Dismembering Horror

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Yours in Dismembering,

Ryan and Tim

Join us as we traverse the arid, alien landscape of 'The Outwaters,' Robbie Banfitch's found-footage horror that charts a group of friends' descent into terror in the heart of the Mojave Desert.

Despite its ambitious intention and appealing premise, we found it lacking in narrative coherence, intentionality, and verisimilitude. Ryan was underwhelmed, generously allotting it a "stream" for its earnest attempt, and for the sake of staying up on the latest in independent horror. Tim had a much stronger reaction, labeling it a stern "avoid." 

Prepare to lose yourself in the shifting sands of our latest episode as we attempt to uncover 'The Outwaters,' a film that, in our estimation, also lost its way.

'The Outwaters' (2022)

Written and Directed by Robbie Banfitch

Where we watched: Apple TV rental

RecommenDEADtions: 'The House Bunny' / 'The Flash'

In our latest episode, we unravel the layered world of ‘Men,’ a British folk horror film by Alex Garland, that sees a widowed woman, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, on “vacation” in a countryside village, tormented by the eerie men in the village, all brought to life by Rory Kinnear. We unpack Garland's layered narrative, drawing links to ancient cautionary tales, while also exploring the film's religious undertones and symbolism. ‘Men’ is a film that invites and defies consensus in equal measure, a trait reflected in our own verdicts. Ryan wasn’t very enamored, though conceded to a ‘rent’ due to the film's originality and enough intriguing elements. Tim however absolutely loved ‘Men’, awarding it an enthusiastic ‘buy.’ Are you ready to hear some men talk about ‘Men’? Tune in to our episode and let's dissect this folk horror enigma together!

"Men" (2022)

Written and Directed by Alex Garland

Where we watched: Showtime

RecommenDEADtions: ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ / ‘Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror’

In our latest episode, we get into the thick of the unconventional thriller, "The Vanishing". This isn't your usual kidnapping drama - this one's got layers, and it's as deliciously complicated as your grandma's lasagna recipe!

We get tangled up in an intricate web spun around "what happened" rather than "whodunnit". "The Vanishing" taps into our fascination with the aftermath of a horrific event and explores the relentless grip of obsession. We chew on the tricky question of moving on and the paradoxical timelines of grief. It’s a deep dive into the human heart that has us asking: "Can we truly let go?"

If you're a fan of true crime, love to wrestle with thought-provoking narratives or just fancy stories that shake things up a bit, you're in the right place. Tim heartily recommends it with a "rent," while Ryan can't help but hold it to the higher standard of a "buy." Are you ready to vanish into "The Vanishing"?

"The Vanishing" (1988)

Directed by George Sluizer

Written by Tim Krabbé (novel), George Sluizer (screenplay)

Where we watched: Blu-ray

RecommendDEADtions: "Freeway" and "Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby" / "Knock at the Cabin"

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Join us as we dive deep into the paradoxically dark reality of "Torso," an Italian horror classic that centers on a masked killer on a throat-slitting, sexual spree. We hop into our little Italian car and journey into the film's unsettling depiction of violence, exploring its uncanny ability to get at a disturbing, “real” feeling, despite unrealistic effect (a Giallo staple). With Ryan awarding it a "rent" and Tim giving it a "stream," we dissect the film's unique tension where brutality meets believability and so much more. We promise it'll be a 'cut' above the rest!

Torso (1973)

Directed by Sergio Martino

Written by Ernesto Gastaldi

Where we watched: Fandor

RecommendDEADtions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 / Britt's art installation

Ryan and Tim take a dreary, deadite deep-dive into "Evil Dead Rise," the fifth installment in the iconic horror franchise. While the film didn't quite live up to Ryan's hopes, lacking a certain bite and earning a "stream" rating, Tim found it more compelling and awarded it a "rent." Our hosts discuss how and if filmmakers can "put evil" into a movie, how a “modern” approach both help and hurt the movie, as well as the potential pitfalls of too much character development. So pardon us as we can’t help but say: JOIN US!

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Written and Directed by Lee Cronin

Where we watched: Theaters

RecommenDEADtions: Showing Up / Beau Is Afraid

Starring everyone’s favorite Nicolas Cage as the iconic Transylvanian Lord of Darkness, “Renfield” offers a fun and fresh “what if” in the form of a nine-decades-later sequel to the 1931 original “Dracula.” Ryan enjoyed the performances but couldn't bring himself to rate it higher than a "stream." On the other hand, Tim was smitten by its silliness, declaring it a new comfort movie and granting it a solid "buy." Tune in as we dismember the film's blood-sucking humor, chilling charm, and Nicolas Cage's reliably committed portrayal of the legendary vampire. Don't miss this fang-tastic episode!

Renfield (2023)

Directed by Chris McKay

Written by Ryan Ridley

Where we watched: Theaters

RecommenDEADtions: Beau Is Afraid / Piranha

For this episode, we submerge ourselves into the drizzling, moody world of the 1997 psychological thriller "Cure." Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the film follows a detective investigating a series of gruesome murders. The chilling twist? The real killer isn't committing the murders himself; instead, he hypnotizes others to carry out the heinous acts. Join us as we dismember the film's appropriately hypnotic atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes of identity, control, and culpability when the lines between perpetrator and victim blur. Ryan rated the film a (conservative) "rent it," while Tim surprised Ryan and opted for a "stream."

Cure (1997)

Written and Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Where we watched: The Criterion Channel

RecommenDEADtions: Alien from L.A. / Shall We Dance (1996)

Ryan and Tim are joined by recurring guest and "Scream Fiend" Peter Warden to dissect the latest installment in the fabled franchise, "Scream VI." With Ghostface and the “Scream” (2022) crew back on the chopping block, the trio slices and dices their way through the film's scintillating suspense, bloody butcherings, and terrifying twists. They also dismember the idea of fictionalizing real-life violence in horror storytelling, taking a stab at carving out what feels right or not. Don't miss this gripping and gruesome discussion that's sure to make you SCREAM with delight!

Scream VI (2023)

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

Written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick

Where we watched: Theaters

RecommenDEADtions: Ryan: "Modern Girls" | Tim: "Parasite" | Peter: "Babylon"

Our 200th episode is here! We've explored so many nooks and crannies of the genre, and now, in celebration of this milestone, we're taking a look back at the past hundred episodes to pick out our top nine films. Join us as we revisit some of our favorites, and see which ones have stayed with us long after the credits rolled.