Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

"Never saw anything like it! No footprints! No blood! No sign of a struggle! The bones just stripped clean like peeling a banana!" Well, if it were a giant spider, it would be because they liquefy their food by flooding it with digestive enzymes. Of course, there's no such thing as giant spiders. Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they try to keep up with the giant spider in Tarantula (1955). Wait. There are giant spiders?

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 209 – Tarantula (1955)

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ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: A spider escapes from an isolated Arizona desert laboratory experimenting in gigantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

• Director: Jack Arnold
• Writers: Robert M. Fresco and Martin Berkeley (screenplay); Jack Arnold and Robert M. Fresco (story)
• Producer: William Alland
• Composers: Herman Stein (uncredited); Henry Mancini (uncredited)
• Cinematographer: George Robinson (director of photography)
• Makeup Department: Joan St. Oegger (hair stylist), Bud Westmore (makeup artist)
• Special Effects: Wah Chang (creator: tarantula puppet) (uncredited)
• Visual Effects:
  • Clifford Stine (special photography)
  • David S. Horsley (special photographic effects supervisor) (uncredited)
• Stunts: Eddie Parker (uncredited), Bud Wolfe (uncredited)
• Movie Poster Art: Reynold Brown (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • John Agar as Dr. Matt Hastings
  • Mara Corday as Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton
  • Leo G. Carroll as Prof. Gerald Deemer
  • Nestor Paiva as Sheriff Jack Andrews
  • Ross Elliott as Joe Burch
  • Edwin Rand as Lt. John Nolan
  • Raymond Bailey as Townsend
  • Hank Patterson as Josh
  • Bert Holland as Barney Russell
  • Steve Darrell as Andy Andersen
  • Don Dillaway as Jim Bagny (uncredited)
  • Clint Eastwood as Jet Squadron Leader (uncredited)
  • Eddie Parker as Paul Lund/Eric Jacobs/Airport Attendant (uncredited)
  • Bing Russell as Deputized Townsman (uncredited)
  • Tom London as Jeb – First Tramp (uncredited)
  • Edgar Dearing as Second Tramp (uncredited)

A giant arachnid is the order of the day in Jack Arnold's Tarantula (1955), and according to the posters, this spider is 100 feet tall! Exaggeration aside, it's a big 'un. As usual, Mr. Arnold crafts a fine, suspense-filled picture. This one stars John Agar, Mara Corday (Jeff's new crush), and Leo G. Carroll, who are supported by character actors par excellence Nestor Paiva, Hank Patterson, Ross Elliott, Steve Darrell, and Bing Russell. Even Clint Eastwood makes an uncredited appearance. The titular creature is achieved via forced perspective combined with matte paintings and a live tarantula, accompanied by key appearances from Wah Chang's "fang puppets." And there's plenty of taglines for Chad and Grue-Believer feedback! Enjoy our talkabout!

At the time of this writing, Tarantula (1955) is available to stream from Classic Sci-FI Movie Channel, Classic Horror Movie Channel, Wicked Horror TV, and multiple PPV options. The film is also available on physical media as a standard Blu-ray formatted disc from SHOUT! FACTORY.

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Daphne – is Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast (1946, La Belle et la Bête), the classic film based on a classic fairy tale. Yay!

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at [email protected].

To each of you from each of them, "Thank you so much for watching and listening!"

"He's not kidding! There's a spaceship or something outside. There was three little guys that came out!" Maybe he should have led with, "Look what I got on video!" Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Chad Hunt, Jeff Mohr, and special guest Michael Steinberg – as they discuss The McPherson Tape (1989), an early found footage film depicting an alien abduction.

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 290 – The McPherson Tape (1989)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: On a typical fall evening in 1983, a young man was videotaping his niece's 5th birthday party. As the night's strange occurrences took place, he kept his video camera running, recording the entire event.

• Writer/Director/Producer: Dean Alioto
• Special Effects: Bill Boes
• Selected Cast:
  • Tommy Giavocchini as Eric Van Heese
  • Patrick Kelley as Jason Van Heese
  • Shirly McCalla as Ma Van Heese
  • Stacey Shulman as Renee Reynolds
  • Christine Staples as Jamie Van Heese
  • Laura Tomas as Michelle Van Heese
  • Dean Alioto as Michael Van Heese
  • Kay Parten as Alien Number 1
  • Ginny Kleker as Alien Number 2
  • Rose Schneider as Alien Number 3

What is the first found footage horror film? Wait, let's rephrase that question. What is the first U.S. found footage horror film? The answer is undoubtedly The McPherson Tape (1989), also known as U.F.O. Abduction. You might also know the film as one of the first alien abduction hoaxes, although the filmmakers had no part in the "hoax." Either way, it set many of the tropes that became standard in the as-yet-unnamed found footage subgenre. The film had no script, was shot with a single handheld video camera in a single take over one night, and featured no score. As rough as it is, The McPherson Tape is a landmark film that should be seen. Your 80s Grue Crew is joined for the occasion by Michael Steinberg, CEO of PlayNowMedia and founder of the Found Footage Critic website (foundfootagecritic.com). Michael also offers a special 50% off promo code for one of his streaming channels, but you'll have to listen to find out which channel and what the code is.

At the time of this writing, The McPherson Tape (1989) is available to stream from Hoopla, Tubi, PlutoTV, and Plex, as well as multiple PPV sources. It is available on physical media as a DVD from POV Horror.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode's film, chosen by Bill, is Night of the Demons (1988), in which ten teenagers party in an abandoned funeral parlor on Halloween. What could go wrong?

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"That's right! You don't forget the taste of human flesh!" Umm… taking your word for that one. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr– as they take a jungle safari with Ursula Andress and Stacy Keach in Sergio Martino's Slave of the Cannibal God (1978).

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 246 – Slave of the Cannibal God (1978)

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Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of the podcast and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: A woman is aided by her brother, a professor, and an explorer as they search the jungles of New Guinea for her anthropologist husband, who vanished near a mountain that is said to be cursed.

• Director: Sergio Martino
• Writers: Cesare Frugoni and Sergio Martino
• Selected Cast:
  • Ursula Andress as Susan Stevenson
  • Stacy Keach as Professor Edward Foster
  • Claudio Cassinelli as Manolo
  • Antonio Marsina as Arthur Weisser
  • Franco Fantasia as Father Moses
  • Lanfranco Spinola as Consul Burns
  • Carlo Longhi as Phil – The Pilot
  • Luigina Rocchi as Puka Body Painter #1
  • Akushula Selayah as Sura (credited as Akushla Sellajaah)
  • Dudley Wanaguru as Government Officer

It's summertime, so it must also be time for a cannibal movie! That's not actually a thing, but what the heck. Decades of Horror has covered two or three of them on its 1980s podcast, so why not on the 1970s? Don't answer that. Directed by Sergio Martino and starring Ursula Andress, Stacy Keach, and Claudio Cassinelli, Slave of the Cannibal God (1978) unfortunately features one of this Italian subgenre's common tropes, animal cruelty. To add to its questionable content, bestiality and graphic sexual content are depicted. On the other hand (we know, we know), this film is well-made, well-shot, and well-acted with the actors performing all of their own stunts. This one isn't for everyone, but that's why we watch 'em. So you don't have to, but only if you don't want to.

At the time of this writing, Slave of the Cannibal God (1978) is available to stream from Wicked Horror TV and Classic Horror Movie Channel as Mountain of the Cannibal God, as well as Tubi and PlutoTV. The film is also available on physical media from Severin Films as either a 4K UHD or a Blu-ray formatted disc. [NOTE: The version on Tubi is cut by roughly 8.5 minutes. The length on Tubi is 1:34:31, while the length on the Severin DVD, Wicked Horror TV, and Classic Horror Movie Channel is 1:43.]

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next '70s episode, chosen by Doc, will be Crash! (1976), directed by Charles Band and starring Jose Ferrer, Sue Lyon, Leslie Parrish, and John Carradine with a cameo by Reggie Nalder. Did we mention there are a lot of crashes?

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"Look at the dog. It's as hard as a piece of granite!" The whole dog? Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Jeff Mohr, and special guest Michael Steinberg – as they delve into The Monolith Monsters (1957), the first (?) mineral-based creature feature.

[NOTE: Special guest Michael Steinberg of PlayNowMedia joins in the fun and offers a special promotion to the first ten Grue-Believers who take advantage of his offer. You will have to check out the episode to discover the details of that offer, so what are you waiting for? Get to it and remember to enjoy the podcast while you're at it.]

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 208 – The Monolith Monsters (1957)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Rocks from a meteor that grow when in contact with water threaten a sleepy Southwestern desert community.

• Director: John Sherwood
• Writers: Norman Jolley and Robert M. Fresco (screenplay); Jack Arnold and Robert M. Fresco (story)
• Music Supervision: Joseph Gershenson
• Composers: (all uncredited) Irving Gertz, Henry Mancini, Herman Stein
• Cinematographer: Ellis W. Carter (director of photography)
• Poster Art: Reynold Brown
• Gowns: Marilyn Sotto
• Costume and Wardrobe Department: Seth Banks (uncredited), Martha Bunch (uncredited)
• Makeup Department: Bud Westmore (makeup artist)
• Special Effects: Clifford Stine (special photography), Norman Breedlove (special effects technician) (uncredited), Frank Brendel (special effects) (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Grant Williams as Dave Miller
  • Lola Albright as Cathy Barrett
  • Les Tremayne as Martin Cochrane
  • Trevor Bardette as Prof. Arthur Flanders
  • Phil Harvey as Ben Gilbert
  • William Flaherty as Police Chief Dan Corey
  • Harry Jackson as Dr. Steve Hendricks
  • Richard H. Cutting as Dr. E.J. Reynolds (credited as Richard Cutting)
  • Linda Scheley as Ginny Simpson
  • Dean Cromer as Highway Patrolman
  • Steve Darrell as Joe Higgins
  • Claudia Bryar as Mrs.Simpson (uncredited)
  • Troy Donahue as Hank Jackson (uncredited)
  • Jerry Dunphy as Newscaster (uncredited)
  • Paul Frees as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
  • Chuck Hamilton as Corpse in Back of Pickup Truck (uncredited)
  • Kelo Henderson as Police Dispatcher (uncredited)
  • Carol Morris as Second Nurse (uncredited)
  • Eddie Parker as Highway Patrolman (uncredited)
  • Paul Petersen as Bobby – Paperboy (uncredited)
  • Ezelle Poule as Ethel – Telephone Operator (uncredited)
  • William Schallert as Weatherman (uncredited)
  • Clarence Straight as Husband (uncredited)

It's time for another 1950s Sci-Fi, B-movie, creature feature, but this time, the creatures are unlike any others. In fact, they're not creatures, but minerals. The Monolith Monsters (1957) has a smidgen of science, accompanied by a much larger portion of mumbo jumbo. However, thanks to the believable acting, the practical effects, the suspenseful score, and the sound effects, your Classic Era Grue-Crew is completely bought in and professes their love for this movie.

At the time of this writing, The Monolith Monsters (1957) is available to stream from Classic Sci-Fi Movie Channel, Classic Horror Movie Channel, Tubi, and multiple PPV options. The film is also available on physical media as a standard Blu-ray formatted disc from SHOUT! FACTORY.

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Doc – is Tarantula (1955), another classic B-movie creature feature. Jack Arnold and Robert Fresco are involved again with a cast that includes John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll, Nestor Paiva, Ross Elliott, Raymond Bailey, Hank Patterson, and… Clint Eastwood! This will be a fun one!

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at [email protected]

To each of you from each of them, "Thank you so much for watching and listening!"

"I've lived for almost ten thousand years. Believe me, you have no idea what that means: boredom. Everlasting and hideous boredom." It's good to be bored once in a while, but ten thousand years? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss Vampire Hunter D (1985), their third horror anime.

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 289 – Vampire Hunter D (1985)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: In a post-nuclear holocaust world in the year 12,090 AD, the 10,000-year-old vampire Count Magnus Lee chooses Doris Lang to be his next bride. She hires a mysterious half-vampire, half-human vampire hunter known only as D to protect her from the powerful vampire lord and escape her ill-fated destiny.

• Director: Toyoo Ashida
• Writers: Yasushi Hirano (screenplay); from the 1983 novel, "Kyuuketsuki Hantaa 'D,'" by Hideyuki Kikuchi (writer) & Yoshitaka Amano (artist)
• Original Character Designer: Yoshitaka Amano
• Selected Cast:
  • Kaneto Shiozawa as D (voice)
  • Michie Tomizawa as Doris Lang (voice)
  • Keiko Toda as Dan (voice)
  • Seizô Katô as Count Magnus Lee (voice)
  • Satoko Kifuji as Countess L'armica Lee (voice)
  • Kazuyuki Sogabe as Rei Ginsei (voice)
  • Motomu Kiyokawa as Dr. Sam Feringo (voice)
  • Yûsaku Yara as Greco Rohman (voice)
  • Ichirô Nagai as D's Left Hand/Narrator (voice)
  • Kazuko Yanaga as Older Snake Sister (voice)
  • Yoshiko Sakakibara as Younger Snake Sister (voice)
  • Yasuo Muramatsu as Mayor Rohman (voice)
  • Kan Tokumaru as Sheriff Luke Dalton (voice)
  • Kazumi Tanaka as O'Reilly (voice)
  • Shinya Ôtaki as Gimlet (voice)

The 80s Grue-Crew make their third venture into anime horror with Vampire Hunter D (1985). Previously, they covered Akira (1988) and Wicked City (1987), episodes 220 and 230. Based on Hideyuki Kikuchi's 1983 novel illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano, Vampire Hunter D presents a distant future populated by vampire noblemen, dhampirs, vampire hunters, werewolf hunters, and a multitude of creatures, demons, and mutants, all of which have a variety of strange powers. The film is filled with beautiful imagery and draws inspiration from the lore of Hammer Films and the visuals of Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns. The world created has enough flesh to support over 40 subsequent novels, so there is plenty of content for this film. Check out the film if you haven't already, and check out our talkabout!

At the time of this writing, Vampire Hunter D (1985) is available to stream from Shudder, AMC+, and HIDIVE, as well as multiple PPV sources. It will be available on physical media as a Blu-ray formatted disc from RLJ Entertainment, scheduled for release on August 12, 2025.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode's film, chosen by Jeff, is The McPherson Tape (1989), aka U.F.O. Abduction, an early found footage film. The Grue Crew plan to be joined by Michael Steinberg, founder of the Found Footage Critic website.

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"The penis is evil!!" No argument here. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Jeff Mohr, and guest Gregory Crosby – as they try to decipher the complex social structure, not to mention the entire story, depicted in John Boorman's Zardoz (1974). And what the heck is Sean Connery wearing?

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 245 – Zardoz (1974)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of the podcast and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

In the late 23rd century, a savage trained only to kill finds a way into the community of bored immortals that alone preserves humanity's achievements.

• Writer/Director: John Boorman
• Selected Cast:
  • Sean Connery as Zed
  • Charlotte Rampling as Consuella
  • Sara Kestelman as May
  • John Alderton as Friend
  • Sally Anne Newton as Avalow
  • Niall Buggy as Arthur Frayn/Zardoz
  • Bosco Hogan as George Saden
  • Jessica Swift as Apathetic
  • Bairbre Dowling as Star
  • Christopher Casson as Old Scientist
  • Reginald Jarman as Death (voice)
  • Daisy Boorman as Young Eternal (Flashback Scene) (uncredited)
  • John Boorman as Farming Brutal Shot by Zed/Zardoz Mask and Head Model(uncredited)
  • Katrine Boorman as Young Eternal (Flashback Scene) (uncredited)
  • Telsche Boorman as Young Eternal (Flashback Scene) (uncredited)
  • David de Keyser as Tabernacle (voice) (uncredited)

Bill chose Zardoz (1974) for this episode, and Gregory Crosby joined the '70s Grue-Crew to add his insights to this drug-fueled vision from writer and director John Boorman. Sean Connery (sporting the latest in '70s science fiction apparel) and Charlotte Rampling lead the cast in this almost undecipherable depiction of a society in 2293 populated by Brutals, Eternals, Renegades, and Apathetics. Included in the perplexing story are some genuinely interesting ideas (a hallmark of good science fiction) centered on the possible behaviors of a community of immortals. In the case of Zardoz, the filmmakers' reach might have exceeded their grasp, but you be the judge. The Grue-Crew do agree that Zardoz is a must-watch for fans of '70s science fiction!

At the time of this writing, Zardoz (1974) is available to stream from Prime and several PPV options.

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next '70s episode, chosen by Jeff, will be Slave of the Cannibal God (1974), directed by Sergio Martino, and starring Ursula Andress and Stacey Keach. If it's summer, it must be time for a cannibal flick?

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"If I do not receive blood within four chronoctons of time, I will have no need of emotion." Okay… what's a chronocton? Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they try not to look into the eyes of the alien in Not of This Earth (1957).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 207 – Not of This Earth (1957)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: An alien agent from the distant planet Davana is sent to Earth via a high-tech matter transporter. There, he terrorizes Southern California in an attempt to acquire blood for his dying race, the result of a devastating nuclear war.

• Director: Roger Corman
• Writers: Charles B. Griffith (as Charles Griffith) and Mark Hanna
• Special Effects: Paul Blaisdell (uncredited), Bob Burns (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Paul Birch as Paul Johnson
  • Beverly Garland as Nadine Storey
  • Morgan Jones as Harry Sherbourne
  • William Roerick as Dr. F.W. Rochelle
  • Jonathan Haze as Jeremy Perrin
  • Dick Miller as Joe Piper (credited as Richard Miller)
  • Anna Lee Carroll as Davanna Woman (credited as Anne Carroll)
  • Pat Flynn as Simmons
  • Barbara Bohrer as Waitress
  • Roy Engel as Sgt. Walton
  • Tamar Cooper as Joanne
  • Harold Fong as Speciman
  • Lyle Latell as Paul Johnson (some scenes)
  • Gail Ganley as Girl
  • Ralph Reed as Boy
  • Jan Boleslavsky as Davanna Contact (face in the Davanna transporter) (uncredited)
  • John Clark as Man (uncredited)
  • Tom Graeff as Car Park Attendant (uncredited)
  • Charles B. Griffith as Man at Newsstand (uncredited)
  • Hank Mann as Bum (uncredited)
  • Herbert L. Strock as Self – writer of prologue (uncredited)

The Classic Era Grue-Crew go back to their B-movie roots with the Roger Corman classic Not of This Earth (1957)! A bloodthirsty alien journeys to Earth looking for a fresh supply and hires a doctor, his nurse, and a somewhat sketchy right-hand man to unwittingly aid him in the development of the population as a food source for Devana, his home planet. This one checks all the boxes: quirky science fiction gadgets, alien powers, and plot twists; a great cast with excellent science fiction/horror pedigrees; and a Paul Blaisdell-created creature with an assist from Bob Burns! To top it off, the film features the requisite Dick Miller appearance. And, oh, those alien eyes! There is so much to discuss, so many side streets to traverse, and so much fun to be had.

At the time of this writing, Not of This Earth (1957) is available to stream from Classic Sci-Fi Movie Channel, Classic Horror Movie Channel, and YouTube.

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Chad – is The Monolith Monsters (1957), another classic science fiction-horror B-movie from 1957. There are plenty of familiar faces in the cast. The Grue Crew also plans to have a guest join them for the episode, so you won't want to miss this one!

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at [email protected]

To each of you from each of them, "Thank you so much for watching and listening!"

"I think you understand that I don't want to sacrifice the best years of my life for you. I've taken our friend with me as a last present from you to me. Goodbye." Really? Our friend? He was my friend before he was your friend. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they try to find a way to discuss the notorious German film NEKRomantik (1988).

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 288 – NEKRomantik (1988)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: A street sweeper who cleans up after grisly accidents brings home a full corpse for him and his wife to enjoy sexually, but is dismayed to see that his wife prefers the corpse over him.

• Director: Jörg Buttgereit
• Writers: Jörg Buttgereit & Franz Rodenkirchen
• Selected Cast:
  • Bernd Daktari Lorenz as Rob (credited as Daktari Lorenz)
  • Beatrice Manowski as Betty (credited as Beatrice M.)
  • Harald Lundt as Bruno
  • Collosseo as Joe
  • Henri Boeck as J.S.A.
  • Clemens Schwender as J.S.A. (credited as Clemens Schwenter)
  • Jörg Buttgereit as J.S.A.
  • Holger Suhr as J.S.A.
  • Volker Hauptvogel as Man with Gun
  • Harald Weis as Dead in Garden
  • Heike Surban as Prostitute (credited as Heike S.)
  • Patricia Leipold as Prostitute
  • Elke Fuchs as Prostitute
  • Margit Im Schlaa as Prostitute
  • Suza Kohlstedt as Vera (credited as Susa Kohlstedt)
  • Franz Rodenkirchen as Pornokiller
  • Heinz Langner as Cop
  • Christiane Baumgarten as Woman in Dream
  • Simone Spörl as Woman in Car
  • Wilfried Hoog as Man in Car
  • Michael Büschke as Autopsie Corpse
  • Manfred Repnow as Cemetery Guard
  • Daniela Geburtig as Cinema Crew
  • Manfred O. Jelinski as Cinema Crew(credited as Manfred Jelinski)
  • Lasko as Man in TV
  • Fritz Fuchs as Slaughterer

NEKRomantik (1988) is one of those movies. You know the ones. That cadre of films that are more infamous than famous in their attempts to be licentious and transgressive, while many fail or don't even aspire to be truly artful. NEKRomantik is also a "no budget" film made on the tiniest thread of a shoestring, and it really shows. Director Jörg Buttgereit himself says he never wanted to be a director. His goal was to rebel against the German film rating system and to shock as many people as possible. Does he succeed? Rest assured, the '80s Grue Crew will give you their opinions. One thing is for sure. We watch 'em so you don't have to.

At the time of this writing, NEKRomantik (1988) is available to stream from Shudder, AMC+, and Arrow.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode's film, chosen by Chad, will be Vampire Hunter D (1985), a Japanese animated film based on Hideyuki Kikuchi's 1983 novel. Oh yeah!

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"Tear him up!" That's not as hard as you might think when you have a mischief of rats at your command. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they try their hand at rat wrangling as they cover Willard (1971).

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 244 – Willard (1971)

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Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of the podcast and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: A social misfit uses his only friends, his pet rats, to exact revenge on his tormentors.

• Director: Daniel Mann
• Writers: Gilbert Ralston (as Gilbert A. Ralston); Stephen Gilbert (novel, Ratman's Notebooks, 1968)
• Rat Wrangler: Moe Di Sesso (trainer: "Socrates" and "Ben"); Nora Di Sesso (trainer: "Socrates" and "Ben") (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Bruce Davison as Willard Stiles
  • Sondra Locke as Joan Simms
  • Elsa Lanchester as Henrietta Stiles
  • Ernest Borgnine as Martin
  • Michael Dante as Brandt
  • Jody Gilbert as Charlotte Stassen
  • William Hansen as Barskin
  • John Myhers as Carlson
  • J. Pat O'Malley as Jonathan Farley
  • Joan Shawlee as Alice
  • Almira Sessions as Carrie Smith
  • Pauline Drake as Ida Stassen
  • Helen Spring as Mrs. Becker
  • Alan Baxter as Walter Spencer
  • Sherry Presnell as Mrs. Spencer

First covered eight years ago in audio-only Episode 53, the 70s Grue-Crew decided to revisit Willard (1971). Chad chose it as his pick, and who wouldn't want to discuss it again? Elsa Lanchester as Willard's clinging, passive-aggressive mother? Ernest Borgnine as Willard's unprincipled bully of a boss? Sondra Locke as Willard's concerned co-worker and possible love interest? Bruce Davison as Willard, the sensitive, immature, socially inept lord of the rats? Incredible character actors providing support? All of whom are surrounded by a rather large mischief of rats, two of which are named Socrates and Ben? Count us in!

At the time of this writing, Willard (1971) is available to stream from Kanopy, Tubi, Plex, Prime, and Peacock. It's also available on physical media as a Blu-ray-formatted disc from Scream Factory.

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next '70s episode, chosen by Bill, will be Zardoz (1974), directed by John Boorman (Deliverance), and starring Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling. Hmm… how did they come up with that strange title?

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"You must seize the only specimen of the Mariphasa plant in England in the private laboratory of Dr. Wilfred Glendon. That flower is the only known antidote for werewolfery. Lycanthrophobia is the medical term for the affliction I speak of." Werewolfery? Lycanthrophobia? Is this an example of lexical innovation? Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they stalk the original Werewolf of London (1935).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 206 – Werewolf of London (1935)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: After botanist Wilfred Glendon travels to Tibet in search of a rare flower, the Mariphasa, he returns to a London haunted by murders that can only be the work of bloodthirsty werewolves.

• Director: Stuart Walker
• Writers: John Colton (screenplay); Robert Harris (story); Harvey Gates (adaptation) (uncredited); Robert Harris (adaptation) (uncredited); Edmund Pearson (contributing writer) (uncredited)
• Cinematographer: Charles J. Stumar (as Charles Stumar) (photographed by)
• Makeup Department: Jack P. Pierce (makeup artist) (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Henry Hull as Dr. Wilfred Glendon
  • Warner Oland as Dr. Yogami
  • Valerie Hobson as Lisa Glendon
  • Lester Matthews as Paul Ames
  • Lawrence Grant as Sir Thomas Forsythe
  • Spring Byington as Miss Ettie Coombes
  • Clark Williams as Hugh Renwick
  • J.M. Kerrigan as Hawkins
  • Charlotte Granville as Lady Forsythe
  • Ethel Griffies as Mrs. Whack
  • Zeffie Tilbury as Mrs. Moncaster
  • Jeanne Bartlett as Daisy

Universal's Werewolf of London (1935) is the earliest surviving werewolf/wolfman movie, setting several tropes still used today. Universal's The Wolf Man (1941) with Lon Chaney Jr. doesn't come along until six years later. Henry Hull is the man-beast, and his wife is the seventeen-year-old Valerie Hobson, who is splitting her time between Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Warner Oland is the infecting werewolf who introduces the Mariphasa flower, providing an antidote (not a cure) that grows only in the light of the moon. As usual with Universal horror flicks, several "bits of business" are deployed by the excellent supporting cast to add some comic relief. Lauding its place in the Universal horror canon, the Classic Era Grue-Crew love Werewolf of London! And don't forget the great Jack Pierce!

At the time of this writing, Werewolf of London (19358) is available to stream from Vimeo. The film is also available on physical media as a Blu-ray formatted disc included with Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection and The Wolf Man Complete Legacy Collection.

For other DoH Classic Era podcasts about films with werewolves or wolf men, check out:

• SANTO AND BLUE DEMON AGAINST THE MONSTERS (1969-70) – Episode 19 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• THE WOLF MAN (1941) – Episode 39 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) – Episode 44 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) – Episode 84 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF (1957) – Episode 153 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) – Episode 158 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• THE WEREWOLF (1956) – Episode 186 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• WEREWOLF IN A GIRLS' DORMITORY (1961) – Episode 204 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• FURY OF THE WOLFMAN (1972) – Episode 106 – Decades of Horror 1970s (audio only)
• THE BEAST MUST DIE (1974) – Episode 120 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• SANTO AND BLUE DEMON VS. DRACULA AND THE WOLF MAN (SANTO Y BLUE DEMON CONTRA DRACULA Y EL HOMBRE LOBO, 1973) – Episode 168 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• THE WEREWOLF AND THE YETI (1975) – Episode 189 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• MOON OF THE WOLF (1972) – Episode 224 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF (1985) – Episode 203 – Decades of Horror 1980s
• THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987) – Episode 282 – Decades of Horror 1980s

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Bill – is a Corman Classic, Not of This Earth (1957), featuring Beverly Garland, and Dick Miller with special effects by Paul Blaisdell and Bob Burns.

Please let them know how they're doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at [email protected]

To each of you from each of them, "Thank you so much for watching and listening!"