Dismembering Horror

“BUTCHYA ARE BLANCHE, Y’ARE IN THAT CHAIR!” That’s right, we hit a big one with the incomparable duo of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and boy oh boy was there plenty to dismember (least of which being a bird and a rat)! What more can be said without “hammering” home that we loved this film and gave it a much deserved double “buy?” A true classic with all the things you never knew you needed: old Hollywood, a haunting musical number, a creepy doll, a sibling rivalry for the ages, and so much more. 

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962) 

Directed by Robert Aldrich Written by Henry Farrell and Lukas Heller 

Where we watched: iTunes rental 

RecommenDEADtions: Personal Shopper / His House 

Next week’s film: The Sentinel (1977)

We wish you a very happy New Year's...EVIL! HAHAHA...err herm, anyway, not to get too carried away like the crazy killer in this raunchy, raucous and ravin' 1980 slasher film, we here at Dismembering Horror do wish you all a happy new year and thank you for being with us on this journey from one year into the next. There's just so much going on in "New Year's Evil" it feels weird to try and say anything more about it here. Lucky for all of us though, we recorded a whole podcast episode on it! We both rated it a very hearty "stream," especially as a cheese-tastic ridiculous romp to be enjoyed with friends. And if you aren’t able to physically be with any horror movie buds… just know you’ve always got us ;)

New Year’s Evil (1980)

Directed by Emmett Alston

Written by Leonard Neubauer

Where we watched: Amazon Prime

RecommenDEADtions: Zappa / Ghost Town Living (YouTube channel)

Next week’s film: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

We sojourn way back to 1932 for this week’s film, and don’t be fooled: this incredible vampire tale feels eerily real and strangely modern. Perhaps ahead of its time with incredible, sweeping camera work, indelible art direction, and an experimental, dream-like spirit, Tim and Ryan absolutely loved Vampyr. Sinking their teeth deep into the neck of this timeless classic, they couldn’t help but conjure a double “buy it!”

Vampyr (1932)

Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer

Written by Carl Theodor Dreyer and Christen Jul

Where we watched: The Criterion Channel

RecommenDEADtions: Happiest Season / The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2

Next week’s film: New Year's Evil (1980)

Kurt Russell delivered for us, as usual...and to everyone’s surprise, Ryan actually liked Patrick Wilson in this slow-burn, modern, western-horror mashup. Skirting and/or deconstructing the more problematic aspects of the westerns of yesteryear, “Bone Tomahawk” manages to weave wonderfully constructed characters to broader themes, driving it all home for an overall satisfying venture. Plus, literal bone tomahawks and one of the more gruesome death scenes we’ve encountered had us appropriately “oo"-ing and “AH!"-ing. All of this adds up to what we would consider a perfect movie to “stream” when you get back from your next ramble.

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Written and Directed by S. Craig Zahler

RecommenDEADtions: Enter the Void / Deadwood (TV show)

Where we watched: Amazon Prime

Next week’s film: Vampyr (1932)

You read that right, this week we are covering a listener-submission that's based off of the famed(?) Hanna-Barbera show “The Banana Splits” called...you guessed it: “The Banana Splits Movie.” Of course this being a horror podcast, this adaptation involved killer robots and some over-the-top gore that we have to assume was never a part of the original show. The film may have come up short, leading us to give it a double “avoid,” but as often happens with these clunkers, it gave us the springboard we needed for a fun and fruitful dismembering. Tra-la-la!

The Banana Splits Movie (2019)

Directed by Danishka Esterhazy

Written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas

Where we watched: YouTube rental

RecommenDEADtions: The Irishman / White Sands National Park

Next week’s film: Bone Tomahawk

CLASSIC! That’s right, we said it, CLASSIC! It’s the sci-fi horror film that started it all by spawning countless versions of the “monster on the loose” tale, “The Thing from Another World”! Although we loved many elements (especially the titular “thing”), it was held back by some minor limitations leading to a double “rent”. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t incredible and indelible moments that pushed this movie dangerously close to “buy it” territory. Besides, who doesn’t love a plant-based alien these days?

Where we watched: FandangoNOW rental

The Thing from Another World (1951)

Directed by Charles Lederer and Howard Hawks

Written by Charles Lederer

RecommenDEADtions: Cinemassacre’s Monster Madness (YouTube series) / The Guest

Next week’s film: The Banana Splits Movie

Let’s be honest, as horrific as much of this movie’s content is, it’s really more of a fantasy/fairytale. Apropos to the incomparable Terry Gilliam, this controversial entry of his did much the same for Ryan and Tim: breed controversy. Although magic and wonder and terror abound, this one really missed its mark and led to a near double ”avoid”... BUT ultimately was given a “stream” from Ryan and a “rent” from Tim. 

Tideland (2005)

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Written by Tony Grisoni, Terry Gilliam, and Mitch Cullin 

Where we watched: Amazon Prime 

RecommenDEADtions: The Apu Trilogy / Spring 

Next week’s film: The Thing from Another World

Put your hands together for our special guest Carly D. Weckstein, who helps us dismember this week’s film “Climax!” What a perfect addition to help us cover such a rich and complex story, one that explores themes of consent and so much more. This “dance horror film” sent us on quite the trip with its intensity, insanity, irreverence, and imagery. Earning a triple “rent” that verged very nearly on a triple “buy,” this one is definitely worth the watch (and then a listen)!

Climax (2018)

Written and Directed by Gaspar Noé

Where we watched: Amazon Prime

RecommenDEADtions: American Beauty (album) / Haunt / The Vow (TV show) and Children of Blood and Bone (book series)

Next week’s film: Tideland

Look out, it’s Jack Bauer back again to take down a new mysterious enemy threat in 24’s Halloween Special! What’s that? This isn’t actually an episode of 24? Well you could have fooled us, because Keifer Sutherland is as Jack Bauer as only Keifer knows how to Jack. Allowing us to “reflect” on some interesting ideas, and fully embracing being a scary movie about mirrors, “Mirrors” is true popcorn fare from this now classic, aughts-era of horror. It may have left us wanting more, yet delivered on its title, leading the guys to give it a solid double “stream.”

Mirrors (2008)

Directed by Alexandre Aja

Written by Alexandre Aja and Grégory Levasseur

Where we watched: Amazon rental

RecommenDEADtions: Hostel: Part II / The Hole in the Ground



Next week’s film: Climax (with special guest Carly D. Weckstein)

REDEMPTION! Not that Nicolas Pesce really needed it, but we are here to make clear that the 2020 “Grudge” film can not and will not be a reflection of this filmmaker’s talent. Here’s why: “Piercing” is amazing and so so so so deliciously twisted and beautiful and disquieting and fun. This visually and emotionally wonderful piece of filmmaking taps into the underbelly of psychosis, sex, kink, pleasure, pain, and guilt, among many other themes. Ryan and Tim go deep beneath the perforated skin of this one, rating it a double “rent,” and make it as clear as possible why it was very close to a “buy” but didn’t quite get there. Nonetheless, it’s a movie well worth the watch.

Piercing (2018)

Written and Directed by Nicolas Pesce

Where we watched: iTunes rental

RecommenDEADtions: Basket Case 1-3 / Scare Me

Next week’s film: Mirrors (2008)