Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio

Award-winning filmmaker Christopher G. Moore steps into the reviewers' circle to tackle the latest epic from director Joe Lynch, the violent action-comedy gorefest Mayhem (2017) featuring Steven Yuen and Samara Weaving in the lead roles. Christopher sings high praises for the film, championing the direction, the acting, the script, and the...mayhem. It's the best Joe Lynch film yet, displaying his maturing into becoming a top-tier action genre filmmaker. Steven Yuen proves he can carry a film as the lead and Samara Weaving impresses in the role of Melanie Cross - if you saw her in The Babysitter, this is no surprise. Lots of gore for hardcore horror fans make Mayhem the perfect combination of blood and violence for Gruesome Magazine listeners and readers. Christopher says "Check it out!" 5 out of 5 stars!

Fans of HNR know that Dave Dreher loves him some alien films, even more than that he loves Bigfoot films. He also enjoys a good vampire film. So he is thrilled to review the sci-fi mystery thriller Sightings (2017) from writer-director Dallas Morgan. Dave also loves a good bad movie and this film fits that bill. Dante Basco, Kevin Sizemore, Boo Arnold star in the picture where Bigfoot's kryptonite is Aloe Vera. Woot! Check out Dave's review below, you don't want to miss it!

What?! Horror News Radio covering another superhero movie?! I know some of you may be pretty Thor about that, but there's still plenty of fun to be had as The Grue Crew chums around Sakaar for Thor Ragnarok. Taika Waititi - the Kiwi director behind What We Do In the Shadows - puts his distinctive humorous stamp on the Marvel formula with charm and gusto anyone can appreciate. Hell, even Dave Dreher had fun with it! There's still a bit of horror thrown into the mix, though. Peachfuzz returns as Creep 2 is discussed, with one Grue Crew member finding it to be a big surprise for the year. Mr. Dreher also provides Horror News of the Week revolving around Ash vs Evil Dead, a redux of The Twilight Zone and a new take on Pet Sematary!

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 240 – Thor Ragnarok - Creep 2 Subscribe – iTunes – Facebook – Stitcher

• 1 Jordan Peele gears up to head into The Twilight Zone
• 2 Shudder original series The Core ready for a Nov. debut
• 3 Director Eduardo Sanchez heads into the comedy / horror with Sinkhole 2
• 4 Ash vs Evil Dead Season 3 Trailer
• 5 Pet Sematary Gets a remake from Starry Eyes team

• Thor Ragnarok (2017)
• director: Taika Waititi
• cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum

• CONTEST: THE BARN BLU-RAY GIVEAWAY WINNER [email protected] What is your favorite 80s Movie Monster?
  • Jeff Larrimore
  • From Beyond, Curse II: The Bite, Monster Squad, Pumpkinhead, Night of the Creeps, CHUD, Jason Voorhees, The Thing, The Gate
• CONTEST: COMET TV SWAG BAG WINNER [email protected] What is your favorite line from the Robocop trilogy
  • Bill Norris
  • I'd buy that for a dollar, Come quietly or there will be trouble, Dead or Alive You're Coming with Me
• CONTEST: THE SNOWMAN SWAG BAG WINNER [email protected] Subject: Snowman What is your favorite WINTER themed horror film?
  • Hghlndr3000
  • The Shining (multiples), The Thing (multiples), Dead Snow

• Creep 2 (2017)
• director: Patrick Brice
• cast: Mark Duplass, Desiree Akhavan, Karan Soni

• Patrons who donate as low as $1 have until November 15th to vote for the subject of our Patreon Exclusive Podcast at our 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

• Patreon
• HNR & Gruesome Magazine T-Shirts
• Gruesome Magazine 2016 Yearbook
• Gruesome Magazine Spring 2017
• Gruesome Magazine Summer 2017

Jeff Mohr jumped at the opportunity to review Radius (2017) when he saw it on the Gruesome Magazine review board. The film was right in his wheelhouse: a Sci-Fi thriller with a WTF premise and a couple WTF plot twists. Either or both of the two stars - Diego Klattenhoff (The Blacklist, Homeland, Pacific Rim) and Charlotte Sullivan (Chicago Fire, Rookie Blue, The Colony) - are on screen for nearly the entire film and do excellent jobs taking their characters through a series of developments and revelations. The poster tagline, "Don't get too close," is a downright sneaky indicator of what's to come without giving too much away. In Radius, writers/directors Caroline Labrèche and Steeve Léonard have crafted a layered, slow-burn, Sci-Fi thriller that is well written, directed, shot, and acted. Seek it out!

Chicago was home to Cinepocalypse from November 2 through November 9, 2017. One of the 60 films screening at this incredible film festival was The Terror of Hallow's Eve (2017) from director Todd Tucker along with co-writers Ronald L. Halvas and Zack Ward. The film features Eric Roberts as neighbor Ed and Doug Jones under the make-up of two top-notch creations, The Trickster and a creepy Scarecrow. The film stars Caleb Thomas, Sarah Lancaster, Annie Read, JT Neal, Mcabe Greg, and Niko Papastefanou. The film shines when it plays to its strengths: the special effects and its 80s vibe. The story loses interest the more it focuses on its lead and his unconvincing and typical 80s motivations, leading to the usual revenge-themed mayhem. The ending also does the film little favor as it veers into a second storyline that feels more like padding than a needed twist or turn.

Click here for more about Cinepocalypse.

oin the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Grue Crew for this episode – Erin Miskell, Jeff Mohr, and Joseph Perry – as we take our second journey in a row to Transylvania this time take in the silent scream splendor of Nosferatu (1922), the first cinematic version of Bram Stoker's classic novel Dracula.

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 21 – Nosferatu (1922)

Nosferatu is most definitely based on Bram Stoker's novel, but it is just as definitely an unofficial version. The filmmakers intentionally avoided obtaining the rights from the Stoker family, hence, the names along with a few other details, were changed to protect the not-so-innocent. As a result of their unsuccessful subterfuge, Dracula becomes Count Orlok/Nosferatu (Max Schreck), Harker is converted to Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim), Mina is replaced by Ellen (Greta Schröder), Renfield is changed to Knock (Alexander Granach), and a new way to kill the undead is devised.

Directed by German expressionist legend F. W. Murnau, Nosferatu reinforces the director's reputation as master of shadows. Jeff marvels at the shadows and shot composition of nearly every scene. This episode's Grue Crew all agree that Henrik Galeen's screenplay loses much of the character depth present in Stoker's novel. Produced by Enrico Dieckmann and Albin Grau, Nosferatu was most influenced by Grau who also served as art director and costume designer, and even created some of the poster art.

It is hard to imagine Max Schreck as a normal human being after witnessing his portrayal of Count Orlok. In fact, many people over the years have speculated he was a real vampire.

Joseph makes sure we discuss Alexander Granach's performance. His version of Knock seems to have set the mold for future portrayals of Renfield. Erin expresses her concerns for the dangers of one-dimensional female characters, such as Ellen, who represent pure good and whose only purpose throughout the film is to sacrifice herself for the benefit of everyone else.

All in all, they all agree. If you haven't seen Nosferatu (1922), what's the hold-up?

We plan to release a new episode every other week. The next episode in our very flexible schedule is another James Whale classic, The Old Dark House (1932), selected and hosted by Chad Hunt.

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

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

Paul Cardullo returns to discuss another Film Festival Favorite, Family Possessions (2017) from director Tommy Faircloth. We've covered the film before online and in our Gruesome Magazine print edition but Paul provides a new perspective from not only GenreBlast Film Festival but from Wreak Havoc Film Festival as well and compares the two experience giving this review a unique perspective. The film feature two familiar genre names from the Eighties, Mark Patton from A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge and Felissa Rose from Sleepaway Camp. It also features up and coming stars from past Faircloth films Elizabeth Mears, Jason Vail, and Leah Wiseman in the starring role. Andrew Wicklum and Erika Edwards also make a strong impression in this terrific thriller.

Vanessa returns with another killer review of a supernatural horror film. This time it is Live-Evil (2017) from director Ari Kirschenbaum. The film features Charlene Amoia, Vladimir Kulich, and Tony Todd. Vanessa praises the film's spirit, tone, and artistry. She dives into the demons and the dead, mentioning Eddie from Iron Maiden along the way. Listen to the review below to discover why the film and its murder-mystery vibe connects with Vanessa so strongly.

"You ungodly warlock! Because of you this hotel and this town will be cursed forever!" An angry mob storms the hotel of Schweick (Antoine Saint-John), a warlock trying to keep the 7th doorway to hell at bay. Or whatever the hell is happening in this opening as he's covered in queso. The Beyond - like many a Lucio Fulci film - takes liberties with logic and forward momentum in story. There's a lot more emphasis on the horror of the images rather than a traditional narrative structure. It's an acquired taste. But who amongst the Decades of Horror 1980s crew acquired this taste? Listen to find out!

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 123 – The Beyond (1981)

The Beyond is the middle chapter in Fulci's Gates of Hell trilogy, following Gates of Hell (or City of the Living Dead) and just before The House By The Cemetery. While a loose trilogy, each has a Giallo sensibility that combines bright gore with nonsensical narratives. Outside of the basic premise of a young lady Liza (Catriona MacColl) inheriting a hotel that has a gateway to Hell, The Beyond is mainly an excuse for the madness to unfold. Tarantulas bite a guy's face. A woman's face melts after being covered in acid in front of her daughter. Zombies attack for no real discernable reason.

So, does this sit well with the Decades of Horror crew? Well, Doc Rotten is a tried and true Fulci fan, though he admits that the Italian legend frustrated him initially. Christopher G. Moore and Thomas Mariani admit they aren't as up on their Italian horror. Christopher has some trouble with the dream logic and lack of consistency in the characters. Thomas can see that, but revels in the unintentional hilarity at play. It's a brazen frank discussion about auteur theory, gore and the grammatical errors of "Do Not Entry." Make sure to go Beyond the extra mile and listen to it all!

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

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

Our Patreon Poll Winner: Q The Winged Serpent (1982)

"Boy, have we got a vacation for you...where nothing can possibly go wrong..." - the tagline for the 1973 theatrical version of Michael Crichton's Westworld sets the movie up perfectly. Richard Benjamin and James Brolin star as friends who visit Western World to play out a fantasy vacation living in the wild, wild West. Yul Brynner is cast as The Gunslinger, a rogue cowboy dressed in all black who continually tries to gun down our heroes. Paul Cardullo joins Doc at the Retro Films Series at the Carolina Theater in Durham, North Carolina for a James Brolin double feature (more on the second feature in a future review). Find out how this classic which inspired the hit HBO series of the same name holds up 42 years later and on the big screen. Also, to paraphrase Paul, "You haven't seen anything until you have seen Dick Van Patten in a bar fight..." Check out Paul's review below.