Imported Horror

There's a horrifying monster lurking in the depths of the Han River. Is it all that different from the callous bureaucrats and harsh governments at the surface? This week, the gang travels to South Korea for a uniquely creepy monster movie with effective CGI.

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 3. Quality: 5. Enjoyment: 4

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Korean filmmakers take center stage to bash trade talks," by Heejin Koo for Bloomberg News

"America's Image Abroad Rebounds With Transition From Trump to Biden" from the Pew Research Center

"U.S. Dumping Of Chemical Riles Koreans," by Don Kirk for the International Herald Tribune

Not all vampires laugh or glitter. Some struggle to resist monstrous bloodlust. This week, take a turbulent red eye with us as we explore a surprisingly intense new action-horror with killer makeup. Also, which pop culture vampires would you rather sit beside at 30,000 feet?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 4 (Marcus) / 5 (Melissa) / 3 (Grady). Quality: 5. Enjoyment: 5.

Articles Mentioned in this Episode:

"'Blood Red Sky' Director Peter Thorwarth on Putting a Vampire on an Airplane [Interview]," by Steven Prokopy for SlashFilm

"Peri Baumeister & Dominic Purcell Interview: Blood Red Sky," by Zak Wojnar for Screen Rant

There are plenty of shark movies in the sea. Some are willfully ridiculous and others take a bite out of serious scares. Unfortunately, Great White feels adrift between the two groups - not funny or absurd, but also not scary or compelling. Also, if your car were pinballed into the Matawan Creek, what monster would you rather see peering through your submerged window?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 1. Quality: 1 (Marcus) / 2 (Grady). Enjoyment: 1

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"The ISAF 2020 shark attack report," from the Florida Museum

"Interview: Katrina Bowden Discusses Underwater Filming in Great White," by Sabina Graves in ComingSoon.net

"INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Interview with 'Great White' Director Martin Wilson," by Sadie Dean in Script

There's a silent, submersible killer stalking the canals of Amsterdam. Nobody is safe - not hookers, not sunbathers and certainly not the beautiful new girlfriend of the city's top cop. This shameless romp through 1980s horror and action tropes is perfect for a "so bad its good" midnight feature. Also, if you were a tourist, what monster would you rather be stalking you in the canals?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 1. Quality: 4. Enjoyment: 5.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Interview with Dick Maas (Amsterdamned)" by Christian Sellers in Love it Loud

"Loïs Lane - Amsterdamned," music video on YouTube

"Sinkholes, Collapsing Canal Walls, Rickety Bridges: Amsterdam Is Crumbling," by Thomas Erdbrink in The New York Times

"Rembrandt's Damaged Masterpiece Is Whole Again, With A.I.'s Help," by Nina Siegal in The New York Times

Even if you haven't seen the cursed tape, you know its inescapable story. If you have seen it, then you've got a fun week ahead. Get nostalgic with us this week as we explore the thrills, chills and legacy of an iconic J-horror and its fun American remake.

Ringu: Motion Picture Terror Scale: 3 (Marcus & Melissa) / 2 (Grady). Quality: 5 / 5 / 4 Enjoyment: 5 / 5 / 5

The Ring: MPTS: 3 / 3 / 2. Quality: 4 / 4 / 4 Enjoyment: 5 / 5 / 4

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Bringing Out the Horror of What He Knows Best," by Randy Kennedy in The New York Times

"The Ring: Why The American Remake Cut 50 Percent Of The Original Story," by Maisy Flowers in Screen Rant

"13 Things You Never Knew About 'The Ring'," by Gary Susman in MovieFone

We're off this week. Marcus and Emily are haunting the Salem Witch Board Museum on their first vaccinated vacation, Grady is capturing footage from cursed VHS tapes and uploading it to TikTok while Melissa sneaks it onto televisions at Best Buy. But, we saved a fun, unpublished game from our Cold Hell episode a few weeks ago. Emily describes grizzly murders. Are they horror movie summaries? Are they true crime stories? Do they have on-the-nose musical accompaniment? Listen and play along!

In space, revenge is a dish best served cold. In the wilds of the Moroccan desert, it's offered seared and bloody with a side of peyote. Sizzling colors and a spectacular tracking shot animate this timely and brutal rape-revenge film. Also, which D-list horror villain would you rather assist your revenge rampage?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 4 (Marcus) / 3 (Melissa & Grady). Quality: 5. Enjoyment: 5 / 5 / 4

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Director Coralie Fargeat Talks Obsession, Inspirations, and 'Revenge'" by Andrew Karpan in Film School Rejects

"[Interview] Star Matilda Lutz Talks Perfect Timing of 'Revenge' and Being Covered In Blood," by Brad Miska in Bloody Disgusting

"Exclusive Interview with Revenge director, Coralie Fargeat," in Birds Eye View

There's a long-forgotten god deep in the jungles of the Amazon. Turns out, he's a big fan of "Alien" and enjoys turning the tables on everyone plundering his relics. When his cursed mask gets whisked away to Sao Paulo, it possesses a professional wrestler and wreaks havoc on a dirty cop, an ex-guerrilla and a sword fighting priest. It's a flawed but entertaining graveyard smash. Also, what classic horror mask would you rather find at a cursed horror convention?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 1. Quality: 2 (Marcus) / 3 (Melissa & Grady). Enjoyment: 3 / 5 but also 2, for different parts of the uneven film / 4

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Interview with Kapel Furman, co-director and SFX master on Skull: The Mask," by James Whittington for Horror Channel UK

"Bolsonaro visits indigenous lands in Amazon despite protests," by Anthony Boadle for Reuters

"Reviews: Skull: The Mask" by Nick Allen for RogerEbert.com

Mix one part Bogart, one part Argento and one part classic "kriminalfilm" and you've got a recipe for a stone cold throwback serial killer flick. You've also got a movie with a stronger bark than bite, though, along with some tonal shifts and animated disagreements on this week's episode.

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 3 (Marcus) / 2 (Melissa & Grady). Quality: 4 / 2 / 3. Enjoyment: 4 / 1 / 3

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"SMOOTH KRIMINAL: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GERMAN KRIMI FILM," by Samm Deighan in Diabolique Magazine

"10 Giallo Films for Beginners," by Meg Shields in Film School Rejects

"Black Gloves And Knives: 12 Essential Italian Giallo," by Russ Fischer in IndieWire

It's time to grow up. Throw away your old toys! Now it's time to flee in terror because your favorite childhood teddy bear wants revenge. Benny can't handle rejection but he can handle a knife. This week, the gang unpacks a stuffed slasher. Also, in what house from a horror movie or show would you rather hide from an evil djinn?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 1 (Marcus) / 3 (Melissa) / 1 (Grady). Quality: 3/4/5 Enjoyment: 4/5/4

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"BENNY LOVES YOU: INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER KARL HOLT," by Rachel Harper in SciFiNow UK

"Interview with Karl Holt, writer, and director of Benny Loves You," by James Whittington for Horror Channel