. It was DOCTOR SLEEP, based off the 2013 novel. And as a reviewed film, it seemed to get a better grade than the book. The tale, book and novel, is a follow up to THE SHINING (movie or book, but in different ways).

Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor), now an adult man, is haunted by the ghosts he saw at the Overlook Hotel as a child. Now living in a small town in New Hampshire, he is employed at an assisted living/hospice care home. Fighting his own demons, he goes to Alcohol Anonymous and now lives a sober life. When he is contacted by an unknown individual through psychic means, he discovers there is a group called the True Knot of predatory people who hunt people with the shining for nefarious reasons.

The film stars Ewan McGregor but also Rebecca Ferguson as Rose the Hat, the leader of the True Knot, in a tour-de-force performance that deserves awards recognition. Unfortunately for all involved, the film was a financial disaster and left theaters quickly. Yet the director was able to meld the movie into a direct sequel to the Stanley Kubrick classic film, THE SHINING (1980) with ease. Dark Discussions takes a look at this latest King adaptation and gives their thoughts.

Krampusnacht intro-An introduction of the Fishnets and Phantoms podcast to Dark Discussions.

Back in 2018, a low budget thriller CALIBRE picked up by Netflix premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival where it received positive buzz. Not surprising the picture was a Scottish production giving the premiere a very local experience. Shortly after Netflix released it to their VOD platform, it disappeared into their vast catalog of movies and shows. But some people came upon it and soon word-of-mouth gave it some regard.

Marcus, a successful businessman, takes his old friend Vaughn out hunting in the moors of Scotland. Vaughn has a quandary. His fiancée is newly pregnant and he is beginning to worry whether he will be a good father. Arriving at their destination, the two find out that the local townsfolk look upon them as troublemakers. The next morning they head out to hunt deer only to land up in a predicament neither ever thought was possible.

CALIBRE was a lucky pick by one of Dark Discussions Patreon supporters. Written and directed by newcomer Matt Palmer, the movie has received fantastic reviews. With its strong cast of Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, and Tony Curran, the movie’s acting makes the film appear to be a much bigger production. You co-hosts take a look at this little film and give their thoughts.

Though until recently, director Issa López was fairly unknown outside her native Mexico. However Academy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer saw something and actually scored her film CASI DIVAS (2008). When her latest film, TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID (2017), was released on Shudder in 2019, such folks as Stephen King and Guillermo Del Toro took notice.

While at school, Estrella’s mother is kidnapped by a human trafficking cartel. Alone and scared, she becomes a street kid. Soon she meets other children including Shine who lets her become part of his “family”. Unfortunately the cartel is after something that they have. But complicating the children’s survival is monstrous spirits and ghosts begin to follow Estrella wherever she goes.

TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID has received fantastic reviews all around even with its dark subject matter. Though based in the real world, there is an aspect to the movie that feels dreamlike. Dark Discussions takes a look at this highly acclaimed movie and shares their thoughts.

Haunted locations in cinemas such as mansions, castles, and even automobiles have spooked people out for years. But one of the most spooky is probably closed down or abandoned asylums. Such films as GRAVE ENCOUNTERS and SESSION 9 are just some of the more popular. In 2018, South Korea entered the fray. The horror film, GONJIAM: HAUNTED ASYLUM, based on what CNN calls one of the seven scariest places in the world, was released.

YouTuber and paranormal investigator Ha-Joon puts together a group of five Koreans and one American to participate in a ghost hunt. Their target is Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, an abandoned medical facility where reports state the final director murdered the remaining patients. Entering illegally the six investigators do a walk around while Ha-Joon sets up just outside his HQ. As they broadcast live, more and more strange things occur which may be more than television trickery.

Director Bum-shik Jung’s film was a huge box office success in South Korea, beating out the Hollywood film READY PLAYER ONE and earning over $10 million USD in four days. It had the largest opening of any Korean film in the month of March. Critically acclaimed, many have stated it is one of the better movies in the found footage subgenre. Dark Discussions takes a look at this interesting film.

During the prime popularity of zombies, Columbia Pictures jumped into the fray with 2009’s ZOMBIELAND. Following the comedic root of such films as SHAUN OF THE DEAD, the movie was a great success and was the highest grossing zombie film (at the time) for US box office. After a ten year hiatus, 2019’s ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP, the sequel, was released to great success.

After a zombie apocalypse, Columbus (Jesse Eisneberg) randomly meets up with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) who’s on a search for some sort of existence that reminds him of his prior life. On the way to Ohio, they meet up with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) who are on their way to Pacific Playland, a California based amusement park that Little Rock always wanted to go to. Throughout their journeys through the two films, they meet up with Madison (Zoey Deutch), a valley girl, and Nevada (Rosario Dawson), a survivalist.

Directed by Ruben Fleisher, and starring top talent, the two films became international sensations. And as the sequel showed, zombies still carried some box office muscle even while on the decline as a genre. Dark Discussions takes a look at this newly anointed franchise and talks about this post-apocalyptic world.

New Hampshire director Robert Eggers made a splash with his 2015 film THE WITCH. It received critical acclaim and brought to horror fans the cult icon of Black Philip. After his freshman effort, a lot of attention followed where many wondered what would be the follow up for his sophomore effort. The film that he came up with was the recently released THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019) timed for Halloween and yet very unlike many more mainstream genre films.

Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) and Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) are the new wickies (or lighthouse keepers) for a small island off the coast of New Hampshire. Thomas, the veteran, shows a volatile personality where he takes full control of the operation of the lighthouse while making Ephraim do the menial tasks such as clean and house maintenance. As things begin to go get worse as supplies run low and the men’s personalities begin to grate, strange things happen that begin to make Ephraim question their daily tasks.

Small in scale, the movie is most certainly an “actor’s” film. Both Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson show off their acting talents in a movie that is filled with atmosphere. Critical praise allowed the film to get a bigger than average release for an “arthouse” film and the movie continues to have high regard. Dark Discussions takes a look at this very bizarre yet interesting film.