Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Tackling another Sci-fi/Horror film, Jeff Mohr discovers Skybound (2017) is more an action-thriller with an interesting plot, a good mystery, and solid cinematography but with weak acting and cringe-worthy dialogue. Writer-director Alex Tavakoli guides his cast Scarlett Byrne, Gavin Stenhouse, and Rick Cosnett through his disaster-filled in-flight feature. Jeff shares his thoughts, his score, and his favorite scene with another much-anticipated Gruesome Magazine review.

Vanessa invites Doc Rotten to reveal his thoughts on the latest film in the DC cinematic universe, Justice League (2017). The film is directed by Zack Snyder (with some reshoot help from Joss Whedon) with a script by Chris Terrio and Whedon. The story has Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) forming a team to defeat Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds, voice), providing Jack Kirby a "New Gods" credit. Sadly, the world is in a tailspin after the death of Superman (Henry Cavill) in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice leaving it vulnerable with only Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra Miller) to lend a much-needed hand. The cast is up to the challenge providing the film with many character building sets of dialogue and exchanges. The "new kids" size up alongside Batman and Wonder Woman quite nicely. The film drags a bit when it returns to the foe with Steppenwolf proving that superhero films continue to have issues developing good villains. Still, he is still better than the villains in the past DC films. Full of entertainment and laughs, Justice League succeeds yet it still stops short of delivering much needed "wow!" moments

If you're listening to Horror News Radio to get through the workday, we hope for the best. Being in a cubicle farm, Wishing to just tear down those meager walls and throw a paperweight at someone's face. Just wanna cause some Mayhem, right? Well, the latest Joe Lynch flick might just be for you! Listen as The Grue Crew are joined by award-winning director AND cosplayer Christopher G. Moore to discuss the office madness. Thomas also weighs in with the latest arthouse horror of The Killing of A Sacred Deer. Dave Dreher is sitting out, but Doc Rotten is here to provide some news about sending the Dark Universe to its crypt, the first set photos from M. Night Shyamalan's Glass and a new trilogy of Star Wars films on the horizon. You know somebody will need to change their undergarments soon!

As always, the HNR Grue-Crew would love to hear from you, the listeners, the fans. You can always reach out via email at feedback(AT)horrornewsradio(DOT)com or find us on Twitter: Doc Rotten | Dave Dreher | Thomas Mariani. Also, like us on Facebook and join the Horror News Radio Facebook Group.

Horror News Radio Episode 241 – Mayhem – Killing of a Sacred Deer Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

• 1 Rian Johnson to create a whole new Star Wars Trilogy
• 2 Glass set photos
• 3 Final trailer for The Shaper of Water
• 4 Sony developing Morbius the Living Vampire film
• 5 RIP Universal's Dark Universe

• Mayhem (2017)
• director: Joe Lynch
• cast: Steven Yeun, Samara Weaving, Steven Brand, Caroline Chikezie, Kerry Fox, Dallas Roberts

• CONTEST: Comet TV Teen Wolf Swag Bag Giveaway
  • Email "Favorite Werewolf Film" to [email protected] w/ "Comet TV" in the subject line by Midnight, November 26, 2017.

• Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
• director: Yorgos Lanthimos
• cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic

• Patrons who donate as low as $1 have until November 29th to vote for the last Decades of Horror 1990s and Beyond episode on the Gruesome Magazine Patreon Page.
• Thanks to Tear Out the Heart and Victory Records for use of the song Undead Anthem for the intro and outro of the HNR podcast

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"I am not a human being. I am an animal!" Oswald 'The Penguin' Cobblepot (Danny DeVito) declares his identity pretty overtly. Batman Returns is not a subtle movie. Many would question why a superhero movie is being covered on a horror podcast. What is this, Horror News Radio? Well, 1) Batman Returns has been suggested by fans, 2) We've got a Justice League movie coming out and 3) there's some pretty horrific stuff featured in there. How much? Listen to find out!

Decades of Horror 1990s And Beyond Episode 30 – Batman Returns (1992)

Batman Returns had a lot to live up to. Being the sequel to 1989's Batman - a game changer in terms of blockbuster filmmaking - there's a lot of mounting pressure. Director Tim Burton returned along with The Caped Crusader, but promised something a bit different. He kept the gothic noir setting and his Batman/Bruce Wayne actor Michael Keaton, but put in a lot more stuff distinctive of him. Outcast villains like The Penguin or Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer). A brand new shadowy corporate tycoon Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). Black and white stripes. Yup, lots and lots of that. In other words, he turned Batman Returns into more of a Tim Burton film. Something that got him the boot from the franchise due to the macabre nature of the film.

Yet, does that seem to bad in hindsight, given some of the post-Batman Returns films featuring The Dark Knight? That's up for Thomas Mariani to decide, alongside his panel. Thomas, Chad Hunt, Jordan Worth Cobb and Adam Thomas all discuss what makes Batman Returns such a curious oddity. The campy qualities that recall the 1960s show. Some disturbing imagery that made McDonald's cancel a Happy Meal tie in. Much like Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne's relationship, there's a whole lot of duality going on. But to quote Christopher Walken, "YAWN." Why read about it when you can listen in as you slide into your own Batcave.

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 And Beyond podcast hosts at [email protected] or tweet Thomas @NotTheWhosTommy. Also, make sure to give us some love via iTunes reviews and ratings. Helps us get more notice along the way.

The intro and outro is "Suck City" by Black Math. Look for more of their music via Free Music Archive.

If you're donating at least $1 to the Gruesome Magazine Patreon, you can vote for the last Decades of Horror 1990s and Beyond. Just go to the poll here if you're a patron and vote. Voting ends November 29th.

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

"What is all this about the dead coming back to life again and... having to be killed a second time? I mean, what the hell's going on here?" Peter West (Ian McCulloch) tries to make sense of the dead rising from their graves to eat the living in Zombie (1979). Doc Rotten returns and he brings Lucio Fulci to the 1970s podcast for the very first time. Jeff Mohr, Chad Hunt, and Bill Mulligan are on hand to discuss the highlights, the effects, the living dead, Italian horror, and Fulci's dreamlike plot structure. Oh, yeah, and a zombie versus a shark! What else do you need?

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 62 – Zombie (1979)

When George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978) was released overseas, it was often known as Zombi. In Italy, Fulci's zombie epic was titled Zombi 2 without his knowledge or consent. His film is not a direct sequel to Dawn or any other living dead film. In fact, given the story, it would be more a prequel to the 1978 classic. When the film did cross the seas to play in the States, it kept the general idea of its moniker and became Zombie (1979). The film begins and ends in New York City but takes place mostly on a remote island with its lead characters looking for lost relatives, encountering the living dead and fighting for the lives.

"We are going to eat you!" - the poster tagline grabs its audience from the very get-go.

The Grue-crew explore the film, tackling Fulci's filming techniques, the acting, the dubbing, the gore, and so much more. The film is iconic with its scenes of zombie horror. If not the underwater zombie-vs-shark scene, then the Spanish Conquistadors rising from the grave to attack our heroes, including the famous zombie with the worms swarming out if its eye socket. Fulci also seems to have a fetish for eyes as the scene with the splinter is intense even today. The gore is plentiful and the final battle in the church turned hospital is non-stop white-knuckle intense. Bill Mulligan even starts off the podcast by suggesting that Fulci's Zombie is a favorite even over Romero's Dawn of the Dead.

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].

In the annals of killer car movies, one film stands out - The Car (1977) from director Elliot Silverstein and screenwriters Dennis Shryack, Michael Butler, and Lane Slate. Sure, Killdozer is older (though, technically, that is about a killer bulldozer, not a car) and John Carpenter's version of Stephen King's Christine (1983) may be more well-known, but The Car outshines those other films in at least two ways - it is a lot more fun and it has James Brolin. Catching this gem with Westworld (1973) as part of a James Brolin double-feature from the Retro Films Series at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina, Paul Cardullo joins Doc Rotten to discuss this funky and fun automotive killing machine. While maybe it is not the most well-constructed movie, find out why Paul describes The Car as one of the best Jaws (1975) rip-offs to come out in the wake of that film and why you should try and catch it on the big screen if possible

Interview - director Joe Lynch - Mayhem (2017)

Chicago's Music Box Theatre was home to the Cinepocalypse film festival from November 2 through November 9, 2017. One of the 60 films screening at this incredible film festival was Snowflake (Schneeflöckchen, 2017) from directors Adolfo J. Kolmerer and William James, and writers Arend Remmers. The film's ensemble cast is terrific and features an outstanding performance from Xenia Assenza as a young woman out for revenge on the two men who killed her parents in a restaurant massacre. The film features a meta angle about characters who confront the screenwriter, absurdist and surreal situations, dark comedy, and plenty of violence and bloody mayhem. Check out Joseph's full audio review below.

DND Creations, a two-man team consisting of Dante Aubain and Danny Summonte, has crafted a short film rife with tension and dread. Mannequin (2017) tells the tale of a young man (Summonte) who receives a box from his uncle that contains the top part of a mannequin. He doesn't think much of it until he is awoken that night by strange sounds. He goes to investigate, and filmmakers Aubain and Summonte ratchet up the suspense. Check out Joseph's full audio review below, and then watch Mannequin here!

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/dndcreationsonline/

Vanessa returns to review the holiday cheer fear flick, The Elf (2017) from writer-director Justin Price. You'd think this would be a slamming good time ala Leprechaun or Krampus or similarly crafted horror films. But, sadly, Vanessa shares this is not so. The effects are all over the place. The story is confusing and has Vanessa stumped, "You don't know what you're going to get." Check out Vanessa's entertaining review belo