We're exploring the darker side of TV journalism and the desire for fame with To Die For and Nightcrawler! Sources To Die For (1995) "Grins, Gore, and Videotape: The Trouble With the Local TV News" by Eric Pooley, New York Magazine "A Role to Die For" by Bob Strauss, South Florida Sun Sentinel "Women Who Kill Part 2" by Katherine Ramsland, TruTV Crime Library   Nightcrawler (2014) "Dan and Tony Gilroy of Nightcrawler Talk Media Ugliness in the Digital Age: Q&A;" by Mike Fleming, Jr., Deadline "Jake Gyllenhaal's Grueling Nightcrawler Transformation", ABC News "WWE", "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" "Facebook", "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" "THAT'S CRINGE: Jake Paul Teacher Diss", Cody Ko  

Episode 128: If It Bleeds ... - To Die For & Nightcrawler

A bi-weekly look at the monster movies, TV shows, cult films, and horror stuff that keeps YOU up at night!  In the days before syndicated stations and 24 hour programming, television stations often showed old monster movies hosted by local on-air talent.  It is in this spirit that “Test Pattern” is made – a little bit spooky, a little bit silly, but always informative!  Jacob and Tab have a new topic each week, with a focus on the macabre offerings shown on television starting in the mid 1950s, favorite creature features, and B-movies (with occasional forays into the outer realms of horror).

TV & Film

As we hang up our horror host costumes, we can’t help but pass out that sweet sweet Test Pattern Halloween Candy. It’s time for one final Halloween Hoorah!

Halloween Special 2022

We contemplate life and death and come to the realization that sometimes… dead is better. We read Stephen King’s darkest novel, Pet Sematary and watched the 1989 adaptation! Sources: On Writing by Stephen King Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary, documentary

Episode 201: Dead is Better - Pet Sematary

We come full circle, as we revisit our first movie together ... Sleepaway Camp!  Stay tuned after the episode for a bonus conversation with Jacob and James about their OG bad movie nights! Sources: Sleepaway Camp (1983) "Robert Hiltzik Talks the Making of Slasher Classic Sleepaway Camp" by Don Kaye, Den of Geek Actor commentary with Felissa Rose and Jonathan Tierston Director/Actor commentary with Robert Hiltzik and Felissa Rose

Episode 200: Meet Me at the Waterfront - Sleepaway Camp

We're joined by Brian Ivanhoe to explore the boundaries of reality with Jacob's Ladder and Silent Hill! Sources: Jacob's Ladder (1990) "Hell Can Wait: Art, Trauma, and Other Demons" by Rich Johnson, Fangoria "Up Jacob's Ladder and into the Hell of a Veteran's Psyche" by Tim Golden, The New York Times "Understanding Jacob's Ladder" by Pinchas Leiser, My Jewish Learning "What is the Story of Jacob's Ladder" by Joel Ryan, Christianity.com "Jacob's Ladder", Abrahamic Study Hall Director commentary with Adrian Lyne   Silent Hill (2006) "The Making of Silent Hill", featurette   Find Brian Online:  Twitter IMDB "The Legend of Drizzt Homeland Prologue and Chapter 1" (fan film) "Porcelain" (short film) "Swag: Episode 1" (short film - editor)  

Episode 199: No Exit - Jacob's Ladder (1990) & Silent Hill (with Brian Ivanhoe!)!)

The Dead have waited ... for our final installment of the Romero Dead Trilogy! We wrap things up with Day of the Dead! Day of the Dead (1986) Sources: Director/Crew/Actress commentary with George Romero, Tom Savini, Cletus Anderson, and Lori Cardille The World's End: The Making of Day of the Dead (documentary) Night of the Living Dead: Behind the Scenes of the Most Terrifying Zombie Movie Ever by Joe Kane

Episode 128: If It Bleeds ... - To Die For & Nightcrawler

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