Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

"I was kicked out of the church. I drank too much. I lusted. I was an adulterer… and other things." Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take on yet another made-for-TV horror movie, The Possessed (1977). Pssst . . . this one has some surprises in the cast.

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 180 – The Possessed (1977)

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A former priest, now an exorcist, battles the Satanic forces that are threatening the students at a school for girls.

• Director: Jerry Thorpe
• Writer: John Sacret Young
• Selected cast:
  • James Farentino as Kevin Leahy
  • Joan Hackett as Louise Gelson
  • Harrison Ford as Paul Winjam
  • Claudette Nevins as Ellen Sumner
  • P. J. Soles as Marty
  • Diana Scarwid as Lane
  • Eugene Roche as Sergeant Taplinger
  • Ann Dusenberry as Louise "Weezie" Summer
  • Dinah Manoff as Celia
  • Carol Jones as Alex

Made-for-TV horror movies in the Seventies are the go-to for any monster kids growing up during that time, gathering around the tube with the family to watch chilling favorites such as The Night Stalker (1972), Duel (1971), Gargoyles (1972), and Trilogy of Terror (1975). Whoa boy, those were the times. Many a time the film was to serve as a pilot for a TV series ala Kolchak. With a familiar cast (P.J. Soles, James Farentino, Joan Hackett, and more), The Possessed (1977) would make an attempt at such a lofty goal only to miss the mark. Regardless, those who saw the film may remember the nail-spitting, cackling creepy lady at the end, or fans of Indiana Jones and Han Solo star Harrison Ford may seek this one out to catch his last role prior to Star Wars (1977). Sadly, time has not been kind to this post-Exorcist attempt at the supernatural but the Grue-Crew review it all the same.

• If you'd like to check out other made-for-TV horror gems covered by the 70s Grue-Crew, take a listen to these:
  • DRACULA (1974) — Episode 61
  • SALEM'S LOT (1979) — Episode 69
  • SUMMER OF FEAR (1978) — Episode 79
  • THE NIGHT STALKER (1972) — Episode 84
  • THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973) — Episode 87
  • TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975) – Episode 108
  • GARGOYLES (1972) – Episode 131
  • THE LEGEND OF LIZZIE BORDEN (1975) – Episode 177

At the time of this writing, The Possessed is available to stream from YouTube. In terms of physical media, the film is currently available as a DVD from the Warner Brothers Archive Collection.

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 episode in their very flexible schedule will be The Brotherhood of Satan (1971), from the production company that brought you A Boy and His Dog (1975), starring Strother Martin, L.Q. Jones, Alvy Moore, Charles Bateman, and Ahna Capri.

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].

"The only person who ever was kind to me was a woman. She's dead now." Wait. What? Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Jeff Mohr, and guest host Dirk Rogers – as they witness the brilliance of Peter Lorre highlighted by the dark stylings of cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 142 – Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)

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/

An aspiring reporter is the key witness at the murder trial of a young man accused of cutting a café owner's throat and is soon accused of a similar crime himself.

• Director: Boris Ingster
• Writers: Frank Partos (story & screenplay by); Nathanael West (uncredited)
• Music by: Roy Webb
• Cinematography by: Nicholas Musuraca
• Art Direction by: Van Nest Polglase
• Wardrobe: Renié
• Special Effects by: Vernon L. Walker (special effects)
• Selected Cast:
  • Peter Lorre as The Stranger
  • John McGuire as Mike Ward
  • Margaret Tallichet as Jane
  • Charles Waldron as District Attorney
  • Elisha Cook Jr. as Joe Briggs
  • Charles Halton as Albert Meng
  • Ethel Griffies as Mrs. Kane, Michael's landlady
  • Cliff Clark as Martin
  • Oscar O'Shea as The Judge
  • Alec Craig as Briggs' Defense Attorney
  • Otto Hoffman as Police Surgeon
  • Emory Parnell as Grilling Detective in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
  • Herb Vigran as Reporter Who Wins Cardgame (uncredited)
  • Bobby Barber as Giuseppe (uncredited)

Stranger on the Third Floor inhabits the creepier side of, shall we say horror-adjacent, film noir. In fact, some experts argue that it is the first example of that dark genre, later to be labeled film noir. It's a nightmare-influenced murder mystery featuring Peter Lorre chewing on all the scenery he can. Boris Ingster directs Stranger on the Third Floor with all the style that feels as if it could have been an early Val Lewton production. Yup, it's Hollywood expressionism, RKO-style. This film is worth the watch, even if only for two 7-minute scenes: the nightmare sequence and the interaction between The Stranger (Lorre) and Jane (Margaret Tallichet).

If you have the urge to view this early example of noir filmmaking (or is it "proto-noir?"), and decide for yourself if it is truly horror-adjacent, Stranger on the Third Floor is, at the time of this writing, available to stream from archive.org or PPV from iTunes. There is also a Warner Brothers DVD available if physical media is your preference.

For more Peter Lorre goodness, check out these episodes of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era:

• M (1931) – Episode 113
• MAD LOVE (1935) – Episode 81
• TALES OF TERROR (1962) – Episode 92
• THE COMEDY OF TERRORS (1963) – Episode 75

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Daphne, will be Diabolique (1940, Les Diaboliques), the French classic directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, based on a novel by Boileau-Narcejac.

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 listening!"

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for January 9, 2022. JOIN US FOR movie news of the week and the top 10 Most Influential Filmmakers of 2023 . All this, and more, coming up next… Join your host Doc Rotten for HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back again are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net: Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine and Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl.

HORROR MOVIE NEWS

Warner Bros. remaking the classic creature feature THEM! with Michael Giacchino (Werewolf by Night) directing. Source: Deadline

Tim Miller steps in for Eli Roth for BORDERLANDS reshoots so Eli Roth can begin work on… THANKSGIVING! Source: Deadline

David Charbonier and Justin Powell follow up THE DJINN with OPEN HOUSE. Source: Deadline

TOP 10 - INFLUENTIAL FILM MAKERS OF 2023

• 10 Aaron B. Koontz (Producer/Director)
  • Old Man, Sorry About the Demon, Scare Package II, Blood Relatives (2022)
  • The Bunker, Snow Valley, Shelby Oaks, A Creature was Stirring
• 9 Ryan Murphy (Writer/Director/Producer)
  • American Horror Story, Dahmer
• 8 Ari Aster / Robert Eggers (tie)
  • A24, "Elevated Horror"
• 7 Sam Raimi (Producer/Director)
  • Evil Dead Rise, 64, Don't Move
• 6 Guillermo del Toro (Producer/Director)
  • Cabinet of Curiosities (2022), Haunted Mansion, Scare Stories to Tell in the Dark
• 5 Akela Cooper (Writer)
  • Malignant, M3GAN, The Nun 2
• 4 Mike Flanagan (Writer/Director/Producer)
  • The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, The Fall of the House Usher
• 3 Jordan Peele (Writer/Director/Producer)
  • Get Out, Us, Nope
• 2 James Wan (Writer/Director/Producer)
  • Atomic Monster
• 1 Jason Blum (Producer)
  • Blumhouse

Thank you for hanging out with the Grue-Crew. Be sure to hit the LIKE, SUBSCRIBE buttons, or Share with a Friend. Every click counts. Check out the Patreon link below and we'll see you next week.

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"Louis, sometimes dead is better. The Indians knew that. They stopped using that burial ground when the ground went sour." You know who wrote those words. Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr – as they brave the Micmac burial ground beyond the deadfall past the pet cemetery in Stephen King's Pet Sematary (1989).

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 223 – Pet Sematary (1989)

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

After tragedy strikes, a grieving father discovers an ancient burial ground behind his home with the power to raise the dead.

• Director: Mary Lambert
• Writer: Stephen King (screenplay from novel by)
• Selected Cast:
  • Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed
  • Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall
  • Matthew August Ferrell as Jud (child)
  • Richard Collier as Young Jud
  • Denise Crosby as Rachel Goldman-Creed
  • Elizabeth Ureneck as Rachel (child)
  • Miko Hughes as Gage Creed
  • Blaze Berdahl as Ellen "Ellie" Creed
  • Brad Greenquist as Victor Pascow
  • Michael Lombard as Irwin Goldman
  • Susan Blommaert as Missy Dandridge
  • Kavi Raz as Steve Masterton
  • Mary Louise Wilson as Dory Goldman
  • Andrew Hubatsek as Zelda Goldman
  • Stephen King as Minister
  • Chuck Courtney as Bill Baterman

By the end of the Eighties, a Stephen King feature film adaptation was practically a given. On this episode of Decades of Horror 1980s, the Grue-Crew dive into a fan-favorite, Pet Sematary (1989). The cast includes Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby, and Miko Hughes as Gage. Guard your ankles! With Stephen King handling the scripting chores himself, Mary Lambert directs this box office hit for Paramount Pictures with a budget of $11.5M, bringing in $89.5M.

Be sure to revisit the first time an 80s Grue-Crew (Thomas Mariani, Christopher G. Moore, Dave Dreher, and Adam Thomas) covered this film here: Pet Sematary (1989) – Episode 115

If you're in the mood for some proof that, "sometimes, dead is better," Pet Sematary is currently streaming from Paramount+, Prime Video, and Epix, as well as several PPV sources. In terms of physical media, the movie is available in Blu-ray and 4K UHD formats from Paramount.

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 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987). Are you ready for prime time?

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 website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"Over 50 years ago, Bram Stoker wrote the greatest of all horror stories. Now, for the first time, we retell exactly as he wrote, one of the first – and still the best – tales of the macabre." Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they get sucked into their first film directed by Jess Franco, Count Dracula (1970), starring no less than Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, and Klaus Kinski.

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 179 – Count Dracula (1970)

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

Count Dracula, a gray-haired vampire who regains his youth by dining on the blood of maidens, is pursued in London and Transylvania by Professor Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, and Quincey Morris after he victimizes them and their loved ones.

• Director: Jesús Franco
• Writers: Augusto Finocchi, Jesús Franco; Bram Stoker (from the novel by)
• Selected cast:
  • Christopher Lee as Count Dracula
  • Herbert Lom as Professor Abraham Van Helsing
  • Klaus Kinski as R.M. Renfield
  • Frederick Williams as Jonathan Harker
  • Maria Rohm as Mina Murray
  • Soledad Miranda as Lucy Westenra
  • Paul Muller as Dr. John "Jack" Seward
  • Jack Taylor as Quincey Morris
  • Jesús Puente as the Minister of Interior
  • Franco Castellani as Renfield's Warden
  • Emma Cohen as Vampire Woman (uncredited)
  • Jesús Franco as Van Helsing's servant (uncredited)

Sir Christopher Lee is perhaps the best Dracula on film. (Okay, you could argue Bela Lugosi – that's fair.) He's most famous for playing the Count in the series of Hammer films from (Horror of) Dracula (1958) to The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973). However, he also teamed up with Jess Franco to deliver a "truer" adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel in Count Dracula (1970). Notable actors Herbert Lom and Klaus Kinski are also on board as Van Helsing and Renfield respectively. So, how does this version stand up against the Hammer Horror films and the Universal Monster movies? The 70s Grue-Crew is here to find out and they are pleasantly surprised . . . for the most part.

At the time of this writing, Count Dracula is available to stream from Wicked Horror TV, Tubi, Kanopy, Crackle, Plex, Crackle, Filmzie, and various PPV options. In terms of physical media, the film is currently available as a Blu-ray from Severin.

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 episode in their very flexible schedule will be The Possessed (1977), another one of those TV horror movies of the 1970s. You might recognize some of the cast.

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].

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for December 28, 2022. JOIN US FOR casting news for the MOST ANTICIPATED HORROR MOVIES OF 2023. Doc Rotten hosts HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast along with the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net.

• Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl
• Christopher G. Moore, Award-Winning Filmmaker
• Brian W. Smith, Award-Winning Screenwriter
• Chad Hunt, Comic book Artist and Co-Host of Decades of Horror

MOST ANTICIPATED HORROR MOVIES OF 2023

Crystal Cleveland

• Teen Wolf
• Meg 2: Trench
• Scream 6
• Pale Blue Eye
• Saw X
• The Exorcist
• M3GAN
• Infinity Pool
• Renfield
• Evil Dead Rise

Brian W. Smith

• Last Train to New York
• The Black Demon
• Meg 2: Trench
• Renfield
• Knock at the Cabin
• Maxxxine
• Last Voyage of Demeter
• M3GAN
• Cocaine Bear
• Scream 6

Chad Hunt

• Renfield
• Saw X
• Meg 2: Trench
• Infinity Pool
• Cocaine Bear
• M3GAN
• Knock at the Cabin
• Last Voyage of the Demeter
• The Exorcist
• Evil Dead Rise

Christopher G. Moore

• Sick
• Beau Is Afraid
• Kids vs Aliens
• Renfield
• Maxxxine
• Scream 6
• Last Train to New York
• M3GAN
• Cocaine Bear
• Evil Dead Rise

Doc Rotten

• 09/08 The Nun 2
  • Director: Michael Chaves (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It)
  • Writer: Akela Cooper (Malignant)
  • Cast: Taissa Farmiga, Bonnie Aarons, Storm Reid
• 07/07 Insidious 5: Fear the Dark
  • Director: Patrick Wilson
  • Writer: Scott Teems (Halloween Kills)
  • Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins
• 04/14 Renfield
  • Director: Chris McKay
  • Writers: Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ridley
  • Cast; Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Shohreh Aghdashloo
• 10/13 The Exorcist 2022
  • Director: David Gordon Green (Halloween)
  • Writers: Peter Sattler, Scott Teems
  • Cast: Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Ellen Bursten
• 2023: Last Train to New York
  • Director: Timo Tjahjanto
  • Writer: Gary Dauberman
• 02/03 Knock at the Cabin
  • Director: M. Night Shyamalan
  • Writer: M. Night Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, Michael Sherman
  • Cast: Dave Boutista, Rupert Grint, Jonathan Groff
• 02/24 Cocaine Bear
  • Director: Elizabeth Banks
  • Writer: Jimmy Warden
  • Cast: Ray Liotta, Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich
• 01/06 M3GAN
  • Director: Gerard Johnstone
  • Writer: Akela Cooper
  • Cast: Allison Willams, Ronny Chieng, Violet McGraw
• 04/21 Evil Dead Rise
  • Director: Lee Cronin (13 Steps to Hell - 50 States of Fright)
  • Writer: Lee Cronin, Sam Raimi
  • Cast: Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Morgan Davies
• 08/11 Haunted Mansion
  • Director: Justin Simien (Bad Hair)
  • Writer: D.V. DeVincentis, Katie Dippold, Guillermo del Toro
  • Cast: Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito, Winona Ryder, Owen Wilson, Jared Leto, Tiffany Haddis

"What was that?" (Assorted animal noises ensue.) You better get out your lever-action rifle and fire a few random shots into the water. Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr – as they dive into the third and final adventure of Universal's Gill-Man, The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 141 – The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

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/

The Creature is captured and turned into an air-breather by a rich mad scientist. This makes the Creature very unhappy, and he escapes, killing people and setting fires in the process.

• Director: John Sherwood
• Writer: Arthur A. Ross
• Selected Cast:
  • Jeff Morrow as Dr. William Barton
  • Rex Reason as Dr. Thomas Morgan
  • Leigh Snowden as Marcia Barton
  • Gregg Palmer as Jed Grant
  • Maurice Manson as Dr. Borg
  • Ricou Browning as Gill-man – In water
  • Don Megowan as Gill-man – On land
  • James Rawley as Dr. Johnson
  • Paul Fierro as Morteno
  • Lillian Molieri as Mrs. Morteno
  • David McMahon as Captain Stanley

To this day, all the Universal Monsters remain incredibly popular and beloved with The Gill-Man edging out the others as the fan favorite of many Monster fans. Released in 1954, The Creature from the Black Lagoon would introduce the amphibious "prehistoric beast" just as Abbott and Costello were breathing final life into Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, and the Mummy. All three "Creature" films would be released within 3 years with the first two in 3D while the last did not receive the 3D treatment. The Classic Era Grue-Crew complete their coverage of the Gill-Man with this discussion and review of The Creature Walks Among Us (1956). (Don't be alarmed when Jeff leaves for a while to get sandwiches.)

The Creature Walks Among Us is a strong finish to Universal's trilogy of Gill-Man films. At the time of this writing, it is available to stream on The Roku Channel and on physical media as a Blu-ray in Creature From the Black Lagoon: Complete Legacy Collection and other Universal Monster collections.

• Check out these Classic Era episodes for the first two "Creature" films:
  • CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) – Episode 3
  • REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955) – Episode 68

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Jeff, will be Stranger on the Third Floor (1940), considered by many to be the first film noir and starring Peter Lorre and Elisha Cook Jr. Is it horror? Well, it's at least horror-adjacent.

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 listening!"

Welcome to HORROR NEWS RADIO for DECEMBER 2022. Join Doc Rotten and the Grue-Crew for the BEST HORROR FILMS of 2022!

This is HNR, the official GRUESOME MAGAZINE HORROR NEWS podcast. Back again for this special end of the year episode are the scariest, goriest, bloodiest co-hosts on the 'Net.

• Doc Rotten, editor-in-chief at Gruesome Magazine
• Dave Dreher, the lead news writer at Gruesome Magazine
• Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6dead6irl
• Christopher G. Moore, Award-winning Filmmaker
• Jeff Mohr, Host of Decades of Horror Podcasts
• Brian W. Smith, Award-winning Screenwriter

BEST HORROR MOVIES OF 2022

JEFF MOHR

• The Cursed
• Troll
• Prey
• The Black Phone
• Nope
• Satan's Slaves 2: Communion
• The Innocents
• Moloch
• Pearl / X
• Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities

Honorable mention: Deadstream, Terrifier 2, The Sadness, Barbarian, Fresh, The Passenger, The Watcher, Saloum, and On the 3rd Day

CRYSTAL CLEVELAND

• Terrifier 2
• Sissy
• Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge
• On the 3rd Day
• The Passenger
• Run Sweetheart Run
• Deadstream
• Troll
• Glorious
• The Sadness

BRIAN W. SMITH

• Werewolf By Night
• The Menu
• The Black Phone
• Barbarian
• Orphan: First Kill
• Nope
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022
• Scream 2022
• Terrifier 2
• Smile

DAVE DREHER

• Glorious
• X
• Mr. Harrigan's Phone
• Orphan: First Kill
• Troll
• Smile
• Prey
• The Black Phone
• Scream
• Barbarian

Honorable Mention: Terrifier 2

CHRISTOPHER G. MOORE.

• Nope
• The Menu
• Troll
• Fresh
• Deadstream / Scare Package II
• Prey / Dayshift
• Moloch
• Barbarian
• Pearl
• The Black Phone

DOC ROTTEN

• FEED ME
• V/H/S/99
• THE BLACK PHONE
• NOPE
• BARBARIAN
• PEARL / X
• SMILE
• TERRIFIER 2
• DEADSTREAM

Honorable Mentions: The Menu, Troll, Werewolf By Night, Prey, Run Sweetheart Run, Scream (2022), The Sadness, Christmas Bloody Christmas.

"You'll be dead Galen Bradwarden, Sorcerer's Apprentice. You'll be dead, the dragon will still be alive, and I'll still be a virgin! You'll be dead, and I don't care!" Sounds like a good foundation for a lasting relationship, right? Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out probably the most realistic dragon (did I hear someone say wyvern?) set to film in Dragonslayer (1981).

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 222 – Dragonslayer (1981)

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

A King has made a pact with a dragon where he sacrifices virgins to it, and the dragon leaves his kingdom alone. An old wizard, and his keen young apprentice volunteer to kill the dragon and attempt to save the next virgin in line, the King's own daughter.

• Director: Matthew Robbins
• Writers: Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins
• Music by: Alex North
• Cinematography by: Derek Vanlint (director of photography)
• Film Editing by: Tony Lawson
• Visual Effects by:
  • Sam Comstock (animation supervisor: ILM)
  • Alan Maley (matte painting supervisor: ILM)
  • Dennis Muren (supervisor of special visual effects: ILM)
  • Ken Ralston (dragon supervisor: ILM)
  • Thomas G. Smith (effects production supervisor: ILM) (as Thomas Smith)
  • Phil Tippett (dragon supervisor: ILM)
  • Gene Whiteman (equipment engineering supervisor: ILM)
• Selected Cast:
  • Peter MacNicol as Galen Bradwarden
  • Caitlin Clarke as Valerian
  • Ralph Richardson as Ulrich of Cragganmore
  • John Hallam as Tyrian
  • Peter Eyre as King Casiodorus Ulfilas
  • Albert Salmi as Greil (dubbed by Norman Rodway)
  • Sydney Bromley as Hodge
  • Chloe Salaman as Princess Elspeth Ulfilas
  • Emrys James as Simon (Valerian's Father)
  • Roger Kemp as Horsrick, Casiodorus's Chamberlain
  • Ian McDiarmid as Brother Jacopus

Dragonslayer is Bill's pick. Surprise! He had read about the technique called go-motion and really enjoys it, calling Vermathrax Pejorative one of the greatest dragons ever put on film. It is also one of his favorite kinds of fantasy movies; one where the world is messy and dirty, and a noble character does not get rescued despite audience expectations.

Crystal labels Dragonslayer as one of her all-time favorite movies. It would not be nearly so memorable for her without the special effects and the dragon. She also points out that technically, it is a wyvern, not a dragon. Not a big fan of pure fantasy movies, Jeff loves seeing Dragonslayer for the first time, especially the work from professionals like Phil Tippett & Dennis Muren. The Grue-Crew is universally impressed with Caitlin Clarke's performance as Valerian and wishes that she was given much more work as a female lead.

If you're in the mood for a great fire-breathing wyvern, née dragon, you can't do better than Dragonslayer. At the time of this writing, it is available to stream from Kanopy, Prime, and Paramount+. As far as physical media, a Blu-ray version of Dragonslayer is scheduled for a 21 March 2023 release from Paramount.

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 Crystal, will be Pet Sematary (1989), directed by Mary Lambert from the novel and screenplay by Stephen King. Sometimes, dead is better.

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 website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected].

"I am in the great Tenochtitlan." "Could you describe it?" "Yes, I can." But can you say three times, fast? Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Whitney Collazo, Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr – as they enter the confusing world of The Aztec Mummy (1957, La Momia Azteca), its sequels, and its offshoots.

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 140 – The Aztec Mummy (1957, La Momia Azteca)

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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/

A doctor proves his theory that hypnotized people can be regressed to past lives by hypnotizing his lover Flor, who in a previous life was Xochitl, a god's maiden, who was killed for having an affair with the warrior Popoca. The doctor steals 2 brass jewelry pieces from the tomb. Now they must face the curse of the revivified mummy of Popoca and the efforts of the evil The Bat who thinks the jewelry will lead him to an Aztec treasure.

• Directors: Rafael Portillo
• Writers: Alfredo Salazar (screenplay); Guillermo Calderón & Alfredo Salazar (original story)
• Selected Cast:
  • Ramón Gay as Dr. Eduardo Almada
  • Rosita Arenas as Flor Sepúlveda / Xóchitl
  • Crox Alvarado as Pinacate
  • Luis Aceves Castañeda as Dr. Krupp
  • Jorge Mondragón as Dr. Sepúlveda
  • Arturo Martínez as Tierno / Tender, Head Esbirro del Murciélago
  • Emma Roldán as Criada
  • Julián de Meriche as Doctor conferencia (as Julien de Meriche)
  • Salvador Lozano as Doctor Ríos
  • Jaime González Quiñones as Pepe Almada (as Jaime Quiñones)
  • Ángel Di Stefani as Popoca (as Angelo De Steffani)
  • Jesús Murcielago Velázquez as El Murciélago (The Bat) (as Murcielago Velazquez)
  • Enrique Llanes as Esbirro del Murciélago (Minion of the Bat) (as Enrique Yáñez)
  • Guillermo Hernández as Lobo (as Lobo Negro)
  • Alberto Yáñez as Esbirro del Murciélago
  • Firpo Segura as Esbirro del Murciélago
  • Sergio Llanes as Esbirro del Murciélago (as Sergio Yáñez)
  • Estela Inda as Aztec Chanteuse (as Stella Inda)

Trying to get a handle on The Aztec Mummy and related offerings is confusing, so here is Decades of Horror's own version of an Aztec Mummy Primer:

• The Aztec Mummy Trilogy (Be forewarned that about half of each of the 2nd and 3rd movies are composed of footage from the previous movie(s) in the trilogy. The Aztec Mummy is the only one of the three with all original footage.):
  • The Aztec Mummy (1957, La Momia Azteca)
  • The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957, La maldición de la momia azteca)
  • The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy (1958, La momia azteca contra el robot humano)
• The Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy (1964, Las luchadoras contra la momia), is not connected in any way to the original trilogy except by using a creature known as "the aztec mummy." However, it is included in a VCI Entertainment Blu-ray box set titled The Aztec Mummy Collection along, with #2 and #3 of the trilogy, but excluding The Aztec Mummy, the first movie in the trilogy.
• Attack of the Mayan Mummy (1964) is a very strange conglomeration of The Aztec Mummy and extra footage shot with English-speaking actors. It comes from Jerry Warren et al and completely changes the original story.

There you have it. Clear as mud? The Classic Era Grue-Crew could not find a good version of The Aztec Mummy with English subtitles or dubbing. The other four films listed above are all available with English dubbing.

Whitney chose The Aztec Mummy because she thought it would be cool to see something with history and a cultural connection along with the horror, and she really likes the idea of characters with a past life. The culture and history along with a mummy tale are also a big attraction for Daphne. The PLEX streaming app lists The Aztec Mummy as content but lurking beyond that title is actually The Curse of the Aztec Mummy. Thus, Chad was duped into watching the 2nd film of the trilogy instead of the first. The crew put PLEX's subterfuge to good use as Chad provides insights and details that connect the first and second movies and show the direction the story takes at the conclusion of the first film. Jeff likes the story, a tale of hypnotic regression through past lives, Aztec lore, a mummy, and an evil scientist thrown in for good measure.

Your Classic Era Grue-Crew mourns the lack of a high-resolution version with English subtitles, at least, that they could find, but are all glad they took the journey.

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Chad, will be The Creature Walks Among Us (1956), the last of the three Creature movies from Universal Horror.

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 listening!"