Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

This week, Paul Cardullo takes a look at an unusual and lesser-known fright flick, The Slayer (1982). Is it a monster movie, a slasher film, or a psychological horror tale? While it may have a fairly low body count for a film of its era, Paul talks about why horror fans still may want to check it out. With the Arrow Video release of a new 4K restoration in a special 2-disc set, aficionados of 1980s horror films can watch this atmospheric and unconventional chiller in glorious high-definition.

Paul Cardullo returns to review another entry in the GenreBlast Film Festival. While the fest hosts a number of genres, this movie is a full-fledged horror flick of the weekend. Lilith's Awakening (2017) is filmed in rich black and white tones with a deliberate pacing and exquisite cinematography. Paul dives into what makes this film tick and is fascinated with the varied reference to Dracula. Check out his review to this dreamlike vampire film below.

"Hi, I'm Chucky. Wanna Play?" Chucky (Brad Dourif) - a doll possessed by the spirit of serial killer Charles Lee Ray - is one angry little dude. Stuck in a plastic body trying to find a flesh one to return to, Chucky has to dupe a young boy named Andy (Alex Vincent) into transporting him around to extract his revenge. Yet, it's all simply treated as Child's Play. But how playful will the Grue Crew be about this particular toy phenomenon? You'll just have to see how nice our boys play.

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 117 – Child's Play (1988)

Chucky is the last of the iconic slashers from the 80s era. Coming off the heels of Freddy Kruger and Jason Voorhees, Chucky had more of a way with words like the former rather than the latter. A foul-mouthed doll that had the voice of a slimier Jack Nicholson impersonator. He may be little, but did he pack a punch. Child's Play was a major success, playing on the modern Cabbage Patch Kids and My Buddy doll crazes of the age with a sinister edge. Child's Play started one of the stranger horror franchises ever, but we wouldn't have the funnier antics that involve Tiffany without this one to set the groundwork.

To discuss all of this, Thomas Mariani brought along his own Goody Guy Doll, Chris...topher G. Moore! The two discuss the context of the late 80s boom in child advertising and how it impacts the world of the Child's Play universe. Despite the seedy underpinnings, the two revel in the sweetness of the adorable Vincent and his struggling single mom Hicks. The two build a solid base that Chucky try to chip away at with his Good Guy hammer. Plus, there are plenty of comparisons to talking dolls old & new, the direction of the Child's Play franchise and whether or not the special effects hold up that well. There's plenty to discuss with this small package, but just you wait until that toy bursts out of its box.

We want to hear from you – the coolest, most gruesome fans: leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected] or [email protected].

Special thanks to Neon Devils for their awesome song Bone Chillin!

Hellraiser (1987)

Vanessa returns with another supernatural review of the Joseph Lavender's Ghost Witch (2017). The film features Mandi Christine Kerr and Gregory French in starring roles. Vanessa praises the film for his earnest charm and spirit but struggles with its misleading title and lack of a ghost that the title and post promise. She suggests it may have been better to leave the film under its original title The Legend of the Seven Toe Maggie. Regardless, it has some promise despite tripping on the delivery. Check out her review below.

Ghost Witch (2017) 2 out of 5 starts

Joseph Lavender's terrifying supernatural thriller Ghost Witch is available on VOD this month from Wild Eye Releasing.

In the tradition of Insidious and The Conjuring, Ghost Witch tells of a group of investigators that spend the night at the house where one of them was attacked as a child by the spirit of a murdered Native American girl.

Based on true events. Mattie enlists a group of paranormal investigators to spend the night at the haunted house where she was attacked by an angry spirit as a child, and where a Native American girl was brutally murdered two centuries ago. Once there, they are stalked and possessed as the truth about what happened there is revealed, as they all become unwilling participants in the ghost witch's plan for vengeance.

Stars Mandi Christine Kerr (The Walking Dead) and Gregory French (The Walking Dead, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Sleepy Hollow).

Ghost Witch is available on :

COMCAST DIRECT TV DISH IN DEMAND GOOGLE PLAY iTUNES XBOX AMAZON FANDANGO SLING VUDU

Studio:Wild Eye Releasing Director: Joseph Lavender Cast : Mandi Christine Kerr, Gregory French

"They call them the haunted shores, these stretches of Devonshire and Cornwall and Ireland which rear up against the westward ocean. Mists gather here... and sea fog... and eerie stories…'' Oooo, that's some pretty scary stuff! (Channeling a little Second City TV) Join the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era crew – Erin Miskell, Chad Hunt, Joseph Perry, and Jeff Mohr – as we journey to the haunted shores and brave the classic ghost story, The Uninvited (1944).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 18 – The Uninvited (1944)

The Uninvited is based on Uneasy Freehold, a novel by Dorothy Macardle, and adapted for the screen by Frank Partos and Dodie Smith. It is considered to be the first real ghost story that isn't predominantly a comedy and includes genuine supernatural elements.

The story follows Pamela Fitzgerald (Ruth Hussey) and her brother Roderick (Ray Milland) as they fall in love with and purchase a house on the haunted shore. It doesn't take long for strange sounds and manifestations to spook the siblings. They try getting answers from the house's previous owner Commander Beech (Donald Crisp) and his granddaughter Stella Meredith (Gail Russell) but to no avail.They are then introduced to the enigmatic Miss Holloway (Cornelia Otis Skinner) who only creates more questions without providing any answers. They soon band with the local doctor (Alan Napier) and the three strive to solve the mystery of the house's haunting. The main cast receives marvelous support from Barbara Everest as Lizzie Flynn, the domestic help; and Dorothy Stickney as Miss Bird, an eccentric resident of an insane asylum.

The film benefits from not only a stellar cast and source material but an equally stellar crew. Director Lewis Allen's first feature, The Uninvited sports crew that includes Oscar and other award winners such as Charles Lang (cinematographer), Victor Young (music), Hans Dreier and Ernst Fegté (art directors), Edith Head (costume designer), and Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings (visual effects).

If you're paying attention, you'll find out which of this episode's Grue Crew made each of these statements:

• "(She) was the kind of dame that didn't like film noir."
• "It's like the old Ed Sullivan Show with the plate spinner …"
• "She's got the big neon sign."
• "Viva la Lucha Libre!"

We plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule is Santo and Blue Demon Against the Monsters (1969-70), hosted by Joseph Perry.

Please let us know what you think of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era and what films you'd like to hear us cover! We want to hear from you! After all, without you, we're just four nutjobs talking about the films we love. Send us an email ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]) or leave us a message, a review, or a comment at GruesomeMagazine.com, iTunes, Stitcher, the Horror News Radio App, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.

To each of you from each of us, "Thank you for listening!"

Gruesome Magazine returns to GenreBlast this year to enjoy their brilliant selection of genre films from the horror films we typically cover to other similar genres worthy of our attention, Sci-Fi, Action, Fantasy, Comedy, WTF films. Doc shares his thoughts about Indiana (2017) from director Toni Comas and co-writer Charlie Williams. The film follows Michael (Gabe Fazio), a paranormal investigator who is struggling with this passion and life. His partner, Josh (Bradford West), convinces him to take one last case - a case that will prove to affect their lives in profound and emotional ways. Check out Doc's review of this terrific film exploring the characters behind the paranormal.

It's a somber mood for The Grue Crew this episode. Our Gruesome family received some devastating news this past week. Our brother in pods Santos "The Black Saint" Ellin Jr. passed on September 21st, 2017. A loyal host of the show since it started back in 2013, Santos was not just a fun voice and a bitter commenter. He was family. For this special episode of Horror News Radio, Doc Rotten, Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Christopher G. Moore pay tribute to their favorite curmudgeon and try to make sense of all this sadness.

Next week, the entire HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you, the listeners, the fans about this untimely passing. You can always reach out via email at media(AT)gruesomemagazine(DOT)com, feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com or find us on Twitter: Doc Rotten | Dave Dreher | Christopher G. Moore | Thomas Mariani or come to the Horror News Radio Facebook Group to help others in this harsh time.

Horror News Radio Episode 234 – RIP Santos Ellin Jr. Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

While GenreBlast is not strictly a horror film festival, it certainly features its share of horror fare along with many sci-fi epics, zany action films, and off the wall comedies. Paul Cardullo steps up to review one of the sci-fi entries at the 2017 GenreBlast Film Festival - and a favorite of the weekend - Future (2017). Directed by Rob Cousineau and Chris Rosik, Future features Joshua P. Cousineau and Phreddy Wischusen in the lead roles as Doug, a troubled young man down on his decisions in life, and the Time Traveler, who is prepared to offer Doug a second chance at a key moment in his life. But this offer comes with a price. Paul dives into how the film is driven by the characters instead of the sci-fi and how the two leads make the film, especially Phreddy Wischusen who anchors the film's heart and tone. Read his review below.

Paul Cardullo returns with another Groovy Gory Gruesome Gold retro review for the film Forbidden Planet (1956) which he and I saw at RetroFantasma at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina. It played on a double bill with The Green Slime. Paul shares his thoughts about seeing the film on the big screen, how amazing the film looks 61 years later, and how well both the story and the effects hold up. And, of course, there's always Anne Francis. Check out the review below.

Forbidden Planet (1956) - 4.75 out of 5 stars

On September 7-10, 2017, Paul Cardullo and I attended the terrific GenreBlast Film Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Run by Nathan Ludwig and his GenreCrew (Raygan Ketterer, Chad Farmer, and Charles Devin Hill), the festival is quickly becoming a fan favorite. This year, the festival opened with a UK comedy called Guardians (2017) that mixes in a hint of the supernatural, home-invasion, and the totally bizarre to great effect and delightful entertainment. Director Mark A.C. Brown and his cast, including Matt Prendergast, David Whitney, and Hattie Hayridge, deliver a film that became my personal favorite of the weekend. Check out my review below.