Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

"Oh no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast." REALLY!? Join the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era's Grue-Crew - Chad Hunt, Erin Miskell, Jeff Mohr, and Joseph Perry - as we discuss just exactly what was the cause of Kong's demise. The newest Kong film, Kong: Skull Island released on March 10, 2017, has already grossed $148M worldwide as of March 15, 2017, proving the iconic Kong is still alive and well. Listen as we "wrestle" with the original King Kong, the 1933 classic that started it all!

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

Episode 4 –King Kong (1933)

As is the case with many films of The Classic Era, our Grue-Crew experienced this film through the electromagic wonders of television, and we were shocked, SHOCKED we tell you, when we eventually learned it had been cut by the scoundrels administering the Hays Code. Yes, many of the most violent, people chewing scenes or most salacious and sensual scenes (Fay Wray's dunk in the river) had been removed.

We were also in awe of Merion C. Cooper and Ernest B. Shoedsack as these adventurers cum filmmakers brought their vision to fruition in one of the most highly thought of films in history. King Kong was truly a groundbreaking film in nearly all aspects of the technology of filmmaking, from special effects to sound design to musical score. We spotlight Willis O'Brien's stop motion animation which inspired Ray Harryhausen, as well as Curtis Delgado's models, Harry Cunningham's model armatures, Mario Larrinaga's matte paintings, Murray Spivack's sound design (Exactly how do you create the roar of a mythical creature?), and Max Steiner's score.

And what of the acting? Cooper bragged at getting double duty from leads Robert Armstrong and Fay Wray while simultaneously filming The Most Dangerous Game (1932) on some of the same sets, but the overtime doesn't show in their performances.

So many questions arise when discussing an 84-year-old classic. Who was Noble Johnson and what role did he play in film history? What was the relationship of Ruth Rose, one of the screenwriters, to Cooper and Shoedsack? What do the Nias Islands have to do with the film and who would ever want to go there? How do the characters hold up against current cultural norms? What themes and tropes backdrop the film? How many films did Fay Wray act in that year? What's the connection between King Kong and Gone with the Wind?

And which of us made these memorable comments:

• - "There's one (a naked Barbie doll) in my bathroom right now."
• - "What gibberish are you talking?"
• - "I'm willing to bet if you just give her a pair of pants, she could sail that whole thing herself."
• - "AAAARRRGGGHHHYEEEAAAHHHH!!!!"

We plan to release a new episode every other week. Our upcoming schedule includes The Tingler (1959), It! (aka Curse of the Golem, 1967), The Thing from Another World (1951) and Freaks (1932)

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 movies 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, the Horror News Radio App, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.

Thanks for listening, from each of us to each of you!

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum." Nada (Rowdy Roddy Piper) comes out of his consumer coma and is ready to blow some aliens away. The satirical sci-fi actioner from horror master John Carpenter is a schlocky example of 80s cheese... with an actual brain behind it?

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 103 – They Live (1988)

They Live is a bit of a departure for Decades of Horror, given the bigger emphasis on sci-fi and action. Yet, what's more horrifying than realizing you live in a dystopian world ruled by cruel uncaring overlords that trick you in a commercialized sense of ignorance? Well... actually living in that world on a daily basis. Yes, Carpenter's jab at Reagan-era politics still permeates our culture. After all, how many celebrities have been turned into a They Live-style alien to indicate the media obsessed world we live in is all consuming? Unfortunately, we don't have a Rowdy Roddy Piper to suplex the corporate overlords into submission. But hopefully this and many generations to come can be inspired by Piper's lack of hesitation in taking out those that stand in the way of American progress. Or at the very least admire the stamina it takes for him to kick the crap out of Fred Armitage (Keith David) in order to see the truth via his sunglasses.

Luckily, three people here are in awe of Roddy's prowess. Thomas and Christopher G. Moore return to gush about this 1988 John Carpenter film, but are unfortunately short a Doc Rotten to help them out. Luckily, a nomadic drifter has decided to take his place around the fiery trashcan. That is Gruesome Magazine's own Adam Thomas, a man who knows his wrestling as much as he knows his horror and genre filmmaking. Together, these three gush about the infamous fight scene between David & Piper, spotlight the vulnerability under Piper's performance and marvel with disturbed regret at They Live's lasting political relevance. It's a damn good time that's pretty contemplative when you look past the brute force and one liners.

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]. We also want to be sure to thank Neon Devils for their killer track "Bone Chillin'" which we use for the intro and outro of this show.

"See A*P*E ... defy the jaws of a giant shark ... destroy a teeming city ... demolish an ocean liner ... vanquish a monster reptile" - the tag line for A*P*E (1976) promises as much as the incredible poster for this race- to-the-theater King Kong rip-off from director Paul Leder. Yes, Yes! This is the film where the giant gorilla flips off the army ... in 3D, no less. Let the fun begin! The Black Saint and Doc Rotten tackle another groovy horror film from the 1970s. Joining the grue-crew is Gruesome Magazine contributor Jeff Mohr and NC effects artist and film maker Bill Mulligan.

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 48 – A*P*E (1976)

With a massive budget of $24,000, the team behind A*P*E created a King Kong rip-off film that has to be seen to be believed. Insanely goofy, horribly made, dreadfully written, hilariously inept, the film originally known as Super Kong is a disaster ... and bloody brilliant because of it. It is a true so-bad-it-is-good treasure ... and in 3-D to boot. It is getting a terrific 3D Bluray release from Kino Lorber Video and for those who love schlocky, horrible films that desperately want to be called guilty pleasure, then A*P*E is the film for you. Oh, the joy, the pure stupid joy! The Black Saint and Doc Rotten are joined by Jeff Mohr and Bill Mulligan to recap and review this bizarre entry into 1970s solid gold. Enjoy!

A*P*E features one of the worst gorilla costumes committed to film, ever. The seems are evident and the stitches come loose in the opening scene when APE fights a giant shark, revealing the undershirt underneath. Amazing! The film feels padded at 80 minutes long and features scene after scene of random locals running from the 36 foot gorilla, many of which can be seen smiling and laughing as they run. Rich! The army shows up late in the film so they can point their guns into the camera in "stunning" 3D effects. Marvelous! The gorilla shimmies, shakes, and dances his way across the South Korean landscape scaring villages, stepping over fake cows, wrestling live snakes, and tearing down buildings with glorious glee. Ah! There's nothing else left to say... watch the film if you dare. Regardless, listen to the Grue-Crew discuss A*P*E.

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

The X-Men franchise go raw once again with the R-Rated Logan from director James Mangold. Last year we were treated to Deadpool, this years brings Wolverine as we've longed to see him since debuting seventeen years ago. Hugh Jackman reprises the role of James Howlett one last time with Patrick Stewart in tow as Professor X. The Grue-crew champion the film's gritty, violent tone and praise the performances. Give Stewart a Supporting Oscar, now, please.

Co-hosts Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher and Thomas Mariani are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don't forget – Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)

Horror News Radio Episode 205 – Logan (2017) Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

Feature Review: Logan (2017)

X-Men fans are treated to the most mature super hero film to reach theaters in some time. Deadpool was more raunchy and the DC films are missing the mark, James Mangold's Logan nails the delivery. The story is gripping, the conflicts are dire, and the stakes are more personable. The film doesn't skimp on gory action - plenty crimson enough to satisfy horror fans with decapitations and dismemberment galore. Jackman and Stewart give their best performances as Logan and Xavier while Dafne Keen makes an impressive debut as Laura Kinney, X-23. Oddly enough, the best super hero film is one that plays less like a super hero film than all the rest. Go figure.

Outline of the Episode

• [00:00:40]: Intro
• [00:04:19]: Horror News of the Week
  • [00:04:34]: A Trilogy of Trailers delights cinemaphiles
    • Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2.
    • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
    • Alien: Covenant
  • [00:12:10]: The Wonderful Horror of Oz is coming our way
  • [00:16:17]: Mindhunter by David Fincher on Netflix
  • [00:18:31]: Rock Paper Dead is the latest feature from Tom Holland
  • [00:21:35]: The Untold Horror documentary explores unmade horror films
• [00:27:22]: Support HNR
• [00:28:07]: Logan (2017)
• [01:23:31]: Announcements
  • [01:23:34]: Horror Pack Winner!
  • [01:24:12]: Gruesome Magazine goes to Print!
  • [01:25:10]: HNR heads to the Mad Monster Party Carolina!
  • [01:25:53]: Other Appearances!
• [01:27:20]: Stump The Saint

NEXT WEEK ON HNR

Kong: Skull Island

GRUESOME LINKS

• Dragon Con
• Patreon
• Gruesome Tees
• Horror Pack
• Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival (Charleston, SC - May 19-22, 2017)
• Nightmares Horror Films Festival (Columbus, OH - October 19-22, 2017)

Gruesome Magazine Spring 2017 is coming! That's right, the very first issue of an all-new horror magazine from the Grue-Crew behind Horror News Radio and Gruesome Magazine website will land late February 2017. The tag line "Horror Festival Hits - Independent Films - The Future of Horror" reflects the focus of the magazine on the up'n'coming horror film makers and their films in Horror Film Festivals across the globe. Check out the GM page for more details.

"I kick ass for the Lord!" Father McGruder (Stuart Devenie) kicks some zombie ass in the defining example of 'divine intervention.' Peter Jackson's cult classic Dead Alive (or Braindead for international audiences) has been a mainstay of the zombie genre for 25 years. The zany horror/comedy takes the example of Sam Raimi and builds layer upon layer of creative creature effects & gallons upon gallons of gore. His early splatstick style might not have gotten him Academy level prestige, but it made Jackson a key figure in the evolution of zombie cinema. Now, armed with a lawnmower and a tarp, Thomas and his co-hosts are out to get to the meat of what makes Dead Alive endure for as long as it has.

Decades of Horror 1990s Episode 10 – Dead Alive (1992)

Set in 1957 New Zealand, Lionel Cosgrove (Timothy Balme) is a momma's boy, under the strict thumb of his mother Vera (Elizabeth Moody). He looks after her enormous house and does her every whim, without a single bit of time for himself. Even when Lionel tries to take the lovely local market girl Pequita (Diana Peñalver) out on a date to the local zoo, she has to tag along. Unfortunately, this zoo trip turns dire as a rabid Sumatran Rat Monkey from the monkey exhibit bites Vera and catch a zombie virus that slowly degenerates her condition. Lionel tries to keep her upright, only for her to crave human flesh. Even after her funeral, Vera's lust for carnage ravages this small New Zealand town, which Lionel tries to keep contained in his house as he keeps a nurse, a greaser punk and a preacher who have been bitten and transformed by his mother in the basement. This comedy of errors escalates further as Lionel's misogynistic idiot Uncle Les (Ian Watkin) blackmails him into his mother's inheritance and celebrates with a party at the house. What could possibly go wrong?

Thomas is joined by returning guests Sam Brutuxan and Christopher G. Moore to discuss this early example of Peter Jackson's extensive ambition. The variety of zombie creatures, endlessly creative camera tricks and stunning displays of gore mastery still impress to this day, showing off the extensive world building and incredibly detailed madness that would be needed to bring Middle Earth to the big screen less than a decade later. The trio praise Dead Alive for its ability to be an homage to everything from King Kong to Evil Dead, while at the same time carving a new path towards cult fame. They revel in all their favorite zombie character, from the zombie baby Lionel throttles with to Void the greaser's personified gastrointestinal tract. It's a love fest all around, with Christopher clamoring it as his favorite zombie film of all time.

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 1990s podcast hosts at [email protected] or tweet Thomas @NotTheWhosTommy.

"There's a girl out there who might be running for her life from some gigantic turned-on ape." - the line for King Kong (1976) illustrates the odd tone to the high-profile, big-budget creature feature remake. Dino De Laurentiis' monstrous epic provides fans with a U.S. man-in-suit Kaiju turn at the furry beast with a young Rick Baker in the ape suit. Let the fun begin! The Black Saint and Doc Rotten tackle another groovy horror film from the 1970s. Joining the grue-crew is Gruesome Magazine contributor Jeff Mohr.

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 47 – King Kong (1976)

Joining Santos, Doc, and Jeff is the host of Decades of Horror 1980s and co-host of Horror News Radio Thomas Mariani who immediate jumps into how Dino De Laurentiis presents Kong himself. The giant gorilla is seen ogling Dwan played by Jessica Lange in a questionable manner that deserves the description in the show's opener "some gigantic turned-on ape." While there's always been a connection between Kong and Anne Darrow (from the '33 picture), the way they treat his attraction to Dwan is far less appealing than intended, for certain. Kong's motivation is all over the place as the Grue-Crew struggle to find good things to say about the 1976 rendition of this classic monster from the movies. The film was highly promoted upon its release in December of 1976 as Doc, Jeff, and Santos all remember, but the film failed to live up to the hype. While Doc and Jeff admit liking the film now more than prior, the film still disappoints in a huge Hollywood blockbuster-gone-wrong way.

John Guillermin (from The Towering Inferno) directs the film which stars Charles Grodin, Jeff Bridges, and Jessica Lange in lead roles. Rick Baker's Kong is superimposed into many shots with noticeable matte outlines giving the high production and low-grade sheen. While the ape costume itself is noteworthy, the integration of the effects into the film often fail their efforts. The huge mechanical King, which was all the rage in the promos and press at the time, is barely seen in the film, perhaps for the better. The film's tone dances between serious and satire - or, at least, feels like satire, regardless of original intention. According to Thomas, Grodin acts with his teeth in an amazing fashion while Bridges likely filled the large pit to capture Kong with smoke all on his own. Yeah, man. Prepare for Kong: Skull Island with this look back to a classic - or not so classic - King Kong adventure from 1976.

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

Emmy Award winning comedic actor and first time writer/director Jordan Peele gets his first bite at feature filmmaking with Get Out, a racially charged horror/comedy about a young man (Daniel Kaluuya) taking a trip with his girlfriend (Allison Williams) to meet her parents, only for horror to be lurking in their secluded house. The Grue Crew has a spirited conversation about the topic, all without the help of their fearless leader. Yes, for the first time in over 200 episodes, Doc Rotten is out sick and the children will come out and play... or kill each other. Whatever comes first.

The remaining crew also dive into the female driven horror anthology XX. Five segments from five different female directors, all centered around women dealing with a variety of horror. Children who won't eat. A secret that could ruin their child's birthday. Camping with the opposite sex. A son with an absent father who has far darker ties than she has let on. Plus, it's all wrapped in a package of spooky stop-motion! What's not to love?

Dave guides the Crew through Horror News of the Week, lead off with the remembering the dearly departed Bill Paxton. HNR continues its trek through film festivals and conventions, the next stop being Mad Monster Party in Rock Hill, SC March 24th - 26, 2017!

Co-hosts Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher and Thomas Mariani are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don't forget – Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)

Horror News Radio Episode 204 – Get Out (2017) Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

Feature Review: Get Out (2017)

Meeting your girlfriend's family is tough for anyone. It's even worse when they're a bunch of crazy white people. The Grue Crew may be short one Doc, but award winning filmmaker Christopher G. Moore is there to spread all sort of love for Jordan Peele's Get Out. The crew commends the clear displays of love for horror, the daring racial themes and masterful balance of horror with humor to both alleviate and strengthen the tension. Yet, there's still plenty of discourse here, mainly over the extensive praise that's been lauded on the film and the concept of hype backlash. Santos and Thomas go head to head... even though they both really enjoyed the movie. Must be an HNR episode!

What Have You Been Watching: XX (2017)

XX isn't just the correct chromosome pattern for the directors of this horror anthology. It's harbinger of the many deaths that take place over this horror anthology. Directors Karyn Kusama, Roxanne Benjamin, Sofia Carrillo, Jovanka Vuckovic and Annie Clark (or St. Vincent, for indie rock music fans) have crafted five segments all themed around women and horror. Santos and Thomas discuss the foibles and charms of this horror anthology, arguing over which ones work and which ones don't. There's an unevenness like most horror anthologies, but the nuggets of pure gold are worth searching for!

Outline of the Episode

• [00:00:40]: Intro
• [00:05:19]: Horror News of the Week
  • [00:05:35]: RIP Bill Paxton
  • [00:13:14]: Alien: Covenant releases a prologue short film "The Last Supper"
  • [00:20:40]: Vera Farmiga and Kyle Chandler Join Godzilla: King of the Monsters
  • [00:25:26]: Netflix's Bright Releases a Trailer
  • [00:32:48]: Tobe Hooper's original version of The Thing is revealed
• [00:41:19]: Support HNR
• [00:42:28]: Get Out
• [01:35:20]: Announcements
  • [01:35:23]: Gruesome Magazine! Indiegogo!
  • [01:36:13]: Mad Monster Party!
  • [01:36:33]: Other Convention Appearances!
• [01:38:10]: XX
• [01:53:39]: Stump The Saint!

NEXT WEEK ON HNR

Logan

GRUESOME LINKS

• Dragon Con
• Patreon
• Gruesome Tees
• Horror Pack
• Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival (Charleston, SC - May 19-22, 2017)
• Nightmares Horror Films Festival (Columbus, OH - October 19-22, 2017)

Gruesome Magazine Spring 2017 is coming! That's right, the very first issue of an all-new horror magazine from the Grue-Crew behind Horror News Radio and Gruesome Magazine website will land late February 2017. The tag line "Horror Festival Hits - Independent Films - The Future of Horror" reflects the focus of the magazine on the up'n'coming horror film makers and their films in Horror Film Festivals across the globe. Check out the GM page for more details.

"We didn't come here to fight monsters! We're not equipped for it!" Join the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era's Grue-Crew - Chad Hunt, Erin Miskell, Jeff Mohr, and Joseph Perry - as we take a deep dive (and we do mean DEEP!) into the legendary Black Lagoon and talk of all things Creature. Chad Hunt picked this one - it's one of his "favorite movies of all-time" - so listen as he leads us on our expedition into the Amazonian jungle in search of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The erudite Erin Miskell was under the weather for this one, but we sallied forth aboard the Rita and motored into dangerous waters without her, foolhardy as that may seem.

Decades of Horror: The Classic EraEpisode 3 – Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

All three of us first experienced Creature from the Black Lagoon on television via our local creature features and fell in love at first sight, but that didn't stop us from being surprised at what we learned about it.

The film is co-written by Harry Essex and Arthur A. Ross and is directed by Jack Arnold. Do you know which one of them had a hand in Gilligan's Island (1964-66) and Rawhide (1959-64)? How about The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) and Octaman (1972)? Or even Satan's School for Girls (1973)?

The film features the Gill-Man, the last of the Universal Studios Classic Monsters, as played by Ricou Browning and Ben Chapman. Why do they need two actors to play the Gill-Man? And is the Creature designed and built by Bud Westmore with assistance from Millicent Patrick or is it the other way around?

The quintessential cast for a 1950s science fiction / horror film - Julie Adams, Richard Carlson, Richard Denning, Whit Bissell, and Antonio Moreno - plays a team of scientists in search of the source of a fossilized, clawed hand they found up river. They travel aboard the Rita, whose captain is played by the inimitable Nestor Paiva with over 300 acting credits to his name. wonders why anyone would want to fish for rocks.

So many questions and so little time. Share 70 minutes of your time with us and find out:

• Exactly what does Creature from the Black Lagoon have to do with Citizen Kane (1941)?
• Who is Carl Dreadstone and why should we care?
• Why the heck aren't there any bubbles?
• What happened to the Gill-Man's "suit?"
• Why would anyone want to fish for rocks?

We plan to release a new episode every other week. Our upcoming schedule includes King Kong (1933), The Tingler (1959), and It! (1967).

Please let us know what you think and what films you'd like to hear us cover! We want to hear from you! 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, the Horror News Radio App, or the Horror News Radio Facebook group.

Doc Rotten, Thomas Mariani, and Christopher G. Moore gather to discuss the most anticipated genre films of 2017, taking a look at Sci-fi, Action, and Fantasy films coming out in theaters over the next twelve months. Based on list generated by HNR & DOH hosts, Gruesome Magazine contributors, Patreon supporters, and fans & listeners of Horror News Radio, the list comprises of films we're all dying to see. The list contains a number of Marvel films from Logan to Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2. DC is represented as well with their high profile entry Wonder Woman. Sci-Fi looks back at a genre classic with Blade Runner 2049 and looks toward the future with Luc Besson's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. And then there's a little ditty known as Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi. Tons to discuss, let the fun begin.

Horror News Radio Extra Episode 10 – The Most Anticipated Genre Films of 2017 Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

Voted on by HNR Patreon members, the Grue-Crew, and fans hanging out at the HNR Facebook Group, the following list represents the top 10 films that made the final cut. Note: the dates displayed may change before the film makes it to the theater.

10) Baby Driver - 08/11/2017 - d. Edgar Wright

After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.

09) Blade Runner 2049 - 10/06/2017 - d. Denis Villeneuve

Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

08) Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets - 07/21/2017 - d. Luc Besson

Time-traveling agent Valerian is sent to investigate a galactic empire, along with his partner Laureline.

07) Kingsman: The Golden Circle - 10/06/2017 - d. Matthew Vaughn

When an attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises, Eggsy and Merlin are forced to work together with the American agency Statesman to save the world.

06) Wonder Woman - 06/02/20171 - d. Patty Jenkins

An Amazon princess leaves her island home to explore the world and, in doing so, becomes one of the world's greatest heroes.

05) Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi - 12/15/2017 - d. Rian Johnson

Having taken her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rey continues her epic journey with Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the saga.

04) Thor: Ragnarok - 11/03/2017 - d. Taika Waititi

Thor must face the Hulk in a gladiator match and save his people from the ruthless Hela.

03) Logan - 03/03/2017 - d. James Mangold

In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

02) Spider-Man: Homecoming - 07/07/2017 - d. Jon Watts

Following the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), Peter Parker attempts to balance his life in high school with his career as the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man.

01) Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 - 05/05/2017 - d. James Gunn

Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.

"This is it, Jennifer: your big break in TV. Welcome to prime time, bitch!" Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) literally breaks Jennifer (Penelope Sudrow) through the fourth wall. Signaling Kruger's break away hit into pop culture icon status. What better way to celebrate its 30th anniversary than with a whole Decades of Horror 1980s episode dedicated to it?

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 102 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

After his much celebrated introduction and decried detour of a second chapter, Freddy Krueger returned to terrify teens and adults alike with a bit more comedic flair in Dream Warriors. After young Kristen Parker (Patricia Arquette) has a near suicidal panic during a nightmarish visit from Freddy, her mother sends her off to an institution to work out her waking torment. Under the care of Dr. Neil Gordon (Craig Wasson), Kristen meets several other teens with similar sleeping disorders. Among them, the drug addled Taryn White (Jennifer Rubin); the aggressive shit talker Roland Kincaid (Ken Sagoes); and paralyzed nerd Will Stanton (Ira Heiden). They all share visions of Freddy Krueger and need help getting him out of their dreams. But Dr. Gordon doesn't seem to believe their shared boogeyman... until a mysterious new intern Nancy Thompson (Heather Lagenkamp) reveals her own past with a sweater wearing demon of her nightmares.

While 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street gave us our introduction to Freddy, Dream Warriors gave us the Freddy we all ended up loving for so many years. The jokes, the elaborate dream sequences and the formula for each teen's descent into the nightmare world all came to light with this third entry. Doc Rotten, Thomas and Christopher G. Moore talk all about it here. The murders, the dream sequences and the... character investment? That's right, our trio dives deep into what separates this from the repetitive sequels that followed and tried very hard to recapture the same energy Dream Warriors pulls off so effortlessly. It helps that people like Wes Craven, Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont were all there to flesh out the Freddy universe without dragging out the details. Or putting too much emphasis on the jokes and cameos, as later entries would do. It's a mutual admiration society meeting for this underrated "meat in the Nightmare on Elm Street sandwich." What the hell does that mean? Listen to find out!

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]. We also want to be sure to thank Neon Devils for their killer track "Bone Chillin'" which we use for the intro and outro of this show.