Grave Discussions

It is perhaps the most iconic and prolific horror franchise in the world, spear-headed by the genre's poster boy for death and destruction: Jason Voorhees. Friday the 13th has taken the world by storm, due in no small part to the proverbial mommy's boy, but the mythology of Jason changed much over the years. Barnabas and Samael remove the putrified hockey mask and reflect on Jason's evolution over time, the people who played him, and more in this episode honoring the late John Carl Buechler. His only directorial effort of the franchise, "Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood," is featured in the Cult Corner, along with "The Clovehitch Killer" strangling its way onto the Chopping Block!

"It's your old pal, the Crypt Keeper!" or "Hello, darling. It's me, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark!" Such introductions immediately drew horror fans in for a spooky good time every week, itching to see their favorite hosts and whatever tale of terror that followed. At one time, horror hosts were immensely popular in the world of entertainment, and at others not so much. Now, hosted horror series and their ghoulish presenters are poised to make a comeback, and Barnabas and Samael cover the topic in this very episode! Featured in the Cult Corner is one such title, "Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight," and on the chopping block is the newest installment of a classic series, "Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich!"

Horror films can scare, scar, and shock, but the world's original tales of terror come from legend and mythology. In A24's newest pick-up "The Hole in the Ground," an Irish folk tale threatens to come a lot closer to home than protagonist Sarah could ever imagine, and Barnabas and Samael have their exclusive review of the film! Also, this week's Cult Corner features a nostalgic class in the form of "The Night of the Comet," and on the Chopping Block is Hulu's newest installment of the Into the Dark series, "Treehouse!" Remember, what doesn't kill you... might just come back to finish the job.

Quick shout-out in this episode to S.R.D.'s own Joe Myrick, who did a great article about Grave Discussions for the Hamtramck Review! You can find him at the following locations:

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The Oscars have long been the grandest filmmaking award ceremonies for the upper crust of Hollywood, but not always the most inclusive. Since the inception of the Academy Awards, horror films have been largely overshadowed, but does the recent resurgence of the genre signal a shift into visibility? In this episode, Barnabas and Samael assume an outside perspective on horror's history at the event, and ponder what must happen for it to re-establish a powerful presence. Also featured are the Cult Corner selection, the Academy Award-winning "An American Werewolf in London," and Shudder exclusive "Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror," which lands on the Chopping Block!

Love is in the air! Or is that the smell of delinquent teenage blood? No matter which way you slice them, people can't seem to stop falling in love in horror films, for better or worse. Barnabas and Samael return from their lonely graves to bring you this special Valentine's Day-themed episode in which they review "Happy Death Day 2U," an innovative sequel to a unique slasher movie. Will the frightening fiends fall in love with it, or will it be the start of another ill-fated loop? Also featured are discussions about the classic "My Bloody Valentine" and "Don't Knock Twice," which features a completely different kind of love!

We would do anything for our children, right? Even if they wanted to harm us? The horror films featured in this episode - covering perhaps the most personal type of horror - ask that very question, but the answers may not be what you expect. The killer kid subgenre sees a renewal this year with the release of "The Prodigy," which Barnabas and Samael are apt to review. Rounding out the discussion are the film that perhaps started it all, "The Omen," and a fresh spin with Dread's "The Golem."

The genius of Wes Craven's "Scream" captivated audiences, critics, and filmmakers alike, leading to a memorable era of horror. Unfortunately, that era was slashed short, but what really led to its decline? In this episode, Barnabas and Samael channel their childhoods for #90shorrorweek and explore the dying days of the self-aware late 90s horror boom and the factors that caused it to finally end. Tied in is an examination of the classic sci-fi horror "The Faculty," and new Netflix production "Velvet Buzzsaw" cuts its way onto the Chopping Block!

In the most variable and insane genre in cinema, every role is crucial when crafting a cinematic tale of terror. None, however, is perhaps more crucial than that of the director; following in the footsteps of legends such as Wes Craven, John Carpenter, and Stuart Gordon, modern-day horror directors have pretty big shoes to fill. This episode features an in-depth discussion on the very men and women - like Leigh Whannell, Ari Aster, and Jennifer Kent - who will revolutionize the genre for decades to come. Also, keep listening for discussions about Carpenter's snowbound classic "The Thing" and new-to-Netflix creature feature "The Monster!"

You know the theme song, you know the suits, and most importantly... you know not to cross the streams! "Ghostbusters" has become one of the most beloved and revered franchises in film, and despite not being horror in the classic sense, the paranormal hijinks of New York's premiere spectral entrapment service are still well-regarded in the horror community. With the announcement of "Ghostbusters 3" comes a copious amount of hype and speculation, and Barnabas and Samael take the opportunity to discuss their thoughts on the franchise in this special episode! Also featured in this week's Chopping Block is the hot new slasher on Netflix, "He's Out There!"

After a banner year for the horror genre in 2018, this year promises to deliver even more scares and mind-melting terror! With the arrival of original films such as "Us" and "Piercing" to adaptations, reboots, and sequels like "It: Chapter 2" and "Child's Play," there will be no shortage of horror in 2019, but will the quality hold up? In this episode, Barnabas and Samael explore the year's upcoming horror and discuss their expectations about content, trends, and what they hope not to see. Prepare for a new year of year!