HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

THE BLOB (1958) d. Irwin J. Yeaworth (USA) THE BLOB (1988) d. Chuck Russell (USA)

By the 1950s, sci-fi had taken Hollywood by storm, with all manner of tales involving Man exploring the galaxy, or various intergalactic neighbors swinging down to our neck of the woods for a visit. Meanwhile, juvenile delinquent pics became all the rage following the 1955 smash Rebel Without a Cause. Misunderstood teenagers already flocking to the drive-ins to see their onscreen counterparts and giant monster flicks, so entrepreneur Jack H. Harris hit upon the idea of combining the two elements. The resulting film, THE BLOB (1958), became an instant sensation, making back its modest budget many times over, as well as generating a Top 40 hit on the radio with its catchy title tune, and launching a young upcoming actor, Steve McQueen to superstardom. 30 years later, horror/sci-fi enthusiasts Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont, who had met on the set of the 1981 slasher Hell Night, decided to update the script for The Blob and pitched it to Harris, who was more than receptive to the idea of a remake, especially during the heyday of practical special effects. The resulting 1988 effort was gorier, meaner, and more spectacular in every way, and has become recognized as one of the most impressive remakes to come out of the 1980s, ranking alongside The Fly and The Thing. Tonight, AC is joined in the studio by another impressive panel of guests to discuss these two classics (as well as the, ahem, not-quite-classic 1972 sequel BEWARE! THE BLOB). Spanning coast to coast, with a dash of international flavor, please welcome Jon Kitley, Chelsea David, Mark Easteadt, and, beaming all the way in from Sweden, Daniel Ekholm! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHELSEA DAVID is a Louisiana native has been a Chicagoan for the past 11 years performing within the theatre/film/tv communities. (Currently, you can find her covered in dirt working on an organic vegetable farm in the Pacific Northwest.) Her love of all things horror started with movie nights with her grandmother Florence who instilled a deep passion for the genre. MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. He has had two essays on horror movies published in the Dr. AC volumes HORROR 101 (Scream) and HIDDEN HORROR (The Spiral Staircase). JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years, is a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, and a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast. When he has free time, he attends multiple conventions throughout the year, when he's not attending all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters! DANIEL EKHOLM is a journalist and wannabe film theorist who envies North America' fair use when it comes to the use of film material! ------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most importantly, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE TOXIC AVENGER (1984) d. Lloyd Kaufman/Michael Herz (USA) THE TOXIC AVENGER PART 2 (1989) d. Lloyd Kaufman/Michael Herz (USA) THE TOXIC AVENGER III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE (1989) d. Lloyd Kaufman/Michael Herz (USA) CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER IV (2001) d. Lloyd Kaufman (USA) Neither celebrated for their subtle nuance nor held in high regard by the critical cognoscenti, Troma Studios has managed to carve out an indelible place in cinema history, with its 1984 flagship production featuring the "first superhero from New Jersey," The Toxic Avenger, co-directed by the Troma Team of Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz and scripted by Joe Ritter and about a dozen other people. A combination of groaner jokes, splatter gags, gratuitous nudity, and outrageously energetic performances, The Toxic Avenger became a box office and merchandising smash, spinning off into sequels, action figures, off-Broadway musicals, and even a children's animated series, which is INSANE considering a kid's head gets run over within the first 10 minutes. Tonight, AC and his awesome panel of guests (Barry Under Your Bed, Chad the Bird, Lucy Ba'al) celebrate 40 years of Toxie and Troma, who against all odds managed to solve the world's problems and provide peace and sanctity for generations to come… True story! --------------------------------------------------- BARRY UNDER YOUR BED is the from the monster world but now lives among Humans. He has hosted shows all over SoCal, from variety to drag to burlesque, and is often known for his big mouth. But, you love him anyway! Find him online at www.barryunderyourbed.com CHAD THE BIRD flew to Chicago from Laguna Beach, CA against all Nature cuz the food's better and the beer specials are unmatched. He reports his findings on humanity every week on the social medias (@chadburd on Instagram @chadthebirdtok on Tiktok ‪@ChadTheBird‬ on YouTube) and live in your face Saturdays at The Paper Machete in Chicago's Historic Green Mill Lounge. For more go here: https://linktr.ee/ChadtheBird 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. For all things Lucy, visit https://linktr.ee/lucy_baal ----------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

DOG SOLDIERS (2002) d. Neil Marshall (UK) Dispatched to the Scottish Highlands, a half-dozen soldiers find their special training maneuver exercises interrupted by an S.O.S. signal flare. Upon arrival at the distress site, they discover the sole remaining member of a Special Ops team, Captain Ryan, raving and bleeding profusely. Moments later, the team is besieged by mysterious, snarling assailants that decimate one of their number and leave their leader, Sgt. Wells, grievously wounded. Their panicked retreat under the command of Pvt. Cooper leads to a chance encounter with a local woman, Megan, who helps them escape to a secluded cabin in the woods. Low on ammo and facing periodic but increasingly effective attacks, the pinned-down troops must use their every resource to combat the lycanthropic menace until the full moon sets. AC is SO excited to chat about this outstanding slice of werewolf cinema, which he recently introduced to several upstanding members of the Chicago Athletic Clubs (Daniel Hernandez, Grant Kuchan, Adam Witt, Jessica Kandel, and Caleb Fullen), all of whom are joining us tonight in the Doc's office to chat about werewolves, physical media, and where we find guidance in this modern era! ----------------------------------------------- GRANT KUCHAN is a writer of pulp and a really swell guy. CALEB FULLEN is an actor, writer and avid movie watcher. He also works at the same gym as AC. ADAM WITT does astonishing thing with myriad foodstuffs. Check his stuff out on all the platforms. JESSICA KANDEL is too busy lifting heavy things and doing battle with legions of injustice to concern herself with such petty things as mini-bios. DANNY HERNANDEZ likes peanut M&Ms. And Dog Soldiers. -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most importantly, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE GORGON (1964) d. Terence Fisher (UK) THE REPTILE (1966) d. John Gilling (UK) By the mid-1960s, Hammer Studios had exhausted its supply of classic Universal monsters, with vampiric counts, stitched-together reanimated corpses, lycanthropic curses, and bandaged Egyptian shamblers all present and accounted for. In response, the creative teams dug out their tomes of Greek mythology and exotic travel guides to conjure two original monsters, both – coincidentally or not – featuring female creatures levying doom on the locals: The Gorgon (1964) and The Reptile (1966). For casual Hammer fans who know only the classic Gothic Universal spin-offs and series, The Gorgon and The Reptile reside far below the radar. But those willing to dive deeper will find two satisfying and melancholy melodramas that show off their iconic stars in a different light. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Jessica Dwyer, Mike Mayo, Alan Tromp) as they discuss these oft-neglected classics from the Studio That Dripped Blood: Hammer! ----------------------------- JESSICA DWYER was raised on a diet of Dark Shadows, Doctor Who, and a lot of things she saw way too young. She's been writing for nearly a quarter of a century about the world of entertainment and her own fiction (and that sound you heard was her bones turning to dust.) She works for the JoBlo Network, HorrorHound Magazine, and is a producer on a number of projects. MIKE MAYO has written several books about film and popular culture, among them VideoHound's Horror Show and American Murder. He is also the author of the Jimmy Quinn historical suspense novels set in Prohibition-era New York. 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!

THE SIXTH SENSE (1999) d. M. Night Shyamalan (USA) STIR OF ECHOES (1999) d. David Koepp (USA) With scores of classic ghost movies populating the silver screen, video shelves, and streaming queues, it's still a pleasant surprise to have two noteworthy examples arriving the same year. That's exactly what happened in 1999 when M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense and David Koepp's Stir of Echoes hit theaters within a month of each other. For his third feature effort, writer/director Shyamalan decided to tackle one of the oldest antagonists in the history of horror, but with a twist. And what a twist it was. However, the film would not have gone on to become one of the highest grossing titles of the year, as well as securing six Oscar nominations, had it simply been a clever gotcha ending. The excellent performances by Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, and breakout star Haley Joel Osment elevated it beyond being a mere fright flick – it became a genuine cinematic event. The Sixth Sense is that rare beast that changes from one viewing to the next, with Shyamalan's subtle shadings and stylings informing the deeply emotional story. As a result, it was no surprise that writer/director David Koepp's adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1958 novel, Stir of Echoes, was seen as an also-ran in the celluloid spirit sweepstakes. Kevin Bacon plays Tom, a blue-collar Chicagoan for whom a post-hypnotic party trick leads to visions of a tragically murdered child crying out for justice from beyond the grave. As Tom grows more unhinged and his family grows more concerned for his sanity, it is strongly implied that Bacon's son also has the gift (or curse) of communicating with the other side. Tonight, 25 years later, AC and his awesome panel of guests (Matthew Amador, Mark Easteadt, Brett Neveu, Tyler Pistorius, Jill Van Voorst) re-examine these two spooky standouts, and discuss their similarities, their differences, and their legacies over the past quarter-century. ------------------------------- MATTHEW AMADOR is an actor and owner of Matador Behavioral Health, where he utilizes narrative fiction as a means to process trauma and anxiety through psychotherapy. www.MatadorChicago.com MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. BRETT NEVEU is a professor at Northwestern University where he teaches writing for the screen and stage. His film/TV screenplays include Eric LaRue (dir. Michael Shannon) and Night's End (dir. Jennifer Reeder) with Shudder/AMC. Past theatre productions include Revolution with A Red Orchid Theatre, Verböten with House Theatre and Red Bud with The Royal Court Theatre. Brett is also a recipient of a Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation, The Marquee Award from Chicago Dramatists, The Ofner Prize for New Work and the Emerging Artist Award from The League of Chicago Theatres. TYLER PISTORIUS is an actor, screenwriter, and producer living in Chicago. His recent works include Death is Business and A Missed Connection, and is currently in development on a new project. JILL VAN VOORST has been a horror lover since childhood! From showing scary films at her sleepovers as a kid, to running LIX (with her husband Gregg)-a large booth vending horror hoodies, tanks, tees and clothing for all at the best horror cons- you're likely to see Jill adorning or doing something scary at almost any time. http://www.lixonline.com She is also a chocolatier and brings her scary style to the world of chocolate. https://delixcious.com/ ------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, Most of All, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT (1974) d. Kevin Connor (UK) AT THE EARTH'S CORE (1976) d. Kevin Connor (UK) THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT (1977) d. Kevin Connor (UK) WARLORDS OF ATLANTIS (1978) d. Kevin Connor (UK) After a British cruiser is sunk by a German U-boat in the waning days of WWI, the remaining survivors – led by square-jawed American Bowen Tyler – turn the tables on their aggressors, floating in a lifeboat until the sub surfaces and taking the Jerrys by surprise. As food supplies dwindle, an uneasy truce is drawn after they happen upon a mythical uncharted island named "Caprona" which boasts all manner of evolution from dinosaurs to cavemen. The 1974 adventure outing, THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, from British studio Amicus marked a shift in gears from their usual horror fare, which had gained considerable ground thanks to their wave of anthology flicks such as Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Asylum, Tales from the Crypt, and Torture Garden. While some of prehistoric heavies, created by special effects artist Roger Dicken, require more than a little suspension of disbelief, the overall charm and sturdy cast's gusto dealing with the more fantastic elements sell this bucket of corn right down the line. Relatively faithful to the 1918 Edgar Rice Burroughs story, the success of this nostalgic treat led to three more adventure tales from Amicus: The People That Time Forgot, At the Earth's Core, and Warlords of Atlantis. All were directed by Kevin Connor (who began his career under the studio's banner with From Beyond the Grave) and all starring former TV star Doug McClure. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Darren Callahan, Barry Kaufman, Eli LaChance, Alan Tromp) as they discuss these fantasy adventures that played in heavy rotation on independent channels throughout the 1970s and 80s, lodging forever in the hearts of dinosaur-loving kids of all ages, and ripe for rediscovery by a new generation. ------------------------------------- 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. BARRY KAUFMAN has been committed to spreading the gospel of obscure horror and science-fiction cinema since writing the fanzines Monsters of Japan and Demonique in the 1970s and 80s. He ran All-Horror Video out of a house in the woods in Homewood, Illinois through the 1980s, followed by his shop The House of Monsters in Chicago from 1996 to 2007. He now vends at genre related shows and programs festivals in the Chicago area featuring his inconspicuous film favorites. 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. https://channel-31.com/ 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!

ZOMBIE (aka ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS/ZOMBI 2) (1979) d. Lucio Fulci (Italy) When George Romero's Dawn of the Dead became a major success worldwide, Italians had a stake in the matter since horror icon Dario Argento was one of its producers. In Italy, the trimmed-down Dawn was rechristened Zombi, and its blockbuster status dramatically altered the horror landscape, with molto filmmakers clamoring to ride the coattails of its success. Veteran direction Lucio Fulci was first out of the gate in 1979 with his own rendering of the undead mythos. Its name was… Well, in Italy, Fulci's film was released as Zombi 2, an unofficial sequel to Dawn of the Dead. In England, it was known as Zombie Flesh Eaters and banned as a Video Nasty. And, in America, it was simply called Zombie and advertised with the celebrated tag line, "We Are Going To Eat You!" Tisa Farrow (Anthropophagus), Ian McCulloch (Contamination), Al Cliver (Cannibals), Olga Karlatos, and Richard Johnson (The Haunting) star in this worldwide splatter sensation that remains one of the most eye-skewering, skin-ripping, shark-chomping, gore-gushingly graphic horror hits of all time! It's worth noting that in a directing career that spanned over five decades and dabbled in every genre from comedies to Westerns to war films to crime thrillers, all four films in Fulci's so-called "Gore-Tet" (comprised of Zombie, The Beyond, House by the Cemetery, and City of the Living Dead aka The Gates of Hell) were shot over the space of a two-year period. Clearly there is more to Fulci than these four infamous horror features, but there's no denying that they are a large part of the reason he and his films continue to be discussed and celebrated to this day. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Wendy Bodine, Fraser Coffeen, Michael Klug, Jennifer Olson, Ryan Olson, Lawrence P. Raffel) as they celebrate 45 years of shambling and gobbling! _________________________________________ WENDY K. BODINE is a mild-mannered assistant editor by day headquartered in central N.J. A single mom, she enjoys watching horror flicks when her mother and daughter aren't around. Her favorite films include the Alien Quadrilogy and pretty much anything with a zombie in it. FRASER COFFEEN is the co-host of Creepy History, a podcast dedicated to all the creepy stuff you wish they taught you in High School. He's been published in Horror Homeroom magazine and How to Analyze and Review Comics MICHAEL KLUG was born and raised in South Dakota. He is an actor, screenwriter, film critic, screenplay consultant, novelist, filmmaker and overall movie nerd, living in Los Angeles. Long live George A. Romero!" http://klugiverse.com/ JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team! 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 FLY (1958) d. Kurt Neumann (USA) RETURN OF THE FLY (1959) d. Edward Bernds (USA) CURSE OF THE FLY (1965) d. Don Sharp (UK)

Veteran director Kurt Neumann mostly toiled in mid-tier melodramas, Westerns and Tarzan movies throughout his long career, but had already made a few notable entries in the realm of science fiction cinema with Rocketship X-M (1950) and Kronos (1957). Released two months before his death in August 1958, THE FLY has endured for 65 years as true classic, not losing any of its power to shock and surprise. Tonight, AC and his illustrious panel of guests (Jon Kitley, Dan Caffrey, Darren Callahan, and Eli LaChance) dive deep into this haunting tale of science gone awry, as well as its less-celebrated sequels, comparing and contrasting it with David Cronenberg's successful 1986 re-imagining (and its own questionable offspring). It's a grand night for all things FLY - hope you brought your own safety visors and bowls of milk! --------------------------------------------- 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. DARREN CALLAHAN has written drama for the BBC and SyFy, had a few gothic plays produced, inked many killer screenplays, composed a few scary film scores, and is currently producing the shoegaze band The Loud Bangs. He lives in LA... of course. (http://darrencallahan.com/) DAN CAFFREY is a Brooklyn-based playwright and currently co-hosts The Losers' Club: A Stephen King Podcast and Halloweenies: A Horror Franchise Podcast, both on Bloody Disgusting's podcast network, Bloody FM. He received his MFA In Playwriting from UT Austin and has also written as a cultural critic for The A.V. Club, Consequence, Pitchfork, Vox, and elsewhere. (https://www.dancaffreywrites.com/) JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years, is a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, and a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast. When he has free time, he attends multiple conventions throughout the year, when he's not attending all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters! (http://kitleyskrypt.com) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most importantly, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999) d. Daniel Myrick/Ed Sanchez (USA) BOOK OF SHADOWS: BLAIR WITCH 2 (2000) d. Joe Berlinger (USA) BLAIR WITCH (2016) d. Adam Wingard (USA)

Low-budget horror filmmakers take note: You can make an original and frightening film for barely any money; it simply requires a fresh approach and more imagination than Karo syrup. Witness 1999's groundbreaking sensation from co-creators Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, The Blair Witch Project.

The slender premise sees three college students go into the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland in October 1994 to record footage for their documentary about the mythical Blair Witch. They are never heard from again. One year later, their footage is discovered, and later assembled by authorities in an attempt to learn their fate and potential whereabouts. What we are presented... is that footage.

Over the past quarter century, The Blair Witch Project has earned as many detractors as fans. Many have taken issue with the hype surrounding its release, the motion sickness-inducing cinematography, or the "annoying" characters. Some have complained that it ripped off earlier films like Cannibal Holocaust, or that it was a better example of innovative marketing than skillful filmmaking.

But to dismiss Blair Witch as "just not scary" is to ignore its creators' evocative use of sound, the authentic (and mostly improvised) performances, the flawlessly realized "found footage" motif, how so many onscreen events go unanswered, the palpable tension between the increasingly desperate characters, and the bone-chilling, mind-bending climax. It does, however, require a willingness to go along for the ride, to enjoy a simple campfire story well told.

The fact that the film went on to earn $250 million speaks to its effectiveness, and there is no denying this little film helped changed the face of cinema forever. The Blair Witch Project's lore is so strong that we believe such a legend truly existed. Funny thing is, now it does.

Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Mark Easteadt, Eric Fritzius, Cati Glidewell, Robin Graves, Kevin Matthews) as we celebrate 25 years of rocks, sticks, and standing in the corner!

----------------------------------------- MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. ERIC FRITZIUS writes things, acts in others and records mouth noises sold in the form of audiobooks. You can find his stuff at http://MisterHerman.com CATI GLIDEWELL (aka The Blonde in Front) is a Chicago-based film critic, lifelong cinephile, film festival jury member, and a member of Chicago Indie Critics since 2020. You can find her on all social media platforms, as well as Post mortem radio and Radio of horror on YouTube. ROBIN GRAVES (har har) is the puppeteer behind Lucy Ba'al, a demonic puppet who recommends lesser-seen horror and cult films through his TikTok show The Laaaaaaast Video Store on Earth. KEVIN MATTHEWS posts a movie review daily on the For It Is Man's Number blog, and is one quarter of the Raiders of the Podcast team who have been putting out weekly episodes for over six years. https://linktr.ee/raidersofthepodcast ----------------------------------

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TETSUO: THE IRON MAN (1989) d. Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan) TETSUO II: BODY HAMMER (1992) d. Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan) TETSUO: THE BULLET MAN (2009) d. Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan) Winner of Best Film at the 1989 Fantafestival in Rome, Shinya Tsukamoto's breakout 1989 feature Tetsuo: The Iron Man is a touchstone of cinematic cyberpunk, a relentlessly frenetic black-and-white 16mm assault on the senses and sensibilities, and a supercharged display of independent filmmaking. Written, directed, produced, edited, photographed, and art-directed by its auteur (who also created the impressive if rugged special effects), Tetsuo has drawn comparisons to the work of David Lynch, David Cronenberg, Jan Svankmajer, Ishiro Honda, and H.R. Giger, while remaining its own defiantly original beast. No catalog of descriptors can adequately communicate the fiery, almost violent energy that Tsukamoto brings to the screen. This is a genuine, "pure cinema" experience, one whose fairly straightforward if fanciful narrative is so deeply layered within its powerhouse visuals and incredible sound design (aided immensely by Chu Ishikawa's industrial driving beat and bluesy torch songs) that it becomes secondary or even tertiary to the proceedings. Instead, Tetsuo is a movie of moments, with one visceral mind-blowing sequence giving way to the next, until the end credits roll "Game Over" and the viewer is left forever changed. The right film at the right time, Tetsuo enjoyed a successful festival run before exploding onto the Western world via home video where it quickly gained a reputation as the underground film to watch for a generation of geeks just discovering the wild world of Japanese anime, videogames, and V-cinema (with Takashi "Beat" Kitano and Takashi Miike also blazing the trail). Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Michelle Kisner, Grant Kuchan, Jennifer Olson) as they discuss this landmark film. Tetuso is a feature unlike any other, and for that reason alone deserves your time and attention. Love it or hate it, you won't soon forget it. --------------------------------- MICHELLE KISNER is a film critic, freelance writer, and physical media advocate. She has contributed to several websites to include The Cultural Gutter and The Movie Sleuth and is also a member of the Michigan Movie Critics Guild. GRANT KUCHAN is a writer of pulp, wellness coach, and a real swell guy. He plays in any Jug Bands that let him. One day he'll finish another novel, which will probably be available on Amazon, as well as at most Darktower Comics locations across the greater Chicagoland Area. The horror movie that still gives him nightmares is Matango. He saw it when he was six, and still doesn't eat mushrooms. JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team! --------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!!