Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and I'm all out of bubblegum." – Nada, They Live (1988). Aren't we all? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they have a bit of fun creating their own top tens from this radical, gory, influential, and gruesome decade.

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 300 – Grue Crew Favorites by Year (1980-1989)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror 1970s 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 Decades of Horror 1980s podcast began life as the Monster Movie Podcast and became Decades of Horror 1980s with episode 81 in April 2016. The current 80s Grue-Crew began with episode 145 in August 2019. They are now at episode 300 of this inspired experiment, and the current Crew decided to mark the milestone with a list: one "favorite" film from each year of the decade from each host, this time packed into one very long episode. Remember, these are the Crew's "favorites," not what they think are the best, most popular, or biggest box office movies. They also agreed not to duplicate any of their fellow hosts' picks. This episode lists 40 films from the 1980s that the 80s Grue-Crew hold near and dear to their hearts. They hope you have as much fun listening to or watching this episode as they had recording it.

Year Chad Crystal Bill Jeff 1970 The Fog Altered States Cannibal Holocaust Motel Hell 1981 The Evil Dead Scanners American Werewolf in London Possession 1982 The Thing Basket Case Creepshow The Entity 1983 Cujo Sleepaway Camp The Dead Zone The Deadly Spawn 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street Night of the Comet Gremlins Threads 1985 Day of the Dead Fright Night Return of the Living Dead Mr. Vampire 1986 The Fly Gothic Aliens Manhunter 1987 Hellraiser A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Evil Dead 2 A Chinese Ghost Story 1988 The Blob Brain Damage Lair of the White Worm Evil Dead Trap 1989 Leviathan Society Godzilla vs. Biollante Santa Sangre

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1980s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1970s. In two weeks, the next '80s episode, chosen by Crystal, will be Ken Russell's Altered States (1980), written by Paddy Chayefsky, and starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, and Charle Haid. Now, this will be interesting.

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].

"Why did you have to rent those rooms?" Money, money, money, money! Money! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they take in a film with a pretty decent cast, yet it wasn't one they'd heard of. We're talking about The Silent Scream (1979).

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 256 – The Silent Scream (1979)

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 1970s 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: During her first semester at college, a co-ed finds housing at a seaside mansion where, following the death of a fellow student, she becomes entangled in a murder mystery surrounding the property and its secretive tenants.

• Director: Denny Harris
• Writers: Ken Wheat & Jim Wheat and Wallace C. Bennett
• Selected Cast:
  • Rebecca Balding as Scotty Parker
  • Cameron Mitchell as Lt. Sandy McGiver
  • Avery Schreiber as Sgt. Manny Ruggin
  • Barbara Steele as Victoria Engels
  • Steve Doubet as Jack Towne
  • Brad Rearden as Mason Engels
  • John Widelock as Peter Ransom
  • Jack Stryker as Police Chief
  • Thelma Pelish as Housing Lady
  • Tina Tyler as Victoria at 16
  • Yvonne De Carlo as Mrs. Engels
  • Juli Andelman as Doris Prichart

Your 70s Grue-Crew didn't know what to expect from The Silent Scream (1979) but were excited by the cast (Yvonne De Carlo, Barbara Steele, Cameron Mitchell, Avery Schreiber, and Rebecca Balding) and interested by its somewhat troubled production history. After filming of the original script was completed, there was a complete rewrite, new actors were hired (Steele, De Carlo, Mitchell, Schreiber, & Brad Rearden) and over 85% of the film was reshot. By most accounts, the changes yielded better results. The Grue-Crew is generally surprised by this film and finds it to be an average slasher with complicated relationships. As always, we had fun discussing this one!

At the time of this writing, The Silent Scream (1979) is available to stream from Plex and YouTube. The film is also available in 4K UHD from Kino Lorber.

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 Chad, will be The Hand That Feeds the Dead (1974, La mano che nutre la morte), starring the one, the only, the infamous Klaus Kinski!

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 see sin and the devil! But the lord has told us what to do about it. Said Matthew in Chapter Five, "If thine eye offends thee . . . pluck it out! . . . Pluck it out! . . . Pluck it out!"' All toothy critters gotta teethe. Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take in a bit of a turning point for Roger Corman with X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 218 – X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963)

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: Dr. James Xavier devises a drug that enables the user to see beyond the normal realm of human sight. When his funding is cut, Xavier tests this drug on himself & begins to see, not only through walls and clothes, but through the very fabric of reality!

• Director: Roger Corman
• Writers: Robert Dillon and Ray Russell; Ray Russell (story by; Playboy, Jan 1961)
• Composer: Les Baxter
• Cinematographer: Floyd Crosby
• Production Designer & Art Director: Daniel Haller
• Visual Effects: John Howard (consultant: Spectarama)
• Movie Poster Art: Reynold Brown (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Ray Milland as Dr. James Xavier
  • Diana Van der Vlis as Dr. Diane Fairfax
  • Harold J. Stone as Dr. Sam Brant
  • John Hoyt as Dr. Willard Benson
  • Don Rickles as Crane
  • Morris Ankrum as Mr. Bowhead
  • Dick Miller as John Trask
  • John Dierkes as Preacher
  • Kathryn Hart as Mrs. Mart
  • Jonathan Haze as Heckler
  • Vicki Lee as Young Patient
  • Barboura Morris as Nurse
  • John Dierkes as Preacher (uncredited)
  • Marilee Lear as Party Dancer (uncredited) (aka Lorrie Summers)
  • Cathie Merchant as Carnival Dancer (uncredited)

X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963) is a landmark film for Roger Corman. The film has a little bit of a lot of things: science fiction, horror, comic relief, visual effects, and a great cast and crew. Ray Milland leads the pack, playing it 100% straight, enabling us to believe the unbelievable. If the final scenes of the movie aren't horrific enough, there's also the rumor (propagated by none other than Stephen King) that the final line was cut because it was considered too horrific. The cast and crew are populated by Corman regulars, for example, Barboura Morris, Dick Miller, and Jonathan Haze, which also makes the film a fun watch. This is one of those movies that somehow manages to be lighthearted in a few scenes while inexorably ramping up the horror until the final scene. Yes, we ran a little long on this episode, but what a great movie to run long on.

At the time of this writing, X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963) is available to stream from the Classic Sci-Fi Movie Channel, Classic Horror Movie Channel, MGM+, Prime, Mometu, and various PPV sources.

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 The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). Time for some more Roger Corman shenanigans! The Classic Era Grue Crew are loving their Corman December Double Feature!

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 website, 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!"

"The autopsy categorically excludes an extraterrestrial being. His molecular structure includes him in the human race." Wait! Does that mean… atomic vampires are human? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss Umberto Lenzi's atomic vampire flick Nightmare City (1980, Incubo sulla città contaminata). … or is it a zombie flick?

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 299 – Nightmare City (1980, Incubo sulla città contaminata)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! 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 airplane exposed to radiation lands, and blood-drinking zombies emerge armed with knives, guns, and teeth! They go on a rampage, slicing, dicing, and biting their way across the Italian countryside.

• Director: Umberto Lenzi
• Writers: Antonio Cesare Corti (as Tony Corti); Luis María Delgado (as José Luis Delgado); Piero Regnoli
• Selected Cast:
  • Hugo Stiglitz as Dean Miller
  • Laura Trotter as Dr. Anna Miller
  • Maria Rosaria Omaggio as Sheila Holmes
  • Francisco Rabal as Maj. Warren Holmes
  • Sonia Viviani as Cindy
  • Eduardo Fajardo as Dr. Kramer
  • Stefania D'Amario as Jessica Murchison
  • Ugo Bologna as Mr. Desmond
  • Sara Franchetti as Liz the Maid
  • Manuel Zarzo as Col. Frank Donahue (as Manolo Zarzo)
  • Tom Felleghy as Lieutenant Reedman (as Tom Felleghi)
  • Pierangelo Civera as Bob
  • Achille Belletti as TV Station Technician
  • Mel Ferrer as General Murchison
  • Ottaviano Dell'Acqua as Zombie Outside TV Station (uncredited)
  • Roberto Dell'Acqua as Zombie (uncredited)

For this episode, your 80s Grue Crew wades through the poop-covered zombies (yeah, we know they're atomic vampires) in Umberto Lenzi's Nightmare City (1980). Or maybe you prefer one of these titles: Attack of the Zombies? City of the Walking Dead? Invasion by the Atomic Zombies? And those are just the English titles! Lenzi uses a unique blend of zombie and vampire tropes (does that make them zompires or vambies?) that confuses some of the Grew Crew (Jeff) just a little bit. Yes, these atomic vampires/zombies are intelligent, work together, and use weapons, but they don't seem able to talk. Thank heavens for small favors. Then there's the ending. It's maybe the worst (or best, depending on your point of view) ending ever, times two! Remember. We take the hits so you don't have to.

At the time of this writing, Nightmare City (1980) is available to stream from Wicked Horror TV, Kanopy. Mometu, Flix Fling, and assorted PPV options. It is available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode, their 300th, will be something special. As the Grue Crews from Decades of Horror Classic Era and 1970s have done, the 1980s Grue Crew will each list their favorite horror films by year for the 1980s. We're looking forward to it. In the meantime, what are your 1980s horror favorites by year?

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].

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy, Daddy!" "Audrey Rose! Audrey Rose! Audrey Rose!! Good. Now, repeat… Ad infinitum. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they take in yet another 70s horror flick about a family with a teenage girl troubled by supernatural events. Maybe not so obviously, we're talking about Audrey Rose (1977), directed by Robert Wise and starring Marsha Mason and Anthony Hopkins.

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 255 – Audrey Rose (1977)

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 1970s 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 stranger attempts to convince a happily married couple that their daughter is actually his daughter reincarnated.

• Director: Robert Wise
• Writer: Frank De Felitta (screenplay) (from his 1975 novel)
• Producers: Frank De Felitta, Joe Wizan
• Composer: Michael Small
• Cinematographer: Victor J. Kemper (director of photography)
• Editor: Carl Kress
• Selected Cast:
  • Marsha Mason as Janice Templeton
  • Anthony Hopkins as Elliot Hoover
  • John Beck as Bill Templeton
  • Susan Swift as Ivy Templeton
  • Norman Lloyd as Dr. Steven Lipscomb
  • John Hillerman as Scott Velie
  • Robert Walden as Brice Mack
  • Philip Sterling as Judge Langley
  • Ivy Jones as Mary Lou Sides
  • Stephen Pearlman as Russ Rothman
  • Aly Wassil as Maharishi Gupta Pradesh
  • Mary Jackson as Mother Veronica
  • Richard Lawson as Policeman #1
  • Tony Brande as Detective Fallon
  • Elizabeth Farley as Carole Rothman
  • Ruth Manning as Customer in Store
  • Stanley Brock as Cashier in Store
  • David Patrick Wilson as Policeman #2 (credited as David Wilson)
  • David Fresco as Dominick
  • Pat Corley as Dr. Webster
  • Eunice Christopher as Mrs. Carbone
  • Karen Anders as Maria (waitress)
  • Kathryn Janssen as Neighbor (uncredited)
  • Hanns Manship as Reporter (uncredited)

Your 70s Grue Crew somehow missed Audrey Rose (1977) until now. Directed by four-time Oscar-winner Robert Wise; written and produced by bestselling author Frank De Felitta; starring two-time Oscar-winner and four-time Oscar-nominee Anthony Hopkins and four-time Oscar-nominee Marsha Mason; edited by Oscar-winner Carl Kress; an excellent performance from 13-year-old Susan Swift; a typical 70s downer ending; and yet, the result receives mixed reactions. It's a story of reincarnation rather than possession, and of the breakup of a family, giving the film strong elements of psychological horror as well as supernatural ones. The Grue Crew is divided on Audrey Rose, which always leads to a spirited discussion. Yeah, baby!

At the time of this writing, Audrey Rose (1977) is available to stream from Kanopy, Tubi, Prime, and various PPV options. The film is also available on a Blu-ray disc from Arrow Video. 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 The Silent Scream (1977), starring Rebecca Balding, Cameron Mitchell, Avery Schreiber, Barbara Steele, and Yvonne de Carlo! Is this a hidden gem?

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].

"How are you farin', my fine, strapping babes? A-teethin', are ya? Well, you're very sweet and quiet, babes, not to be shriekin' about it." All toothy critters gotta teethe. Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take in another dose of stop-motion animation with Dinosaurus! (1960).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 217 – Dinosaurus! (1960)

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 undersea explosions near a Caribbean island, prehistoric creatures are unleashed on the population. A boy teams up with a Neanderthal and an alienated dinosaur to fight the threat.

• Director: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.
• Writers: Jack H. Harris (original idea) Dan E. Weisburd, Jean Yeaworth
• Producers: Jack H. Harris (producer); Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. (co-producer)
• Visual Effects:
  • Dinosaur Model Constructor: Marcel Delgado (uncredited)
  • Dinosaur Model Maker: Victor Delgado (uncredited)
  • Special Photographic Effects: Tim Baar, Wah Chang, Gene Warren
  • Stop-Motion Animators: Tom Holland, Phil Kellison, David Pal, Don Sahlin, Ralph Rodine
  • Stop-Motion Consultant: Willis O'Brien (consultant) (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Ward Ramsey as Bart Thompson
  • Kristina Hanson as Betty Piper
  • Paul Lukather as Chuck
  • Alan Roberts as Julio
  • Fred Engelberg as Mike Hacker
  • Wayne C. Treadway as Dumpy (credited as Wayne Treadway)
  • Lucita Blain as Chica (credited as Luci Blain)
  • Howard Dayton as Mousey
  • Jack Younger as Jasper
  • James Logan as T.J. O'Leary
  • Wilhelm Samuel as Townsman
  • Gregg Martell as The Neanderthal
  • Jack H. Harris as Tourist on Boat (uncredited)

Dinosaurus! (1960)! Does anything else need to be said? To be honest, the Grue-Crew was dreading this one a bit, but it turned out to be a bad case of "condemnation prior to investigation." This movie is so much fun! The crew comes up with a long list of scenes they've never seen before and can't figure out why. After first creating The Blob (1958) and 4D Man (1959), Jack Harris and Irvin Yeaworth Jr. collaborate for the third and final time on Dinosaurus!.

The great Willis O'Brien provides uncredited consulting on how best to shoot scenes that include stop-motion animation. The equally great Marcel Delgado provides uncredited model construction, and the effects crew is rounded out with Gene Warren, Tim Baar, and Wah Chang. Forget the absence of anything resembling science and dive wholeheartedly into this surprisingly fun flick with a relatively inexperienced, but likable, cast.

At the time of this writing, Dinosaurus! (1960) is available to stream from Tubi and Roku. The film is available on a Blu-ray disc from KL Studio Classics.

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 X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963). Time for some Roger Corman shenanigans! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

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 website, 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!"

"Yeah. I killed my mama. One night – it was my 14th birthday – she was drunk, and we had an argument. She hit me with a whiskey bottle. I shot her. I shot her dead." "I thought you said you stabbed her." "Oh yeah. That's right. I stabbed her." Sheesh. Keep your stories straight. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss John McNaughton's landmark film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986).

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 298 – Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! 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: Henry is a serial killer. When he gets to Chicago, he moves in with his ex-con acquaintance Otis, whose sister Becky also comes to stay. That's when Henry starts schooling Otis in the ways of the serial killer.

• Director: John McNaughton
• Writers: Richard Fire & John McNaughton
• Selected Cast:
  • Michael Rooker as Henry
  • Tracy Arnold as Becky
  • Tom Towles as Otis
  • Ray Atherton as Fence
  • Mary Demas as Dead Woman/Dead Prostitute/Hooker #1
  • Kristin Finger as Hooker #2
  • Elizabeth Kaden as Dead Couple – Wife
  • Ted Kaden as Dead Couple – Husband
  • Denise Sullivan as Floating Woman
  • Erzsebet Sziky as Hitchiker
  • Lisa Temple as Murdered Family – Wife
  • Rick Paul as Shooting Victim
  • Brian Graham as Murdered Family – Husband
  • Sean Ores as Murdered Family – Son
  • Monica Anne O'Malley as Mall Victim
  • Bruce Quist as Husband
  • Anne Bartoletti as Waitress
  • Kurt Naebig as High School Jock
  • Donna Dunlap as Dog Walker
  • Augie the Dog as Delores

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) is a stunning achievement from this cast and crew, many of whom were making their first movie. Its release was a bit of a trickle, but over the decades, the film has become a cult classic. It's an amazing movie with equally amazing performances. Michael Rooker, Tom Towles, and Tracy Arnold perfectly depict what director/co-writer John McNaughton calls the Poetry of Idiocy. Henry is oh-so-good while being oh-so-disturbing and uncomfortable to watch. None other than Stuart Gordon claimed this movie had trouble finding distribution because it was "too bloody for the art crowd and too arty for the blood crowd." Your 80s Grue-Crew have mixed reactions to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which makes for a much better discussion.

At the time of this writing, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) is available to stream from Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex, Prime, Arrow, and Screambox. It is available on Blu-ray from Dark Sky Films.

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 Nightmare City (1980), featuring Hugo Stiglitz and Mel Ferrer, and directed by Umberto Lenzi. The synopsis says "zombies," but sources say they use guns, so who knows? It should be fun!

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].

"A wolf remains a wolf, even if it has not eaten your sheep." Hmm. What if it has not eaten a cow? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they take to space via Disney's The Black Hole (1979).

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 254 – The Black Hole (1979)

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 1970s 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 research vessel finds a missing ship, commanded by a mysterious scientist, on the edge of a black hole.

• Director: Gary Nelson
• Writers: (screenplay by) Jeb Rosebrook and Gerry Day; (story by) Jeb Rosebrook and Bob Barbash & Richard H. Landau
• Composer: John Barry
• Selected Cast:
  • Maximilian Schell as Dr. Hans Reinhardt
  • Anthony Perkins as Dr. Alex Durant
  • Robert Forster as Captain Dan Holland
  • Joseph Bottoms as Lieutenant Charles Pizer
  • Yvette Mimieux as Dr. Kate McCrae
  • Ernest Borgnine as Harry Booth
  • Tom McLoughlin as Captain S.T.A.R. (as Tommy McLoughlin)
  • Steven Banks as Sentry Robot (uncredited)
  • Don Lewis as Sentry Robot (uncredited)
  • Roddy McDowall as V.I.N.CENT. (voice) (uncredited)
  • Gary Nelson as Drone with Mask Removed (uncredited)
  • Slim Pickens as B.O.B. (voice) (uncredited)

Disney's The Black Hole (1979) is on the agenda for this episode. Spectacular visual effects and a good cast bode well for this film. That is, if it weren't for the bad science and the equally bad script. The two little robots, voiced by Roddy MacDowall and Slim Pickens, are kind of fun, but also kind of dumb. Maximillian Schell, Robert Forster, Anthony Perkins, Ernest Borgnine, Yvette Mimieux, and Joseph Bottoms fill out the cast and perform admirably, considering what they have to work with. One Grue Believer referred to it as a "sublime failure." Regardless of their opinions of the film as a whole, your 70s Grue-Crew have a ball discussing this one. They hope you do the same, watching or listening.

At the time of this writing, The Black Hole (1979) is available to stream from Disney+, and various 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 Audrey Rose (1977), screenplay by Frank de Felitta (based on his novel), directed by Robert Wise, and starring Anthony Hopkins, Marsha Mason, and John Beck.

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].

"Did you know that there are ways to raise the dead?" Of course. Don't you watch horror movies? Join this episode's Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take a stroll through the Torture Garden (1967).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 216 – Torture Garden (1967)

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 anthology of four short horror stories about people who visit Dr. Diabolo's fairground torture show.

• Director: Freddie Francis
• Writer: Robert Bloch (written by)
• Producers: Max Rosenberg (as Max J. Rosenberg), Milton Subotsky
• Composers: Don Banks, James Bernard
• Cinematographer: Norman Warwick (director of photography)
• Segments & Selected Cast:
  • Prologue (Framework Story)
    • Synopsis: Five people visit a fairground sideshow run by showman Dr. Diabolo. Having shown them a handful of haunted house-style attractions, he promises them a genuinely scary experience if they will pay extra. Their curiosity gets the better of them, and the small crowd follows him behind a curtain, where they each view their fate through the shears of an effigy of the female deity Atropos.
    • Cast:
      • Burgess Meredith as Dr. Diabolo
      • Michael Ripper as Gordon Roberts
      • Clytie Jessop as Atropos – Goddess of Destiny
      • Timothy Bateson as Fairground Barker
  • 1. "Enoch" (story 1st appeared in 9/46 Weird Tales)
    • Synopsis: Michael Bryant, a greedy playboy, takes advantage of his dying uncle Roger and falls under the spell of a man-eating cat.
    • Cast:
      • Michael Bryant as Colin Williams
      • Catherine Finn as Nurse Parker
      • Maurice Denham as Uncle Roger
      • Niall MacGinnis as Dr. Silversmith
      • Roy Stevens as Constable
      • Norman Claridge as Police Sergeant
      • Barry Low as Tramp
  • 2. "Terror Over Hollywood" (story 1st appeared in 6/57 Fantastic Universe)
    • Synopsis: Carla Hayes, a Hollywood starlet, discovers her co-stars might not be who they seem to be.
    • Cast:
      • Beverly Adams as Carla Hayes
      • Robert Hutton as Bruce Benton
      • John Phillips as Eddie Storm
      • Bernard Kay as Dr. Heim
      • David Bauer as Mike Charles
      • Nicole Shelby as Millie
      • James Copeland as Fred
  • 3. "Mr. Steinway" (story first appeared in 4/54 Fantastic)
    • Synopsis: A possessed Bechstein grand piano by the name of Euterpe becomes jealous of its owner, Leo Winston's new lover, Dorothy Endicott.
    • Cast:
      • John Standing as Leo Winston
      • Ursula Howells as Miss Maxine Chambers
      • Barbara Ewing as Dorothy Endicott
  • 4. "The Man Who Collected Poe" (story 1st appeared in 10/51 Famous Fantastic Mysteries)
    • Synopsis: Ronald Wyatt, a Poe collector, murders Lancelot Canning, another collector, over a collectible he refuses to show him, only to find it is a very special item, indeed.
    • Cast:
      • Jack Palance as Ronald Wyatt
      • Peter Cushing as Lancelot Canning
      • Hedger Wallace as Edgar Allan Poe (credited as Geoffrey Wallace)
      • Roy Godfrey as Collector
  • Epilogue (Framework Story)
    • Synopsis: Gordon Roberts, the fifth patron, goes berserk and uses the shears of Atropos to "kill" Dr. Diabolo in front of the others, causing them to panic and flee. It is then shown that he is working for Diabolo, and the whole thing was faked. As they congratulate each other for their acting, it is then revealed that Ronald had not run off like the others, and he too commends their performance, sharing a brief exchange with Diabolo and lighting a cigarette for him before leaving (using the same lighter he borrowed in his vision, implying that the events actually happened). Diabolo puts the shears back into the hand of Atropos, and then breaks the fourth wall by addressing three words to the audience, thereby revealing himself actually to be the devil.
    • Cast:
      • Burgess Meredith as Dr. Diabolo
      • Michael Ripper as Gordon Roberts
      • Clytie Jessop as Atropos – Goddess of Destiny

Torture Garden (1967) is the second portmanteau made by Amicus Productions and the last of the seven to be covered by Decades of Horror. Directed by Freddie Francis with a screenplay by Robert Bloch based on four of his stories, the Classic Era Grue-Crew have sort of an Amicus Bloch party… or maybe it was Daylight Savings Time that made them a little goofy. At any rate, they have a great time in this episode. The story features Burgess Meredith as Dr. Diabolo, the proprietor of the Torture Garden, and a fantastic cast led by Michael Ripper, Michael Bryant, Beverly Adams, Barbara Ewing, John Standing, and Maurice Denham. If that's not enough, Peter Cushing and Jack Palance face off in the final segment for performances you won't want to miss. This one is so much fun!

At the time of this writing, Torture Garden (1967) is available to stream from YouTube. The film is available on a standard Blu-ray disc from RM Films.

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 Dinosaurus! (1960). Bill comes through again with some stop-motion animated dinosaur action.

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 website, 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!"

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." Wait a minute. Is that what it means when your thumbs are pricking? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they visit Dark's Pandemonium Carnival in Green Town, Illinois, via Disney's Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) from Ray Bradbury's novel and screenplay.

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 297 – Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! 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: In a small American town, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on the townsfolk. Dark's Pandemonium Carnival arrives in Green Town.

• Director: Jack Clayton
• Writers: Ray Bradbury (screenplay by) (based on his 1962 novel)
• Producers: Kirk Douglas (executive producer) (uncredited); Peter Douglas (produced by); Dan Kolsrud (associate producer)
• Composer: James Horner
• Cinematographer: Stephen H. Burum (director of photography)
• Special Makeup Effects: Stan Winston (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Mary Grace Canfield as Miss Foley
  • Richard Davalos as Mr. Crosetti
  • Jake Dengel as Mr. Tetley
  • Jack Dodson as Dr. Douglas
  • Bruce M. Fischer as Mr. Cooger
  • Ellen Geer as Mrs. Halloway
  • Pam Grier as Dust Witch
  • Brendan Klinger as Cooger as a Child
  • James Stacy as Ed, The Bartender
  • Jason Robards as Charles Halloway
  • Jonathan Pryce as Mr. Dark
  • Diane Ladd as Mrs. Nightshade
  • Royal Dano as Tom Fury
  • Vidal Peterson as Will Halloway
  • Shawn Carson as Jim Nightshade
  • Angelo Rossitto as Little Person #1
  • Peter Risch as Little Person #2 (as Peter D. Risch)
  • Tim T. Clark as Teenage Boy
  • Jill Carroll as Teenage Girl
  • Tony Christopher as Young Ed
  • Sharan Lea as Young Miss Foley
  • Scott De Roy as Cooger as a Young Man
  • Sharon Ashe as Townswoman
  • Arthur Hill as Narrator (voice)

The 80s Grue-Crew have wanted to cover this one for some time and were excited to discover it streaming. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) is a Disney film based on Ray Bradbury's screen adaptation of his 1962 novel. It's a shame that the filmmakers' original vision will never be seen. At the last moment, the film was pulled from the schedule; a script rewrite was ordered behind Bradbury's back; a new score was commissioned; new scenes were shot (the original director was not involved in their shooting); and a complete re-edit was conducted. The original film might have been a disaster or surprisingly good. No one will ever know. Considering the shameless "tinkering," it's surprising it's as good as it is. The cast excels, and it still has that Bradbury feel of youthful years gone by. As Bradbury is quoted as saying, "… (it's) not a great film, no, but a decently nice one."

At the time of this writing, Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) is available to stream from Disney+.

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 Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), starring Michael Rooker. This will be a tough one.

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].