HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

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!

DRACULA (1979) d. John Badham (USA) NOSFERATU (1979) d. Werner Herzog (Germany) LOVE AT FIRST BITE (1979) d. Stan Dragoti (USA) THIRST (1979) d. Rod Hardy (Australia) VAMPIRE (1979) d. E.W. Swackhamer (USA) SALEM'S LOT (1979) d. Tobe Hooper (USA)

The year was 1979, and it was a time of disco, political unrest, walkmans, and vampires. No fewer than six major film and TV projects premiered across the globe, providing a spectrum of bloodsuckers not seen before or since. Played for laughs (Love at First Bite) or steeped in social commentary (Thirst), from tortured souls (Nosferatu) to top of the food chain (Vampire), adapted from literary works old (Dracula) and new (Salem's Lot), or completely original storylines, you just couldn't keep the undead dead, and the shock waves have continued to reverberate throughout history. Some of the finest performers in history have lined up to either inhabit or combat the fanged menace onscreen, and we the viewers have reveled in their efforts over the past half century.

Join AC and his fantastic panel of guests (Chris Hainworth, Bobby Zier, Mike Mayo, Chad Hawks) for this amazing round table celebrating the VAMPIRES OF 1979!!! ------------------------------------------------------------ Chris Hainsworth (he/him/his) is an actor/writer/director represented by Big Mouth Talent Chicago. He is a DeathScribe winner 2009 for the audio drama "Remembrance" and author of The Fourth Wall, part of Motel 666 (2015).

Chad "The CryptKicker" Hawks is a Producer, author, and full-time fanged freak. He grew up a fanatic of monsters, the macabre, and the Halloween holiday, all of which he adores to this day. https://linktr.ee/thecryptkicker

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.

Bobby Zier has a passion for Dracula and runs a TikTok and YouTube channel called Lugosi TheatreH. e 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!

SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) d. Rowland V. Lee (USA) YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) d. Mel Brooks (USA) From the moment the original Frankenstein from Universal Studios was released in November of 1931, the landscape of cinema changed forever as Mary Shelley's creation became a household word overnight. Unsurprisingly for Hollywood, further adventures featuring the Frankenstein monster followed, some critically acclaimed, others derided, while the fan base grew, passed on through generations of horror fans. Tonight, we examine the third film in the Universal canon, Son of Frankenstein, celebrating its 85th anniversary, as well as the legendary comedy from Mel Brooks, 1974's Young Frankenstein, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Join AC and his amazing panel of film fans (Doug Long, Dave M. Gray, Michael Weber, Fraser Coffeen) for a hilarious round table discussion celebrating these two classic spins on the Frankenstein mythos. ------------------------------------------------- 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. 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). DOUG LONG teaches film-related classes at DePaul University and writes book reviews for film journals, including Film Quarterly and mise-en-scene. MICHAEL WEBER is an actor, director and the current Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre. A Chicago native, his fascination with classic horror began with WGN's legendary Creature Features and The Son of Svengoolie. An avid fan of the Golden Age of Radio, he is author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles' infamous radio broadcast.) -------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!

THE TERROR (1963) d. Roger Corman (and others) (USA) TARGETS (1968) d. Peter Bogdanovich (USA)

1963's THE TERROR, celebrating its 60th anniversary, is a legendary curiosity item from producer/director Roger Corman, more famous for its origins than the finished product. According to legend, when Corman wrapped shooting on The Raven ahead of schedule, he took advantage of Boris Karloff's two extra contracted days to slap together this tale of a reclusive baron with a dark secret. With the sets for the previous film being torn down around the actors' ears, Corman and others shot all of Karloff's scenes back to back, then composed the rest of the movie to fit. Relative novice and Raven co-star Jack Nicholson stars as a Napoleonic officer whose beachside encounter with a beautiful young woman leads him to reclusive Karloff's castle sanctuary and the ghostly haunts that lie within. Five years later, those mysterious two extra days that Karloff supposedly owed Corman showed up again when the latter approached neophyte writer/director Peter Bogdanovich with a proposition of using 20 minutes of footage from The Terror, shooting 20 minutes of new footage with Karloff, and filling out the rest with… whatever else Bogdanovich could come up with. Against all odds, the rookie auteur spins a fantastic yarn with TARGETS, juxtaposing the real-life horror of a Charles Whitman-like assassin against Karloff's fading brand of Gothic frights, with the 80-year-old veteran rendering one of the finest roles of his long career. We've assembled another fantastic panel (David Lee White, Jon Kitley, Gavin Schmitt) primed to chat about these two examples of environmental filmmaking (i.e. reduce, re-use, recycle), so bring your popcorn and enjoy the conversation about these excellent Karloff showcases, especially since Film Masters has just released The Terror to Blu-ray!

------------------------------------------ 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! Gavin Schmitt is a criminal historian, podcaster, and the author of many books, including a biography of Karl Freund. But most of all, he loves chili dogs. David Lee White is a playwright and performer based in New Jersey. His plays "Slippery as Sin" and "Ways to Be Happy" have just been published by Next Stage Press. ------------------------------------------------

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

HEREDITARY (2018) d. Ari Aster (USA) MIDSOMMAR (2019) d. Ari Aster (USA) BEAU IS AFRAID (2023) d. Ari Aster (USA)

From his Sundance smash debut, Ari Aster has been a rising star in the "elevated horror" firmament, challenging audiences with features packed full of adult themes, metaphor-laden subject matter, superlative performances, and gorgeous attention to production design. Polarizing as his works might be, there's no denying that he is a filmmaker who deserves and demands our full attention and stamina. (Three-hour running times, amirite?) Tonight's episode is entitled, "We Have to Talk About Ari Aster," and AC is joined once again by another outstanding panel of film fans: Owais Ahmed, Dominic Conti, and Mariana Reichman.

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Owais Ahmed is a Chicago based Actor and movie lover. Aside from movies, Owais loves biking, cold plunges, and being a dreamer. You can catch him onstage at Northlight Theatre in Selling Kabul: Jan 25th - Feb 25th.

Dominic Conti is a Chicago-based writer and actor. His first novel, Your Book Club, is now available. (Orders can be placed at [email protected], or you can just say hi.)

Mariana Reichman has lived in Chicago for the last 6 1/2 years. She has a two-year-old Supermutt from Puerto Rico named Parcha that she is obsessed with. Mariana enjoys being active, trying new foods, and watching movies. (Even scary ones.)

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

GREMLINS (1984) d. Joe Dante (USA) GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (1990) d. Joe Dante (USA) GHOULIES (1985) d. Luca Bercovici (USA) GHOULIES 2 (1987) d. Albert Band (USA) The early 1980s were a magical time for fans of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy fare at the cinema, with genre fare being cranked out by the fistful and practical effects ruling the day, making viewers gasp, gag, gawk, and greedily gobble up all they could find. Tonight, we'll take a look at two franchises birthed by two mighty masters of the art form, at different points on the budgetary spectrum. Please join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Dodd Alley, Kevin Matthews, and Derrick Carey) for a lively discussion about these two rubber monster franchises from the 1980s! YUM YUM. ---------------------------------------- DODD ALLEY is an author (Gamers and Gorehounds: The Influence of Video Games on the Contemporary American Horror Film) and has a Masters in Film Studies from Ohio University, where he taught courses on Cult Cinema and Hollywood Reflexive films. DERRICK CAREY has worked in front of and behind the camera for almost 30 years, as a director, producer, editor, sound man, colorist, and actor. He is also the driving force behind the Astro Radio Z podcast. https://linktr.ee/AstroRadioZ 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 --------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!