I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) d. Jacques Tourneur (USA) THE LEOPARD MAN (1943) d. Jacques Tourneur (USA) THE SEVENTH VICTIM (1943) d. Mark Robson From 1942 to 1946, when rust was appearing on the Frankenstein Monster’s neck bolts, Dracula was growing longer in the tooth, and swaddled, swollen mummies were limping along, both literally and figuratively, a savior appeared on the horror horizon, who would provide welcome counter-programming to the usual parade of fur, fangs, and putty. That man was Val Lewton, and his debut production with RKO, 1942’s Cat People, heralded a new style of horror, where less was infinitely more, where shadows grew ripe with menace lurking just beyond the edge of the frame. Tonight, we’ll be discussing Lewton’s 1943 follow-ups to Cat People, all three of which are celebrating their 80th anniversary: I Walked With a Zombie, The Leopard Man, and The Seventh Victim. Join AC and another fantastic panel of guests, S.A. Bradley (Hellbent for Horror), Stan Hyde (G-Fest), and Bobby Zier (Lugosi Theatre) as they discuss the Lewton Legacy. In the dark. In the quiet. In the shadows....--------------------------------------- S.A. BRADLEY hosts the “Hellbent for Horror” podcast, is the author of “Screaming for Pleasure: How Horror Makes You Happy and Healthy,” and lectured at Webster University and The College of Idaho. His show, “My Horror Manifesto,” played in NYC. STAN HYDE teaches, examines, and consults on international film programs for students (International Baccaluareate's Film Course), as well as writing about model making, film history, and some fiction. He is winner of the Mangled Sky-Scraper Award for helping bring G-FEST, the annual Godzilla Convention in Chicago to life since 1995, and is a 2021 Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Hall of Fame recipient for his work with science fiction conventions, clubs, and fanzines. 

BOBBY ZIER has a passion for Dracula and runs a TikTok and YouTube channel called Lugosi Theatre.  He recently received a Rondo Award for his effort in keeping classic horror alive and well. ------------------------------------------------------Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!!

GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964) d. Ishiro Honda (Japan) GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1974) d. Jun Fukuda (Japan) GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE (1989) d. Kazuki Ōmori (Japan) GODZILLA VS. SPACE GODZILLA (1994) d. Kensho Yamashita (Japan) GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004) d. Ryuhei Kitamura (Japan) Ever since the original Gojira debuted in Japan in 1954, followed by 1956’s even more successful international cut, Godzilla king of the monsters, the giant radioactive lizard has been a going concern for 70 years. And one thing that director Ishiro Honda, FX wizard Eiji Tsuburaya, and screenwriter Shinichi Sekizawa quickly discovered was that as enjoyable as the Big G was on his own, he was even more entertaining when tangling with another oversized mutant, creature, or Interstellar menace. Join AC and his fantastic panel of guests (Tim Palace, Stan Hyde, Eli LaChance, and Jef and Al Burnham) as we celebrate a "Godzilla vs." film from each decade the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, each celebrating a significant anniversary. G-Force Unite!!! ------------------------------------ JEF BURNHAM (he/him) and AL BURNHAM (they/them) co-host the Silver Bolo Award-winning CadaverCast: A Monster Movie Podcast. When not podcasting, Jef is a screenwriter/screenwriting instructor and 12-year-old Al enjoys gaming and studying martial arts. STAN HYDE teaches, examines, and consults on international film programs for students (International Baccaluareate's Film Course), as well as writing about model making, film history, and some fiction. He is winner of the Mangled Sky-Scraper Award for helping bring G-FEST, the annual Godzilla Convention in Chicago to life since 1995, and is a 2021 Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Hall of Fame recipient for his work with science fiction conventions, clubs, and fanzines. ELI LACHANCE is a horror writer, chemist, and paleontology enthusiast. He is currently starting his last year in UMSL’s MFA in creative writing program. He resides in St. Louis, Missouri with his wife, dog, and two cats, one of which may be the living dead. Some of his writing can be found in Medium Chill and on Channel-31.com. When he’s not writing, he loves walking with his dog, bird watching, and hunting fossils. TIM PALACE was born and raised on horror from an early age in Chicago, IL. A lifelong devotee to the genre and the preservation of physical media, 2024 should be the year he hits the 10,000 mark for titles in his collection. ------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

LEPRECHAUN (1993) d. Mark Jones (USA) LEPRECHAUN 2 (1994) d. Rodman Flender (USA) LEPRECHAUN 3 (1995) d. Brian Trenchard-Smith (USA) LEPRECHAUN 4: IN SPACE (1996) d. Brian Trenchard-Smith (USA) LEPRECHAUN 5: IN THE HOOD (2000) d. Rob Spera (USA) LEPRECHAUN 6: BACK TO THA HOOD (2003) d. Steven Ayromlooi (USA) LEPRECHAUN: ORIGINS (2014) d. Zach Lipovski (USA) LEPRECHAUN RETURNS (2018) d. Steven Kostanski (USA) Throughout the slasher boom of the 1980s, nearly every holiday was offered up on the proverbial chopping block, from Halloween to Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day to Christmas, from birthdays to prom nights and everything in between. However, one holiday remained untouched until 1993, when writer/director Mark Jones decided to put a horror spin on a certain date initially designed to honor an Irish bishop, Saint Patrick. And when our thoughts turn to Ireland, we instantly think of that mythical creature neatly filed between fairies, elves, and sprites, the Leprechaun! Across 30 years and eight films, our Little Green Man has been been all over the place, from the sticks to the Strip, from the darkest inner city alleys to the deepest reaches of space, and he shows no sign of slowing down with his patented brand of creative kills and rhyming criming. He’s hundreds of years old, always bold, enjoys his gold, and he’ll kill you stone cold. It’s the Leprechaun, and he’s coming for you! Join AC and his intrepid crew (Eric Anderson, Gert Verbeeck, Vanessa Morgan) for their St. Patrick's Day Odyssey through the entire Leprechaun franchise. It's more fun that a pint of Guinness... and cheaper too! ------------------------------------------- ERIC ANDERSON was not allowed to watch horror movies as a kid and he is now making up for lost time with a vengeance. He works in a large urban public library and spends as much time outdoors as possible. VANESSA MORGAN is the author of several horror novels and film guides (When Animals Attack, Strange blood, Evil Seeds) – available from Amazon https://amzn.to/3Hzm0wN. She's also the creator of Traveling Cats, the first travel blog for cat lovers – https://traveling-cats.com. GERT VERBEECK is a filmmaker, musician and writer from Brussels, Belgium. He likes his books, movies and music diverse, nuanced and intense. This reflects his look on life as well, with a little sense of humor added.  --------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

EYES OF FIRE (1983) d. Avery Crounse (USA)

When celebrated photographer Avery Crounse set out to make his feature film debut, he didn’t opt for the simple route of an escaped psycho wielding a butcher knife like so many of his early ‘80s contemporaries. Eyes of Fire is instead an epic venture into the realm of magical realism, following a pair of families in 1750 on the run from their Puritanical community’s torches and pitchforks. As they escape into the wilds of the American Frontier, they encounter not only justifiably hostile Native Americans defending their territory, but also tree demons and tortured spirits bent on taking their lives, stealing their souls, or worse. Crounse’s visual eye is stunning, capturing the struggle between Man and Nature in bold relief, with breathtakingly beautiful tableaus trading beats with ambitious and creative practical effects. Eyes of Fire is a testament to artistic vision realized on a tiny budget, and, after years of obscurity, is thankfully enjoying a renewed wave of awareness, thanks to its inclusion in Severin’s outstanding folk horror box set, All The Haunts Be Ours. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Aaron AuBuchon, S.A. Bradley, Alan Tromp, John McDevitt) as they celebrate this hidden gem, now revealed to a new generation of adventurous genre fans looking for something outside the proverbial box. ------------------------------------------------------- AARON AUBUCHON is a film professor and writer, and also an editor, director, motion graphics artist and producer. He is also co-host of the Discover the Horror podcast. S.A. BRADLEY hosts the “Hellbent for Horror” podcast, is the author of “Screaming for Pleasure: How Horror Makes You Happy and Healthy,” and lectured at Webster University and The College of Idaho. His show, “My Horror Manifesto,” played in NYC. JOHN MCDEVITT is a lifelong cinephile who programs two monthly screening series: SUPER-HORROR-RAMA at FACETS and Fetish Film Forum at the Leather Archives & Museum, both in Chicago. John is fascinated by all genres of cinema and appreciates horror most of all for its willingness to explore what makes us uncomfortable and for the compassion it often extends to its characters and the viewer. ALAN TROMP is a golden age Monster Kid, who has published articles in Filmfax, Twilight Zone Magazine, and We Belong Dead publications in the UK. He was scriptwriter for the shot-on-video nightmare, The Soul Eaters. --------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

AUGUST UNDERGROUND (2001) d. Fred Vogel (USA) AUGUST UNDERGROUND'S MORDUM (2003) d. Fred Vogel (USA) AUGUST UNDERGROUND'S PENANCE (2007) d. Fred Vogel (USA) Inspired by the videotaped home invasion scene from Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and the documentary aesthetic of both Man Bites Dog and The Blair Witch Project, makeup artist-turned-writer/director Fred Vogel elected to burrow below the surface of human depravity for his 2001 debut feature, August Underground. Playing the lead character (Peter) himself, Vogel takes the viewer, or perhaps kidnaps is a more appropriate word, on a journey alongside a thrill killing monster who seeks to match his damaged psyche blow for blow against an unsuspecting world. Two sequels followed, August Underground: Mordum and August Underground: Penance, each more damaging in their own way than their predecessor. Over the past two decades, thanks to publications like Ultra Violent and Rue Morgue, as well as tireless hours on the convention circuit, August Underground and Vogel’s production/distribution company Toe Tag have carved out an avid, rabid fan base for their particular brand of confrontational horror. They are a legendary success story in the realm of DIY regional filmmaking, and now, thanks to Unearthed Films’ recent Blu-ray sets of all three August Underground films, they are ready to be discovered by a new generation. Question is, as it has always been, are horror fans ready for what lies beneath? Join AC and his amazing panel of guests Art Ettinger (Ultra Violent Magazine), S.A. Bradley (Hellbent for Horror), Michelle Kisner (The Movie Sleuth), and superfan Allana Sleeth as we chat about these notorious bad boys of horror. Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) d. Jack Arnold (USA) REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955) d. Jack Arnold (USA) THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US (1956) d. John Sherwood (USA)

One of the best sci-fi/horror efforts of the 1950s and must-see material for any card-carrying genre fan, Creature from the Black Lagoon was the brainchild of producer William Alland who blatantly riffed on King Kong’s storyline of a legendary beast sought out by civilized man for selfish designs. Screenwriters Harry Essex and Arthur Ross worked alongside legendary genre director Jack Arnold (who helmed such fare as It Came from Outer Space, Tarantula, and The Incredible Shrinking Man) to create an onscreen antagonist so fantastic that audiences could not help but empathize. The story follows a team of scientists (led by Richard Carlson, Richard Denning, and Julia Adams) who head into the wilds of South America in search of a mythical “living fossil,” a scaly humanoid amphibian that could serve as a missing link between land and sea creatures, leading to a fierce battle of wits and sheer animal instinct that will leave the Amazonian waters red with blood.... The famous aquatic ballet between Kay and the lovestruck Gill Man remains one of the most iconic sequences in horror history. Credit to Scotty Welbourne and James C. Havens for their excellent underwater photography, made all the more challenging for being shot in 3D. Though makeup department head Bud Westmore received sole credit, it quickly became common knowledge that the memorable monster design came from the skilled mind of Millicent Patrick, brought to life by suited performers Ben Chapman (on land) and Ricou Browning (swimming sequences).  Creature’s famous three-note trumpets-blaring theme music was composed (uncredited) by Universal staff composer Herman Stein, with additional contributions from his studio staff colleagues Henry Mancini and Hans J. Salter, as well as cues from Universal’s stock music library. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Dan Kiggins, Lee Price, Bobby Zier) as they celebrate the last of the classic Universal Monsters on its 70th Anniversary! ------------------------ DAN KIGGINS has worked on a number of independent features, shorts, TV shows, and innumerable commercials over the past 15 years as a Jack of all trades. A self-proclaimed cinephile, he has a vast collection of film ephemera including over 3000 movies. LEE PRICE is dedicated to preserving and celebrating our history, culture, and monster movies through his work with the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts and freelance writing. Occasional guest blogger at “Wonders in the Dark.”  BOBBY ZIER has a passion for Dracula and runs a TikTok and YouTube channel called Lugosi Theatre  @DustyOldMovies  He recently received a Rondo Award for his effort in keeping classic horror alive and well. ------------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE (aka Cemetery Man) (1994) d. Michele Soavi (Italy) Dellamorte Dellamore (aka Cemetery Man) is arguably the last great Italian horror movie of that country’s heyday, and yet somehow still struggles for a place of respect amidst the masters. Originally a novel by Tziano Sclavi, and later adapted by Gianni Romoli and directed by Argento protege Michele Soavi, the story follows Buffalora Cemetery groundskeeper Francesco Dellamorte (Rupert Everett) spends his days helping the living put their loved ones to rest, and his nights keeping the dead in the ground. He sleepwalks through life, gunning down zombies and leafing through old phone books, with his only companion the semi-mute Gnaghi (Francois Hadji-Lazaro), until one day he meets a young and stunning widow (Anna Falchi) who awakens passion within him. An array of comic misadventures follows, with enough bloodshed, nudity, and WTF moments to satisfy the gorehounds, yet elevated by its extraordinary camerawork, gorgeous score, and thoughtful meditations on life, death, love, and human existence. Join AC and his amazing panel of guests (Dave M. Gray, Jon Kitley, Ryan Olson, Lawrence P. Raffel) as they celebrate this exemplary slice of Italian zombie cinema on its 30th anniversary of release (as well as Severin Films’ extraordinary 4K Blu-ray release)! Ngah! ---------------------------------------- DAVE M. GRAY is just one alias for alien invasion advanced scout Yargnivad. This diabolical plan can be uncovered by decoding Raiders of the Podcast episodes (Raidersofthepodcast.blogspot.com or any podcast platform of your choice). JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years. He's a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast, and attends multiple conventions and all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters! RYAN OLSON (aka S. Ravenlord of The Cold Beyond music group) is the owner of Deadspeak Design and Night World Records, as well as a member of the Synapse Films street team and a regular on the Synapse Films podcast. His work has been featured in Liquid Cheese, Horrorhound, & Evilspeak Magazines. LAWRENCE P. RAFFEL started Monsters at Play in 2000, a DVD review site that started out as an experiment that grew into a thriving genre community. He joined with FEARnet (a multi platform horror network) in 2006, and oversaw editorial and all digital assets for FEARnet.com until 2014. --------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953) d. Eugene Lourie (USA) GODZILLA (1998) d. Roland Emmerich (USA) CLOVERFIELD (2008) d. Matt Reeves (USA)

Ever since King Kong tore up the town in 1933, New York City has played host to a number of giant monsters stomping their way down 5th Avenue and giving colossal headaches to insurance companies. Tonight, we’ll be paying homage to a trio of cinematic goliaths, all of which are celebrating significant anniversaries this year.

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, which premiered in 1953, marked stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen’s first solo venture, and it was an astounding success, one that proved influential not only to its creator, who went onto such classics as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts, and It Came from Beneath the Sea, but also to an entire subgenre of giant monster mashes to come, inspiring not only big bugs like Them and Tarantula, but also foreign frights like Japan’s Godzilla and other massive kaiju friends and foes.

Speaking of the Big G, 1998 saw its first Americanized iteration from the team of Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, who had just enjoyed a huge success with Independence Day. While the film made a ton of money at the turnstiles, the film was lambasted by both critics and fans and has becomes something of a cautionary tale in the quarter century since its release.

Finally, 15 years ago in 2008, producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves served up an inversion to the classic tropes of giant monster invasion movies with their found-footage sensation Cloverfield, which took viewers out of the scientific laboratories and military boardrooms, and put us on the very shaky and crumbling ground of Manhattan under siege from a gigantic menace lurking just offscreen.

AC is joined by another awesome panel of fans (Darren Callahan, Tim Palace, Daniel Ekholm) to discuss the highs and lows of these three films.

Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!!

MESSIAH OF EVIL (1974) d. Willard Huyck (USA)

Clearly inspired by Night of the Living Dead and possessing the dreamlike, doom-laden tone of Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, 1974’s Messiah of Evil is a thoughtful, introspective, original and regrettably neglected low-budget horror effort.

Directed by Willard Huyck and co-written with Gloria Katz (later the screenwriters for American Graffiti and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – as well as Howard the Duck), Messiah creates its own unique blend of horror and political commentary. When a young woman arrives in a small California coastal town looking for her father, she discovers little is as it seems. Despite his minimal budget, Huyck cultivates a sinister, dreamlike atmosphere that conveys a sense of moral and physical rot, clinging to the village’s residents like a malignant cancer. While it may require patience and willingness to overlook some of the rougher technical aspects, there are many rewards in store for the adventurous.

Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Jason Coffman, Darren Callahan, Lucy Ba'al, Nile Arena) as they discuss this low-budget gem on its 50th anniversary of release.

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Nile Arena has created cinema collectives, worked the film festival circuit, and lent his voice to podcasts dedicated to the silver screen. His literary/weird fiction journal, Success Stories, is available now at some of the places books are sold.

Lucy Ba’al is a demonic creature from the wrong side of Sesame Street who runs and operates the Laaaaast Video Store on Earth over on TikTok and hosts It Came from the Public Domain on Twitch, sharing lesser seen cult and horror films. All things Lucy Ba'al: https://linktr.ee/lucy_baal 

Darren Callahan is an award-winning writer, director, and composer who has written drama, fiction, and non-fiction for many major outlets, mostly focused on the horror genre. He has also released nearly 100 records, from pop to noise to ambient to film soundtracks.  His website is darrencallahan.com and his IMDB is http://www.imdb.me/darrencallahan. 

Jason Coffman is the Unrepentant cinephile. Former contributor to Daily Grindhouse and Film Monthly (RIP). Director of Housesitters and occasional "recording artist." Proud owner of 35mm prints of Andy Milligan's Guru, the Mad Monk and Zalman King's Two Moon Junction. On Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/rabbitroom/  ------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE WICKER MAN (1973) d. Robin Hardy (UK) Released the same year as The Exorcist, The Wicker Man also wrestles with religious rituals and fading faith. However, while the former was an instantaneous sensation that garnered Oscar nominations and huge box office receipts, its poor British relation suffered the indignities of studio-imposed edits and general public disinterest. However, as time has shown, this literal cult classic has endured for 50 years and is now regarded as one of the finest horror movies of the early 1970s. As loosely adapted from David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual by playwright Anthony Shaffer, Edward Woodward stars as the hard-as-nails Sgt. Howie who arrives on the remote island community of Summerisle searching for a missing child, Rowan Morrison. To his surprise, most of the inhabitants deny the existence of the child and, when pressed, express no remorse at her absence. As Lord Summerisle, Hammer horror stalwart Christopher Lee turns in one of his finest performances, and extraordinary support is provided by Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt and Diane Cilento, as well as the entire ensemble. Director Robin Hardy skillfully crafts an atmosphere-drenched mystery, with Paul Giovanni’s quirky folk songs adding an unexpected high-spirited frolic to the dread proceedings. Like the celebrated apples of Summerisle, The Wicker Man is a film that succeeds when it shouldn’t, and endures as a truly original, mesmerizing, and unforgettable cinematic experience. Join AC and his amazing worldwide panel of guests (Jimmy Seiersen, Alan Tromp, Vanessa Morgan, Katie McLean Hainsworth, Christopher Hainsworth) as we honor The Olde Ways while heading into The New Yeare. Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, Most of All, Keep Sharing the Scare!