Imported Horror

Sometimes, sure, you'll talk to your television. Things don't get weird till it starts replying. This week, the gang decodes a claustrophobic sci-fi horror with a conventional twist and an undeserved reputation for specific political allegory. Also, if your television began sending you messages, what famous movie would you rather it quote?

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

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Grimmfest 2018 revisited - An Interview with Gavin Williams and Jack Tarling of Await Further Instructions" by J.J. Wray in Visit Manchester

"A Chat with Johnny Kevorkian, Director of AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS," by Jan Siery in FilmDaddy

Dracula, Shmacula - meet the Abhartach, the ghoulish OG vampire of Irish folklore. Did it inspire Bram Stoker? Maybe. Can it make you laugh while sucking blood from your eyes? Sure. This week, the gang takes a rocky road to an offbeat horror comedy. Also, which classic horror writer would you rather see inspired by a legend in your hometown?

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

"Chris Baugh and Brendan Mullin discuss Boys From County Hell," by Nathan Griffin in IFTN

"The 'Boys From County Hell' Give Us Insights Into Shudder's New Exclusive," by Paul Hernandez for Scary Nerd

"How Bram Stoker created Dracula with the aid of Irish folklore," by Leonie O'Hara for Irish Central

"The Scottish writer who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula," by David Allison for BBC News

"Bram Stoker Claimed That Parts of Dracula Were Real. Here's What We Know About the Story Behind the Novel," by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker for Time

Love is sweet. So what if your friends insist your girlfriend is crazy? They're wrong - she'd never torture you in your own home. This week, the gang straps in for a discussion of legendary J-horror gore porn and consider why it's far from a feminist anthem. They also break down the 2021 Chainsaw Awards.

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

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"THE 2021 FANGORIA CHAINSAW AWARDS WINNERS" by Nicolas DelGadillo in Knotfest

What if one exorcism just isn't enough? Try, try again - and get creative! This week, the gang heads back to the Southern Cone for an erotic demonic mystery. Also, if you were at a religious summer camp turned 80s horror movie, what spiritual force would you rather hunt you? (Note: This episode is a little spoilery.)

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 3 (Marcus) / 4 (Melissa and Grady). Quality: 4 (Marcus and Melissa) / 3 (Grady). Enjoyment: 4's all around

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Interview: LUCIFERINA writer-director Gonzalo Calzada on the making of the film," by Sebastian Zavala Kahn in Screen Anarchy

"The brutal mirror: What the psychedelic drug ayahuasca showed me about my life," by Sean Illing in Vox

"Psychedelics Weren't As Common in Ancient Cultures As We Think," by Manvir Singh in Vice

These jeans literally slay. Murder pants are devouring chic influencers and terrorizing an upscale boutique in the most original creature feature in years. It's also surprisingly poignant for a film about toothy denim. Also, what article of clothing would you rather see terrorize your favorite horror movie star?

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

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"SLAXX Director Elza Kephart Destroys the Evils of Fast Fashion," by Cass Clarke in CBR.com

"SLAXX DIRECTOR ELZA KEPHART ON KILLER JEANS AND POLITICAL HORROR," by Kristy Puchko in SciFi Wire

"EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER ELZA KEPHART INVITES YOU TO TRY ON "SLAXX"" by Michael Gingold in Rue Morgue

You always knew you're a monster, deep down. You just assumed it was a figurative one - not a literal kaiju somehow stomping through Seoul on your way home from the bar. This week, the gang studies a monstrous genre-bender that's among the weirdest and most horrifying non-horror movies out there. Also, what kind of nightmare would you rather include the sass of the late, great Jessica Walter?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 2 (surprisingly). Quality: 4. Enjoyment: 5 (Marcus) / 4 (Melissa and Grady)

You know how this story ends - the giant monster stomping through Tokyo becomes a real Hollywood movie star. Do you know how it began, though? Or have countless Godzilla sequels overpowered its haunting origin story? This week, grab some popcorn for a surprisingly poignant throwback Godzilla. Also, if not the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, what kaiju form would you rather the destroyer take?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 2 (Marcus) / 1 (Melissa and Grady). Quality: 4 Enjoyment: 5

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Interview with Shinji Higuchi & Keiichi Sakurai - Shin Godzilla Directors," by Holly Interlandi for Famous Monsters TV on YouTube

"10 Things You Didn't Know About Shin Godzilla," by Jason Wojnar for Screen Rant

"Why 'Shin Godzilla' Remains the Scariest Godzilla to Date," by Carl Broughton for Film School Rejects

Trolls aren't cute - and they don't have fluorescent hair. They're towering giants with a taste for rocks and pious Christians. This week, the gang explores shaky cam mockumentaries and pagan legends high above the frosty fjords of Norway. Also, what horror movie would you rather experience as a documentary crew?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 2 (Marcus) / 1 (Melissa) / 2 (Grady). Quality: 5 / 4 / 5. Enjoyment: 5 / 4 / 5

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"André Øvredal Exclusive Interview TROLL HUNTER," by Christina Radish in Collider

"Interview: André Øvredal Talks "TrollHunter", Monster Movies, And Fairy Tales Gone Bad," by Matt Barone in Complex

There's a giant lion rampaging through Amsterdam! Do you really need to know more? This week, this gang watches the latest film from Dick Maas, the B Movie King of Amsterdam, and explores Wilhelm screams and China's fondness for giant kitty cat carnage. Also, which terrible SyFy original monster would you rather die fighting?

Motion Picture Terror Scale: 0. Quality: 4 (Marcus) / 5 (Melissa) / 4 (Grady). Enjoyment: 5 but also eleventy billion

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Crowdfund This: A Documentary About Dutch Genre Director Dick Maas," by Ard Vijn in Screen Anarchy

"FILMMAKERS TALK THEIR DOCUMENTARY ON DICK MAAS ("AMSTERDAMNED")" by Michael Gingold in Rue Morgue

"How Dutch horror film 'Prey' took a huge bite out of the Chinese box office," by Geoffrey Macnab in Screen Daily

"Ahhhhh! Where in the Wilhelm Did the Wilhelm Scream Come From?" by V Renee in No Film School

"SFX Secrets: The Wilhelm Scream" by Fandor on YouTube

Imagine a haunted hotel and a struggling marriage. Now, think less about The Shining and more about Alfred Hitchcock. Add some unsettling Los Angeles noir and you've got The Night - a spooky international co-production and the first American movie given legal screening rights in Iran since their 1979 revolution.

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

Articles mentioned in this episode:

"Why horror flick "The Night" is the first American film to be released in Iran in four decades," by Gary M. Kramer in Salon

"'The Night' Review: Farsi-Language Horror Thriller Set in an L.A. Hotel Delivers Classy Scares," by Richard Kuipers in Variety

"Reviews: The Night" by Matt Zoller Seitz in RogerEbert.com

"'A silent act of resistance': the hidden tattoo studios of Tehran," by Renate van der Zee in The Guardian

"The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon," by Richard Gale on YouTube

"They can take our electricity but they can never take our nachos," on TikTok