Dark Discussions Podcast

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. The third 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 EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1962), THEM! (1954), THE MUMMY (1932), and VANISHING POINT (1971). 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 2019 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.

Holiday time! It’s the time to share gifts and celebrate, but it is also the time to watch holiday themed films. For the horror genre, there are many films including classics such as GREMLINS, BLACK CHRISTMAS, and SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT. Also cult movies with strong followings are necessary viewing including JACK FROST and DON’T OPEN ‘TILL CHRISTMAS. Recently a slew of independent Christmas themed horror films have been making the rounds. One higher profile movie was 2017’s RED CHRISTMAS produced and starring screamqueen Dee Wallace.

When Diane (Dee Wallace) celebrates Christmas at her homestead in Australia, her entire immediate family arrive. Festivities begin with appetizers and cocktails. Later that afternoon a disabled stranger arrives at her front door. Rather than shooing him away, Diane invites the visitor in with the spirit of Christmas in her heart. Conversation quickly turns into shock as a dark family secret soon shows its ugly head.

Directed by Craig Anderson (his first full length feature) and starring relatively unknowns, the movie has received fairly positive reviews by many critics. Dee Wallace’s name brought some attention to the movie but it seemed only to attract genre fans during its initial release. Dark Discussions takes a look at this Australian made film and gives their thoughts.

Home invasion films and ghost house films are pretty derivative. That doesn’t mean they won’t be fantastically done and quite entertaining but usually something is done to spice them up a bit. The new horror film from the UK entitled FRACTURED may have done it quite right. Keeping you guessing if there is an intruder or a ghost or maybe something quite different keeps the movie moving in its eighty minute run time.

Rebecca (April Pearson) and Michael (Karl Davies), a young energetic couple, head for a getaway to a remote property. When they arrive, Rebecca begins to feel as if something isn’t quite right. Bizarre sounds, missing items, and small appliances seem to turn on by themselves. Michael seems unperturbed by the oddly strange happenings, but soon something or someone could be behind what may be more than innocuous ambience.

First time director Christian Hearn puts together a strong debut movie. Both Karl Davies and April Pearson have had high profile television roles prior to this film, with beauty April Pearson having a strong three years in genre cinema with this film as well as CAUGHT, DARK BEACON, and TANK 432. Dark Discussions takes a look at this new film and gives their thoughts.

In the early 2000’s, the French extreme movement turned the independent horror world upside down. Some of the most popular films of the era were MARTYRS, INSIDE, HIGH TENSION, and Xavier Gens FRONTIER(S). But now, years later, the talent behind these films have moved onto other subgenres including COLD SKIN (2018), a period piece film, that Xavier Gens has adapted from successful novel by Albert Sanchez Pinol.

In 1914, a young man sails to a remote South Atlantic island as a weatherman; someone to chart the conditions of the isolated British territory. The only other resident is a lighthouse keeper named Gruner. Gruner explains the prior weatherman passed from typhus leaving him alone for many months. As Friend sets about his work, the second night of his one year term, his cabin is attacked by something extraordinary from the sea. Fleeing, he holes up with Gruner in the lighthouse only to find out the threat may be unending.

Receiving strong reviews from the festival circuit, the US distribution to the film was picked up by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Unlike his prior films, COLD SKIN is a new direction for Xavier Gens. Though dark, it seems quite unique for his filmography. Dark Discussions takes a look at this new movie and discuss not only the movie but the film trajectory for Gens himself.

One genre trope that seems to be used often is amnesia. What if our lead protagonist doesn’t remember anything at all. Was he or she a criminal or a hero? Such films as Total Recall among others have played with this quite well. A little seen 2017 Canadian film entitled Radius takes this idea and makes it its own.

A man wakes up in a ditch by the side of the road remembering nothing about himself. Walking down the road, he arrives at a local diner. Unfortunately for him, not only does he find the place littered with dead bodies, but others who arrive begin to die around him. Searching his wallet, he finds his license and heads back to his address. Locking himself in his house, he suddenly receives a knock on his door. A woman, just like he, is there who remembers nothing

The film is written and directed by the duo Caroline Labreche and Steeve Leonard and stars Diego Klattenhoff and Charlotte Sullivan. Though mostly unknowns, the film was one of the handful of surprises from independent genre cinema in 2017. Part horror, part thriller, and part science fiction, the film was rated as the second best speculative fiction film by co-host Philip. He and the other Dark Discussions co-hosts take a look at this film and give their critique.

Nazis were one of the worst villains in world history, but have taken a life of their own in B-movies. The latest horror film OVERLORD (2018) is about a Nazis and the very common theme of trying to make the super soldier. In JJ Abrams’ latest produced film, not only is such a threat imminent but also somewhat grotesque.

As the Allies ready for the D-Day invasion, American paratroopers are sent behind enemy lines to take down German communication towers. A local church that towers over a French village has been used as a beacon for the Schutzstaffel communiqué. With most of the squad killed after a brutal attack, Corporal Ford (Wyatt Russell) must lead a group of survivors to the small farming town in hope to finish the mission.

The film stars Wyatt Russell, Jovan Adepo, and Pilou Asbaek. Originally planned as part of the CLOVERFIELD film universe, the movie became a standalone after the failure of the earlier release CLOVERFIELD PARADOX. Receiving fairly good reviews by critics, the movie quickly died at the box office with barely any press. Dark Discussions takes a look at this modern drive-in movie and gives their thoughts.

Director Yolanda Ramke made a seven minute short film entitled CARGO that took the old zombie trope and made a very unique and interesting little film. Getting much buzz on the internet, she along with Ben Howling co-directed an expanded version of the short, where they were able to get actor Martin Freeman to star in it.

After the zombie apocalypse, survivors struggle to survive in rural Australia. Andy (Martin Freeman) and his wife Kay (Susie Porter) and infant daughter Rosie travel on boat down river hoping to arrive at a known safe zone. When unexpected tragedy hits them, the three land up on land having to survive against rugged terrain, zombies, and suspicious human beings.

Whether the film hits its mark or not, almost everyone has stated Martin Freeman’s performance may be one of the best of his career. Taking the outback, the rugged Australian settler, and the culture of the Australian Aborigines, this new take on the zombie film at the least is quite unique. Dark Discussions takes a look at the latest in large zombie subgenre and gives their thoughts.

Since the inception of Dark Discussions Podcast, not only have your co-hosts become good friends, but they have met many of the listeners, sometimes in person, but also online on social media. With topics including smaller films and independent cinema, writers, actors, and directors have come aboard to the Dark Discussions Podcast community. One such person, Dan Lench, star of such films as CIRCLE and THE LURKING MAN, has become an important part of the “family.”

Having done splendid work in genre cinema including playing a scoundrel banker, an insane mental patient, and a demon from the underworld, Dan has proven not only to be one fantastic actor, but also a true fan of genre cinema and all its scares.

The man himself has been interviewed by your co-hosts a number of times to discuss his work and what’s next. While presently working on the stage in an adaption of Oscar Wilde’s THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, Dark Discussions has asked him to appear once more to give his thoughts of some of his most favorite horror films.

Though there were many slashers such as gialos, Black Christmas, and Psycho prior to 1978’s HALLOWEEN, this was the movie that made this subgenre of horror one of the most popular. Spawning many more films, it has been pretty hit or miss in quality for most of the sequels that followed. In 2018 with the production company Blumhouse taking the lead, a follow up to the original was released on October 19 simply entitled HALLOWEEN. Rather than following the direction of the sequels, this new movie ignored all that came before and instead picks up 40 years after the plot of the original.

Present day, Laurie Strode has become a recluse. Not a day has gone by that Michael Myers has not been on her mind. Divorced and estranged from her extended family, Laurie’s daughter must balance a life between her own family and that of her eccentric mother. While Michael Myers is transferred to a new psychiatric facility, an accident occurs allowing him to escape. Now forty years later, he’s heading back to Haddonfield, Illinois to finish what he had begun.

As the last twenty-four months have shown, straight out horror has become a huge success at theaters. And many of these films have also been critically acclaimed. HALLOWEEN (2018) is no exception. Made for around $10 million USD, the film has already gone and grossed $174.5 million USD world wide. Critics, too, have given much praise to this latest movie about one of horror’s most iconic monsters. The co-hosts of Dark Discussions take a look at this new interpretation and gives their thoughts.

Nostalgia is a thing that drives a lot of people. Whether it is toys or television shows, moviemakers have found a source that sells. Examples of this are blockbusters like the TRANSFORMERS movies, Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS, new films in the HALLOWEEN series, or faux-grindhouse films like GRINDHOUSE. One group of filmmakers from Canada released TURBO KID in 2015, another faux-nostalgia sci-fi flick, but in 2018 they are back with SUMMER OF 84, a horror film made as if it was from 1984.

In Oregon 1984, teenager Davey Armstrong lives across the street from police officer, Mr. Mackey. When he believes he sees some clues that lead to the possibility that Mr. Mackey may actually be the serial killer, the Cape May Slayer, he recruits his three best friends (nicknamed Eats, Woody and Curtis) and also his former babysitter Nikki to help investigate. As evidence mounts both for and against his investigation, another victim disappears.

TURBO KID was considered a big surprise for genre fans but this new film fits perfectly for those that have been into shows such as STRANGER THINGS and CHANNEL ZERO. Receiving generally critical praise, SUMMER OF 84 has entertained much buzz on social media. Dark Discussions takes a look at this latest VOD sensation and gives their thoughts.